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Shoot for These 5 Big Deal College Scholarships

When it comes to scholarships, every student dreams of getting a full ride from his or her chosen school or a massive award from a well-known company or organization. Unfortunately, these scholarships are few and far between, and receiving one is rare.

However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore these prestigious scholarships. Send in your application if you meet the requirements. Shoot for the stars and you may land one of these highly coveted awards.

[Target thesequick and easy college scholarship applications.]

Being one of the recipients of the Central Intelligence Agency’s undergraduate scholarship program means you’ve been given a unique opportunity to work for the U.S. government while completing your degree. You’ll need to demonstrate financial need in addition to strong academic achievements and commit to working for the CIA every summer before graduation, among other things. In turn, the CIA will pay an annual salary, up to $18,000 annually in tuition expenses, offer benefits and give you some incredible work experience to list on your resume.

If you have expert knowledge in a certain area and are working on a major project to prove it, you could qualify for a Davidson Fellows scholarship.

Applicants need to be 18 or younger on Oct. 1, and must have completed a significant piece of work in one of the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math, or in music, literature or the humanities.

These aren’t just any projects — yours should be recognized as exceptional by experts in the field and and demonstrate unique applications of existing knowledge, creative ideas or significant advancements in a certain field. Awards can be enormous and range from $10,000 to $50,000.

[Try talking tothese people to find more college scholarships.]

Is the health care field more interesting to you than other careers? The National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program awards students from disadvantaged backgrounds up to $80,000 over the course of four years.

Applicants have to commit to a career in biomedical, behavioral or social science health-related research, undertake a paid 10-week training each summer after receiving the scholarship and dedicate one year of full-time work after graduation to the NIH for every year they’ve received the award. A massive scholarship and guaranteed job after graduation don’t sound too bad to us.

[Look intoscholarships for college degrees that employers want.]

The Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway requires a little bit of work, but it has the potential to really pay off. Submit a short story about yourself and your goals and encourage everyone you know to vote for it on the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway website.

Applicants who get enough votes will be allowed to make a short video and have the opportunity to win anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000 to pay for college. Remember to add this scholarship to your list – you could be the next big winner!

Students who have a 2.0 GPA or above, meet financial aid requirements and can demonstrate they’ve overcome adversity while remaining active in their communities may qualify for one of the many scholarships awarded by the Horatio Alger Association.

The organization gives away more than $10.5 million in scholarships every year, some of which are worth up to $22,000. Scholarships are awarded on a national and state level, and a few more are targeted to students who plan on attending specific colleges and universities.

With some perseverance, hard work and a little luck, you could be a lucky winner of one of these prestigious scholarships.

More from U.S. News

Follow 4 Steps to Narrow Your College Scholarship Search

Talk to Admission Counselors to Maximize College Merit Financial Aid

Find Scholarships for Current College Students

Shoot for These 5 Big Deal College Scholarships originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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