Private aid is defined as any financial assistance not awarded by the U.S. government or Olivet, such as a scholarship provided by a company, community organization or foundation.
We recommend that you work with your high school guidance office to find out about any local awards given within the community. These are often less competitive than awards you may find through national searches. Local service clubs are a good place to start, such as Rotary International, Kiwanis, Lions Club, etc. Local stores, malls, banks and small business organizations may also be good resources.
The following scholarship websites may prove to be useful in searching for additional financial assistance. Olivet does not endorse or partner with any of these sites; they are simply listed to provide a good starting point.
The College Board Big Future Scholarship Search
We hope these prove useful for you, and we encourage you to look for scholarship opportunities from all resources available to you.
Impact of outside aid on eligibility for other financial aid
Outside scholarships are a great help to students. Yet, it is important to remember that they count as a resource or type of financial aid, and that receiving such scholarships will occasionally reduce a student’s eligibility for other types of aid, such as loans or Federal Work Study options.
Olivet requests that you report any outside scholarships to the Office of Financial Aid. Please do so by submitting a copy of your congratulatory letter or check as soon as you receive it. We want to work with you to ensure that your financial aid package remains accurate.
Helpful links
- FAFSA
- To begin the process of obtaining financial aid, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
- College.gov
- This is the U.S. Department of Education's resource.
- College Zone (Illinois Student Assistance Commission)
- This is the most comprehensive site available for information regarding college admission and financial aid.
- FastAid
- Search and apply for outside scholarships that you may be eligible for.
- FastWeb
- Search and apply for outside scholarships that you may be eligible for.
- My Free Degree
- Search and apply for outside scholarships that you may be eligible for.
- Discover Nursing
- Search and apply for outside scholarships that you may be eligible for within Nursing.
- Scholarships.com
- Search and apply for outside scholarships that you may be eligible for.
- Federal Student Aid
- This website contains more than you ever needed to know about financial aid and federal programs.
- FinAid
- This is the SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid.
- Request IRS Tax Transcript
- If we’ve requested your IRS Tax Transcript for FAFSA verification purposes from you, access the IRS online request form here.
- Studentloans.gov
- Apply for Federal Stafford Loans and Federal Parent PLUS loans.