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Scholarship Opportunities

  • SchooLinks Scholarship Tab: There are ongoing opportunities throughout the year; available to students in all levels of high school – SchooLinks has various applications with various due dates. Every student at Valley Central High School is equipped with a SchooLinks account and has been trained on how to use it for college/career readiness. Students can go to the “FINANCES” tab in their account (it’s on the left) and then click on “SCHOLARSHIP MATCHING” If there are any questions about a particular scholarship, please see your counselor.
  • Scholarships offered for NYS students: In 2017, New York became the first state to offer free college tuition via its Excelsior Scholarship program. This grant is for tuition only- it won’t cover room and board. The state encourages you to visit your school’s financial aid office to learn about its Educational Opportunity Program. The Aid for Part-Time Study program could be a better fit if you’re going to school with a light course load. It offers up to $2,000 in aid. Read more about New York financial aid grants here.
  • Bold.org: organizes scholarships for minorities, including BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+ many others at this website https://bold.org/scholarships/by-demographics/minorities/
  • StudentScholarships.org: More than 850 individual scholarships will be distributed through these this program. Go to StudentScholarships.org for more information and to apply. Find them at this link: studentscholarships.org
  • SUNY Orange Scholarships: There are several scholarships available for students planning to attend SUNY Orange. Go to https://sunyorange.academicworks.com/ for more information and to apply (available around the middle of January).
  • Explore private student loan options here.
  • Valley Central Scholarship Council: (available around the beginning of March). This organization has been raising scholarship monies for the students of Valley Central for over 40 years. With over $30,000 to award most years, there are multiple opportunities for students to win awards.
  • VC Athletic Department Scholarship Opportunities: Please see the Athletic page for scholarship opportunities available.
  • Explore options through the Federal Government: and be certain to complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). You can begin working on your FAFSA as early as October 1st of your child’s senior year in high school. Begin the FAFSA application process here.
  •  Corporate scholarships: Your parents also should check with their employer’s human resources department for company scholarships. Additionally, you may qualify for a scholarship from your own employer, whether you work full-time or part-time. In addition to scholarships, your employer may offer tuition reimbursement for courses you take that are relevant to their business. For instance, if you are a teller at a bank, you may get reimbursed for finance classes. Tuition reimbursement is very common in grad school. The work co-op office on campus is a great resource for finding employers that are willing to chip in for the cost of attending college.
  • Check Your Prospective Schools: Go to their website or call the financial aid office. If you meet the qualifications, find out how to apply. Don’t assume that by applying for admission, you’re applying for scholarships. It’s often a separate process. Be aware that scholarship deadlines can be different from those set for the college admission application. In fact, some schools ask you to submit an application for scholarships prior to your application for admissions. Raising your GPA and test scores in high school will help increase your chances of earning merit aid.