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states now grant scholarships for academic achievement to students
attending a college or university within the state. Some states
grant scholarships with merit as the primary criterion. These
awards are riot affected by need. Others grant scholarships
based on need, with a high grade point average necessary for
eligibility. A third type of scholarship is based on academic
accomplishment, but if a student does demonstrate financial
need, the scholarship is given honorarily with no money actually
being funded. A few states provide assistance to residents attending
college out-of-state. Funding for merit-based programs is increasing
more rapidly than need-based programs, as states face stiffer
competition to keep their best students from attending college
out-of-state.
Generally a state will have several small
scholarship programs, such as programs for veterans, veterans'
children, educational studies, children and spouses of state
employees', nursing or health care studies. These are competitive
programs with students displaying the highest qualifications
receiving the awards. One example is the Law Enforcement Personnel
Dependents Scholarships given to needy dependents and spouses
of California police and other law enforcement officers, firefighters,
and other related county, city, and state employees who have
been injured or killed in the line of duty. To find out about
state sponsored scholarships contact your state department
of education or financial aid officer.
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