Educational Scholarships From the U.S. Government

Free Federal Money Targets Certain Students

College affordability tops many of the most current political and social issues. As the price tag for a college education steadily climbs the federal government struggles to balance budgets and allocate more money for federal loans, grants and scholarships. You might think federal scholarships would be easily accessible to a large majority of U.S. students, but hard and fast criteria cut out many contenders. Does the Federal government fail to appeal to the largest demographic?

Federally funded scholarships are just one component of a larger federal student assistance program. You already are familiar with the Federal Family Education Loan Program and scholarships provide free money to students that qualify.

Criteria Matters

A feature that distinguishes a scholarship from a student loan or grant is the program criteria, the qualifications. Most scholarships target students based on merit or need and then in relevance of career intent or type of college, among other things. As easy as it might seem to qualify for federal scholarships, the fact is that students often overlook the limitations and fail to strategize an effective scholarship search.

Succeed with Federal Scholarships

As you browse the scholarships notice first the outstanding criteria. Some require you have stellar grades, while others expect you demonstrate a career interest of particular national importance:

• Commit to a scholarship search. This means part of your daily or weekly routine must include new research.
• Keep track of your scholarship search. Note criteria and all other associated requirements for each award.
• Only apply for scholarships you qualify for; avoid trying to make a good argument for your consideration when you clearly do not qualify.
• Note deadlines. One of the biggest mistakes a student can make is to consider deadlines disposable. Miss the deadline and your application goes into the trash.
• Track scholarship submissions.

Federal Scholarship Programs

Your high school guidance/career counselor will be able to provide you with a list of applicable scholarships as well as make suggestions to help you search and apply with confidence. A selection of some of the more popular federal scholarships include:

• Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships are awarded annually to academically outstanding high school seniors across the nation. The program is funded by the federal government, but administered on a state level, so criteria may differ slightly. Candidates for the award are nominated by school officials based on high academic achievement in combination with extracurricular activities, leadership skills and career motivation. Byrd Scholars must be enrolled, at the time of the award, in a four-year college in the U.S. with the exception of military colleges. Awards are renewable for up to three years provided students maintain academic scores.
• The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Program lists top-level federal officials among its Board Members. The program is federally funded and designed to encourage outstanding college juniors that are committed to careers in politics or public policy. Candidates integrate exemplary leadership characteristics. In order to qualify for these prestigious awards, juniors must have plans to pursue a graduate degree in a closely related field. The scholarship involves both an application and an interview process. Once scholars are chosen they are expected to participate in a number of related activities. Truman Scholars may earn up to $30,000 in scholarship money.
• Undergraduate students whose primary career and academic interests lie in the sciences or math realms may qualify for the highly regarded Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships. Goldwater, an influential Senator during the 1960s and 1970s solidified the modern conservatives. Candidates must be sophomores or juniors. Applicants are reviewed for their academic record, their demonstrated passion for their chosen field and motivation to offer innovative contributions in their future careers. Typically 300+ Goldwater Scholarships are given each year to students across the United States. Statistics show that the large majority of scholars hail from top academic universities. Awards may be up to $7,500 per year.
• Critical staffing shortages in the health care fields are part of the federal government’s responsibility. A well-advertised part of the problem is the shortage of nurses and the cost of education for a nursing degree. The Nursing Scholarship Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is a scholarship-for-service program. Recipients of the scholarship monies agree to work for an agreed upon length of time in a critically underserved medical facility once they graduate from nursing school. Candidates must prove financial necessity for this program and must be enrolled in an accredited nursing program; two or four-year program.
• National Security Education Program David L. Boren Study Abroad Scholarships of course target students willing to study internationally. The main purpose of the Boren Scholarships, however, is to train a new generation of professionals with niche knowledge of critical cultures and languages. This is a scholarship for service program that hand picks hundreds of academically talented undergraduates with a career zeal for national security or a closely related field. Qualified applicants must have an interest to study in challenging locations and become fluent in the language including regional dialects and colloquialisms. Awards are up to $25
• The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships bear resemblance to the NSEP program in that a primary constraint is the study abroad component. Otherwise the scholarships diverge. Applicants for the Gilman Scholarships may be students at a four-year or two year college. The awards are exclusive to Pell Grant recipients with a solid academic record in combination with motivation. Applicants may choose to study in almost any country in the world that is not under a U.S. government travel warning. Scholarships cover expenses for a year of study.

Federal Scholarship Shortcomings

Both the Nursing Scholarship Program and the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship welcome applicants from two-year degree programs along with those in a traditional four-year program. However, in large part the remainder of the federal scholarships target elite brainiacs at four-year colleges. I started off my college career in a community college, which automatically eliminated me from almost all of the above free funding opportunities. Of course my academics were a constraint as well. Be aware that scholarships come bundled with very specific requirements and the federal government is looking for the best of the best for the most part. Other scholarship constraints include:

• Financial need is the other big scholarship criterion. A common metric for the determination of financial need is the Pell Grant.
• Scholarship-for-service programs like the Nursing Scholarship Program and the David L. Boren Scholarships require recipients to agree to “repay” scholarship with service time in a government agency.
• Federal scholarships are high profile and ultra-competitive. Those that dole out hundreds of awards receive applications from many thousands of students.

Part of the shortcomings with the federally funded scholarships is the gap in between the scholars and the financially needy, where the average student floats along with thousands of others.