In part 1 of this article, we looked at the special considerations homeschoolers need to take to find funding for college. We saw that some research and preparation are necessary, but that the funding is there.
Now, here is a sample of 10 high quality grants and scholarships that homeschoolers are eligible to apply for. There are many more, but this gives you a good idea of what is available.
Federal Pell Grant: This nationally funded grant is based on financial need and the cost of the college the student is attending, among other factors. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is currently $5,645 per year.
Kohl’s Kids Who Care Program: Kids can start earning college scholarship money starting at age six in this community program that awards $50 gift cards for store winners and $1,000 scholarships for regional winners, based on volunteer work in the community. National winners receive $10,000 in scholarships, plus a $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice.
Ayn Rand Essay Contests: The Ayn Rand Institute awards $100,000 every year through its annual essay contests based on the works of the famous author. The contest is open to kids in grades 8 and up, including current college students. Cash prizes range from $25 to $10,000 and do not have to be used for college expenses.
Horatio Alger Scholarship: This large scholarship program awards college scholarships nationally and at the state level. Requirements include community involvement and a “critical financial need” ($50,000 or less adjusted gross income per family is preferred; if higher, an explanation must be provided).
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America: The AFA awards annual scholarships of $5,000, $500 and $250 (one each) for winning essays about the disease and the effects Alzheimer’s has had on the lives of teen applicants.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarship: This large scholarship program has four divisions for eligibility, including Asian-Pacific heritage, African American heritage, Hispanic/Latino heritage and one division that is open to all. Since its inception, RMHC has awarded over $44 million worth of scholarships.
Burger King Scholars Program: Scholarship grants range from $1,000 to $50,000, and are intended to help students offset the cost of attending college or post-secondary vocational/technical school. Recipients are selected based on their grade point average, work experience, extracurricular activities and/or community service. Employees and family members of employees have a greater chance of winning awards, though all college-bound high school seniors are eligible.
Doodle 4 Google: Doodle 4 Google is an annual program that invites K-12 students in the U.S. to redesign the Google homepage logo according to changing themes. The grand prize winner receives a $30,000 college scholarship and the other four national finalists win $5,000 educational grants to be used at the school of their choice, among other prizes.
American Legion Scholarships: The American Legion offers a variety of scholarships, including The American Legion Legacy Scholarship for students who lost a parent during active duty in the military since 9-11-01, The American Legion Baseball Scholarship, the Samsung American Legion Scholarship for descendants of foreign war veterans who complete American Legion programs, National High School Oratorical Contest and others.
Coca-Cola Scholars: This annual contest is based on academic excellence and service to others. The foundation says “Most Coca-Cola Scholars share a passion for social justice and many have overcome tremendous challenges to pursue their dreams.” Fifty students are designated as National Scholars and receive awards of $20,000 for college; 200 students are designated as Regional Scholars and receive awards of $10,000 for college.
You can find many more educational grants, scholarships, and other types of funding for homeschoolers at HomeschoolScholarships.org
(The scholarship list is courtesy of Examiner.com)