Apply for scholarships
Where to Look on Disability.gov
A good place to start for information on financial aid options is the Financial Aid section of Disability.gov. This section provides links to resources and information on funding sources for postsecondary education, including both undergraduate and graduate education. In this section you can also learn about scholarships and grants; service programs like Americorps that include loan forgiveness; private sector fellowships and awards; financial aid opportunities for students with disabilities, veterans and service members; and other federal resources for postsecondary education (including grant and loan programs).
You can also find out about educational resources available in your state by choosing your state from the drop-down menu that says "Information by State" on the left side of Disability.gov's Education section home page.
An overview of funding choices for students thinking about college can be found through the guide College Funding for Students with Disabilities, which provides information about federal and campus-based financial aid programs, including Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and disability-specific scholarships and awards. The guide also includes information on the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which allows students to continue to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through the Social Security Administration (SSA) while setting money aside for educational purposes.
In addition, the Think College! Web site and Career Voyages.gov both offer good overviews of options for funding college education.
Federal Financial Aid
A federal student loan allows students and their parents to borrow money to help pay for college through loan programs supported by the federal government. Federal loans usually have low interest rates and offer attractive repayment terms, such as not having to begin paying on them until after the student leaves school. These loans can be used to pay school expenses such as tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies and transportation.
Overview of Federal Funding Options
For an overview of the process of financing a postsecondary education through government assistance, visit the Federal Student Aid Web site's Funding Your Education page. Here you can find links to federal aid sources, loans and campus financial aid programs as well as information on state higher education agencies, which can help you find out if you are eligible for financial assistance from your state.
The Department of Education Web site also provides an overview of financial aid resources available from the federal government, as well as links to grants, scholarships and loans. The Department of Education's publication, Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid provides information on federal aid resources and other funding options.
College.gov's how to pay page is also a useful resource for learning the ins and outs of federal financial aid programs. In addition, the Federal Aid First Web site offers answers to frequently asked questions about federal student aid.
Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid
To be eligible for federal financial aid, you must:
- Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an institution that participates in the financial aid program
- Be registered for Selective Service (applies only to males 18-25)
Applying for Assistance
Almost all federal, and some private, financial aid requires you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA Web site provides information about the process of applying for aid and addresses issues such as affordability and budgeting.
Federal Work-Study Program
You can earn money to help cover school expenses through the Federal Work-Study program, which provides part-time jobs to students, often on campus. Work-Study is awarded based on your financial need. Additional information about work-study can be found on the Federal Student Aid Web site.
Scholarships
For information on private organizations that fund scholarships for students with disabilities, visit the Disability Scholarships page of the College Scholarships.org Web site. Here you can learn about available funding opportunities and find links to a variety of scholarships.
The Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation (ELA) provides scholarships to women with disabilities who are currently pursuing graduate degrees. You can find out more about the eligibility requirements and application process for this scholarship on the ELA Web site.
The National Federation of the Blind provides several scholarships to students who are blind or visually impaired. Visit the scholarship section of the organization's Web site for more information on scholarship criteria, application requirements and award amounts.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) offers a number of scholarships for students with learning disabilities, as well as teachers who work with students with learning disabilities. Visit the NCLD Web site for more information on the scholarships they offer, including the Anne Ford & Allegra Ford Scholarships for seniors in high school who have a learning disability and who intend to pursue an undergraduate education.
In addition, the Scholarships for Students with Learning Disabilities page of Finaid.org provides a list of scholarships for students with learning disabilities.
Through the Looking Glass, a non-profit organization, offers a scholarship for students who have at least one parent with a disability. The organization's Web site also includes additional scholarship resources for students who have parents with disabilities.
To learn about scholarships available from various federal government agencies, visit the e-Scholar Web site. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the "Scholarships" link.
The Career OneStop Web site offers a state by state list of scholarship opportunities and other forms of financial aid such as grants and loans.
In addition, your state's higher education agency can help you find out if you are eligible for financial assistance, including scholarships, from your state.
The following Web sites offer scholarship search tools that can help you locate scholarships, internships, grants and loans that match your education level, talents and background.
Grants
Grants are a form of gift aid, meaning you are not expected to pay the money back. Grants are usually awarded based on financial need and sometimes on merit. Many of the colleges where you're applying may offer grants, and the federal government has several that you may be eligible for as well.
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education.
For more information on federal grant programs, visit the e-Scholar Web site and click on the "Grants" link.
If you are studying to become a teacher in a public or private school whose students come from low-income families, you can apply for a Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant, an Academic Competitiveness grant or a National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) grant.
There are several other financial aid opportunities available to students who are interested in a career in teaching. For example, people who teach in low-income schools or in certain subject areas are eligible to have parts of their federal loans canceled. People who teach in areas where there are teacher shortages may qualify for deferment or forbearance of loan payments.
If you are an unemployed worker interested in obtaining more education or training while receiving unemployment benefits, visit Opportunity.gov to learn about Pell Grants and other funding options.
Loans
Federal Student Loans
There are several types of federal loans available to help you and/or your parents pay for college.
Perkins loans are low-interest loans offered to students with the most financial need. The federal government pays the interest on Perkins loans while you're enrolled in school at least half-time. If you are interested in applying, you can find more information on the Department of Education's Web site.
The U.S. Department of Education administers the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Both the FFEL and Direct Loan programs consist of what are generally known as Stafford Loans (for students) and PLUS Loans for parents and graduate and professional degree students.
PLUS loans are low-interest loans available to parents of dependent students and to graduate and professional students. PLUS loans may be helpful if you still have uncovered expenses after adding up all your financial aid and borrowing the maximum amount in Stafford loans.
Schools generally participate in either the FFEL or Direct Loan program but sometimes participate in both. Under the Direct Loan Program, the funds for your loan come directly from the federal government. Funds for your FFEL will come from a bank, credit union or other lender that participates in the program. Eligibility rules and loan amounts are identical under both programs, but repayment plans differ somewhat.
The GovLoans Web site also offers information on federal loans to help pay for education costs. Click on the Education link in the "Loan Quick Search" section of the GovLoans home page for further information.
If the financial aid you receive from grants, scholarships and federal programs doesn't cover you total cost of attendance, private loans might be an option to consider. There are many lenders and many loan options, so be sure to research your options before you apply. Be careful to look at and understand the interest rates and the terms of agreement.
Fellowships
Fellowships are grants given to students, very often graduate students, to help them continue their studies in certain academic fields such as science, research and public policy.
Examples of fellowships include:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship offers a grant to fund graduate research in certain areas of science, social science and engineering.
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship for advanced professionals in all fields (natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, creative arts) except the performing arts.
The Harold Rosenthal Fellowship in International Relations fellowship offers qualified students pursuing a career in international relations the opportunity to spend a summer in professional fellowship positions with a Member of Congress or in the State Department.
The Presidential Management Fellows Program is to attract to federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.
For more information on federal fellowship programs, visit the e-Scholar Web site and click on the "Fellowships" link.
State Vocational Rehabilitation Offices
Volunteer Service Programs
The Peace Corps gives individuals the opportunity to volunteer in foreign countries. Volunteers with Perkins loans are eligible for a 15 percent cancellation of their outstanding balance for each year of Peace Corps service. The Peace Corps is a full-time commitment, so people volunteer after they've graduated from college.
The AmeriCorps program provides money for education (currently up to $4,725 per year) in exchange for community service. It's similar to the Peace Corps, except you volunteer in the United States. There are opportunities to volunteer full- or part-time over a 10- to 12-month period, either before or after college.
Tax Benefits
There are a number of tax benefits to help offset the costs associated with pursuing higher education. Parents and some students who pay for college and pay taxes may qualify for federal and state education tax benefits such as tax credits or tax deductions.
If You are a Veteran or Service Member
Veterans, service members and their families may be eligible for a number of veteran- or military-specific scholarships and other financial aid programs both from federal government agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and from private organizations.
Eligible veterans and active duty military personnel who want to pursue postsecondary education can use the Veterans Educational Assistance Program. Through this program, service members who entered service during a particular time period could contribute money and have that money matched by the government. There are several restrictions on eligibility for this program including that individuals had to enter service during certain years and begin making contributions to their account by 1987.
The National Resource Directory (NRD) provides a variety of information on resources and programs that offer financial aid to veterans and service members for educational purposes.
Eligible veterans can earn up to 36 months of education benefits through the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB). The Department of Veterans Affairs Web site offers further information about VA education benefits, including the MGIB.
Veterans with disabilities can find scholarship and grant information on the Department of Defense Web site.
The PVA Scholarship Program offers finanacial assistance for education to its members, their spouses and qualifying dependent children.
If you are the son, daughter or spouse of a service member or veteran who died or became permanently and totally disabled because of a service-connected disability, or who meets other criteria, you might be eligible for the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Plan, which offers up to 45 months of education benefits.
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