While the qualifications for each type of financial aid may vary, many students receive a combination of awards from different types of aid in a financial aid package. Scholarships are often based on academic achievement or some other special talent or ability. For schools that do not rank, students with strong academic records will still be considered. Funds may be provided by the state or federal government or by the University of Pittsburgh. Funds may be provided through programs with the state or federal government as well as private lenders.
Students receive a paycheck for the hours they work.
How Financial Aid Eligibility Is Determined Scholarships awarded to students are generally based on exceptional talent or ability in a particular area or outstanding academic performance as a high school student. When students are considered for an academic scholarship, performance in the classroom is an important factor. In addition to the actual grades a student earns, a challenging curriculum and class rank are considered. Test scores achieved on either the SAT or ACT are also important. Involvement in extracurricular activities in leadership roles, volunteer and community services experiences and a thoughtful, well-written essay are other factors the scholarship committee considers when making awards.