Scholarships

The Federal Student Aid office of the US Department of Education publishes this resource. The site includes a financial aid wizard, a scholarship search by keyword, and a scholarship matching wizard which performs a comprehensive search for scholarships based on personal information.

Fastweb is a free searchable database of scholarships. Upon registering with Fastweb, data is collected to match you with scholarships in the Fastweb data base that you can apply for while ruling out any scholarships that you don't qualify for. Fastweb also offers advice on applying to scholarships.

Finaid.org's page dedicated to scholarships gives useful links and good tips for finding and applying for undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships.

The College Board's Scholarship Search was created with the purpose of helping student's locate scholarships, internships, grants, and loans that match their education level, talents, and background. There is a brief questionnaire but no account registration necessary. The Scholarship Search contains more than 2,300 sources of funding totaling nearly $3 billion in available aid.

Peterson's is one of the largest databases of college scholarships available. The scholarship search is free and connects students with over $7 billion in awards. Once you register for an account with Peterson's StudentEdge or log into an existing account, the scholarship search tool allows you to complete your profile and view a list of scholarships that match your qualifications. Scholarships can also be searched by keyword.

Sallie Mae's free Scholarship Search offers access to an award database that contains more than 3 million scholarships worth over $16 billion. The database is said to be expanded and updated daily. You must register to use the Scholarship Search, but it offers neat, personalized tools to aid your search such as a printable calendar listing filtered scholarships by deadline, the ability to rate scholarships in order to prioritize which to pursue, and an adjustable setting to see more or fewer awards based on accuracy.

This website does not require you to create an account or profile but still allows you to search for scholarships based on your background and interests. You can browse scholarships under the following criteria: athletic, minority, degree level, by subject, by state, or by student type.

Black College Dollars is a free scholarship search aimed towards African-American students and contains more than 300 scholarships. The database is searchable by GPA, academic and career interest, and application deadline. The directory is a part of the Sallie Mae Fund's multi-faceted African-American College Access Initiative which was launched in October 2005 in order to improve access to higher education among African-American students.

This directory provides information on each state's higher education programs, colleges and universities, financial aid assistance programs, grants, scholarships, and more.

Opportunity Maine is a program that was developed in 2006 that attempts to address Maine's educational, economic, and energy challenges. In the context of education, Opportunity Maine provides a state income tax credit for student loan payments made by Colby graduates who subsequently reside, work, and pay taxes in the State of Maine. Thus, if you live, work, and  pay taxes in Maine at any time within 10 years after graduation while still repaying undergraduate student loan debt, you will be considered for the tax credit. The average student credit is worth about $2100 each year though this figure will vary based on tax liability and how much student loan debt has been repaid. Some students can claim up to the cap of $5,500 each year.

FAME is a resource that promotes access to and completion of post-secondary education by providing free information on planning and paying for college. FAME has a searchable database of Maine-based scholarships in addition to other resources regarding financing an education.

The Maine Community Foundation awards over $1 million each year from more than 400 different scholarship funds. The Maine Community Foundation scholarships provide financial assistance for Maine residents attending accredited colleges and universities; each scholarship has its own eligibility requirements (often based on county of residence or high school attended) and review process.

 In 1993, Richard H. Pierce founded Maine Education Services (MES), a Maine non-profit organization created to foster and promote access to higher education for Maine students. It was Dick's life-long commitment to promote higher education. The Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship was created in 2011 in his honor and memory. MES will award two $2,500.00 scholarships in 2012. Eligibility criteria include: must be a Maine resident, must have completed two years of a 4-year or 5-year degree program, and must show a strong desire to complete their degree program.

The Maine State Society of Washington, D.C. Foundation has established a scholarship program to recognize Maine students. Each scholarship is in the amount of at least $1000 and is awarded to full-time students who have completed at least one year of undergraduate study at a four-year degree granting, non-profit institution of higher learning in the State of Maine.

The MTCMA scholarship is in the amount of $1000 and is open to undergraduate and graduate students who participate in and are likely to make significant contributions to the fields of civic leadership, public administration, or community service. The scholarship committee also takes grades achieved in related course work and the need for funds into account during their decision-making. The deadline for this scholarship is late June.

The Capitol Scholarship Program of the Connecticut Department of Higher Education provides state grants to help talented and needy students pay for college. The grants are given to those Connecticut students who are least able to contribute to college costs. Grants for students studying out-of-state are in the amount of $500.

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education's Office of Student Financial Assistance has compiled a list of grants and scholarships available to Massachusetts students in order to assist them in financing their educations.

The TERi Scholarship Database offers a searchable listing of local private scholarships for students of Massachusetts. All awards in the database provide funding specifically for use in higher education, are a third-party private scholarship, and are primarily designed for Massachusetts students.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation distributes more than $3 million in student aid annually from over 350 separate funds. The majority of scholarships available from the Foundation are available to New Hampshire residents, though a few are also open to students of Maine, Massachusetts, or Vermont who live in border towns.

The RIHEAA has put together a list of scholarships and grants available to Rhode Island students, including the RI State Grant Program, the Academic Promise Program, and the Scholar Recognition Program. Each program is explained in greater detail on the RIHEAA page.

The VSAC's scholarship division provides information and links to approximately 150 scholarships available to Vermont residents.

Abbott and Fenner are committed to continuing their efforts of helping those who have the desire and ambition to succeed. The five winners of this annual scholarship will receive a $1000 prize. The A&F Scholarships are available to high school juniors, seniors, and students currently registered at any accredited post secondary institution. The scholarship application is relatively short and simple and is mainly comprised of an essay reflecting on the following question: What was the most difficult time in your life, and why? How did you perspective on life change as a result of this difficulty? Scholarship applications are due June 15, 2012.

The ACS awards renewable scholarships to underrepresented minority students who want to enter the field of chemistry or chemistry-related fields. Awards can be up to $5,000 for qualified students. African-American, Hispanic, or American Indian high school seniors, college freshmen, sophomores, or juniors pursuing a college degree in the chemical sciences are eligible to apply.

The American Geological Institute has administered the Minority Participation Program Geoscience Student Scholarships since 1972. The goal of the program is to develop the professional corps of underrepresented ethnic-minority students in the geosciences. Recipients of the AGI Geoscience Student Scholarships are provided with small financial awards and matched with a mentor from the geosciences community to foster whole professional development of the awardees.

The American Political Science Association has compiled a list of resources to assist individuals in groups that are underrepresented within political science and related disciplines. The list covers a collection of public and private funding resources and opportunities for scholarships, fellowships, internships, awards, grants, etc. sponsored for minorities, women, and members of other groups.

This program is designed for college sophomores or juniors who attend college in New England and are interested in marketing, advertising, graphic design, or communications. This scholarship consists of an award of $3000 to be applied to tuition, a paid summer internship that represents a segment of the direct marketing industry (agency, client, printer, mail house, list broker, cataloger, etc.), and networking opportunities through attendance at a Direct Marketing Essentials workshop and the 2012 NEDMA Conference. This application is due January 20, 2012.

The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program wants to help students who are college bound and community-minded but need financial assistance in order to attend college. Applicants should be dedicated students, leaders, and volunteer workers. High school seniors and current undergraduate students who plan to major in a field of study that focuses on engineering, technology, design, or business, with an interest in the automotive industry, are eligible to apply. Each year, Buick gives 100 scholarships each up to $25,000/year and 1,000 scholarships for $2,000 each. The application is due February 29th, 2012.

The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation Scholarship for Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a substantial scholarship and be gainfully employed upon degree completion. To be eligible, a student must be a U.S. citizen at time of application, a student in good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, able to participate in summer internships at Department of Defense laboratories, willing to accept post-graduate employment with the Department of Defense, and pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the STEM disciplines.

The Northern New England Chapter of SWANA (NNE) offers a scholarship to undergraduates or graduate students committed to a degree in Solid Waste Management, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field of study. This scholarship is limited to students from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont and is in the amount of $1000. Questions and or submissions should be directed to Kevin Roche, ecomaine, 64 Blueberry Road, Portland, Maine 04102 or email at trufant@ecomaine.org. Information on national SWANA scholarships can be found here.

The Tylenol Future Care Scholarships program awards scholarships to students pursuing a career in healthcare. In 2011, the organization awarded $250,000 in scholarships (10 scholarships for $10,000 and 30 scholarships in the amount of $5,000) to applicants who have chosen a career in healthcare and excel in leadership, academic performance, and community involvement.

The consulting firm of AES Engineers is offering a $500 scholarship to a deserving student on the basis of character, as determined by evaluating the essays that are submitted. The firm states that achieving a high grade point average should not be the only criteria for determining who deserves to be helped and therefore they would like to support worthy students pursuing higher education on the basis of their character. The essay for 2012 is: "What are your dreams for your future? When you look back on your life in thirty years, what would it take for you to consider your life successful?" The application is due October 5, 2012.

The AWIB Scholarship Fund awards six $2500 scholarships annually to students who have the attributes to be our next generation of leaders. The AWIB Scholarship encourages and promotes exceptional Asian female students who have demonstrated scholarship, leadership, community service, and/or entrepreneurship. Candidates for the scholarship must be female of Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry and have demonstrated a leadership role in a community endeavor and/or a record of entrepreneurial achievement.

The AAIA currently offers eight scholarship programs for undergraduate and graduate students who are from federally recognized tribes and are at least 1/4 Indian blood. Only one application package needs to be submitted and the student will be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible.

Through its Fellowship Programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation's college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the education benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. Ford Foundation Fellowship awards are offered at the Predoctoral, Dissertation, and Postdoctoral levels. Fellowships are awarded in a national competition. Awards are made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors, or other designations), and are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level. Awards will be made for study in research-based Ph.D. or Sc.D. programs; practice oriented degree programs are not eligible for support.

Started in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund scholarship program identifies the nation's most promising Hispanic college students and rewards their academic achievement with educational scholarships. The Hispanic College Fund has awarded nearly $15 million in scholarships to over 5,400 students since its founding. HCF scholarships can range from $500 to $10,000 while the average award is $3,500 and is applied to the payment of tuition and fees or educational expenses. Scholarships can be annual awards or multi-year awards.

The NAACP is a leading advocate of equal access to quality education. In an effort to promote and ensure higher education opportunities for minority youth, the NAACP offers a variety of national scholarships. The goal of the NAACP in offering these scholarships is to help eliminate financial difficulties that may hinder students' higher education goals. Scholarships range in amounts of $1,000 to $5,000. Each of the scholarships has its own set of requirements and students can apply online through the NAACP's partnership with the United Negro College Fund.

The United Negro College Fund is the nation's largest minority education organization. It provides operating funds for 39 member historically black colleges and universities and also provides scholarship opportunities for students at more than 900 other institutions. For over six decades, the UNCF scholarships have raised millions to help minorities reach and graduate college, raising more than $3.2 billion and helping more than 350,000 students pay for a college education. The UNCF supports many different scholarship efforts, including some backed by private foundations and corporations.

The NIAF has an education budget of about $1 million which it awards based on academic merit. There are two categories of recipients: Italian American students demonstrating outstanding potential and high academic achievements in any area of study, or students from any ethnic background majoring or minoring in Italian language or Italian studies who also demonstrate great potential and outstanding academics.

The Point Foundation was established in 2001 and has since funded 141 Point Scholars. The Point Foundation is a premier national LGBT non-profit organization designed to nurture the LGBT leaders of the next generation thanks to the generous support of others. The Point Foundation provides financial support, mentoring, and leadership training to meritorious students who are involved in the LGBT community. Point's scholarship award covers a variety of expenses such as tuition, books, room, board, and basic living expenses, depending on the scholar's need. 

The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund offers educational grants to women students from developing countries. Individual MMMF educational grants are between $12,000-$15,000. Applicants must meet the following criteria: have a record of service to women and children and a commitment to improve the lives of women and children in developing countries; reside in the US or Canada at the time the application is submitted; be currently enrolled (in residence) at an accredited US or Canadian educational institution for the academic year and intends to be enrolled for the 2012-2013 academic year; will use the grant toward the completion of her degree; be a national of a lower or middle income developing member country, as designated by the MMMF Country Eligibility List (see www.mmmf-grants.org); not be a US or Canadian citizen, permanent US resident or Canadian Landed Immigrant; intend to return to her country (or other developing country) within two years of completing use of the MMMF grant and perform at least two years of service; demonstrate financial need and satisfactory academic performance; and be AT LEAST 25 YEARS OLD by the application deadline (it's likely that the vast majority of otherwise eligible Colby students are younger than this but such grants could be useful in graduate or professional schools).

The Citizens TruFit Good Citizen Scholarship will be awarded to students who demonstrate the difference they have made in their communities through volunteering and community service. Scholarship entries will be accepted April 1-30 and there will be (1) $5000 grand prize, (4) $2500 second prizes, and (35) $1000 third prizes awarded.

The CableTV.com scholarship focuses on the psychological impact of television. There are two possible essay questions that ask how TV has impacted our global culture. The scholarship is for $1000 and will be determined by voting via social media. The deadline for entries is June 30, 2012.

Strategic Name Development is offering a $2000 scholarship to full-time undergraduate students majoring in English, Linguistics, Marketing, or Mass Communications. Essays focus on creative naming and branding of products, companies, etc. The deadline for this scholarship is August 15th, 2012.

Colby's Career Center describes a collection of post-baccalaureate fellowships and scholarships on their web page.

The Office of Off-Campus Study has compiled a list of scholarships specifically for study abroad.

Information about endowed internship funding for Jan Plan or the summer can be found on this Career Center page.