Online Scholarships, Grants And Fellowships Enable Pursuit Of Higher Education
Grants for college typically don’t have to be repaid – and they can greatly reduce the cost of tuition for online degree programs. Grants are often available to students of all ages and backgrounds as they work towards a degree. Knowing what they are and where to look is where so many fall a bit short.
Scholarships and fellowships might also be considered grants, though fellowships might have fieldwork as a part of their criterion. Colleges and universities often award college grants and scholarships to students who study at their institutions. Government agencies, corporate giants, non-profit organizations and special interest, community and civic groups often make non-school specific financial aid offerings available. Many of these might be applicable to online college classes and online degree and certificate programs. It’s important that a nationally recognized accrediting agency certify these online colleges, universities and vocational schools are accredited.
Minimum grade point average, financial need, leadership, specific studies or a combination of factors, including whether students are women or minorities – all or some are determining factors for scholarships, fellowships and grants for college. The following information might help take some of the time and stress out of searching for online college grants, scholarships and fellowships:
Go Local: Community groups, civic organizations, churches and synagogues often award scholarships and grants for college to students who are members or within their communities. Students might look toward groups such as Rotary International, Kiwanis, the Lion’s Club and chambers of commerce for online college offerings.
Think Big: Corporate giants such as McDonald’s, Tylenol, Wal-Mart, State Farm and AT&T have been known to offer scholarships and fellowships for students from the high school graduate to doctorate level. AT&T maintains a fellowship program that covers the cost of tuition, books, fees and more for minorities and women pursuing doctorate degrees in computing and communications. Wal-Mart targets high school students with minimum grade point averages.
Consider Yourself and Your Goals: Some organizations offer scholarships and fellowships based on fields of study or specific demographics. Groups such as the National Science Foundation, the Hispanic College Fund, the United Negro College Fund and the American Association of University Women are among them. And organizations such as the non-profit Raise the Nation tailor scholarships to single mothers.
Set A Foundation: Charitable foundations offer a variety of scholarships, fellowships and grants for college. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provides scholarships to first-time, full-time degree-seekers, and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation provides scholarships to high school graduates who have participated in an approved college readiness program. The Jack Kent Cook Foundation provides undergraduate transfer scholarships for community college students so that they can work toward their bachelor degrees; and the Ford Foundation provides fellowships that serve minorities and those with disabilities, as well as those working at the graduate level to become a professor at a United States college or university.
One-Stop Shop: The government offers work study programs and grants for college that are often based on financial needs. Students seeking government assistance for qualifying online degree programs can determine their eligibility by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid online. The results might include low-interest loans that don’t require credit checks and collateral and don’t have to be repaid until after graduation. Students might consider loans after other forms of assistance are deducted from the overall cost of tuition.
Going back to college or starting out as a high school graduate requires hard work and dedication to the goal of getting a degree. Letting financial concerns stop this educational course is not in the student’s best interest as with the availability of online scholarships and grants, there is most likely something for everyone.