Merit Scholarships

Merit scholarships are competitive. You face a national pool of applicants. Your best alternative might be to search for scholarships that are local to your city or state. Completing a scholarship search is the best way to begin. Try
www.fastweb.com
or
Duval County Scholarship Book On-line.

Merit and Need-Based Scholarships on the Web
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
George Washinton Crossing Scholrship
Ayn Rand Scholarships
Southern Scholarship Foundation - subsidized housing at FSU, UF, BCC, FAMU
Ron Brown African American Scholarship
Bill Gates' Millennium Scholars Program
Universal Cheerleader's Association Online
US Marine Corp Scholarships
Tylenol Scholarships
Coca Cola Scholars Program
State Farm Scholarship Programs
Baptist Scholarships
Intel Science Search
Discover Card Tribute for Juniors
NCAA Scholarship Page
Dance Scholarships
Large List of Scholarships
College Answer
Michigan State U Library
Twins and Multiples - Scholarships

Essay Writing Contests
Anti-Defamation League
Society of Professional Journalists
Voice of Democracy
Ayn Rand Institute
American Foreign Service Association

Search for scholarships at these sites:
Athletic Scholarships
The College Board Online
Financial Aid Information Page
Paying For School
Parent Soup Financial Aid Information
Molis Minority Scholarships
Office of Postsecondary Education US Govt
Scholarships-4u.com
FAFSA On-Line
FastWeb - Financial Aid Search
ScholarStuff
Sallie Mae
Florida Resident Scholarships
**New** on Cyberguidance: Minority Scholarship Page
College Scholarship Search
Student Scholarship Search
Scholarship Points
International Scholarships
Scholarships.com
MeritAid

From U.S. News:
Following are the schools with the highest percentage of students receiving non-need based aid.
(get Web addresses here)
Cooper Union (NY)
Anderson University (SC)
Benedictine College (KS)
University of Florida *
Denison University (OH)
Hampden-Sydney College (VA)
New College of Florida *
DePauw University (IN)
Sweet Briar College (VA)
University of Portland (OR)
Trinity University (TX)
University of the Ozarks (AR)
Birmingham-Southern College (AL)
Montreat College (NC)
College of Wooster (OH)
Longy School of Music (MA)
Westminster College (MO)
California Lutheran University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Truman State University (MO)*
Berry College (GA)
Hendrix College (AR)
Millsaps College (MS)
Fontbonne University (MO)
University of Dayton (OH)
Washington College (MD)
Belmont University (TN)
Catholic University of America (DC)
Coe College (IA) 39%
Miami University–Oxford (OH)*
Randolph-Macon College (VA)
Rhodes College (TN)
Albion College (MI)
Brigham Young University–Provo (UT)
Kalamazoo College (MI)
Loyola University New Orleans
Mississippi College
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
St. Andrews Presbyterian College (NC)
Stetson University (FL)
St. John's University (MN)
Wesleyan College (GA)
Gonzaga University (WA)
Lynchburg College (VA)
Transylvania University (KY)
University of Michigan–Dearborn *
Andrews University (MI)
Austin College (TX)
Centre College (KY)
Eckerd College (FL)
Huntingdon College (AL)
University of Tulsa (OK)
West Virginia University *
Morehouse College (GA)
Mount St. Mary's University (MD)
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania *
Valley City State University (ND)*
Hanover College (IN)
Missouri State University *
Murray State University (KY)*
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology *
Oklahoma Baptist University
Presbyterian College (SC)
Randolph College (VA)
Southern Methodist University (TX)
University of South Carolina–Columbia *
Wagner College (NY)
Albertson College (ID)
Baylor University (TX)
Creighton University (NE)
Florida International University *
Georgetown College (KY)
Grinnell College (IA)
Mercer University (GA)
Monmouth University (NJ)
Tuskegee University (AL)
University of Dallas
College of St. Benedict (MN)
Drake University (IA)
Drew University (NJ)
Georgia Institute of Technology *
Grove City College (PA)
Loras College (IA)
Mayville State University (ND)*
Missouri Valley College
St. Joseph's University (PA)
Tulane University (LA)
University of Rochester (NY)
Westminster College (UT)
Agnes Scott College (GA)
Bridgewater College (VA)
Carroll College (MT)
Case Western Reserve University (OH)
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Duquesne University (PA)
Furman University (SC)
Goucher College (MD)
Harding University (AR)
Hope College (MI)
Louisiana Tech University *
Spring Hill College (AL)
St. Norbert College (WI)
University of Nebraska–Kearney *
University of Texas–Austin *
Willamette University (OR)
* denotes a public school.

Financial Aid Based on Need

Many students receive need based financial aid. Completion of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in January of your senior year is essential in this process. You should, however, complete a financial estimator form to determine before you get your FAFSA results just how much college will cost you. See how one family will pay for college on the Need Comparison Chart. NOTE: any of these four college will cost this family ONLY what their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $4,500. See how.

Bill Spiers' Financial Aid Presentation
This is the presentation that Bill does for Stanton students and parents in January, explaining need based financial aid. Click here
A sample of a FAFSA is here.



EFC - Expected Family Contribution
This is an important index in determining how much college will cost your family. The following documents explain the EFC and provide a worksheet that you can use NOW! This document requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

EFC Worksheets for college year 2008-2009.

Complete a financial aid estimator at one of these sites:
FAFSA 4Caster
The College Board Online
Financial Aid Information Page
College Answer

Learn about how financial aid packages work as well as student load debt.
Project on Student Debt
College Answer
Debt to Income Calculator

At FinAid.org, there are many calculators to help you plan your expenses, loans, insurance, and any other college cost. Here are the menu items on their page of calculators:
Costs
* College Cost Projector
* Tuition Model. Explains why tuition increases faster than inflation.
Savings
* Savings Plan Designer (Flat Contribution)
* Savings Plan Designer (Percent of Income Contribution)
* Savings Growth Projector
* Annual Yield
* Compound Interest
* Savings Plan Yield
* Prepaid Tuition and 529 College Savings Plan Calculator
* Savings vs Borrowing Calculator
Integrated Saving/Borrowing
* Level Payment Calculator (Amount)
* Level Payment Calculator (Percent of Income)
* Inverted Level Payment Calculator (Amount)
* Inverted Level Payment Calculator (Percent of Income)
Trust Funds
* Net Present Value Calculator
Needs Analysis
* Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid or
Streamlined EFC Calculator
* Dependency Status Form
* Quick EFC Approximation Calculator (not EFC)
* Quick EFC Approximation Chart (not EFC)
* Proposal for Simplified EFC (not EFC)
* Federal Housing Index
Loans
* Loan Calculator (Standard and Extended Repayment)
* Loan Payment Chart Generator (Rates vs Fees)
* Loan Payment Chart Generator (Balance vs Rates)
* Income Contingent Repayment Loan Payment Calculator
* Income Sensitive Repayment Loan Payment Calculator
* Income-Based Repayment Loan Payment Calculator
* Graduated Repayment Loan Payment Calculator
* Loan Consolidation Calculator
* How Much to Borrow Calculator
* Student Loan Advisor - Undergraduate Students
* Student Loan Advisor - Master's Students
* Student Loan Advisor - Doctoral Students
* Parent Loan Advisor
* Stafford vs. PLUS Comparison Chart
* No-Fee Equivalent Interest Rate
* No-Fee Equivalent Interest Rate Chart
* Loan Comparison
* Cost of Interest Capitalization
* Loan Interest Rate Inverter
* Loan Term Inverter
* Loan Discount Analyzer
The Loan Discount Analyzer combines, enhances and replaces the Loan Analyzer and the Loan Discounts.
* Upfront Fee Equivalent Interest Rate
* Economic Hardship Deferment Calculator
* Prepayment Calculator
Loan Default
* Loan Default Calculator
* Collection Cost Impact Chart
Peer-to-Peer Loans
* Peer-to-Peer Lender Calculator
Budgeting
* Student Budget Calculator
* Family Budget Analyzer
Award Letter Comparison
* Award Letter Comparison Tool (Simple)
* Award Letter Comparison Tool (Advanced)
Insurance
* Life Insurance Needs