Financial Aid Resources
Many organizations, businesses, associations and clubs at the local, state and national levels provide financial aid. Some offer assistance to any qualifying candidate, others require that a student or a member of the student’s family is a member of the association, company or organization.
Check with: youth groups, such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H Clubs, YMCA/ YWCA, Explorers; Civic, fraternal, or service organizations, such as the American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Jaycees, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimists; and special interest organizations, such as women’s clubs and religious or ethnic organizations. Also, check with businesses, corporations, labor unions, charitable organizations and foundations (some programs may be restricted to employees or their children).
- Cooperative Education
- Financial Aid Offices
- Foundations and Organizations
- Health-Related Companies
- Hospitals and Hospital Auxiliaries
- Library
- Professional Health Organizations
- The Student Guide
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Additional Questions?
Cooperative Education
Cooperative education offers paid employment opportunities to those attending school, integrating a student’s academic and career interests. For more information, contact the college’s admissions office or cooperative education office, or contact the National Commission for Cooperative Education at 360 Huntington Ave., 384CP, Boston, MA 02115-0296, or call (617) 373-3770.
Financial Aid Offices
The financial aid office at the school you plan to attend is the best place to begin your search for free information. The financial aid administrator can tell you about student aid available from federal, state, the school itself and other sources.
The school is required to inform you of its aid procedures and deadlines, and how and where you receive your aid award. Be sure that you’ve read and understood each school’s catalog of all financial aid documents (especially loan documents) you receive.
Foundations and Organizations
Student aid information also may be available from foundations, religious organizations, organizations and civic groups, as well as organizations related to your field of interest, American Medical Association. You also can check with your employers or unions to see if they award scholarships or have tuition payment plans.
Health-Related Companies
Some health care-related companies offer scholarships, grants and other forms of financial aid to individuals pursuing health care careers. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, health care products companies, hospital supplies distributors and health insurance companies often sponsor financial aid programs for health careers students. Contact individual corporations for information about possible financial aid offers.
Hospitals and Hospital Auxiliaries
These organizations may pay for books and tuition for enrollees in their hospital health careers programs. Scholarships may require a service obligation to the hospital. Some hospitals may offer scholarships at local colleges and vocational schools that provide health career training.
Library
You can also find free information about federal, state, school and private student aid in your library’s reference section (usually listed under “student aid” or “financial aid”).
Professional Health Organizations
National, state and local chapters of health professions organizations often sponsor financial aid programs for the individual health occupations they represent.
The Student Guide
The Student Guide is a comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants, loans and work-study are the three major forms of aid available through the Department’s Federal Student Aid office. Updated each award year, The Student Guide tells you about the programs and how to apply for them.
The Student Guide is available online in English and Spanish. You can also download the guide in a pdf format on their Web site at http://studentaid.edu.gov.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
To apply for federal aid and to apply for many state student aid programs, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Electronic versions of the FAFSA make applying for financial aid faster and easier than ever. See their Web site at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Additional Questions?
If you have any questions, or require additional information on student financial assistance, you may contact your high school guidance counselor, the financial aid officer at the postsecondary institution you plan to attend or the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 433-3243.