State Scholarships: Financial Assistance in your Home State

Anybody who is interested in finishing a degree no longer needs to look too far and wide for a suitable and generous financial assistance. Once he starts looking, he will be surprised of the hundred and one options presented right before him. While the number of available scholarship programs can be overwhelming, the truth is that a person will not be able to take advantage of them all. With this, the simplest trick would be meeting the requirements of all the scholarship programs that are available within reach, and making the right choice in the end. With so many scholarship programs already available these days, things like age, racial class, and disability are no longer hindrances in achieving one's goal of becoming a certified professional. Wherever a person may be, he can be sure that a scholarship program is waiting for him.

The different states all over America offer prime options to pay for your college education. Whether you are in Oregon, Florida, or New York, you can be sure that you can enjoy the advantage of free schooling. While applying for different universities and colleges, you should also look for scholarships that suit your profile, preferences, skills, educational background, affiliations, community services you have rendered, and your goals.

Where to Look For State-Sponsored Scholarships

Many state-sponsored scholarships are offered in the different colleges and universities in your area. The easiest way to look for these scholarship programs is to ask the registrar about them. Aside from the college or university registrar, you may also consult specific agencies that handle academic financial assistance. Another good place to look for scholarship programs is your local government.

For instance, if you are living in California, examples of scholarship programs available in your state are the Cal Grant, Berkeley Scholarships, and the Cal State Scholarships. Meanwhile, if you are living in New York, some of the well-known scholarship programs there include the Robert C. Byrd Scholarships and the New York State Regents Award for Children of Veterans. The amount of financial assistance varies depending on the program. Some scholarships are worth a couple of hundred dollars, while others are valued at more than several thousands.

Eligibility Requirements

To gain eligibility for a state scholarship, there are several things that need to considered. The first one is your citizenship and residency status. Since you will be applying for a state scholarship grant, you need to hold a United States citizenship to qualify. Aside from citizenship, there is also a residency requirement that you must meet. To take advantage of a state scholarship in New York, for instance, you would need to hold a legal resident status.

When it comes to residency requirement, there are certain things that need to be considered. A financially-dependent applicant would be considered resident of the place where his parents live. If his parents are divorced, the one who was awarded custody would be considered the guardian. As for an applicant who lives on his own, residency is automatic. Most state-sponsored scholarship grants require a minimum residency stay of 12 months prior to the date of application.

Another thing considered for eligibility is the type of program you plan to enter. More often than not, the grant is awarded once you are admitted to an accredited program or course. The same goes with the academic institution you applied for. Typically, the state only prefers colleges and universities that it approved. This means that you should not apply for an unaccredited course and school if you truly want to qualify for a state scholarship program.

Other things that account for scholarship eligibility are the applicant's health status, financial need, and most importantly, his academic records. While not all state-sponsored scholarships give precedence to academic records, most of them approve applicants based on their merits. There is a minimum grade requirement that you must meet. Likewise, your academic background for every finished term will be assessed. With this said, aspiring state scholarship recipients should exert extra effort in maintaining excellent academic standing.

Continue Schooling for Free

Most state-sponsored scholarships are renewable each year. The above-mentioned requirements are only applicable to new applicants. This means that if you are already a returnee, you no longer need to go through the long process of applying and submitting numerous requirements. The only thing you need to do to enjoy your current state scholarship is to continuously maintain the ideal weighted grade average. Keep in mind that the state has no desire to invest in a student who does not show any effort to excel in his academics. As such, make sure that you always prove yourself worthy of the investment.