ByHow to Find Scholarships For Low-Income Students
Unsuccessful efforts to afford higher education can put a lot of strain on students, especially those with a tricky financial situation. Luckily, many scholarships and grants are designed to help financially disadvantaged students afford higher education. Are the costs and mandatory fees of the school you’re enrolled in or plan on attending giving you headaches? This complete guide will help you find and apply for scholarships for low-income students so that you can pursue your diploma or degree worry-free!
Are There Any Scholarships for Low-Income Students?
Low-income students can qualify for a plethora of scholarships based on their demonstrated financial needs. Financial need is the difference between a student’s estimated family contribution (EFC) and the total cost of school attendance.
Some scholarships are both need- and merit-based, which means that students need to excel at their education and demonstrate financial need to earn them.
Other Scholarships for Low-Income Students
Aside from need- and merit-based scholarships, low-income students can get awards for:
- Pursuing a degree in a specific field of study, for example:
- Belonging to an ethnic minority, such as:
- Native Americans
- Asians
- Italian Americans
- Latin Americans
- African Americans
- Belonging to a religious group, for example:
- Participating in extracurricular activities, including:
- Sports
- Creative writing
- Community service
- Being an international student
No-Essay Scholarships for Low-Income Students
Another option for low-income students is to apply for no-essay scholarships—raffle-like awards with small prize pools. Application requirements for no-essay scholarships typically aren’t complicated and require the applicant to enter some basic information about themselves—such as their full name, the name of their school, the field of study they’re pursuing a degree in, etc.
The application process for most of these scholarships is repetitive and tiring, but our app can help you automate it! to apply for all no-essay scholarship opportunities available and maximize your chances of winning!
Where To Look for Scholarships for Low-Income College Students
If you don’t know where to start looking for scholarships for low-income college students, here are some ideas:
- Your future school’s financial aid department
- Organizations dedicated to helping financially disadvantaged students, such as:
- Equal Opportunity Schools
- The Education Trust (EdTrust)
- College Possible
- MDRC
- National College Access Network (NCAN)
- OneGoal
- Your religious group
- Organizations devoted to helping women in college, if applicable—such as:
- American Association of University Women
- Women Leaders in College Sports
- Association of Black Women in Higher Education and Sisters of the Academy (for black women)
- American Council on Education—National Leadership Forums
- Foundations dedicated to minorities, if applicable
How To Qualify for a Scholarship as a Low-Income Student
Most scholarship requirements for low-income students require the applicants to:
- Have an estimated family contribution or total family income under a specific limit
- Complete the:
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or its state equivalent
- College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile
- Individual scholarship application
- Submit their:
- Scholarship essay or personal statement
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- SAT and ACT scores
Awards for Low-Income Students You Need To Check Out
Deciding between all available opportunities can be tricky, so here is a breakdown of some of the best awards for low-income students to help you make a choice:
| Award | Prize | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Pell Grant and its supplements |
| The applicant must be pursuing their first bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree |
| Unmet Need Scholarship Program |
| The candidate’s family must have a combined annual family income of less than $30,000 |
| Horatio Alger National Scholarship |
| The applicant must:
|
| Dell Scholars Program |
| Eligible candidates must:
|
DoNotPay Helps Low-Income Students Find Scholarships!
There are plenty more opportunities for low-income students waiting, and you can find them in a matter of minutes by using DoNotPay!
After answering a few short questions, our app will:
- List all scholarships you’re eligible for, along with their awards
- Ask you whether you want to apply for no-essay scholarships automatically
- Update the list of scholarships frequently so you don’t miss any opportunity
To find awards that will help you overcome your financial hurdles:
- Search for the Apply for Scholarships product
- Answer our chatbot’s questions about your:
- Field and level of study
- Potential veteran status
- Other scholarship qualifications
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