how to pay for education fees essay

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Financial Need Scholarship Essay Examples (2024)

Jennifer Finetti Oct 10, 2024

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Many scholarships are awarded based on financial need. In order to win these scholarships, you must explain the nature of your financial need. In the guide below, we’ll explain how to write these types of essays to increase your chances of winning. Check out these scholarship essay examples for financial need scholarships.

How to write financial need scholarship essays

Here are some tips for writing financial need scholarship essays:

• Maintain a positive tone throughout the essay . You do not want to come across as self-pitying. Focus on ways you learned and grew from past experiences – how they made you stronger.
• Do not diminish other people’s suffering. This is a competition, but that doesn’t mean you should belittle your competitors. In fact, it would be better to say “I know there are many worthy candidates for this scholarship, but…” than to say “I have suffered far more than…” Show respect in everything you write.
• Frame your essay around a specific event. You may add other details if you have space to, but use one experience as the thesis for your essay.
• Avoid controversial statements and opinions. When discussing events from your past, do not belittle someone else or talk negatively about a group of people. You never know who will be reading your essay.
• Tell your story with honesty. Do not fabricate any details to make yourself sound needy. Your past and present circumstances will speak for themselves.
• Don’t try to sound philosophical. Some students will do this because they think it makes them seem smarter, but it rarely has that effect. Focus on proofreading and writing solid content. That is enough intelligence on its own.
• Discuss your career goals, if possible. You may not have room for this if the essay is short. If you do have room though, discussing your career goals will indicate a plan for the future. Review boards reward determination.

You know why you need financial aid. Tap into the key elements of your circumstances and use them to craft the perfect essay.

Many scholarships are awarded based on financial need. In order to win these scholarships, you must explain the nature of your financial need. In the guide below, we’ve provided examples of scholarship essays for financial need scholarships, along with some tips to help you write your own essay.

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Example 1: “Provide a statement of financial need”

Some scholarships will simply ask for a statement of financial need. There are no parameters to follow. You’re left to write whatever you want. Typically, a statement of financial need is two or three small paragraphs. This will come out to roughly 150-200 words, but it could be slightly longer. Think of this as a cover letter for your scholarship application, highlighting the key elements of your financial need. Don’t build up to the thesis. Get directly to the point.

I am the first person in my family to graduate high school, and thus the first to attend college. Both of my parents dropped out of school when they were teenagers. Because of their limited education, they have always worked in entry-level positions, earning barely enough to put food on the table. My first job I got was at the age of 12 delivering papers, and I have worked hard ever since to relieve pressure from my family. I enrolled in Mississippi’s HELP program during my senior year, which covers tuition and fees at select colleges in the state. I also have a Federal Pell Grant to cover my housing. However, I still need funding for books, supplies, and transportation to campus as needed. I am an engineering student, and our classes come with high fees. My parents cannot contribute to my college expenses, and I cannot work much while I’m in school. This scholarship would help me avoid costly student loans that could take years to repay.  

Example 2: “Describe your financial need in 100 words”

This essay is even shorter than the financial need statement. It may be one of several short answer questions you need to fill out. Working with 100 words is tricky. That only leaves room for about 7-10 sentences, depending on length. Make compelling statements using the fewest words possible.

Also note that grammar errors and misspellings will be much more noticeable in this short essay. Carefully proofread your writing before submitting the scholarship application.

I got pregnant and dropped out of high school when I was 15. By the age of 20, I had two more children, and we all shared a one-bedroom apartment. I worked three jobs to pay the bills, but I never earned much. When my oldest started high school, I did the same. I got my GED at 29 and enrolled in nursing school. My financial status has improved now with a GED, but I’m still a single mom with three kids. I want to become a registered nurse to give my children a stable future. I appreciate your consideration.

Word Count: 100

Example 3: “Explain your financial need in 500 or more words”

This scholarship essay prompt is the opposite of the one above. You have much more room to discuss your circumstances. Talk about your family life, your income, and other restraints that contribute to your financial aid . Try not to throw too much in the essay though. You want the information to flow together seamlessly. Edit carefully, and give the readers a full view of your situation.

My name is Brandon Noviello. I am a sophomore on track to earn my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. I need financial aid because I do not have a family to contribute to my education. I was in foster care for two years before I aged out of the system, and now I am pursuing a degree completely on my own. I was raised by a wonderful woman who didn’t always have a wonderful life. My mother got pregnant after a sexual assault, but she was determined to raise a smart, successful man. She went through an accelerated program to graduate high school before I was born. She devoted the rest of her life to supporting me, both financially and emotionally. My mother’s family cut ties with her the moment she became pregnant. Life wasn’t easy for us, but I never wanted for anything. She always found a way to keep me fed, dressed, and in school. Unfortunately, she lost a long-term battle with depression when I was 16, and I was put into the foster system until I reached adulthood. I did not have a positive experience with foster care, but I admit, I had no desire to. My mother’s passing weighed heavily on my mind, and I felt an overwhelming sense of anger, regret, and frustration. There was one gleam of hope in my experience though. I had a great social worker. I fought her decisions every step of the way, and she still managed to find a family to get me through high school. My social worker was the only person I invited to my graduation ceremony.  She helped me realize how much one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. I was only one of countless children she had helped over the years. I researched how to become a social worker so I could help other children like me. My plan is to work with the Department of Human Services in the foster care and adoption division after I graduate. In order to make my dreams a reality, I need financial aid. I am working as a server to pay for food, utilities, and basic necessities, but I do not earn enough to pay for college as well. I go to school during the day and work at night. Furthermore, I have a maximum Pell Grant to cover most of my tuition, but I still need help with other expenses. I did not do well in high school as a result of my mom’s passing, but I have done well in college. I have a 3.25 cumulative GPA, and I have never made less than an A in a degree-related course. As such, I am committed to being successful despite my circumstances, and I want to help young people find that motivation within themselves. I look forward to working with children and teens in the foster system, so I can be the hope that someone else was for me.

Word Count: 498

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• Scholarship Essay

Jennifer Finetti

Jennifer brings over 20 years experience in edtech, marketing, communications, content development, academic advising, and financial aid & scholarship counseling to ScholarshipOwl. She is also a marketing consultant and content developer for Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, where she writes the college's biannual publication, DVC Magazine. Jennifer is a college financial aid and scholarship expert who has been seen on news segments across the country as well as in USA Today, CNBC, and Yahoo! Finance. She earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from National University, and her BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz.

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Local scholarships may not equate to large award amounts like some national scholarships do, but they are often much less competitive.

Paying for college is no small feat: Annual tuition and fees at ranked four-year colleges for 2021-2022 ranged from about $10,300 for in-state public schools to about $38,200 for private institutions, according to U.S. News data.

One of the first steps experts recommend to families concerned about how to pay for college is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, called the FAFSA . Doing so opens doors to a range of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants and loans.

Most college admissions consultants recommend submitting as soon as the application opens.

"It's a fairly well-known fact that the earlier after Oct. 1 the student applies, the better the chance that the colleges have more dollars to dole out," says Jack Shinn, financial education specialist and president of New Jersey-based J Shinn & Associates. For students who need to borrow to pay for college, experts suggest limiting borrowing to federal student loans rather than private loans, which generally have higher interest rates.

Here are some other options you may not yet have considered for easing the financial burden of attending college:

• 529 college savings plan
• Local scholarships
• Financial aid appeals
• No-loan schools
• Employer tuition assistance
• Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment credits
• Prior learning assessments
• ROTC programs
• Regional tuition exchange programs

529 College Savings Plan

Parent income and savings covered the largest portion of total college costs, about 45% or $11,800 on average, according Sallie Mae's How America Pays For College 2021 study.

College 529 savings plans , which offer an opportunity for families to grow their savings tax-free as long as the money is spent on qualified educational expenses , were used to pay a greater percentage of college costs than other savings options like noncollege savings accounts and retirement accounts.

"A little more than a third of parents (37%) used a college savings account, like a 529, to help pay for college last year which is consistent with our data from 2019-20," Rick Castellano, a Sallie Mae spokesperson, wrote in an email. "Although this number is holding steady, it still means around two-thirds of families are not utilizing these tax advantaged accounts."

Local Scholarships

Colleges and universities may offer institutional scholarships, but students can also chip away at the cost of college further by taking advantage of local scholarships , which are typically offered by local organizations, nonprofits or places of worship.

These may not equate to large award amounts like some national scholarships do, but local scholarships are often much less competitive.

Some companies also give out scholarships to dependents of their employees.

Financial Aid Appeals

The FAFSA uses "prior prior year" information to determine a family's financial need. For example, the 2022-2023 FAFSA uses 2020 federal tax returns. However, families who have had a recent change in their financial situation – like job loss, salary reduction or high dependent-care costs – can request a financial aid appeal, sometimes called a professional judgment, from a college.

"Colleges have to recognize extenuating circumstances and changing economic conditions," Bob Collins, vice president of financial aid at Western Governors University in Utah, wrote in an email. "The coronavirus pandemic upended countless students and families’ personal finances and college financial aid departments across the country responded to a rise in professional judgment appeals."

No-Loan Schools

There are some schools, like Amherst College in Massachusetts or Stanford University in California, that aim to meet each student's full demonstrated need without loans. That means financial aid comes in the form of scholarships, grants and work-study. These financial aid packages are sometimes limited to students from lower- or moderate-income households.

"I find that so many students spend a lot of bandwidth on outside scholarships when they should divert some of that attention to applying to schools who give good financial aid packages," says Nat Smitobol, master college admissions counselor at Ivywise, a New York-based education consulting company.

Employer Tuition Assistance

Many students juggle additional responsibilities outside of earning a degree, including being a parent or working . But some companies, including a number of fast-food chains, offer tuition assistance to help employees afford a college degree.

Note that depending on the employer, the funding may be capped at a certain amount.

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Advanced Placement and Dual-Enrollment Credits

High scores on Advanced Placement exams in high school can also help students and their families save on college tuition. Many schools will award course credits based on AP scores, but there are a few schools, such as Brown University in Rhode Island, that don't award credits. Instead, students with qualifying scores can place into higher-level courses.

Another option for high school students to earn college credit is through dual enrollment . These programs, often referred to as early college, allow students to earn credits for free or at a reduced cost at participating institutions, such as local community colleges.

Courses taught under dual enrollment are separate from students' high school curriculum and may count toward dual credit – which allows students to earn both high school and college credit from the same course.

Prior Learning Assessments

Receiving credit is not limited to high school students. Prior learning assessments award credit for learning outside the traditional classroom, including through a portfolio assessment, evaluation of noncollege learning and standardized exams, like the College Level Examination Program. Administered by the College Board, CLEP exams are available in a range of topics, from foreign languages to American literature.

On average, adult students with credit for prior learning saved $1,481 at two-year public institutions, $3,794 at public four-year institutions and $10,220 at four-year private nonprofit institutions, according to a 2020 report from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

ROTC Programs

The Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC , offers a scholarship program that covers either tuition, fees and books, or room and board. These scholarships require a commitment of work in the U.S. military for at least eight years after graduation, and are available to high school applicants and students already enrolled in college.

Regional Tuition Exchange Programs

Public schools tend to be less expensive than private colleges before financial aid is applied, but there can be a significant difference between attending a public institution as an in-state and out-of-state student. Tuition and fees at ranked public colleges for in-state students averaged $10,338 in 2021-2022, according to U.S. News data. The cost for out-of-state students was more than double, averaging $22,698.

But regional tuition exchange programs allow students to qualify for tuition at a reduced rate as an out-of-state student. Each state belongs to a regional program, such as the Western Undergraduate Exchange, the Midwest Student Exchange Program, the New England Regional Student Program and the Academic Common Market in the South.

Under the Western Undergraduate Exchange, for instance, students who apply to certain programs pay no more than 150% of the in-state tuition rate at participating institutions.

Trying to fund your education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for College center.

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Paying for University Essays

by Neeraj Mehra (New Delhi, India)

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Studying Relevant Subjects at University

Modern societies need specialists in certain fields, but not in others. Some people therefore think that governments should pay university fees for students who study subjects that are needed by society. Those who choose to study less relevant subjects should not receive government funding. Would the advantages of such an educational policy outweigh the disadvantages? An education policy that states, the government will pay the tuition of pupils who will become specialists in a certain field and not pay the tuition of pupils that study less relevant subjects can be damaging to society. I will outline why in this essay. The advantages of government funding for studying certain fields of study is certainly a great opportunity for some students. Especially those families who would otherwise not have been able to pay for their children to study. These students will be able to concentrate on their studies and not have to worry about the payments every semester. This will also allow people to become a specialist in the fields we need in modern society because the expense will not be a problem for them. Although this is great there are some disadvantages to this amazing opportunity. The downfall to this policy will be that these fields of study will become more popular and therefore have a lot of students applying to them. If that does happen then in a few years’ time the job opportunities for these students will become less because of the amount of people with the same qualifications. Furthermore, people need to study what will make them happy. If only certain fields of study are paid for by the government, students that are not able to pay the fees for what they want to study may study something that they do not like because of the financial implications. To conclude, it is evident that the advantages of funding by the government are great and can create amazing opportunities but, if it is for only certain fields of study there will be complications that arise and therefore does not outweigh the disadvantages.

Free Education for All Essay

by Le Hoang Bao Ngoc

Some people believe that everyone has a right to have access to university education and that governments should make it free for all students no matter what financial background they have. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Due to the rapid development of our society, humankind can now get access to new applications. However, there is still an influx of people who could not afford to pay for their higher studies to keep up with these changes. It is argued that we ourselves can all pursue tertiary education or even be entitled to university without any fee, no matter how wealthy or poor we are. While this thinking is valid to an extent, I believe that the governments should not waive the tuition because this will lead to an explosion of numerous dangers. There are many compelling reasons why some think that the provision of free-of-charge education should be allowed in universities. Standing a chance to keep pursuing higher education, the bachelor's degree holders, especially those who could not afford the tuition, have more opportunities to land a high-paid job and bettering their quality of life. However, these thoughts seem not always true. If there are more and more people exquisite the tertiary degree, this will lead to a large number of the unemployed, which would cause a wealth of serious consequences. As aforementioned drawbacks, I would contend that publishing a free-college policy is not likely a smart decision for both students and society. On the individual level, not having to cover the tuition fee would have a bad effect on students themselves. As usual, the majority of students must pay their tuition fees in order to attend college, so they will make an effort in absorbing information. Hence, waiving tuition, in some cases, does not put a strain on them to keep going. Therefore students' academic performance goes down in an easy way. With an influx of poor-quality graduates, society might not push it to the limit. Taking everything into consideration, while waiving tuition makes it seem like a good idea, I believe that this will cost a high price for global development.

Paying University Course Fees Essay

by Mariachiara

Some people believe that governments should pay the full course fees for students who want to study in universities. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Applying in universities is one of the major costs that falls on the shoulders of students. A vast majority of them has to request a loan in order to pay for universities' fees. Hence, I strongly believe that governments should help students by paying full course fees. It happens quite often that students find themselves in front of the choice of giving up a university's course because of its fees. People who do so watch fade away their right to education. By paying full course fees, the government would make an important investment from which either the students and the state itself would benefit. Students would be given the chance to apply in courses which satisfie them the most and not rely on a replacement choice. On the other hand, governments could benefit from that since there would be an increasing commitment in working hard to create a successful career which may generate cash flows to the state. Although in most countries there is the opportunity of applying to public universities, those ones still require considerable costs to sustain. In Europe one of the countries with the lower fees for public universities is Holland, while, in most others countries, governments invest little or nothing in education. Nevertheless, even if public universities do not require large sums, there are still other educational costs (e.g. books) that can not be cut off. In conclusion, I firmly believe that governments should give everyone a chance to apply to universities, especially to students with a lower income. The right to education should be sustained and enacted by each country. Could anyone give me a feedback?

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — College Tuition — How You Can Pay for College Tuition Fee in the Us

How You Can Pay for College Tuition Fee in The Us

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Published: Jan 4, 2019

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