Scholarships are one of the best ways to pay for college - it's free money. It's why we list scholarships as our #1 option on our list of Ways To Pay For College.

But trying to find college scholarships is no easy task. With tuition prices being so high many local scholarships have stiff competition and when looking for scholarships online you have to weed through layers of junk to find the legitimate ones to apply for.

Even though trying to find scholarships can be a pain it’s something you should most definitely do. You might be surprised - the competition might not really be as tough as you think. And if you systematize your application process, you can apply for a lot of scholarships in a little time.

Here's what you need to know about finding college scholarships.

What Kind of Scholarships Are Available and How Do I Find Them?

There are several different type of scholarships. Some scholarships are merit based, meaning your grades need to be kept to a certain level to receive them or you need to show exceptional performance in something such as a sport or extra-curricular.

Other types are awarded based on location, income, demographic (such as being a certain age), or degree based. While trying to find scholarships it’s important that you look for the ones in which you actually qualify for.

Here are some of the best strategies for finding college scholarships.

Like this infographic? You can find a printable version here: Infographic Download.

Have Your Parents Check with Their Employer

There are many employers that will award scholarships to the children of their employees. Have your parents check in with the HR department at work.

Here are just a few places that do have scholarship programs for children of their employees:

• Federal Offices
• Verizon
• Intel
  

If you’re currently employed it’s also a good idea to check in with your employer to see if scholarships are offered.

Try Your Financial Aid Office

Your financial aid office will be able to give you information on different types of scholarships from federal agencies, state agencies, work study, and other campus scholarships.

After checking with your parents’ employer your financial aid office should be the next step.

Note: your school's financial aid office is typically first-come, first-serve. It's important that you apply early, and fill out the FAFSA. If you don't fill out the FAFSA, you won't be eligible for any scholarships from your school.

Also, if you're declined early on, you might check back in the summer after people have made their decisions to enroll. Some people who were offered scholarships may decline enrollment, opening up access to more funds which you could be awarded.

Check with Community and Religious Organizations

Many community and religious organizations offer scholarships locally. This includes sport teams, churches, and even local restaurants. While the sums of these scholarships might be low they still help and are worth applying to.

Use the U.S. Department of Labor’s Free Scholarship Search Tool

When it comes to finding scholarships online scams are plentiful. One way to prevent getting scammed is to use the US Department of Labor’s Free Scholarship Search Tool.

You can use this website to search for scholarships based on state, study level, and affiliation. This makes finding more scholarships you might be eligible for easy.

Check with Professional Organizations

If you are going into college with a specific career in mind then it might be worth it to go ahead and join the professional organization in your niche. Almost every career field has a professional organization and most are free or inexpensive to join. And best of all, a lot of professional organizations award scholarships!