How to Win Scholarships and Grants from the State of Alabama

The State of Alabama offers several different types of scholarships, grants, and other financial aid.

The first step to receiving government financial aid for your education is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can find more information about how to apply by visiting the Federal Student Aid Office of the U.S. Department of Education. It’s important to note that this is a federal program.

After completing the FAFSA, you can research scholarships offered by the State of Alabama. Remember, always pay close attention to the eligibility requirements before you apply for scholarships. Certain awards may require you to attend a specific college, have a certain GPA, or meet a particular level of financial need. In the case of student scholarships and grants from the Alabama state government, you’ll likely have to be a resident of Alabama to qualify.

Below, we’ve compiled some useful resources and links to help you find scholarships, grants, and financial aid programs that fit your profile.

Alabama Scholarship Programs

If you’d like to search for scholarships offered by the State of Alabama, you can visit the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) Scholarships Resources Page. Here are some examples of the scholarship programs offered:

Alabama Scholarships for Dependents of Blind Parents

An award to cover instructional fees and tuition at an Alabama state institution of higher learning for children from families in which the head of the family is blind and whose family income is insufficient to provide educational benefits.

Students who are Alabama residents and from families in which the head of the family is blind and whose family income is insufficient to provide educational benefits for attendance at an Alabama postsecondary institution. Students must apply within two years of high school graduation.

Senior Adult Scholarship Program

A free tuition program for senior citizens (persons aged 60 or over) who meet the admission requirements and attend public two-year postsecondary institutions in Alabama.

Two-Year College Academic Scholarship Program

An award not to exceed instate tuition and books for attendance at public two-year postsecondary educational institutions in Alabama. Awards are based on demonstrated academic merit as determined by the institutional scholarship committee. Awards are not based on financial need.

Students who are accepted for enrollment at public two-year postsecondary educational institutions in Alabama. Awards may be renewed if students demonstrate academic excellence. Priorities are given to in-state residents.

Alabama Grant Programs

Alabama also offers grants for college students who reside in the state. You can learn more about the awards by visiting ACHE’s complete list of grants. Here are a couple of examples of those financial aid opportunities:

Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP)

ASAP is a need-based, state grant ranging from $300 to $5,000 per academic year. Eligible students are undergraduate students who are Alabama residents attending eligible Alabama institutions. Nearly 80 Alabama institutions participate in the program. To apply please submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the federal government. This form should be filed beginning October 1 each year and is available on the FAFSA website or the financial aid office at the institution you plan to attend.

Alabama Student Grant Program

This grant is available only to students at an eligible independent Alabama college or university. This is not a needs-based program. Grant amounts vary from year-to-year based on the availability of funds, but cannot exceed $3,000 per academic year. Applications are available from the financial aid office at the institution you plan to attend and also can be found below. Application deadline dates are printed on the application form.

Community College Scholarships and Financial Aid

For students attending community college in Alabama, there are resources to help you connect with financial aid, grants, and scholarships.

The Alabama Community College System offers you a list of financial aid resources for over twenty schools in the state, which help students pay for college. Here’s one example of a scholarship award offered from state funds within the community college system in Alabama:

Leadership in Child Care Scholarship

This scholarship, which is made available from funding by the Alabama Department of Human Resources, provides students with the opportunity to pursue several different credentials and degrees in Child Development/Early Care and Education/Early Childhood Education studies at a community college or at Athens State.

Find More Scholarships Now

If you’re looking for more college scholarships and grants, you can also use the BridgesEDU Scholarship Finder. It’s free and can help you get started on the road to paying for your education. The scholarship database matches you with thousands of scholarships, which you can easily sort through on your dashboard. You can also use our blog as a resource to help you create great scholarship applications. We post about the most common questions students have like what scholarship committees look for and how to address weaknesses in your profile.

The best time to apply for scholarships is now. Even if certain scholarship contests haven’t opened yet, it’s best to be aware of awards that fit well with your profile. You can save these for later and ensure that you submit an application before the deadline. College costs keep rising, but there are scholarship opportunities that can help keep your education expenses low. Don’t wait another moment!

The post How to Win Scholarships and Grants from the State of Alabama first appeared on BridgesEDU Scholarships.

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