Importance of a college education:
About 90 percent of the fastest-growing jobs of the future will require some postsecondary education or training (U.S. Department of Labor).
The most obvious benefit of college education is that college graduates in the U.S. earn nearly twice as much as workers with just a high school diploma, one of the highest rates in the world (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD]).
Ways To Pay For College
Local Options - the people of your own community fully understand the importance of a college education, which is why organizations such as the American Legion, the Rotary Club, the Jaycees, and Boosters chapters offer scholarships for high school students in the area. These organizations are often overlooked and serve as a great resource due to the fact that they have far less competition than national awards. Start your local search by visiting your high school's career options to see what's available.
Federal Options - the federal government is also well aware of the importance of a college education, which is why they award more financial aid to college-bound students than any other resource. The most important step in obtaining federal aid is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Scholarships - merit scholarships are awarded to students based on academic or athletic abilities, as well as categories such as ethnicity, religious affiliation, club membership, interests, talent or career plans.
Corporate Options - corporations are another resource who understand the vast importance of a college education. Every year, corporations ranging from Target to Coca-Cola offer financial aid to thousands of college-bound students. A great way to start your corporate scholarship search is with you or your spouse's company. Often times, organizations will award the children of employees with scholarships or grants.
For Teens:
For Parents:
