Private Scholarships

A Private Scholarship (also called an Outside Scholarship) is a financial award for students that comes from sources outside of the university. These scholarships are typically offered by businesses, civic groups, community organizations, high schools, religious organizations, and other non-university entities. The key distinction is that students apply for these scholarships independently, directly communicating with the organization or agency that is offering the award.

How to Search for Private Scholarships:

High School Guidance Counselor: Contact your high school guidance counselor, especially during your senior year, to see if there are any scholarship opportunities available through the school.
Community Organizations: Check with local civic groups, religious organizations, or community service groups that you are involved with to see if they offer scholarships.
Parent’s Employer or Union: Parents can inquire with their employer or union to see if they offer scholarships for the dependent children of employees.
Online Scholarship Search: Students can independently search for scholarships on various websites that aggregate scholarship opportunities.

How to avoid scholarship scams:

It’s essential to be cautious of potential scholarship scams. Keep an eye out for these warning signs:

Asking for Payment: If an organization asks for credit card or checking account information, it’s likely a scam. Scholarship applications should always be free.
Guaranteed Scholarships: No one can guarantee a scholarship, so be wary of such promises.
Service Doing All the Work: If a service claims they will do everything for you, be cautious. You will typically need to provide personal information, complete essays, and offer references.
Random Selections or Contest Finalists: Genuine scholarship opportunities usually require you to apply. If you receive an offer out of the blue, be suspicious.

What to do if you are awarded an Outside Scholarship:

Once you’ve received notification about your private scholarship, you should notify the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment by uploading your scholarship award notification HERE

This will help determine if adjustments need to be made to any other financial aid you’ve received. The sooner you provide this information, the quicker the office can make necessary adjustments.

This ensures that your overall financial aid package reflects your private scholarship and avoids over-awarding or under-awarding other forms of financial aid.

Helpful Outside/Private Scholarship Searches: