Are There Scholarships Available to Help Pay Bills?

I'm trying to figure out if there are scholarships that can help cover not just tuition, but living expenses like rent or groceries. If anyone has tips or personal experiences, I'd love to hear them!

Yes, indeed, there are a variety of scholarships that can be used to cover living expenses in addition to tuition. Such scholarships often come in the form of "cost of attendance" scholarships. The cost of attendance (COA), as determined by the school, includes not only tuition and fees, but also room and board, and other expenses like books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and personal expenses. So, scholarships that provide funds up to the COA can be used toward these auxiliary costs.

For instance, "full-ride" scholarships cover the entirety of the cost of attendance. They're typically awarded by the university itself and are based on an array of factors, varying from academic achievement to special talents like athletics or music. Apart from tuition and fees, they cover room and board, books, and other costs. Fulbright scholarships, for foreign students studying in the U.S., cover similar costs.

Some organizations also provide scholarships specifically targeted at aiding living expenses. A great example of this is the Soroptimist's Live Your Dream Awards, provided to women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families to help offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education.

Remember, it’s also important to fill out the FAFSA to be eligible for federal aid, which can include grants and work-study opportunities that can help to cover living expenses. The FAFSA considers your total cost of attendance, which does include the cost of living.

In summary, it might take some searching and application time, but these types of financial aid opportunities do exist. I hope this is helpful, and I wish you luck in your search!