Additional financial aid resources

The first year of college can be stressful, scary, and overwhelming, but YouTube’s video guide A Student’s Guide to Your First Year of College is available to set you up for success.

Your first step in financing your post-secondary education is to complete the FAFSA: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form may seem confusing, but you can use NerdWallet’s FAFSA Guide to help navigate the process.

Learn more about preparing for college, types of financial aid, how to apply for aid, and how to manage the repayment of loans from Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education.

Granite Edvance is a New Hampshire-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students and families as they navigate education and career pathways. They offer free, personalized advising on college admissions, FAFSA submission, financial aid, paying for college, and career exploration. Book your 1:1 appointment here. The Granite Edvance Scholarship will award $750,000 in 2025. New Hampshire residents pursuing a certificate, associates, or bachelor’s degree are encouraged to apply, and previous winners are welcome to reapply.

The New Hampshire Department of Education has information available regarding questions relating to financial aid assistance or the financial aid process.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a government agency created to protect consumers by providing the information needed to make smart financial decisions, including in regard to education.

Not sure what you want to study? Complete the assessment at CareerExplorer to find fantastic careers and the education you need to achieve your goals.

The U.S. Department of Education has a college search tool called College Scorecard, and the American Association of Community Colleges has a community college finder tool that may be helpful to students interested in a 2-year degree program.

I’m First! is an online community celebrating and supporting first-generation college students.

New Hampshire students previously in DCYF foster, relative, residential, or shelter care placement should review the resources available from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Do you need to ask your college for additional financial aid? If so, you may find SwiftStudent helpful. This program can help with financial aid appeals, providing both factual information about eligibility and industry-approved template letters for submission.

BigFuture is a free online planning guide that helps all students take the right first step after high school.

Lifeline is a federal program dedicated to making phone and internet service more affordable for low-income households. This benefit provides eligible consumers with a monthly discount of up to $9.25. Consumers living on Tribal lands are eligible for an enhanced discount of up to $34.25 per month.

New American Scholars provides refugee students in New Hampshire the resources to successfully transition into their school communities through academic assistance, social support, and peer mentorship.

Read Money Geek’s article 11 Ways to Pay for College for ways to pay for college including 529 college savings plans, federal financial aid, grants, scholarships, student loans and more. These and other cost-reducing options help students access and afford post-secondary education.

Your college is the first place you should connect with when seeking financial aid. In addition to financial aid packages, many schools also offer talent scholarships that typically require a separate application. Head to your high school’s guidance office and the local library to ask about local scholarship availability.

You can also look for leads on local scholarships at clubs, some women’s organizations, and your town’s chamber of commerce. rotary employers offer tuition assistance for their employees, and sometimes even their employees’ dependents. Ask your employer as well as the employers of your immediate family members what educational resources they have.

The Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund: for residents of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont students who demonstrate financial need, academic achievement, a commitment to serving others, a strong work ethic, and leadership qualities.

The Granite Edvance Scholarship: for New Hampshire residents pursuing a certificate, associates, or bachelor’s degree are encouraged to apply, and previous winners are welcome to reapply. This scholarship will award $750,000 in 2025.

The Community College System of New Hampshire: for students studying at New Hampshire’s community colleges.

League of New Hampshire Craftsmen: for students pursuing craft-related studies.

Concord Hospital Trust: for nursing or allied healthcare students.

The New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters: for students pursuing a career in over-the-air broadcasting.

The New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers: for engineering students.

The New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police: for children of New Hampshire police officers and students interested in a law enforcement career.

The New Hampshire Long Term Care Foundation: for long-term care employees.

The New Hampshire Farm Bureau: for students in agriculturally related fields.

The New Hampshire Good Roads: for University of New Hampshire engineering students interested in a career in a highway-related industry.

The New Hampshire Veterinary Medical Association: for veterinary students.

The Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation: for residents of the Lakes Region.

The Friends of Mascoma Foundation: for students in the Mascoma Valley Regional School District.

The New Hampshire Physical Therapy Association: for physical therapy students.

The New Hampshire Music Educators Association: for music education students.

The Rotary Club of Concord Arell Scholarship Program: for residents of Concord or Penacook.

The New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness Hope Starts Here Scholarship Fund: for students living in New Hampshire who have experienced homelessness.

The New Hampshire Department of Education’s Scholarship for Orphans of Veterans: for students aged 16-25 who lost a parent while serving in the armed forces.

The American Legion Department of New Hampshire: for New Hampshire students.

Breathe New Hampshire: for students interested in pursuing a degree in public health, nursing, or respiratory therapy.

The New Hampshire Retired Educators Association: for students studying education, English, or journalism.

The New Hampshire Teachers of Mathematics: for students studying mathematics, mathematics education, or elementary education.

The New Hampshire Water Pollution Control Association: for students pursuing a degree in water pollution control, environmental science, or civil engineering.

The Ann Theodore Foundation Scholarship: for residents of Manchester.

I Build NH: for students studying in the fields of construction, trades, engineering, and other building-related careers.

The Richard D. McDonough Foundation scholarships: for employees of New Hampshire golf courses. 

The Alice M. Yarnold and Samuel Yarnold Scholarship Trust: for New Hampshire residents pursuing degrees in the fields of medicine, nursing and social work. 

Each year the New England Transfer Association awards up to six $1,000 scholarships to regional students transferring from a regionally accredited two-year New England college or University to a regionally accredited New England College or University.

Fastweb and Finaid are scholarship search engines that can connect you to more than 1.5 million scholarships.

The College Board Opportunity Scholarship guides participating students through the college application process; students become eligible for scholarships as they complete key tasks.

Phi Theta Kappa is the world’s largest and most prestigious honor society for two-year college students. More than $37 million in scholarships is available exclusively to members each year.

UNCF is the nation’s largest minority education organization, awarding more than $100 million in scholarships annually.

The Fidelity Scholars Program combines a generous annual needs-based scholarship with robust wrap-around services that support students’ persistence to degree or certificate attainment.

Scholarship America aims to eliminate financial barriers to students’ dreams. For more than 60 years, they’ve worked with sponsors of all sizes to craft flexible custom scholarship programs that connect organizations’ missions with best-in-class solutions.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors in the U.S. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities.

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund awards $13 million annually to students in bachelor and graduate degree programs.

The Dell Scholars Program offers comprehensive, individualized support to help students overcome academic challenges, increase financial literacy, and navigate the personal circumstances that impact their college experience.

Each year the Jeannette Rankin Fund awards scholarships to low-income women, ages 35 and older, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents pursuing an undergraduate education at an accredited college or university in the United States.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition that awards scholarships to high school students who take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT).

The UNCF Achievement Capstone Program supports high-achieving students who identify as Black, African, or African American; nominations for the program must come from current faculty members.

The Elks National Foundation has several scholarship programs; some are exclusive to Elks members and their children and grandchildren, while others are open to all high school seniors.

TheDream.US considers its National Scholarship program to be a Pell Grant equivalent for undocumented students. GPA and test scores are considered but emphasis is placed on candidates’ commitment to community service and ability to overcome barriers.

The Voyager Scholarship, provided by the Obama Foundation, gives college students financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them.

The Home Depot Foundation’s Path to Pro Scholarship offers $2,000 to high school graduates in an approved trade-related program at an accredited two-year school in the United States.

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the nation’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military children.

The Horatio Alger Association scholarship programs assist high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives.

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is a merit-based fellowship exclusively for immigrants and children of immigrants who are pursuing graduate school in the United States.

Families of service members can access scholarships through the National Military Family Association.

The AWS Foundation has more than 130 donor-funded scholarships, totaling over $700,000, available for students pursuing a bachelor’s or associate degree in welding or a related discipline. 

Scholarships360 is a scholarships website dedicated to finding great scholarship opportunities for students and providing financial aid advice. 

Get Schooled’s Scholarship Finder is a database of more than 16,000 scholarships including local and national scholarships for college and other pathways. 

The Community College System of New Hampshire has many tuition waiver programs including (but not limited to) New Hampshire high school valedictorians, foster children, New Hampshire National Guard members, senior citizens, and New Hampshire scholars.

The Community College System of New Hampshire also offers various tuition assistance opportunities for those interested in a rewarding career in early childhood education. Students have the opportunity to complete an Early Childhood Education certificate or degree at any of New Hampshire’s seven community colleges at little to no cost.

New England students are eligible for a tuition discount through the New England Board of Higher Education’s Tuition Break program if they enroll in an approved major that is not offered by the public colleges and universities in their home state.

Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC, Navy ROTC programs offer merit-based scholarships and that can pay up to the full cost of tuition for students who complete military service after graduating. The Coast Guard also has a scholarship program for students who serve in the Coast Guard after graduating.

AmeriCorps is a civil society program supported by the U.S. federal government, foundations, corporations, and other donors engaging adults in public service work. Participants receive funds that can be used for tuition expenses or college loan forgiveness upon completion of the program.

Teachers who complete a Teach for America program may qualify for national and regional scholarships and grants.

City Year alumni are eligible to apply for an exclusive pool of over $3 million in scholarships.

New Hampshire has many apprenticeship opportunities that compensate students as they learn a skill or trade. Visit ApprenticeshipNH‘s website to find a program near you. The US Department of Labor also has a website specifically for students seeking apprenticeships.

Students in the Lakes Region looking for experience in a field that interests them can find opportunities through the 200 by 2020 program, which aims to engage at least 200 businesses in providing experiential learning opportunities to Lakes Region students by the year 2020.

To estimate your student loan payments after graduation, use a loan calculator like the one provided by Mapping Your Future.

Unsure of how much student debt you have? The National Student Loan Data System is the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) central database for student aid.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program forgives the remaining balance on some federal loans for employees of government or not-for-profit organizations.

The New Hampshire State Loan Repayment Program provides funds to healthcare professionals working in areas of the State designated as being medically underserved and who are willing to commit and contract with the State for a minimum of three years (or two if part-time).

If you are having trouble managing your loan payments each month, you may want to consider consolidating your federal loans. If you also have private loans, you need to follow a separate process to consolidate your private loans.