​FINANCIAL
​AID
is a a catch-all term that refers to any money offered to a student to help cover costs associated with being a student. Financial aid can be made up of any combination of grants, loans, stipends, benefits, work study programs, or scholarships. Financial aid can come from many sources: local, state, or federal governments, colleges or universities, professional organizations, private charities, or individuals.  

How can I apply for SCHOLARSHIPS?

  • Scholarship opportunities are listed in NAVIANCE (click on Colleges, then scholarship list)
  • Each individual college and university has their own scholarships - take a look at their financial aid page for details!
  • Check out your parents employers, local community agencies, churches, and organizations - many of them offer scholarships!
  • There are many websites that list scholarship opportunities (some are listed at the bottom of this page). Just remember to NEVER PAY to apply for a scholarship. 

What is the FAFSA?


The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is an online form that students (with help from their parents or guardians) complete to apply and qualify for federal financial aid (grants and loans) to help pay for college. It will generate a financial report that will be sent to each college or university you apply for, so that they can determine your estimated cost of attending college. The FAFSA report helps them determine your expected family contribution to decide how much money a student is eligible to receive in the form or grants or loans.

The FAFSA opens in October of each year for students who will begin college the next calendar year. 
Parents or guardians should have their tax information to make it easier to apply for the FAFSA – the earlier the better!

The Office of Federal Student Aid has some great resources on completing the FAFSA:
Filling Out the FAFSA form
​FAFSA: Applying for AID
How Aid Is Calculated

Ready to start? You can begin filling out your FAFSA HERE

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VIDEO: How to Fill Out the FAFSA

VIDEO: What Happens After the FAFSA is filled out?

Outside Scholarship & Financial Aid Links

CMS Scholarships - CMS online scholarship guide
FastWeb - Student Resource Network for paying for colleges
FinAid - The SmartStudent guide to financial aid
Scholarsite - Scholarship search
Scholarships - Scholarship search
Find Tuition - Find College Scholarships, Financial Aid, and Student Loans
College Scholarships - Find College scholarships, college testing prep, and online college programs
GoCollege - College and Scholarship Search Website
City of College Dream - Making College Dreams Come True
College Board - Admissions and Financial Aid information
College Foundation of NC - Helping you plan, apply, and pay for colleges in North Carolina
Federal Student Aid - Federal Student Aid information
Free Application for Federal Student Aid - FAFSA Application
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) - Information about Financial Aid
North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NCASFAA) - Financial Aid information for North Carolina