YCHS Scholarship Guide

We are so excited about the Class of 2024 to begin their transition from high school to college and we hope this scholarship page will be a valuable source of information. Please remember your school counselors are here to answer any specific scholarship questions you may have.

Click on the underlined links below to find information. Please remember those individual colleges have their specific scholarship websites that will not be located on this page and must be searched through their college website. This can be a great source of scholarships and grants as well!

· FinAid – Links to scholarships, grants, loans, and graduate aid.

· StudentAid.gov – Information from the U.S. Department of Education on preparing for and funding education beyond high school.

· College Affordability Guide – This site’s mission is to provide clear, correct info and advice on the many options students have to reduce the cost of their degree, and to offer a fresh analysis of which colleges are doing the most to make high-quality education affordable.

• Pell Grants- A grant from the federal government intended for low-income families. The maximum amount has been $5,500 in the past.
• Institutional Grants and Scholarships- These come directly from colleges and must be completed on their individual financial aid page.
• Outside Scholarships-This page is intended to aid you and your student in finding these scholarships. The more you apply to, the more you will receive.

• Stafford Loans- Students who demonstrate financial need are eligible for subsidized Stafford loans, which the government pays interest on while you're in school and carry a 2.5% rate following graduation. Unsubsidized loans also carry a 2.5% interest rate, but there is a maximum amount students can take out.
• Parent Plus Loans- Parents of dependent children, whose credit meets a minimum score, can take out federal parent plus loans, interest rates vary.
• Private loans- Some loans from private lenders such as Discover may come with lower interest rates than some federal loans.

There are a plethora of scholarship search engines to choose from. Below are a few of the most helpful search sites for FREE money. Remember, the more you apply for, the more you have the chance to get. Click on the underlined links below for each site.

· Scholar Snapp - A free, simple to use data standard that allows students to reuse their application information - including contact information, essays, transcripts, etc. - from one scholarship application to another thereby streamlining the college scholarship application process.

· Scholly – A mobile app that provides students with a fast and simple way to find scholarships for college. (Created by Christopher Gray, a Coca-Cola Scholar!)

· Peerlift - Proven scholarships, internships, summer programs, and more gathered by fellow students like you.

· Fastweb – Create a profile and let fastweb do the research on scholarships, internships colleges and more for you.

· CashCourse – Information that helps college students stay financially informed.

· Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation – Educational and scholarship opportunities for students of all levels.

· Cappex – A free website where you can learn which colleges want you, before you apply and learn about more than $11 billion in merit aid scholarships.

· Scholarships.com– A free college scholarship search and financial aid information.

· Scholarship America – Provides information and resources for your scholarship search.

· KnowHow2GO – Complete information on college prep, whether in middle school or seniors.

· HS Finder (Hispanic Scholarship Fund) – Scholarship information for Latino students.

· Thurgood Marshall College Fund – Provides scholarships, programmatic and capacity building support to the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

· Gates Millennium Scholars – Provides outstanding low income African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline they choose.

· Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund – The nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted to providing college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).

· American Indian College Fund – Provides Native American students with scholarships and financial support for the nation’s 33 accredited tribal colleges and universities.

· Dell Scholars Program – Recognizes academic potential and determination in students that have a definite need for financial assistance.

· UNCF – Awards 10,000 students each year through 400 scholarship and internship programs so that students from low- and moderate-income families can afford college tuition, books and room and board.

· Chegg – A place to connect with scholarships and learn about colleges.

· Reagan Foundation Scholarships - Scholarship opportunities for outstanding student leaders.

· American Indian Graduate Center & AIGCS - The largest scholarship providers to Native students in the United States, awarding $15 million in scholarships annually and more than $200 million since inception. For almost 50 years, AIGC has funded students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in any field of study at any accredited institution of choice, working with over 500 tribes in all 50 states.

· National Society of High School Scholars - NSHSS and its partners offer more than $2,000,000 in scholarships annually. All students are eligible to apply for high school and college scholarships in the areas of academic excellence, entrepreneurship, leadership, literature, medicine, music, STEM, sustainability, visual arts, and more