Scholarships
Earn money for college!
Applying for scholarships? Here are some first steps to get started!
1) As you look for scholarships, make a google sheet or doc to save links to all the online applications you are working on. Organize your list with the name of the scholarship, the deadline, and any recommendations or materials you need to get together. Also make note of how the scholarships need to be turned in. Some are submitted electronically, some you will email as an attachment, and some you will need to print off and mail. Don't wait until the day they are due to turn them in, especially if they need to be mailed!
2) Many local scholarships will open up in January, Feburary, March, and April. First semester focus on figuring out where you want to go to college, completing your FAFSA financial aid documents, and looking at scholarships that are offered from the colleges you are applying to. Many colleges have a "priority deadline" and you will be considered for automatic scholarships ONLY if you apply before that date so make sure you get your applications in early! Many students complete their applications in October and November. You won't know which college will offer you the best financial aid package until much later, so for now just apply to a range of schools and rest assured, you can make your final decisions later on!
3) A lot of scholarships will ask you to attach a resume, so it's a good idea to type out your resume before you start applying so that you will have all the information you need organized! You will want to include information on work history (if you have had a job), any community service, activities, awards, honors, and special skills or coursework (for example, if you have taken a class at the career center you could list that!)
4) Local scholarships are going to have less applicants that nationwide, so you may want to focus your energy and time on scholarships that are only for local students, or those offered specifically for the college you are attending. Be sure and check for departmental scholarships at your college. For example, if you are majoring in nursing, your college may offer scholarships just for that program. These are often not included in the automatic awards, so be sure and ask your college admissions reps about these opportunities and look around on the college's website!
5) Read every scholarship's requirements carefully and make sure you are the type of candidate they are looking for. Many scholarshps require students to have a certain GPA, ACT score, or college major so check carefully before you apply!
Missouri Scholarship Search
Find scholarships for students in your area!
MACC Scholarships
MACC provides several scholarship opportunities from institutional and private sources to assist you with your educational expenses.
Columbia College Scholarships
Columbia College offers generous scholarships based on academic merit and other varying factors. Scholarships are awarded to both U.S. and international students.
Columbia College aims to provide financial aid packages that meets the needs of our students. For information regarding additional funding opportunities, please contact your enrollment counselor.
University of MIssouri Scholarships
You’ll be evaluated for certain automatic scholarships just by applying to Mizzou. Other scholarship resources can be accessed through your app status page after you apply.
Scholarship eligibility can be based on financial need, merit or other special characteristics. Mizzou’s Student Financial Aid office determines your aid eligibility using your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
To make sure you receive priority consideration for scholarships and other types of financial aid, submit the FAFSA by our priority deadline of Feb. 1 and apply for departmental and general scholarships by Dec. 1.
Stephens College Scholarships
Stephens College awards more than $5 million in tuition scholarships yearly, with nearly all our students receiving a tuition scholarship.
Upon acceptance to our undergraduate residential college, you will be automatically considered for merit-based tuition scholarships.
Missouri State Financial Aid Portal
The State Financial Aid Portal is a secure student-based website that gives Missouri students an opportunity to learn more about their own state financial aid, including scholarships and grants. Log in to receive information about your awards.
For information about federal student aid programs, including Pell grants, scholarships and loans, go to https://studentaid.gov/.
Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation
Learn about other programs to help pay for college such as MOFELP, an interest free loan program for low income students, and MyMO Promise savings program for Pell Eligible 9-12th graders to start a college savings account and earn scholarship money.