Sallie Mae’s Free Scholarship Tool Home to 5 Million Scholarships Worth $24 Billion

November marks National Scholarship Month and Sallie Mae, the nation’s saving, planning, and paying for college company, is reminding students and families that scholarships extend well beyond academics or athletics, and finding them is just a few clicks away via Scholarship Search by Sallie Mae, a free resource home to 5 million scholarships worth $24 billion.

Scholarship Search is easy to use: students register for free, fill out a brief profile that can be updated at any time, and start searching. The tool responds with matches that identify relevant scholarships and their award amounts, application requirements, and deadlines, and it automatically sends updates when it identifies new matches.

“From scholarships for left-handers, skateboarders, Klingon speakers, duct tape prom dress wearers, and dart players, it’s safe to say there is free money out there for all kinds of interests,” said Martha Holler, senior vice president, Sallie Mae. “In fact, according to How America Pays for College 2017, more than a third of college costs are paid for by scholarships and grants. The key is knowing how to effectively search and apply. The good news is there are resources like Sallie Mae’s free Scholarship Search tool that put all of these scholarships in one easily searchable place.”

Those who register for Sallie Mae’s Scholarship Search are also automatically registered for the Plan for College Sweepstakes, which awards $1,000 each month to a winner selected at random. To commemorate National Scholarship Month, Sallie Mae is increasing the amount awarded in the November 2017 drawing to $5,000.

Sallie Mae also offers some best practice tips to make applying for scholarships easier:

• Complete the FAFSA. One of the most important steps students can take to gain access to more than $120 billion in grants, work-study funds, federal student loans, and scholarships from colleges and universities is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA application is available now, and with some aid awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, the sooner families can complete it, the better.
• Sweat the small stuff. Details are important when filling out applications. Follow instructions and proofread carefully.
• Never pay for scholarships. Don’t be lured in by sites or organizations that charge a fee for access to scholarship applications. School counselors and school financial aid offices can recommend other reputable options.
• Watch your deadlines. Keep an eye on when each scholarship application is due and leave yourself plenty of time to complete it thoroughly. Most applications can be submitted electronically but, if they cannot, use certified mail.
• Apply every year. Almost half of all scholarships available are for students already attending college. Research and apply for scholarships every year.

For more information on saving, planning, and paying for college and to register for Scholarship Search by Sallie Mae, visit Sallie Mae Scholarship Search.

For official sweepstakes rules, visit Plan for College Sweepstakes. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

Sallie Mae (Nasdaq: SLM) is the nation’s saving, planning, and paying for college company. Whether college is a long way off or just around the corner, Sallie Mae offers products that promote responsible personal finance, including private education loans, Upromise rewards, scholarship search, college financial planning tools, and online retail banking. Learn more at SallieMae.com. Commonly known as Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.