With the cost of college increasing and student loan debt rising, you should explore all options for paying for college. You can drive down the cost of college by applying for free money available through scholarship programs. Scholarships can come from a variety of sources, for example, state and federal governments, as well as many private sources, such as your or your parents’ employers, your church, as well organizations and associations to which you or your parents belong.

If you're considering diving into the college scholarship quest, gather resources and talk with professionals, like your high school counselor or college financial aid administrators, who can help you. Information in this section can help you get started.