Worried about paying back student loans? National and international non-profit organizations, small companies, and large corporations offer private scholarships to all types of undergraduate students each year. In fact, some of your fellow Slippery Rock University classmates have taken advantage of this opportunity.

Finding Private Scholarships

You, too, can save money on your college tuition, other fees, and even books. All you have to do is a little research to find a scholarship that applies to you and your life. Whether you are very academic, good at sports, have a special talent, or just an average student, there is a scholarship applicable for you.

FastWeb is a very popular, reliable source for searching scholarships. Just fill out a profile!

FinAid! also lists academic scholarships along with scholarships for average students who excel in "athletic, or artistic merit, community service, extracurricular activities, or on skill in a non-academic discipline."

Scholarships for Military Children, students wishing to Study Abroad, and Future Teachers are just a few possibilities!

Try other FREE Internet scholarship search engines:
College Board
Scholarship Resource Network Express
Go College

Avoiding Scholarship Scams

The previous scholarship links are reliable, but there are some scholarship offers out there just looking to make some money of their own. To make this simple, do NOT apply to any scholarship asking for money! Before applying, check the following:

WARNING SIGNS:

1. Application Fee: Scholarships are not college applications--there is not a fee to apply!

2. Money Back Guarantee: Money should not have been given in the first place!

3. Credit Card/Bank Account Information: Never give out this information!

4. Exclusive Information: If unsure about its reliability, ask!

Common Scam Promises:

Pay an application/registration fee and receive: CASH, AWARDS, or a LOW INTEREST RATE

*Check reliability and report fraud through the Federal Trade Commission or U.S. Department of Education. *Find more information about scholarship scams on FastWeb's Scams Tip Sheet or FinAid's Scam Guide.