This is the place for information without registration! We won't bug you by phone or email, we just want to help you find the money you need to get an education. If you'd like to register and share information or experiences, ask a specific question, please do that. This is a wiki community — kind of like Wikipedia — designed to provide useful info as well as a forum where people can share advice and leads.

We have sorted through lots of data and put it together on this site so you can save time. Check out the site index or just read the Key Scholarship Information sulmmary section below for a quick look at things you need to know and links to more information.

• Over $3 billion in private scholarships is awarded each year in the United States. There are literally thousands of different kinds of scholarships—and there’s (at least!) one for you. Check out a summary overview of different kinds of scholarships so you know what to look for and how to proceed.

• Once you know what you’re looking for you can determine where to look. There are zillions of online tools—which can be overwhelming— but there are also common-sense starting points that can produce big results. Discover them at Find Scholarships.

• Lots of web sites want to charge you a fee for information. Or they require that you provide contact information before they give you the “free” information promised. Be very careful: never provide personal or sensitive information (like credit card numbers or your social security number) to someone you don't know and trust. See “Beware of Scams” below:

• Beware of Scams — there are so many out there! Remember, scholarships shouldn’t cost you anything; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Learn more and don't get taken – check out Scholarship Scams.

• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (commonly referred toa s FAFSA) is a common application that U.S. undergrands and grad students cn submit every year to determine what student aid they may qualify for-and everyone should fill it out! Learn more on our FAFSA page.

• Pell Grants—which do not have to be repaid—are provided by the U.S. government to students who meet strict income criteria. Learn more on our Pell Grants page.

• You don’t have to be brilliant, or even have a minimum GPA (Grade Point Average), to win a scholarship. There are a surprising number of scholarship contests based solely on luck — you just need to be able to find them and enter to have a chance to win. Read more on our Scholarship Contests page to find contests that are open for application right now.

• President Obama made federal financial aid in exchange for community service his centerpiece campaign proposal for college affordability. Now more merit-based student aid is becoming available for service-oriented students. Learn more here to get recognized and rewarded for your service activities. Service-Oriented Scholarships

• Strange but true — social networking skills can win you a college scholarship. A California high school student recently turned a tweet into $20,000 college scholarship award! What talents might put cash in your college account? Read more about Unusual Scholarships