Finding scholarships for sociology majors gives you the financial assistance you need when paying for college. As a sociology major, you may work in law enforcement, in a government agency or as a social worker. According to the College Board, the average cost of college tuition is around $9,400 for a public school in your state. If you attend an out of state school or a private college, your tuition can rise to more than $20,000 a year, which doesn’t include room or board. Even a single scholarship can go a long way towards paying for all your costs.
School-Specific Programs
Before you begin filling out applications and scouring the web for scholarship programs, talk with a financial aid counselor at the school you want to attend. Schools often offer both need and merit-based scholarships. A need-based scholarship is one that goes to a student based on financial need, while a merit-based scholarship is one that is awarded based on achievement. Some colleges make general scholarships available to all incoming freshmen and they range in size from $250 to more than $1,000.
Organizational Scholarships
Certain organizations have scholarships available to sociology majors. Sigma Xi is a nonprofit group that provides prizes of up to $5,000 for sociology students. Though the organization prohibits students from paying their tuition with the funds, you can use the money to study abroad or do an independent research project. The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives offers another scholarship for students majoring in sociology. You must write an essay about a specific time period in American history and the social impacts of events that occurred during that period. Winners get a $500 prize they can use in any way they want.
Professional Scholarships
If you are a member of any professional organization, you should look into the scholarships the organization may sponsor. Some police and law enforcement organizations offer scholarships for students who plan to study sociology or criminal justice and work for a law enforcement agency later. You can win a prize of $500 or a larger prize of $2,500 or more. One example is the Sheryl A. Horak Law Enforcement Explorer Memorial Scholarship. You need to complete an application that includes a resume, personal statement, list of accomplishments and high school transcript. Winners must also work or volunteer for a law enforcement agency or organization. Winners are awarded a $1,000 prize.
Advanced Study Programs
Even after finishing a bachelor’s degree in sociology, you can still apply for scholarships and other financial assistance programs. Look for fellowships like the American Society of Criminology Fellowships for Ethnic Minorities, which is open to all minority students studying criminology or a related field. You can get up to $6,000 but you must be a doctoral student. Most colleges also offer fellowships and assistant programs for graduate and doctoral students. You can help a professor within your department do research or become a teaching assistant and help professors with their classes. Many fellowships and assistant positions come with a scholarship that pays for your tuition.
The more scholarships you receive, the less money you need to borrow or pay out-of-pocket for college. Some of the scholarships available to sociology majors come from professional organizations, honors societies and other similar groups.
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