How do you know if a scholarship website is real?

There are more than 400 scholarship websites that claim to offer “free money for college” but it’s difficult to know which ones are actually legitimate. With the help of this post, you can learn how to spot a quality scholarship website from a fake one and apply for scholarships without wasting your time or risking identity theft or other scams.

It is estimated that 45% of scholarship websites are fraudulent, some even stealing your identity in the process. With that said, it’s important to be able to easily identify a quality scholarship website from a scam site.

Without a doubt, one of the biggest difficulties facing scholarship seekers is how to locate quality scholarship websites among the rampant number of scams out there in cyberspace.

It’s important to be able to easily identify a quality scholarship website from a scam site and this is what this post will help you do with easy steps on how to find a quality scholarship website.

Let’s get started!

How do you know if a scholarship website is real?

1. Don’t pay anything upfront.

Scholarship search websites often charge an initial fee to access the scholarship application, but most quality sites don’t make you pay anything. If a site asks for money in advance, then it is likely a scam.

Also, beware of sites that claim they can find or guarantee a scholarship or “guarantee” they will find a match for you to a certain scholarship. Legitimate sites list all the scholarships you qualify for without charging any upfront fees.

2. Don’t be fooled by a “free” trial offer.

Some sites may try to give students the option of signing up for their services without actually having to pay any money. This is not a legitimate scholarship search website and you should avoid dealing with them.

3. Don’t become a victim of identity theft.

Scholarship scams can be dangerous and identity thieves are preying on unsuspecting students. Don’t reveal any personal information to a website that you do not trust or have researched thoroughly. This is very important because scam scholarship websites use your personal information to commit fraud or sell your information to other companies, who then may try to scam you with other products and services, including fake scholarships.

4. Check the site’s address.

There are thousands of scholarship scams online today and the scammers often use domain names that closely resemble real scholarship websites. To check the legitimacy of a scholarship website, check the web address: if it is a .org or you see “scholarship”, “free money for college” or anything to that effect, then it’s a scam. Legitimate scholarship websites use the .edu domain suffix.

5. Check if there are any complaints about them.

If you get tired of the scam website and decide to cancel your account, do a search on the internet for complaints or comments about that particular scholarship website. If you see any negative comments or reviews, then it’s a good idea to steer clear of that particular scholarship site.

1. Look at their credentials and credentials of their directors and advisors as well. Legitimate scholarship websites are required to display their information in both the US and Canadian versions of Who.

What is the best free scholarship website?

1. scholarships.com

Scholarships.com provides access to a comprehensive database of more than 3.7 million scholarships totaling about $19 billion in financial help. You may search the website’s directory without creating an account, but you’ll need one to see whether you qualify.

You’ll need to submit your current school year, birthday, ZIP code, and email address while creating a profile. Once you’re logged in, you may search for and apply for scholarships that fit your qualifications and interests.

Scholarships.com also gives information on student loans and other financial aid opportunities, as well as the ability to browse for institutions if you are unsure where you want to go.

2. Fastweb

Fastweb’s database has information on 1.5 million scholarships totaling more than $3.4 billion. After registering, you may log in and search for matches based on the information you’ve supplied. Parents can even make their own accounts on the scholarship finder.

If you are unable to get sufficient funding to cover all of your educational expenditures, Fastweb can also link you with approximately 10,000 part-time jobs and internships. Additionally, you may search for discounts and promotions offered by prominent shops to college students.

Additionally, the website features a college search tool and materials for college students and their parents regarding different types of financial help including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

3. Cappex

Cappex claims to offer more than $11 billion in scholarship opportunities. Prior to registering, you may search the directory by deadline, ZIP code, gender, ethnic origin, and school year, among other criteria. Additionally, you may eliminate low-paying scholarships by specifying a minimum cash value for your search.

To apply for a scholarship, you must first establish an account, which includes some personal information.

Additionally, Cappex provides information to assist you in determining your major, transferring to a new school, and obtaining financial aid.

4. Niche

The Niche scholarship finder is unusual in that it compensates you merely for registering. As soon as you finish the process, you will be eligible to win a $2,000 essay-free award. Simply provide your name, birthday, email address, and grade level.

Scholarship categories include new or popular awards, help depending on your state or major, and minority scholarships.

Additionally, students and parents may search for institutions, including graduate schools, by specialty, test scores, college type, student body size, admission rate, and religious affiliation.5. 

5. Chegg

Chegg primarily sells textbooks, flashcards, and other study aids to college students, but it also includes a scholarship search engine that covers over 25,000 available opportunities. On a fundamental level, you may search for matches based on your school year, age, and grade point average.

If you’d want to further narrow down the pool of potential mates, you may establish an account and fill your profile. Additionally, the website enables you to research institutions and look for internships from a database of over 75,000 options.