Finding Financial Aid

College can be expensive, but financial aid can help cover some or all of the cost. When you consider your financial needs for college remember that you will have tuition, fees, and room and board (on-campus housing). In addition, you will need to purchase books and supplies, and you’ll have miscellaneous expenses for daily living.

There are a variety of sources that might help reduce the cost of college. Here are some of the sources that can help you, as a student with cochlear implants. For a full description of these sources, download the Financial Aid Handout:

• Private scholarships
• Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Centers, and Special Services for Disadvantaged Students
• Federal student aid
• State programs

The best way to create a financial aid package for yourself is to pull together aid and funding from different sources by applying to several different programs. As a student with cochlear implants, you may be eligible for a unique set of grants and scholarships, in addition to scholarships based on your academic and extracurricular activities and intended major.

It is up to you to seek out different organizations that provide grants, scholarships, and aid to students with cochlear implants. Small organizations’ scholarships and grants may not be particularly well advertised, so they may receive few applications.

The best way to find the scholarships is to do your own Internet searches using different combinations of key words. You should also talk to your school counselor, teachers, and others who may know about unique scholarship opportunities. The more applications you submit, the more funding you are likely to receive, which will offset the various costs of college.