Since 1942, more than 17 million people have been granted a GED. A General Equivalency Diploma or GED is awarded to adults who choose to pass a GED exam instead of completing a traditional high school education. While many scholarships require a high school diploma, there are many open to students who received a GED. With some research and planning, GED recipients can receive many of the same scholarships offered to high school graduates.
Local Colleges and Jr. Colleges
Many colleges and junior colleges offer scholarships to GED recipients. Ask the school’s financial aid department for a list of scholarships available to GED students. Every scholarship has a set of criteria that the student must meet to be eligible to receive the award. Some schools also offer scholarships based on SAT or ACT scores only. Ask about any scholarships which do not utilize a student’s GPA (grade point average). For example: College of DuPage offers a $500 GED Scholarship and a $600 Danny Young Memorial GED Scholarship.
Scholarship Search Sites
FastWeb, Scholarships.com and other scholarship search sites match student profiles to qualifying scholarships. To avoid scams, never send scholarship companies money. Legitimate scholarships will never require a fee.
Apply for FASFA
FASFA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid is required for all students applying for federal and state student grants. Most federal grants are need-based and not based on academic credentials.
Online Searches
Every year hundreds of scholarships are left unclaimed. To tap into these scholarships perform an online search. Open a search engine and type the keywords "Scholarships for GED graduates" or a variation of the phrase. The search should display various websites offering scholarships for GED graduates.
Employers
Many corporations offer scholarships to employees and their dependents. Check with your employer or parent’s employer for any scholarships they may offer. Examples of employers offering scholarships include McDonalds, Chick-Fil-A, APPMA, Humana, Glaxo Smith Kline and Burger King.
Tuition Reimbursement
Some employers, in lieu of a scholarship, offer a tuition reimbursement program. These programs typically require the student to pay for the tuition in advance and the company will reimburse the employee after completing the semester. Reimbursement percentages will vary according to the company’s policies and procedures. Ask your employer if this program is available.
If you are committed to obtaining a higher education then start your search for college tuition today. There are also numerous student loans available to assist wannabe students.
Sources:
- " GED Testing Service " published by American Council on Education, accessed May 29, 2011.
- "Scholarships and Awards for Adult Education Students" published by Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE), accessed May 29, 2011.
- "Scholarships" published by College of DuPage, accessed May 29, 2011.
- "FastWeb.com" published by Monster Inc., accessed May 29, 2011.
- "Scholarships.com" published by Scholarships.com, LLC, accessed May 29, 2011.
- "Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA)" published by The U.S. Department of Education, accessed May 29. 2011.
Karren Bennett - Karren Bennett is a Texan at heart who loves to write. In addition to writing about anything and everything, she dabbles in fitness, ...
