How Do Scholarships Help Students Reduce the Cost of College

Lots of students and their families are excited by the chance to go to college, and they are eager to prepare for it in any way that they can. As we all know, the biggest hurdle for going to college is money. For those who have trouble affording the high costs, there is always a solution out there.

One great, well-known solution is scholarships. But, while most people understand that, what they may not know is precisely how to get a scholarship. In this article, we are going to break down how scholarships lower costs, and where to find them. Because at NSHSS, we want every student to be prepared for the road ahead.

What is a Scholarship?

• According to an article written for Southern New Hampshire University, a scholarship is an award of money that is provided for a student to support their pursuit of a college degree. Types include scholarships for current students, military affiliation scholarships, scholarship contests and more.
• A scholarship is not a loan, which is expected to be repaid, nor is it related to a work-study program, which is earned based on the work you do for a certain program.
• The basic types of scholarships, as mentioned above, are merit-based, need-based, and specialized based on your background and individual situation.

How Do Scholarships Reduce the Cost of College?

• Scholarships can help reduce college costs in a variety of ways. The first thing to note is that the funds are most often sent directly to the university from whatever company or organization granting the money to the student. This cuts out the middleman for the student or parent who wants to make sure the money arrives on time.
• If the student receives a significant amount exceeding tuition, the money can also be used for housing, meal plans, textbooks, and any other supplies a student might need.
• This supplemental coverage helps reduce the financial stress for both students and their families throughout each term. And this can be done with many scholarship funds combined if the student wins more than one.

What are the benefits of a Scholarship Beyond the Money?

• By winning a scholarship, the student selected will be given the chance to display their achievements in a variety of ways. The student might be featured on a company’s website as a distinguished winner.
• They will have the opportunity to network with those people at the company or organization who gave them the scholarship.
• On top of the accolade associated with it, winning scholarship money inherently reduces the stress that a student might otherwise be under during their school term.

Where Can Students Find Scholarships?

• At NSHSS, we value our commitment to being a top network for students to discover all kinds of incredible scholarships. If you are interested in pursuing some of your own, check out our amazing resources, as well as blogs like this one to help explain more about how scholarships work.
• Beyond our own arena, there are plenty of wonderful places to help your student find the best scholarship for their future! These include studentaid.gov, College Board’s BigFuture, scholarship.org, as well as school counselors, community organizations, and honor societies.

How Do NSHSS Scholarships Help Students Reduce College Costs?

• NSHSS is a valuable network for like-minded students and counselors. Our members are introduced to hundreds of partner scholarships across many different fields.
• And, as a member, applying to them is completely free!
• For more information about the scholarships we offer, or any questions you or your student might have about our scholarships, check out our website!