I’m sure you know how expensive tuition is these days. A survey of OnlineDegreeReviews.org users revealed that cost is the single biggest issue when considering an online degree. People will tell you that a degree is a wise investment in your future (which is true), and that you should go into debt to pay for it.

They are wrong. You don’t have to go into huge debt! There are misconceptions that scholarships are just for high-school students applying to college for the first time, and that only a few very high achievers ever win anything. In fact, most people can win free scholarship money. There are proven strategies that work. Scholarships and grants probably won’t pay for all your tuition, and you may still need a loan, but they can pay for a big chunk of your education and help keep your financial head above water.

How can you win scholarships?

If you’ve done a quick Google search you’ve probably found huge lists of scholarships. You can apply to a few in the hopes that you might “get lucky.” It is like trying to win the lottery, and it doesn’t work.

What is proven to work is using a systematic plan that focuses your efforts on your best chances, allows you to re-use your work, and helps you learn secrets from past winners.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Start with the government grant programs, which have payouts for most that apply, and which multiply your effort by making you eligible for lots of other scholarships.
2. Use an application theme to stand out from the average applicant. There are certain classic themes that work.
3. Write essays that make you memorable for the judges by providing unique personal details.
4. Get extra letters of reference so you can select the best ones.

There is a lot more to learn about how to win scholarships. Sign up below for my scholarship mailing list where I share my best secrets for how to win online college scholarships.