Navigating Scholarships for Online Education: How to Secure Funding

scholarships online education

Why Online Education?

One of the best investments you can make is a college degree. However, with the rapid increase in tuition and living expenses, many people question whether the cost of a college degree is worth it. We’re here to say, if you find an affordable online college with good financial aid, it can set you up for success. If you are seeking clarification about financial aid more broadly, check out our guide to financial aid for online students.

Tuition is not the only factor affecting the cost of a college degree. You’d also have to worry about school supplies like textbooks, transportation, and housing. Textbooks alone are expensive, with some costing up to $100 a book.

According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost for an on-campus degree is $38,270 per student per year. If let’s say, you’re from a family who is earning only $50,000 a year, these costs can be impossible to pay for. This means you must take massive student loans to pay for your college expenses.

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As a result, more and more students are switching to online learning. While tuition costs for on-campus and online courses are often similar, students can save money on other expenses with online learning. For example, they can avoid costs like commuting, parking, and buying textbooks in person. If you’re an adult learner check out our guide on financial aid for adult learners.

Beyond cost savings, online learning is also preferred for the flexibility and accessibility it offers. These benefits are especially helpful for those with jobs, family responsibilities, or other commitments. It also gives access to those living in remote areas and those who have no means to relocate and uproot their whole lives.

Nevertheless, it’s still important to consider scholarships for online education. Unlike loans, you don’t need to repay this financial aid. However, there will be certain steps and strategies to secure these funds effectively.

In this post, we will help you navigate scholarships for online education. We will include topics like how to find the right scholarships, how to apply for them, and tips for raising your chances of receiving funding.

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Understanding Scholarships for Online Education

Think about the pay gap between workers who have completed only high school and those who have attended some college.

  • Employees with a high school education earn $1.6 million on average throughout their careers.
  • Those with an associate’s degree get $2 million on average.
  • Workers with a bachelor’s degree earn $2.8 million on average over their life.

The benefits of a college education are obvious. However, for low-income students in particular, the idea of taking on debt is unsettling. The cost should never force someone to abandon their dreams of college and a better life.

The solution? Scholarships.

Scholarships for online education are similar to those for traditional on-campus programs. These scholarships are designed to help online students alleviate the heavy cost of a college degree. They aim to save students from taking on several student loans that could affect their return on investment.

There are common misconceptions that scholarships for online education are rare and hard to apply for. This is not completely true. Thanks to various free online databases, you can easily find scholarships for online education without much hassle. However, similar to on-campus scholarship programs, you need to compete for them.

Scholarships are naturally competitive. Regardless of whether you’re applying for an online or on-campus program, you need to beat other applicants. You’d often need to surpass the scholarship’s minimum eligibility criteria to stand out.

Where to Find Scholarships for Online Students

Online education funding opportunities are limited and often more competitive than campus-based opportunities. You need to be keen and vigilant when searching for online degree scholarships. An increasing number of scammers target students seeking financial aid, so it’s crucial to approach this search cautiously.

You first need to ask the college’s financial aid counselors for any scholarship opportunities. Colleges will usually post to their home pages if they offer any scholarships for online students. You can also ask your employer for any tuition aid programs if you’re employed.

Top scholarship search engines list a variety of scholarships and thoroughly vet current programs to ensure they are legitimate and up-to-date. Here are the most trusted websites and search engines:

  • Scholarships.com

This is a comprehensive platform that categorizes scholarship opportunities. You can search for financial aid based on test scores, GPA, field, military affiliation, talent, etc.

  • Fastweb

Fastweb collects awards from directories of all sizes. You may need to create a profile to start your search. However, after completing the basic registration procedure, searching for scholarships is simple. Additionally, Fastweb will let you know when deadlines are approaching and when a new scholarship that fits your description is posted.

  • College Board

Beyond its well-known college admission tests, College Board offers a robust scholarship search tool that helps students find relevant funding opportunities and planning resources.

  • Going Merry

This platform simplifies the scholarship application process. It allows students to apply for multiple scholarships with one application and offers a streamlined interface for managing applications. It also offers several guides on how to find online scholarships.

  • ScholarshipOwl

This search engine provides a unique approach. ScholarshipOwl matches users with scholarships and allows them to apply to multiple scholarships through a single application, saving time and effort.

  • Bold.org

This website focuses on creating new scholarship opportunities and straightforward applications. Unlike other scholarship opportunities, those found at Bold.org do not require an essay.

  • Cappex

Cappex offers a wide range of scholarships and detailed profiles of colleges and universities. It also provides valuable guidance on how to apply for virtual learning scholarships.

  • Scholly

When you fill out your profile on Scholly, it searches for scholarships that match you and makes a list just for you. Each scholarship gets a Scholly score showing how well it fits you, with higher scores meaning a better match.

  • CareerOneStop

The CareerOneStop site from the US Department of Labor has over 8,000  financial aid for online students. You can search or sort them by keyword, amount, deadline, or location. Scholarships are for vocational, associate, undergraduate, and graduate students.

  • Sallie Mae

Known primarily for student loans, Sallie Mae also offers a scholarship search tool and gives useful tips for online education scholarships.

These search engines have been around for years. They’ve proven their legitimacy and accuracy by consistently delivering reliable and updated information.

Types of Scholarships Available for Online Learning

As an online student, you have access to different types of scholarship programs, including:

Merit-based

Merit-based scholarships are granted to students who excel in:

  • academics
  • arts
  • athletics
  • community service and leadership

High school students can find these scholarships by consulting their guidance counselors, contacting college financial aid offices, or checking scholarship sections on college websites. Various organizations provide these scholarships, including businesses, clubs, foundations, and community groups.

Need-based

Need-based aid, including federal and state programs, is intended for students with financial need. The Pell Grant, a major federal source of need-based aid, provides up to $7,395 for the 2024-2025 school year and does not require repayment.

States may offer additional need-based aid, including:

  • grants
  • work-study programs
  • tuition waivers for in-state students

Nonprofits and businesses also provide need-based aid. To renew aid, students typically fill out the FAFSA annually or provide income verification for private programs.

Program-specific options

If you’re in any of the following fields, you can expect plenty of program-specific options:

  1. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
  2. Education
  3. Business

These are the top fields offering the most scholarship opportunities for online students. You can often find these in professional organizations. For instance, the National Science Foundation (NSF) mostly offers STEM scholarships. Education scholarships may be provided by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) or the National Education Association (NEA). If you’re a business student, visit the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

If you’re studying in a different field, look into private, professional organizations related to that area. They often offer scholarships and financial aid tailored to your specific degree.

You’ll have plenty of options. You just need to know where to look for them.

How to Apply for Online Education Scholarships

Finding scholarships tailored to online courses can be daunting if you don’t break the steps into smaller pieces. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to finding and applying for virtual learning funding opportunities:

#1: Creating a Detailed Timeline

Break down yearly and monthly goals into manageable tasks, such as finishing brainstorming, the first draft, and the final product. These goals can relate to the number of scholarships you want to apply to and can be revised throughout the year.

#2: Focusing on the Research and Planning Phase

Start by identifying potential scholarships and researching them thoroughly. Regularly check scholarship databases and familiarize yourself with the necessary materials. During this phase, consider meeting with a counselor or coach to provide guidance and advice on applying to scholarships and post-secondary programs.

#3: The Application Phase

The Application Phase for scholarships can overlap with the Research and Planning Phase. During this phase, draft your applications, gather supplementary documents like reference letters and transcripts, and update your resume. Here are a few tips on writing personal statements for online degree scholarships:

  1. Start on your personal statement early.
  2. Consider your statement’s impact on an audience. Avoid lengthy responses to maintain the reader’s attention.
  3. Show who you are and what matters to you, not just what you think the readers want to hear. Readers see many applications and can tell if you’re being fake.
  4. Be careful with humor and clichés.
  5. Be reflective and use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Moreover, engaging in relevant clubs, volunteer work, or new projects can enhance your applications and make you stand out.

Be aware of common planning mistakes, such as underestimating the time required for tasks. AI tools can assist with planning and writing, but use them critically and avoid overreliance. Personalize your applications and ensure that you follow academic integrity guidelines to avoid plagiarism.

Tips for Maximizing Scholarship Opportunities

Obtaining a scholarship is a challenging journey that requires hard work and commitment. You’ll be competing against hundreds of students in need of financial aid. Consider taking these steps:

  1. Complete your FAFSA application as early as possible. Scholarships offered by the federal government are also limited; the earlier you apply, the more chances you’ll have of getting prioritized.
  2. Apply for multiple scholarships to boost your chances of being awarded funding for education. Make a list of scholarships that align with your criteria and note each application’s requirements and deadlines.
  3. Carefully follow the guidelines and instructions for a scholarship application. Always double-check that you’ve met all the requirements before submitting. Adhering to the specified format, word count, and any other instructions shows attention to detail and respect for the process.

Empower Your Online Education Journey

College is increasingly becoming more expensive, regardless of whether you’re studying online or on campus. The best thing you can do is find financial support for online college students. Although applying for scholarships might be difficult, it is a worthwhile task to increase degree ROI.

Remember, the power is in your hands. Give it your all and put your best foot forward in the application process. Want real life examples? Check out these financial aid success stories!