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Office of University Scholarships
Undergraduate Scholarships

External Scholarships

External Scholarships are awarded by employers, individuals, companies, high schools, religious groups, and professional associations independently of Auburn University. Criteria for External Scholarships vary greatly from scholarship to scholarship, but generally include academic performance, financial need, religious affiliation, minority status, heritage, community affiliations, or other unique criteria important to the sponsoring individual or organization. Students are encouraged to pursue as many External Scholarships as possible.

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  • Search Engines
  • Resource Books
  • Enrollment and Academic Verification
  • Scholarship Donors

Search Engines


There are hundreds of independent scholarship search engines on the internet, some of them more reliable and legitimate than others. Students should not have to pay for a scholarship search or to apply for a scholarship, though they may have to “register” with an email address. Here are a few reputable search engines and a brief description of their specialty. Please note that Auburn University does not endorse or certify the legitimacy of any search engine listed on this page.


Black Excel
A great resource for underrepresented students (students of color, women, first generation college students) and a list of over 200 scholarships with a variety of opportunities. This site does not require registration.

College Answer
College Answer is a great resource for understanding how to fund college. It offers resources for students and parents, complete with a great scholarship database. This site requires registration.

College Board
College Board (the same company that administers the PSAT, SAT, and AP tests) has a great database that allows students to input details for a tailored search based on gender, location, interests, and affiliations. This site does not require registration.

College Scholarships
CollegeScholarships.org allows students to browse scholarships based on minority status, degree level, academic interest, geography, student type, or athletic ability. CollegeScholarship.org also has several scholarships they sponsor. This site does not require registration.

Education Planner
Education Planner helps students from thinking about college, to choosing a college, to finding ways to pay for college. This complete resource has listings for both undergraduate and graduate students and uses a variety of filters to find scholarships that fit each student individually. This site does not require registration.

FastWeb
One of the largest and widely known scholarship search engines in the United States, FastWeb offers advice on how to apply for scholarships, complete the FASFA, and search for scholarships for all types of students. This site requires registration.

The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review offers resources for taking tests, getting admitted, and finding scholarships and financial aid to help pay for college. This website has a great database that is easy to navigate. This site requires registration.

Scholarships.com
Scholarships.com provides several scholarships in an easy to use format where opportunities are ranked based on a personal profile. This site requires registration.

Scholarship Experts
ScholarshipExperts.com has been helping students finance their education since 2001. Their extensive database is updated regularly and has information for undergraduate and graduate students. Scholarship Experts also has timelines and general information about applying for college. This site requires registration.

Scholarships and Grants
Scholarshipsandgrants.us is a great resource for students looking for additional scholarship money. This resource has an easy to use layout that divides scholarships into majors and interests. This site does not require registration.

Resource Books


A number of scholarship resource books are available at your local library or bookstore to guide you in your scholarship search. The Office of University Scholarships routinely purchases and updates printed materials concerning External Scholarships. These books are available for students to review in our office at any point during our regular office hours.

  • College Board Scholarship Handbook 2013
  • The Everything Paying for College Book
  • Get Free Cash for College
  • How to Go to College Almost for Free
  • How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay
  • Kaplan Scholarships 2013
  • Peterson's Scholarships, Grants & Prizes 2013
  • The Scholarship Book
  • Scholarships 101
  • The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2013

Students may also check out resource books currently available for review in Auburn University's Ralph Brown Draughton Library.

Enrollment and Academic Verification


Occasionally, External Scholarship donors require proof of enrollment prior to sending funds. If so, students should contact the Office of the Registrar located in Mary Martin Hall at (334) 844-4770 or visit Enrollment Certification for information on requesting enrollment verification.

External Scholarship donors may also require that current students provide proof of academic standing to continue to receive funding. If so, students should contact the Office of the Registrar or visit Request Transcripts for information on requesting an official transcript.

External Scholarship Donors


External Scholarship donors should make checks payable to Auburn University and send them to the Office of University Scholarships. Scholarship checks made payable to Auburn University and the student or to the student only require student endorsement before they can be applied to the student's University billing account. If a scholarship check requires student endorsement, the Office of University Scholarships will contact the student via the student’s University e-mail address. All External Scholarship checks should include the student’s full name as well as the student’s identification number.

External Scholarship checks should be mailed to:

Office of University Scholarships
Attn: External Scholarships
115 Quad Center
Auburn University, Alabama 36849-5145