Outside Scholarships
Searching for outside scholarships can be daunting. Here are some helpful tips & resources (listed in the tabs above) to get you started in your search.
Assessing a Scholarship
Be sure to review the Federal Trade Commission's Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams consumer information article before you begin.
Tips to help you avoid scams:
- Avoid search tools that require you to provide an email address or physical address unless it is clear that they do not provide that information to third parties (opt out of third party sharing if possible).
- Make an email address that is dedicated only to the scholarship search engine profiles to avoid getting overwhelmed with spam in your personal account.
- Keep your own notes with information on the scholarships you are interested in, their deadlines, the application components, award amounts, and eligibility criteria. It is important to have all this info consolidated, especially if you are using multiple search tools.
- Beware of sweepstake scholarships where you have to sign up for different sites (and subject yourself to spam) in order to apply.
Legitimate Scholarships Typically..
1. Require essays or at least a few short-answer responses
2. Require additional support such as transcripts, SAT/ACT scores and recommendation letters
3. Have minimum GPA requirements-though there are some exceptions to this
4. Are rewarded once or twice per year
Scholarships that are most likely a scam usually..
1. 100 characters or less for your essay
2. Commonly use the term sweepstakes, drawing, or random selection
3. Have zero requirements aside from entering your basic information
4. Asks for your social security number (the FAFSA is the only legitimate site that should ask for this)
5. Asks for personal financial information (credit card or bank account info)
6. Are rewarded weekly or monthly
7. Have an application fee
8. Do not list their contact information (email address, phone number, mailing address (Not a PO Box))
9. No proof of past winners
10. They will do the work for you
11. Scholarship awarded for attending a seminar
12. List a mail drop for return address
13. You were selected but never entered
14. “Everybody is eligible”
15. Unclaimed scholarship awards
16. Typing and spelling errors
What to do About a Scholarship Scam?
Despite your best efforts, you may still encounter a scholarship scam in your search for college aid. If you do run into a scam, or what you suspect to be a scam, there are several agencies to which you can report the company:
- Federal Trade Commission
- Your state attorney general’s office: Find my State Attorney Generals Office
- Better Business Bureau
- File a complaint with the US Department of Education's Office of Inspector General here. This filing may help in an investigation, but will not solve your individual problem.
- Your state bureau of consumer protection: Find my State Consumer Protection Office
- National Fraud Information Center
Education Verification Documents & Payment
If the scholarship you are applying for needs to verify your financial aid awards or enrollment information or you need to know where the outside scholarship source needs to mail your payment you can find that information here:
If financial aid verification is requested from NSU, please contact:
Office of Student Financial Services
715 North Grand Ave
Tahlequah, OK 74464
Phone: 918-444-3456
Toll Free: (800) 722-9614
Email: financialaid@nsuok.edu
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm
If enrollment verification is requested, you can request this form on your goNSU:
Click on the Student tab, in the Academic & Registration box on the right, click Enrollment Verification Request.
If you have any issues with the online request contact:
Office of the Registrar
Phone: (918) 444-2208
Toll Free: (800) 722-9614
Email: registrar@nsuok.edu
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm
Please send all outside scholarship payments to:
Office of the Bursar
601 North Grand Avenue
Tahlequah, OK 74464
Phone: (918) 444-2160
Email: nsuoba@nsuok.edu
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm
Search Engines
Here you'll find a comprehensive list of outside scholarships. We encourage you to
search all categories that relate to you. Deadlines vary on each scholarship
* Disclaimer: These scholarships are listed for awareness purposes only and not considered
endorsements by the Northeastern State University. Be sure to look through our tricks
and tips to avoid any scams you may encounter.
Scholarship Opportunities
Cleanup Expert Scholarship Program
Eligibility Requirements:
- US Citizen
- High school seniors who have been accepted to an accredited US College OR students currently enrolled at an accredited US college
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
Ownage's 'Make Us Laugh Scholarship 2020'
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled full time at an accredited university
- No minimum GPA requirement
- All domestic, international, and undocumented students are eligible to apply
Rustic Pathways Global Perspective Scholarship
Eligibility Requirements:
- High school and college students who will be attending an accredited college or university
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled or incoming students who will be attending an accredited college or university as a full time student
- Undergraduate students of all majors
Truman D. Picard Scholarship Announcement For Native American/Alaskan Natural Resource Students
Eligibility: Must be a Native American Students pursuing a higher education degree in Natural Resources
Eligibility:
- Students who have been accepted or currently attending a 2 or 4 year college in Oklahoma
- GPA of at least 3.0
Tribal Scholarship Opportunities
Light the way emergency fund
In celebration of the 125th anniversary of Seminary Hall, President Steve Turner issued
a challenge to the Northeastern State University Centurions and President’s Circle
donors to establish an emergency fund for NSU students in need. This new funding source
is designed to assist students (undergraduate and graduate) during times of crisis
in order for them to maintain their enrollment. It is designed to enable a student
to meet a short-term financial hardship and is maintained by the Northeastern State
University Foundation.
See the application and instructions here in PDF format.
