Types of Scholarships

There are numerous reasons why someone would be awarded a scholarship; therefore there are several different types of scholarships. A merit based scholarship is probably the most common type. These are granted to individuals, usually for academic achievement, without financial need as a factor. Merit scholarships can also be given to students who have shown certain outstanding qualities through activities such as student government or volunteering.

Another scholarship that is awarded and is based on skill is the athletic scholarship. Students who have been great athletes in high school might have their college education paid for through an athletic scholarship. Both of these types of scholarships, merit and athletic, focus on performance and skill as major determining factors.

Ethnicity and religious based scholarships are similar in that they give recognition to factors that have very little to do with education or school activities, before looking at grades or financial need. That's not to say that these types of scholarships are not awarded to the intelligent or needy, only that the primary determinant is the race or religion of a student.

Many colleges offer scholarships to students in certain majors. Major-specific scholarships are given to those who have shown academic excellence in a particular subject, with the restriction that that subject must become the student's major. These types of scholarships are similar to institutional-based scholarships, in that they are offered by the college.

Some scholarships are provided in the form of fellowships. In a fellowship, the student is usually studying for an advanced degree or conducting research. A scholarship of this type typically covers the cost of research and courses.

Not all types of scholarships have been listed here, but scholarships can be found for almost any interest and funded by any individual or organization.