Scholarships & Financial Aid
SCHOLARSHIPS
Many schools have automatic scholarships. This means that if you complete the application for admission, you will automatically be considered for scholarships. Be aware that some schools will have a separate scholarship application in which you must complete by the deadline to be considered for scholarships. Other schools will simply have a list of their various scholarships (ex: departmental, service, etc) on the website which also require a separate application. Be sure to visit the college website to find out how to apply for these.
In addition to college/university scholarships there are also scholarships available to students from outside organizations and companies. Examples are: Coca-Cola, VFW, Land’s End, etc.
CLICK HERE for a list of scholarships compiled by the Nerinx College Counselors
Here are some great websites to explore and access scholarships and applications:
www.myscholarshipcentral.com - STL Scholarship database
www.goingmerry.com - One stop shop for thousands of scholarships
www.scholarships.com - National Scholarship database
www.fastweb.com - National Scholarship database
www.hsf.net/scholarship - Hispanic Scholarship Fund
https://couponfollow.com/research/scholarship-guide - Ultimate Scholarship Guide
Parents/guardians should check with their employer, bank, credit union, church, organization, etc to see if they offer scholarships to employees/members.
SMARTTRACK® College Funding for Freshman Sophomore and Junior Parents
Most families are surprised to learn that with a little planning, they can significantly lower out-of-pocket college costs, maximize grants and scholarships, and minimize debt. Nerinx has partnered with SMARTTRACK® College Funding High School Initiative to assist our 9th-11th grade families with the financial piece of college planning. If you’re concerned that you won’t qualify for financial aid, haven’t saved enough, or don’t have an effective plan to cover the considerable costs of educating all your children, SMARTTRACK® can help.
Presentation: April 16th at 7pm via Zoom. Registration details to come.
OR
Click here to create your complimentary account with Smarttrack.
Out-of-State Colleges Offering In-State or Reduced Tuition
Some schools offer a in-state or reduced tuition for Missouri residents. Click here for a list. Please note that students should verify the tuition details directly with the college admissions office as information can change without notification. Discounts may be available at other colleges not listed below.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school. Grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable. A variety of financial aid sources are available to help you pay for college or career school. Financial aid can come from federal, state, school, and private sources to help you pay for college or career school.
For more detailed information about the types of financial aid, please visit: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types
How to apply for financial aid: FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form you need to fill out to get any financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college. Each year, over 13 million students who file the FAFSA get more than $120 billion in grants, work-study, and low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education.
Lots of states and colleges also use the FAFSA to determine which students get financial aid—and how much they’ll get. The FAFSA asks for information about you and your family’s finances, including tax returns, so you’ll need your parents’ help to complete it.
CSS PROFILE
In addition to the FAFSA, a few schools will also ask that families complete the CSS Profile. The CSS Profile is an online application used by SOME colleges and scholarship programs to award institutional (their own) aid. (For federal aid you must complete the FAFSA). For a list of schools using the CSS Profile, click HERE.
A+ Scholarship
The A+ Scholarship - The A+ Scholarship Program provides scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated high schools who attend a participating public community college or vocational/technical school, or certain private two-year vocational/technical schools. Nerinx is considered an A+ High School. Students interested in attending a community college or vocational/technical school after graduation must complete the A+ Agreement (below) by January of senior year as well as meet the other requirements listed in the A+ manual.
Some Missouri four year universities will award scholarships if a student has participated in the A+ program. Awards typically range from $500-$1000.