College is a very expensive affair. Low-income students might find it a challenge to put themselves through college. The good news is there are some generous scholarships for low-income students. Read on to learn the 4 best scholarships and what you need to do to get them.
Horatio Alger National Scholarship
Horatio Alger Jr., renowned author, is responsible for sponsoring this scholarship. It’s one of the largest scholarships designed to handle the needs of low-income students. Nationally, they give out $25,000 scholarships to 106 needy students.
To be eligible a student needs to be a senior in high school with plans to attend college after graduation. The student needs to be committed to pursuing a degree at an accredited non-profit private or public institution in the US. Students have the option of starting their education at a 2-year institution and moving to a 4-year institution later.
Applicants need to demonstrate critical financial needs. Ideally, their gross family income should be $55,000 or less. They should be involved in community services and extra-curricular activities. Lastly, they should display perseverance and integrity in overcoming adversity. A 2.0 or higher GPA is required and the student needs to be an American citizen.
Juju Foundation Scholarship
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver created Smith-Shuster’s foundation. It’s designed to help any student facing economic hardships. It offers 4 students $5,000 scholarships. It’s open to high school students in the US. Furthermore, undergraduates who are having trouble paying for their education can apply. Students need to write an essay demonstrating their purpose, intent, and ambition as part of the application.
Gates Scholarship
This is a generous scholarship for funding all college expenses that aren’t covered by family contributions or financial aid. It gives 300 students assistance. To be eligible, students need to be high school seniors with permanent residency or American citizenship. They also need to be Pell Grant eligible. Lastly, students need to plan to study full-time in a degree program for a minimum of four years. This should be done at an accredited public or private non-profit university or college. They also need a minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Students who are in the top ten percent during graduation are likely to get the scholarship. They also need to demonstrate leadership by participating in activities like extracurricular activities and community service. Additionally, they have to possess characteristics such as perseverance, motivation, and emotional maturity.
Hagan Scholarship
Hagan Scholarship is designed to allow applicants to get a 4-year college education and graduate without any student loans. Apart from scholarship money, the program includes study abroad, investment account management services, and workshop participation. All these ensure the applicants get valuable life skills not found in a college curriculum. The scholarship gives students $48,000.
To be eligible, you need to be a US citizen and attend one of the 6,000 rural public high schools. A minimum of 3.75 GPA and plans to enroll at one of more than 1,000 eligible 4-year universities or colleges (non-profit). All applicants must work at least 240 hours in 52 weeks before fall semester enrollment. Lastly, all applicants must be Pell Grant eligible.
The Bottom Line
These are 4 of the best generous scholarships for low-income students. Students who meet the requirements for one or more of them should not hesitate to apply. Take note that a stellar education and extra-curricular activities track record increases the chances of getting one or more of these scholarships.