Financial Aid and Scholarships
The College Guidance Office works carefully with students who are applying for need-based financial aid and/or competitive, merit-based scholarships. In addition to receiving several million dollars of need-based aid, our students regularly qualify for the nation’s most prestigious awards.
Need-Based Financial Aid and Scholarships
College Affordability and Transparency Center
Find information about how much it costs students to attend different colleges, how fast those costs are going up, and information related to why costs are going up.
The College Board's Net Price Calculators
An article for counselors on what students and parents need to know about Net Price Calculators.
Schools Awarding Aid to International Students
A list of colleges and universities awarding financial aid to international students.
To be eligible for need-based federal aid, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Many colleges also require the CSS PROFILE for students seeking nonfederal student assistance such as institutional based aid.
This tool can help determine eligibility for federal student aid.
Valuable information about applying for aid, loans, scholarships, and college financing.
Useful information about saving for college, scholarships, applying for aid, online calculators and more.
The State of New York provides this helpful service for college planning and financing.
FinAid (state-related aid information)
Links to sites for state financial aid information and eligibility for state aid.
UNCF
UNCF is the nation’s largest private scholarship provider to minority group members. Each year, they award more than $100 million in scholarships to students attending more than 1,100 schools across the country, including their prestigious network of 37 HBCUs. They also manage a variety of scholarship programs, such as the Fund II Foundation UNCF STEM Scholars Program, UNCF/Koch Scholars Program, K-12 Education Fellowship and the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship Program.
Merit Scholarships
QUESTBRIDGE: The National College Match is a college admission and scholarship process through which high-achieving, low-income students can be admitted early with full four-year scholarships
POSSE FOUNDATION: The Posse model works for both students and college campuses and is rooted in the belief that a small, diverse group of talented students—a Posse—carefully selected and trained, can serve as a catalyst for individual and community development. Nomination required.
SCHOLLY app: The #1 college scholarship app in the world and has helped students win more than $100 million dollars.
The following websites are good resources for students interested in merit scholarship opportunities:
www.fastweb.com
www.meritaid.com
Scholarships and Awards
Danforth Scholarship (Washington University in St. Louis)
The Danforth Scholarship Program at Washington University in St. Louis is awarded to students with "outstanding academic performance, activities that illustrate the candidate's exceptional commitment to community service, high moral character, and similar qualities that exemplify the Danforths' legacy at Washington University." This is a four-year undergraduate scholarship.
Dean's Honor Scholarship and Paul Tulane Award (Tulane University)
Tulane University awards the Dean's Honor Scholarship and Paul Tulane Awards to students who, "have a rigorous academic program with honors and advanced placement courses, and have an outstanding record of extracurricular activities and score near the top of the range in a college admission test." Both scholarships are four-year undergraduate scholarships. Tulane University also offers other merit-scholarships to high-achieving incoming freshmen.
Jefferson Scholars (University of Virginia)
The Jefferson Scholarship is awarded by the University of Virginia to undergraduate students who have “demonstrated excellence and exceptional potential in the areas of leadership, scholarship, and citizenship.” It is a four year scholarship that “is awarded to up to thirty-five persons annually after a rigorous nomination and selection process.” Click HERE for more information.
John Montgomery Belk Scholarship (Davidson College)
Davidson College awards the John Montgomery Belk Scholarship to students who have demonstrated "academic excellence and purposeful engagement in the classroom, with student and civic organizations, on the athletic field, or in the arts." This is a four-year undergraduate scholarship. Click HERE for more information.
Johnson Scholarship (Washington & Lee University)
The Johnson Scholarship is awarded by Washington & Lee University to students, "on the basis of academic achievement and demonstrated leadership," as well as their "potential to contribute to the intellectual and civic life of the W&L campus." This is a four-year undergraduate scholarship. Click HERE for more information.
Morehead-Cain Scholars (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill awards the Morehead-Cain Scholarship to students who have demonstrated “outstanding achievement in the following four criteria: Leadership, scholarship, moral force of character, and physical vigor.” This is a four-year undergraduate scholarship.
National Achievement Semifinalists
“The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding Black American high school students.” High school students must take the PSAT in order to be considered for the National Achievement Scholarship Program.
National Merit Semifinalists
“The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955.” High school students must take the PSAT in order to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Presidential Scholars
The Presidential Scholars Program “is not a scholarship program, but it is one of the Nation's highest honors for high school students. The 141 students named annually as Presidential Scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people.” On average, about six students a year are identified as Presidential Scholar Semi-Finalists. Click HERE for more information about the Presidential Scholars Program.
Robertson Scholars (Duke and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)
The Robertson Scholars Program was founded in 2000 and selects scholars on the basis of six criteria: “Behavior that is grounded in strong ethical principles, superior academic achievement and intellectual curiosity, strong leadership potential, active commitment to helping others and to community service, courage, and collaborative spirit.” In addition to covering tuition, room, and board, the Robertson also includes a laptop and “three summers of generous funding for domestic and international service, learning and research.” Thirty-six scholars (18 at Duke and 18 at UNC) are selected each year. Click HERE for more information about the Robertson Scholars Program.