Scholarships and Financial Aid Help
College costs can add up fast — but scholarships and financial aid can make higher education more affordable.
Scholarships are free money you don’t have to pay back, often awarded for academics, leadership, service, or your background.
Financial aid can include grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal student loans.
This guide from the Onward Scholars Program pulls together trusted search engines, curated links, and insider tips to help you find funding and simplify the process.
Top Scholarship Search Engines
These platforms allow students to search, filter, and apply for thousands of scholarships:
Scholarships.com
Filters for first-generation, minority status, academic interests, and more.
Large, frequently updated database.
Going Merry
Easy-to-use platform with a common application format.
Allows students to apply to multiple scholarships at once.
Offers local and national opportunities.
Cappex/Appily
Matches scholarships, colleges, and majors.
Especially useful for college-bound first-gen students looking for fit and affordability.
Bold.org
Scholarships aimed at breaking down access barriers.
Has specific scholarships for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students
Scholarship Accounts to Follow on Social Media
These Instagram accounts regularly share scholarship opportunities and tips:
Scholarships for First-Generation Students
These major scholarships are designed with first-gen and underrepresented students in mind, hosted by nonprofit or foundation-based organizations:
This visual shows how colleges use holistic review to evaluate your academics, activities, and personal story.
The Gates Scholarship
Full cost-of-attendance scholarship for Pell-eligible, minority, high-achieving students.
Dell Scholars Program
$20,000 scholarship plus laptop, mentoring, and support services.
Targets students with financial need and a proven drive to succeed.
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
$20,000 scholarships for leadership, service, and academic excellence.
Often awarded to first-gen or underrepresented students.
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
For high-achieving students with financial need; covers tuition, living expenses, and more.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Many scholarships for Hispanic/Latino students; many recipients are first-gen.
UNCF
Scholarships
Offers scholarships primarily for Black students, many of whom are first-gen.
College Planning and Scholarship Tools
These platforms go beyond scholarships to help you plan your college journey:
RaiseMe
Earn micro-scholarships for achievements starting in 9th grade.
College Greenlight
College matches and connections to opportunity programs for first-gen and low-income students.
QuestBridge
Full-ride scholarships and partnerships with top colleges.
Posse Foundation
Full-tuition leadership scholarships at partner colleges.
Tips for Using These Resources
Start early—and stay consistent.
Treat scholarships like a part-time job; smaller awards add up.
Create a dedicated email for scholarships and applications.
Use filters to find awards for your background, interests, and goals.
Don’t overlook local scholarships — they’re often less competitive
Next Up: Test Prep for the SAT and ACT
The final step in strengthening your application is preparing for standardized tests. Even if your colleges are test-optional, strong SAT/ACT scores can boost admissions chances and qualify you for scholarships.