Where to Find Scholarships for College: 7 Places to Look

College applications? In progress. Personal statement? Hopefully proofread. Financial aid? A whole other thing to figure out.

If you're getting ready for college, you've probably realized that paying for it involves a lot more than submitting your applications and hoping for the best. The good news is scholarships can help make college more affordable, and you don't have to be a straight-A student or win a national competition to find opportunities that fit you.

So, where should you start looking? Let's break it down.

1.  Can Your High School Counselor Help With Finding Scholarships? 

Your counselor can be a great resource for finding scholarships, especially local opportunities you might not discover through a quick Google search.

Many high schools maintain scholarship lists for graduating seniors. These may include awards from local businesses, community organizations, foundations, and groups that specifically support students from your area.

Why is this worth checking out? Some scholarships are only available to students attending certain high schools, living in particular towns, or meeting specific local eligibility requirements.

Your next move: Ask your counselor whether your school maintains a scholarship list and when new opportunities are typically announced. If there's a scholarship bulletin sitting in your high school's portal that you haven't opened yet, consider this your sign.

2.  Can Your College's Financial Aid Office Help You Find Scholarships? 

Colleges may offer institutional scholarships based on academic achievement, financial need, intended major, extracurricular involvement, or other qualifications. Some awards are automatically considered during the admissions process, while others require a separate application.

You may also find scholarships through individual academic departments, honors programs, or opportunities specifically for continuing students.

Your next move: Visit the financial aid website for each college you're considering. Look for scholarship deadlines, eligibility requirements, and whether you need to submit an additional application. When in doubt, email the financial aid office and ask!

3.  How Can Local Businesses and Community Organizations Help You Pay for College? 

Sometimes, the scholarship opportunities closest to home are the ones students overlook.

Community foundations, local businesses, credit unions, civic organizations, and nonprofit groups may offer scholarships to students in their communities. Some awards are intended for students pursuing particular careers, while others recognize volunteer work, leadership, or community involvement.

And no, you don't necessarily need to have a 4.0 GPA, be the captain of every team, and somehow have 48 hours in a day to qualify.

The key is to find opportunities that align with your actual experiences and qualifications.

Your next move: Search online for phrases like "scholarships for students in [your town]" or "[your county] community foundation scholarships." You might uncover opportunities that aren't widely advertised.

4.  Can You Get College Scholarships Through an Employer?

Have a part-time job? Your workplace might offer scholarships or educational assistance for employees. Some employers also offer scholarship programs for employees' children.

The same goes for your parents or guardians. Certain companies provide educational awards or tuition benefits to eligible family members, but these programs and their requirements vary.

It may not be the first place you think to look, but asking a simple question could open another door.

Parents... your next move: Check your employee benefits portal or ask your manager or the human resources department whether your workplace offers educational scholarships. 

5.  Are the Scholarship Search Websites Worth It? 

If your current scholarship search strategy is typing "college scholarships" into Google and opening 37 tabs, we have a suggestion: Try a scholarship search platform!

Online scholarship databases help students discover opportunities in one place. Depending on the platform, you may be able to search by academic interests, location, major, eligibility requirements, or other criteria.

And while we're talking about scholarship search platforms, here's our little shameless plug: the RISLA Scholarship Hub is your one-stop shop for scholarship resources!

Use Scholar Search to discover scholarship opportunities, then head over to the Scholarship Success Center for tips and guidance to help you navigate the application process. Think of it as your scholarship search and application sidekick, all in one place.

Here's the important part: No single scholarship database includes every available award. Use search platforms alongside your school's scholarship list and local resources to broaden your search.

And before applying, double-check the scholarship's eligibility requirements, deadline, application instructions, and sponsoring organization. If a scholarship promises guaranteed money in exchange for a fee, proceed with caution. Legitimate scholarship opportunities shouldn't require you to pay someone just to apply.

6.  Can Your Hobbies, Interests, or Career Goals Help You Find Scholarships? 

You don't have to wait until you've declared a major or landed your dream internship to look for scholarships connected to your interests.

Professional associations, nonprofit organizations, and groups within specific industries may offer scholarships to students interested in their fields. Opportunities may be available for students pursuing careers in healthcare, education, technology, business, the arts, and many other areas.

There may also be scholarships related to your hobbies, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, or leadership experiences.

Love photography? Interested in nursing? Spend your weekends volunteering? Work a part-time job while balancing school? Those experiences may help you identify scholarships worth exploring.

Your next move: Brainstorm your interests, activities, career goals, and experiences. Then search for scholarships connected to those topics. You might be surprised by what you find!

7. Do Community, Cultural, and Membership-Based Groups Generally Offer Scholarships?

Think about the organizations you or your family are already connected to. Religious organizations, cultural associations, unions, alumni groups, and membership-based organizations sometimes offer scholarships to eligible students or their family members.

These opportunities may have specific requirements related to membership, community involvement, location, or intended field of study.

Your next move: Make a list of organizations you're involved with and check their websites for scholarship information. If you can't find anything online, ask whether they offer educational awards or know of any local opportunities.

Your Scholarship Search Starts Here

Finding scholarships takes some time, but you don't have to figure everything out in one sitting. Start with the resources closest to you, explore opportunities that match your interests, and keep track of deadlines as you go.

And remember: Scholarship searching doesn't have to end when you submit your college applications. New opportunities may become available throughout the year, including after you start college.

Ready to take the first step? Explore the RISLA Scholarship Hub, use Scholar Search to find scholarship opportunities, and visit the Scholarship Success Center for tips to help you navigate the application process.

Your college plans are a big deal. Finding ways to make them more affordable is worth the search!