pay the way
scholarship tools
Not an A+ Student?
Not a problem! Plenty of scholarships
exist for average grades students by Jasmine York
An impressive GPA can grant students access to a larger pool of scholarships than their peers who
aren’t doing so well academically, but “C” students can also graduate debt-free or with minimum
debt. Below are 10 ways to help average students do just that.
+ STANDARDIZED TESTS: Students who are stronger in
one or two subject areas can cut college costs now by gaining
exemption from certain college courses. This can be done by
scoring high on specific subject areas like English or Math on the
ACT or SAT, passing an Advanced Placement (AP) test, or even
taking a stab at any subject on the College Level Examination
Proficiency (CLEP) test. (Learn all you need to know about CLEP
on page 12.)
+ NEED-BASED AID: Federal aid like work-study, Pell Grant
and the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity (FSEO)
grant are available to students who demonstrate financial need
and have a relatively low Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on
their FAFSA.
+ STATE AID: Students who have lived in a state for the past year
are eligible to receive that state’s aid. For example, the Alabama
State Grant offers $360 per fiscal year for students attending
private colleges. View the full list of aid offered by the state at the
Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) at ache.
alabama.gov
+ INSTITUTIONAL DOLLARS: Dig deep to see which
departmental, athletic or freshman scholarships fit your teen’s
criteria. Some programs may offer stipends or tuition waivers,
while others may award scholarships based on church affiliation or
if a student is related to an employee.
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+ EXTRA-CURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT: Popular
organizations like DECA and FBLA have a list of scholarships
offered only to their members and so does the Alabama
Cattlemen’s Association (ACA), along with many others. Check
with your local club to see what is offered, then broaden your
search. For example, there are national scholarships for students
who serve on their school’s yearbook staff.
Students who excel in visual or performing arts can also find
scholarship