The Most Reliable Scholarship Sources
- Jun 18
- 2 min read
Reliable Scholarship Sources
Last week we talked about scholarship scams; this week we're talking about scholarship success! As we plunge into college application season, we wanted to make sure you had a list of reputable, reliable scholarship sites that can help you find additional sources of funding for your college education, whether you're just getting started or already a few years in.
1. Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov)
This is the U.S. Department of Education’s official site. Though many people feel their process is flawed, it's still one of the best sources for aid.
While primarily for federal grants and loans, they provide links to trusted scholarship search tools and advice on avoiding scams.
Why it’s reliable: It’s government-run and free from commercial bias.
2. College Board’s BigFuture
The College Board (makers of the SAT) runs BigFuture’s scholarship search tool. They also offer scholarships of their own!
The site contains over 2,200 programs offering scholarships, internships, and grants. Remember: high SAT or ACT scores can also help students qualify for scholarships granted by their specific college. For example, CU Boulder uses SAT scores to calculate additional aid packages.
Why it’s reliable: Nonprofit organization with a long history in college admissions.
3. Fastweb
One of the largest and most established scholarship search engines.
Fastweb offers custom-matched scholarships based on your profile. We've had students cobble together thousands of dollars in additional funding from the scholarships they applied to here.
Why it’s reliable: Used by millions of students; partners directly with legitimate scholarship providers.
Link: https://www.fastweb.com
Extensive database with millions of dollars in awards.
Allows students to search by criteria like GPA, major, and minority status. Again, we've had students cobble together thousands of dollars in additional funding from the scholarships they applied to here.
Why it’s reliable: Well-established, and listings are regularly updated for accuracy.
5. Each College’s Financial Aid Office / Official College Websites
Many scholarships are offered directly through colleges — merit-based, need-based, or department-specific.
Why it’s reliable: Directly from the institution offering you admission; no middlemen.
Tip: ALWAYS check the financial aid and scholarship page of each college where you apply.
As we mentioned last week, be sure to avoid common traps:
Never pay a fee to access scholarship information.
Be wary of “guaranteed scholarship” offers.
Verify sponsors of any scholarship you apply to — cross-check on official sites.
If you ever have questions about a scholarship program (especially if it's legit or not), email us at info@kingfisherprep.com and we'll help you research.
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