Common scholarship and education grant categories

Academic Scholarships

Awards that usually look at grades, coursework, test scores, or academic projects. Requirements and minimums differ by sponsor.

A useful question to ask: Which academic records do you review, and is there a minimum GPA?

Need-Based Scholarships

Awards that consider a family's financial circumstances. Many sponsors ask for financial aid forms or income documentation.

A useful question to ask: Which financial documents are required, and how is need measured?

Community Awards

Offered by local foundations, civic groups, employers, and nonprofits. They often favor residents of a region or members of a group.

A useful question to ask: Is the award limited to a county, school, or membership?

Education Grants

Need-based aid that typically does not need to be repaid, often packaged by a school's financial aid office. Grants are different from loans and from merit scholarships.

A useful question to ask: Is this aid renewable, and what could cause it to be reduced?

Career Education Scholarships

Support for trade programs, certificates, apprenticeships, and career-focused degrees. Sponsors may require enrollment in an approved program.

A useful question to ask: Which programs or schools qualify for this award?

Scam awareness

Legitimate sponsors do not guarantee awards in exchange for a fee. Be cautious of the following.

• Upfront application or processing fees
• Promises that you are guaranteed to win
• Requests for bank or card details
• Pressure to respond within hours