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Top Need-Based Scholarships in March 2024 – $5M+ Available

Written by Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Full Bio

Learn about our editorial policies

Updated: March 1st, 2024

While some scholarships are focused on supporting students based on specific talents or achievements, other scholarships aim to support students who have demonstrated financial need. These need based scholarships sometimes also include a merit or academic component, but will always require students to demonstrate financial need.

If you are a low income student or even a middle income student, you may qualify for one of our top need based awards. Keep on reading for more information about the specific scholarships, eligibility, and deadlines, as well as a mini-guide on applying for need-based financial aid.

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Scholarship Review Process

The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

  • The scholarship requires a fee to apply
  • The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
  • The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
  • Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
  • The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
  • The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
  • The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
  • There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
  • The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
  • There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!


* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system.
** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements.
***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

Learn about our editorial policies
497 scholarships
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$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

Exclusive
1 award worth $10,000
Deadline Jun 30, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels

Offered by Scholarships360

Exclusive

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high…Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high…Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to go to college, a graduate student who’s in a master’s program, or an adult learner who wants to return to school, you are eligible for our no essay scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. Finalists for this scholarship will be interviewed about their process for funding their education.Show Less

1 award worth $10,000
Deadline Jun 30, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Apply

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Sallie Mae

Easy Application
1 award worth $2,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level HS Upperclassmen, College & Graduate Students

Offered by Sallie Mae

Easy Application

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for…

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for…

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

1 award worth $2,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level HS Upperclassmen, College & Graduate Students
Apply

“A Helping Hand” Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

Exclusive
1 award worth $500
Deadline Jan 31, 2025
Grade Level High School Junior, High School Senior, College Freshman, College Sophomore, College Junior & Graduate Student

Offered by Scholarships360

Exclusive

At Scholarships360, we know how hard it can be to pay off the hefty costs of a college tuition. Oftentimes, this is even more difficult…Show More

At Scholarships360, we know how hard it can be to pay off the hefty costs of a college tuition. Oftentimes, this is even more difficult…Show More

At Scholarships360, we know how hard it can be to pay off the hefty costs of a college tuition. Oftentimes, this is even more difficult for students coming from low-income backgrounds or for those who demonstrate financial need. This is where our “A Helping Hand” Scholarship comes in! We're offering a $500 scholarship to help out a low-income student who is passionate about their higher education journey and is actively looking for ways to fund it. This award is open to high school juniors and seniors (graduating class of 2024 and 2025), as well as undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year. In order to apply, students should submit an essay detailing how winning the scholarship would help you fulfill your dreams. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application!Show Less

1 award worth $500
Deadline Jan 31, 2025
Grade Level High School Junior, High School Senior, College Freshman, College Sophomore, College Junior & Graduate Student
Apply

$40,000 BigFuture Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by The College Board

Easy Application
Multiple awards worth up to $40,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Sophomores & Juniors

Offered by The College Board

Easy Application

Open to US-based high school students in the class of 2025 and 2026 - no essay, no minimum GPA, and no citizenship requirements.

Open to US-based high school students in the class of 2025 and 2026 - no essay, no minimum GPA, and no citizenship requirements.

Open to US-based high school students in the class of 2025 and 2026 - no essay, no minimum GPA, and no citizenship requirements.

Multiple awards worth up to $40,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Sophomores & Juniors
Apply

Scorenavigator Financial Literacy Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Easy Application
5 awards worth $1,000
Deadline Jul 13, 2024
Grade Level High School Juniors & Seniors

Offered by Bold.org

Easy Application

Are you a low-income high school junior or senior with plans to pursue an undergraduate education? Further, do you have a GPA above 3.0? If…Show More

Are you a low-income high school junior or senior with plans to pursue an undergraduate education? Further, do you have a GPA above 3.0? If…Show More

Are you a low-income high school junior or senior with plans to pursue an undergraduate education? Further, do you have a GPA above 3.0? If so, consider applying for the Scorenavigator Financial Literacy Scholarship! The scholarship awards $1,000 to five (5) low-income, academically impressive high school juniors and seniors who will be pursuing a degree after their high school graduation. In order to apply, interested students must submit an essay about their "personal financial experiences and how [they] plan to use [their] financial education to better [their] future." If you're a low-income, college-bound high school junior or senior, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

5 awards worth $1,000
Deadline Jul 13, 2024
Grade Level High School Juniors & Seniors
Apply

Niche $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Niche

Easy Application
1 award worth $10,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels

Offered by Niche

Easy Application

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year

1 award worth $10,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Apply

Rodney James Pimentel Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Easy Application
1 award worth $5,000
Deadline Apr 30, 2024
Grade Level High School & College Students

Offered by Bold.org

Easy Application

Are you a low-income student from California who is currently or plans to pursue an undergraduate education in STEM? If so, consider applying for the…Show More

Are you a low-income student from California who is currently or plans to pursue an undergraduate education in STEM? If so, consider applying for the…Show More

Are you a low-income student from California who is currently or plans to pursue an undergraduate education in STEM? If so, consider applying for the Rodney James Pimentel Memorial Scholarship! The scholarship awards $5,000 to one (1) low-income California undergraduate student pursuing a degree in a STEM-related field. In order to apply, interested students must submit essays answering "how [they] would provide guidance on a major life event to a close friend or loved one AND about a challenge [they've] faced in [their] pursuit of a degree in the STEM field." The scholarship was established in honor of Rodney James Pimentel, a computer science student, lecturer, and spirited and steadfast member of the UC-Berkeley community. If you'd like to continue Rodney's legacy, and are a low-income, STEM student in California, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

1 award worth $5,000
Deadline Apr 30, 2024
Grade Level High School & College Students
Apply

Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program

Offered by Fontana Transport, Inc.

Multiple awards worth up to $5,000
Deadline Mar 14, 2024
Grade Level High School Senior

Offered by Fontana Transport, Inc.

The Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program is funded by Fontana Transport, Inc., an organization that helps future leaders in their community pursue a higher education…Show More

The Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program is funded by Fontana Transport, Inc., an organization that helps future leaders in their community pursue a higher education…Show More

The Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program is funded by Fontana Transport, Inc., an organization that helps future leaders in their community pursue a higher education degree. Each year, the Fontana Transport, Inc. Scholars Program awards up to $5,000 to multiple underrepresented, high school seniors who will be first-generation college students and want to help their families and communities. For 2024, the program hopes to support students pursuing a degree in any of the following fields: Transportation Management, math, science, engineering, architecture, environmental design, pre-med, psychology, and/or the Spanish Language and Literature. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details!Show Less

Multiple awards worth up to $5,000
Deadline Mar 14, 2024
Grade Level High School Senior
Get Started

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Easy Application
1 award worth $25,000
Deadline Apr 1, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels

Offered by Bold.org

Easy Application

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

1 award worth $25,000
Deadline Apr 1, 2024
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Apply

Horatio Alger Undergraduate Scholarships

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Horatio Alger Association

Multiple awards worth up to $52,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Students

Offered by Horatio Alger Association

Are you a high school student with critical financial need and perseverance in overcoming adversity? If so, consider applying for some of the 70+ Horatio…Show More

Are you a high school student with critical financial need and perseverance in overcoming adversity? If so, consider applying for some of the 70+ Horatio…Show More

Are you a high school student with critical financial need and perseverance in overcoming adversity? If so, consider applying for some of the 70+ Horatio Alger Undergraduate Scholarships! These scholarships aim to help U.S. citizens with financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income) attend college at a lower cost, awarding between $10,000 and $52,000 each. The scholarships are offered by the Horatio Alger Association, an organization with a mission to “fund need-based college scholarships for low-income youth to pursue their dreams through higher education.” As each scholarship has differing criteria, there are bound to be some you meet the criteria for. We recommend giving them a look-through and applying if you meet the criteria! Bear in mind that this scholarship runs from December 1st to March 15th annually. Show Less

Multiple awards worth up to $52,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Students
Get Started

Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship

Offered by Legal Defense Fund

Multiple awards worth $3,000
Deadline Apr 1, 2024
Grade Level High School Seniors & College Students

Offered by Legal Defense Fund

The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship is funded by the Legal Defense Fund, “America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice.” Their Herbert Lehman Education…Show More

The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship is funded by the Legal Defense Fund, “America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice.” Their Herbert Lehman Education…Show More

The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship is funded by the Legal Defense Fund, “America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice.” Their Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship awards $3,000 a year (renewable for up to $12,000) to current and incoming undergraduate students who have financial need. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.Show Less

Multiple awards worth $3,000
Deadline Apr 1, 2024
Grade Level High School Seniors & College Students
Get Started

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeXpress

Easy Application
1 award worth $10,000
Deadline May 1, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors

Offered by CollegeXpress

Easy Application

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

1 award worth $10,000
Deadline May 1, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors
Apply

William Cohen, M.D. Scholarship

Offered by Connecticut Community Foundation

1 award worth $5,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level College Students

Offered by Connecticut Community Foundation

Are you an African-American college student living in Waterbury, Connecticut who is a descendant of slaves? If so, and you're looking for help funding your…Show More

Are you an African-American college student living in Waterbury, Connecticut who is a descendant of slaves? If so, and you're looking for help funding your…Show More

Are you an African-American college student living in Waterbury, Connecticut who is a descendant of slaves? If so, and you're looking for help funding your higher education costs, the William Cohen, M.D. Scholarship may be a good opportunity for you. Each year, the scholarship awards $5,000 to one African-American descendant of slaves who is attending college and residing in Waterbury, Connecticut. Applicants should also demonstrate promise and financial need. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply. Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

1 award worth $5,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level College Students
Get Started

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Better Together STEM Scholarship Program

Offered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company

60 awards worth $2,500 - $10,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Seniors & College Students

Offered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company Better Together STEM Scholarship Program is an opportunity for local students to advance their undergraduate studies and contribute to…Show More

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company Better Together STEM Scholarship Program is an opportunity for local students to advance their undergraduate studies and contribute to…Show More

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company Better Together STEM Scholarship Program is an opportunity for local students to advance their undergraduate studies and contribute to California's clean energy future. To be eligible, applicants must plan to enroll as a full-time undergraduate student in an eligible STEM field at any accredited four-year college or university in California or a Historical Black College or University (HBCU) for the entire upcoming academic year. Nontraditional students and veterans pursuing their first undergraduate degree at such schools are also encouraged to apply. Administered by Scholarship America, the program is open to California residents or dependents of residents in PGandE's service territory. If you're residing in an eligible county, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

60 awards worth $2,500 - $10,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Seniors & College Students
Get Started

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

Easy Application
Monthly awards worth $1,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshman, High School Sophomore, High School Junior, College Freshman & College Sophomore

Offered by Appily

Easy Application

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be…Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be…Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month.Show Less

Monthly awards worth $1,000
Deadline Mar 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshman, High School Sophomore, High School Junior, College Freshman & College Sophomore
Apply

​Cecilia Moy Yep Scholarship Fund

Offered by Asian American Women's Coalition

Multiple awards worth Varies
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Senior

Offered by Asian American Women's Coalition

Are you an Asian-American, college-bound, female high school senior residing in Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, or Bucks County, Pennsylvania? If so, the ​Cecilia Moy Yep…Show More

Are you an Asian-American, college-bound, female high school senior residing in Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, or Bucks County, Pennsylvania? If so, the ​Cecilia Moy Yep…Show More

Are you an Asian-American, college-bound, female high school senior residing in Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, or Bucks County, Pennsylvania? If so, the ​Cecilia Moy Yep Scholarship Fund may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the Fund grants scholarships of varying amounts to Asian American female high school seniors who will be graduating this upcoming spring and enrolling in university the Fall after graduation. Applicants must also hold a minimum 3.0 GPA and participate in community service and extracurricular activities.  If you're an Asian-American, female high school senior from Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, or Bucks County, Pennsylvania, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Multiple awards worth Varies
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Senior
Get Started

American Legion Auxiliary Department of Michigan Medical Career Scholarship

Offered by American Legion Auxiliary Department of Michigan

Multiple awards worth $1,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Senior

Offered by American Legion Auxiliary Department of Michigan

The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Michigan Medical Career Scholarship is open to incoming college freshmen who are the descendants of a veteran of World…Show More

The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Michigan Medical Career Scholarship is open to incoming college freshmen who are the descendants of a veteran of World…Show More

The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Michigan Medical Career Scholarship is open to incoming college freshmen who are the descendants of a veteran of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Grenada and Lebanon Conflict, the 1989 Panama Invasion, or the Persian Gulf War. This one-year grant of $1,000.00 can be used to pursue a medical career at any school, college, or educational institution in Michigan. Applicants should be in the top quarter of their class and must be entering their first year of college after completing their senior year of high school. To qualify, applicants must need financial assistance to attend college and have been a Michigan resident for at least one year before applying. Don't miss out on this opportunity to kickstart your medical career.Show Less

Multiple awards worth $1,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Senior
Get Started

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Christian Connector

Easy Application
1 award worth $5,000
Deadline May 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors

Offered by Christian Connector

Easy Application

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian…

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian…

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian university or college.

1 award worth $5,000
Deadline May 31, 2024
Grade Level High School Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors
Apply

The Jackson Laboratory College Scholarship Program

Offered by The Jackson Laboratory

3 awards worth $10,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Senior

Offered by The Jackson Laboratory

The Jackson Laboratory College Scholarship Program seeks aspiring biomedicine professionals from underserved backgrounds in Connecticut, Maine, and Sacramento County, California. The Jackson Laboratory's mission is…Show More

The Jackson Laboratory College Scholarship Program seeks aspiring biomedicine professionals from underserved backgrounds in Connecticut, Maine, and Sacramento County, California. The Jackson Laboratory's mission is…Show More

The Jackson Laboratory College Scholarship Program seeks aspiring biomedicine professionals from underserved backgrounds in Connecticut, Maine, and Sacramento County, California. The Jackson Laboratory's mission is to find genomic solutions for disease, and these scholarships will be given to students who share this goal by pursuing a career in research or medicine. To be eligible, applicants must also have a minimum 3.5 high school GPA and demonstrate either significant financial need or status as a first-generation college student. They must also be nominated by a teacher, administrator, or guidance counselor. If you're an aspiring biomedicine professional from Connecticut, Maine, or Sacramento County, California, and you demonstrate financial need or are a first-generation college student, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

3 awards worth $10,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Senior
Get Started

Colorado Masons Benevolent Fund Scholarships

Offered by Colorado Masons Benevolent Fund Association

Multiple awards worth up to $7,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Senior

Offered by Colorado Masons Benevolent Fund Association

Are you a Colorado public high school senior intending to attend an in-state university? If so, consider applying for the Colorado Masons Benevolent Fund Scholarships!…Show More

Are you a Colorado public high school senior intending to attend an in-state university? If so, consider applying for the Colorado Masons Benevolent Fund Scholarships!…Show More

Are you a Colorado public high school senior intending to attend an in-state university? If so, consider applying for the Colorado Masons Benevolent Fund Scholarships! This incredible opportunity is open to graduating seniors from Colorado public high schools who are U.S. citizens and have been accepted at a Colorado postsecondary institution. To apply, simply submit four letters of recommendation and a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR) from your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These scholarships are worth up to $7,000 per year, and are renewable for four years, totaling an impressive $28,000! The scholarship committee values leadership, maturity, need, and scholastic ability above all else, without any consideration of race, creed, color, sex, or Masonic relationship. If you're eligible, don't miss out on this amazing opportunity!Show Less

Multiple awards worth up to $7,000
Deadline Mar 15, 2024
Grade Level High School Senior
Get Started
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How to win need-based scholarships 

Earning scholarships starts with completing thoughtful scholarship applications. Scholarship applications might include requirements like transcripts, test scores, essays, and interviews. For need-based scholarships, the scholarship committee will be considering your financial need as an application factor too.

Depending on the scholarship, some applications may ask you to share more information about your family’s financial situation. This can range from writing a statement of financial need to providing actual documentation of income or eligibility for fee waivers or free and reduced lunch.

Many need-based scholarships will also include an essay component, which provides you with an opportunity to share your story. When thinking about the essay as a student who has faced financial hardship, you should be focused on showing how you have grown and succeeded despite this set of circumstances. One of the mistakes that students make when talking about adversity is focusing too much on what happened to them as opposed to how they grew from the experience. 
Writing about this will not be easy, so give yourself plenty of time to reflect and brainstorm stories that you’d like to share with the scholarship committee.

Essay advice for need-based scholarships

We also have some helpful resources to help you write powerful essays. Check out our guide on how to start a scholarship essay, and another on how to write a winning scholarship essay. Here are a few more helpful resources for writing successful scholarship essays:

How to apply for need-based financial aid

Need-based scholarships are just one part of the financial aid equation. In fact, for most students with demonstrated financial need, they won’t even be the most important source of financial aid to pay for college. Need-based grants, which are awarded to students by the government and specific educational institutions, are the most important source of financial aid for low income students.

Like scholarships, need-based grants are free money that does not need to be repaid. The most well-known need-based grant is the Pell Grant, which is awarded to students by the federal government. 

Students can apply for need-based grants through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. The FAFSA opens up on October 1st of each year and allows students to access need-based grants, but also federal student loans and work study

Some colleges may also require a financial aid application called the CSS Profile. The CSS Profile is administered by the College Board and captures more information than the FAFSA, which some colleges use for awarding financial aid. 

Remember, you will need to apply for financial aid by the appropriate CSS Profile and FAFSA deadlines. If you apply for financial aid and are accepted to the college, you will receive a financial aid award letter that outlines the various types of aid available to you.

Related: How to get student rent assistance

Resources for students with financial need

Your school counselor

If you are a high school senior, your school counselor may be a helpful resource as you navigate the admissions and scholarship process. Many school counselors will be able to help you find scholarships, answer questions about the FAFSA, and serve as an overall resource for you as you apply for admission and financial aid. 

Similarly, if you are a member of a college access organization, your college counselor or coach will be able to provide help with anything related to paying for college.

Your college’s financial aid office

Whether you are a high school senior or a current college student, your college’s office of financial aid is a great resource if you encounter any problems or questions when applying for financial aid. If you are feeling lost or overwhelmed by any components of the financial aid process, you can give your college financial aid office a call (or if you are a current student, you can schedule an appointment to speak to someone). 

Frequently asked questions

Does my family income qualify me for need-based scholarships or financial aid?

It depends! Every scholarship will have a different requirement for income and who is eligible. Many need-based scholarships will provide a specific income or range that eligible student must fall in-between.

For need-based financial aid, it will also depend. Each college will use a formula to determine how much money your family can afford to pay (this is also known as the Estimated Family Contribution or EFC).

What’s the difference between a need-based and merit based scholarship?

The primary difference is that a need based scholarship will be taking into account a student’s financial situation and will focus on supporting the students who need financial support the most. A merit based scholarship will be focused on supporting students with specific talents or “merits” as defined by the scholarship committee.

Merit scholarships typically assess students based on a variety of factors, including GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities, and internships. Keep in mind that many scholarships use a combination of need and merit-based qualifications to choose their recipients. So, as a student applying for need-based scholarships, you’ll have a better chance if you earn good grades and test scores.

Additional scholarship categories to explore

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