Below are a number of excellent free web resources that students may find very useful in their search for outside scholarships. This information is provided for informational purposes only. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement. Neither UMBC Scholarships nor UMBC can guarantee the accuracy or the timeliness of information found at any of these sites. It is critical that students verify information, particularly where deadlines are concerned.
UMBC also encourages students to be informed consumers when searching for scholarships on the web. Scholarship opportunities that require fees up front or seem “too good to be true” may be just that. Scrutiny is advised in these matters.
You can visit the External opportunities we have in Scholarship Retriever here.
Free scholarship database provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. Students can browse more than 8,000 scholarships, grants, and financial aid award opportunities.
COLLEGE BOARD SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH
Free online scholarship search service includes aid programs from 3,300 sponsors and also features college and career search capabilities.
Free online scholarship database. Students must first create a profile and then they will receive scholarship matches based on strengths, interests, and student activities.
Resource providing information, tools, and resources, to locate scholarships and additional financial aid opportunities.
Free online scholarship service. Students can create a profile and apply to multiple scholarships at the same time. This resource includes both local and national scholarship opportunities.
Student’s one-stop scholarship application system
Scholarships.com is a resource for students to have a college scholarship directory, scholarship search, and where students may get matches to scholarships in their database.
Avoiding Scholarship Scams
Unfortunately some scholarships advertised online may not be legitimate applications, and students should take care to be aware of opportunities that request information outside of the normal scope of a scholarship application.
Some information to be cautious of providing when applying to scholarships externally:
- Customer Identification Program (CIP) Information
- SSN
- Full Date of Birth
- Full Address
- Sensitive Questions (often used in password recovery/two-step authentication)
- Mother’s Maiden Name
- Pet’s Name
- High School Mascot
- First Car
- Payment Information
- Credit Card Information
- Bank Card Information
- Bank Account Information
- Other considerations to be wary of
- If the scholarship charges a fee in order for you to recieve the funds
- A “guarantee” that you will recieve a scholarship
- False sense of urgency
- Scholarships that state they are “approved by a reputable organization”
- Scholarships that offer a “free seminar or interview”
- Unprofessional or fake looking websites, spelling errors, etc.
Reporting Scholarship Scams
If you encounter a scholarship scam, we encourage you to report it to law enforcement authorities. By reporting a scholarship scam promptly, you may help save other students from becoming victims too.
- Report the scam to the National Fraud Information Center (NFIC) at 1-800-654-7060 or visit www.fraud.org. The NFIC shares information with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the state attorney general.
- You can also report the scam directly to the FTC by filing a complaint form or calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
- The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigates mail fraud, which includes scams sent by postal mail. Report such scams using the online complaint form. Or you can call 1-877-876-2455 (say “fraud”) or 1-800-654-8896.
- To report fraud involving federal student aid funds, such as FAFSA fraud rings, contact the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Education by calling 1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733) or filing a report using the OIG Hotline.