Scholarships/Aid
Costs of college have skyrocketed over the last several decades. Most out-of-state and private schools cost upwards of $40,000 per year. Fortunately, there are many ways to alleviate or even eliminate the cost of college.Financial aid branches into three main groups:
Institutional Need-based aid: Both the government and individual colleges try to provide scholarships for students who come from low or middle class families. Put simply, if you cannot afford college, the government and your college will pay the costs for you. Need-based aid is not dependent on how academically or athletically talented you are. The sole-factor is financial-need. IMPORTANT: even families that are middle or upper class are eligible to receive some amount of need-based aid.
Institutional Merit-based aid: Most colleges offer merit-based scholarships. These scholarships are given to students because they show academic or athletic excellence and promise.
Outside Scholarships: There are hundreds of groups and organizations that sponsor their own scholarships and contests. These can be based off merit and/or need. Each has its own criteria.
Some scholarships are based on a combination of need and merit.
