At a time when unemployment is high, personal income is flat, and college-level education is a requirement for most well-paying jobs, U.S. public colleges continue to become less affordable for students and families. According to a recent report on college affordability from The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, state spending for colleges and universities has dropped sharply. The result ? a higher cost for higher education.
Despite serious increases, few states have invested significant financial aid to offset
cost while some have actually decreased student grant aid spending. Today?s families are left to shoulder worst public, higher education fiscal news in a decade.
However, there is money available for diligent. Scholarships and grants offered through private sector are available to help pay increasing tuition cost. Awards, need and merit based, are usually categorized by geographic location, special interest, or major career fields. Since criteria are specific, finding right award can be tedious- but considering current economic recession, well worth effort.
Here?s how to begin a productive grant and scholarship search:
1. Online Search-The Internet has emerged as a key source of scholarship information. The following are a handful of helpful sites.
http://www.wiredscholar.com Wired Scholar has one of internet?s largest databases of financial aid.
http://www.fastweb.com FastWeb allows you to search 600,000 scholarships worth over $1 billion dollars.
