If you are a new or soon-to-be high school graduate in Alabama and need to find some free college scholarship money there are many local resources you can look to before you decide to take on those student loans.
In fact, Alabama is one of the highest grossing states in the union for college scholarship funding. If you live in the counties of Montgomery, Elmore, Pike, or Lowndes, the first stop on your scholarship search should be the Central Alabama Community Foundation.
This foundation awards up to $2.5 million per year to students in these counties alone. From their website:
Through its 170+ funds, CACF addresses a wide variety of concerns, supporting projects and programs in education, health, human services, cultural arts, recreation, historic preservation and other civic concerns.
If you do not live in those particular counties there are still plenty of full-ride and partial-ride scholarships specific to Alabama.
Alabama Teaching (Education) Scholarship
If you’re a student looking into the teaching profession, the Jay Murphy Scholarship is the one for you. To qualify for this, however, you’ll need to have at least a 2.5GPA and an essay with your career goals. Before applying for this scholarship, speak with your guidance counselor. He or she should be able to get you the application paperwork you need for this scholarship.
Scholarship for Alabama Minorities
Minority students can check out the Earl P. Andrews Memorial Scholarship but you’ll need an ACT score of at least 23, GPA of 3.5 and submit transcripts as well as an essay on your career goals. Females might also be interested in the American Business Women’s Association Scholarship.
Other details about the scholarship include:
Funded in 1989 by Mrs. Olive Andrews in memory of her son, this scholarship is awarded annually to a minority student based on academic achievement and need. Applicant must have a minimum ACT score of 23 (or SAT equivalent) and a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Finalists may have a personal interview with the selection committee. Value of scholarship ranges from $500 – $1,000.
Alabama Funeral Directors Scholarship
The Alabama Funeral Directors Scholarship consists of two $1,000 scholarships, each awarded to an applicant from the state of Alabama. Applicants need not be pursuing a funeral related career path. The scholarship is paid directly to the college or university the student has applied to.
For more information about this scholarship, please see www.alabamafda.org.
First in Family Full-Ride Alabama Scholarship
The First in Family Scholarship for freshmen students is a full-ride scholarship for students who do not necessarily have perfect GPA’s or academic histories. From their website:
First in Family Scholarships, a $10 million scholarship program endowed by Ms. Smith, is unusual at a time when competition for college scholarships has become so intense that often only straight-A students are considered. Ms. Smith believes that, although these straight-A students have plenty of opportunities, those whose high school grades suffer because they must help raise siblings or hold down jobs do not have those same opportunities.
For more information about this scholarship., please visit http://foundationcenter.org.
There are far more scholarships available to Alabama highschool and college students. If you’re unsure about where to turn, your high school counselor should have a free list of scholarships to help you along the way.
If you’ve already graduated high school, you can contact your university advisor, admissions office or financial aid advisor for a list of scholarships. Some scholarships are only rewarded to particular universities.
Even if you have a long list of free scholarship opportunities, it would also be a good idea to obtain one from your particular university. It just might give you the edge you need to go to college free.