Sources of College Scholarships

Hi everyone, quick question. Which department generally gives out the most scholarships in a college? Like, is it Financial Aid, or specific Academic Departments? Any help would be appreciated.

Hello! Scholarships can come from various sources within the college, but the specific department that offers the most scholarships depends on the institution itself.

Financial Aid departments traditionally administer need-based scholarships which use the information on your FAFSA or CSS profile to determine eligibility based on financial need. These can be substantial and can make up a big portion of a financial aid package.

Academic departments can also administer their own merit-based scholarships. Often these are tied to specific fields of study and can reward high-achieving students entering (or continuing in) a particular discipline. For instance, the Chemistry department might have scholarships for top-performing chemistry majors.

Additionally, many colleges offer institutional merit-based scholarships that aren't specific to an academic department, but rather reflect broad recognition of scholarly, leadership, or other talents.

Admissions offices often handle these institutional scholarships, especially those that are awarded at the time of admission. For instance, scholarships like the Presidential Scholarship, Dean's Scholarship, etc. are usually administered by the Admissions office and are determined by the strength of your application.

Remember, it's essential to look beyond your college for scholarships as well. Corporations, nonprofits, community groups, and others offer many scholarships that can supplement your college aid package.

Each university will vary in their distribution of funds, so the best way to find out is to check the school's website and contact the Financial Aid office directly for more detailed information. Also, don’t forget to check out the scholarships page on the departmental websites of your academic interests. I hope this helps and makes your scholarship search a little bit easier. Good luck!