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Mar

2022

What Is Historical Volatility & How Do You Use It?

A Guide to Historical Volatility

By Mike Zaccardi, CMT, CFA | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off

Historical volatility (HV) measures the range of returns on a market index or security over a given time period. When an asset’s historical volatility is going up, that means its price is moving further away from its average (in either direction) more quickly than usual.

A stock’s historical volatility is typically one standard deviation using daily returns, and it’s one factor that investors often look at to gauge the risk of a potential investment. An asset’s historical volatility is different from its implied volatility. Read on to learn what historical volatility is, how historical volatility works, and how to calculate historical volatility.

What Is Historical Volatility?

Historical volatility is a statistical measurement of the price dispersion of a financial security or index over a period. Investors calculate this by determining the average deviation from an average price. Historical volatility typically looks at daily returns, but some investors use it to look at intraday price changes.

Analysts can use any number of trading days when calculating historical volatility, but typically options traders focus on a time period between 10 and 180 days. Options traders use historical volatility and implied volatility when analyzing trading ideas.

Investors typically express historical volatility as a percentage reflecting the standard deviation from the average price, based on past price behavior, but there are also other methods they can use to determine an asset’s historical volatility. Unstable daily price changes often result in high historical volatility readings.

How Historical Volatility Works

Historical volatility takes past price data to calculate an annualized standard deviation value that measures how much past prices deviate from an average price over a given period. When a stock sees large daily price swings compared to its history, it will typically have a historical volatility reading. Historical volatility does not measure direction; it simply indicates the deviation from an average.

When a stock’s historical volatility is rising or above average, it means daily price changes are larger than normal. When it is lower than average, a stock or index has been relatively calm.

How Historical Volatility is Calculated

The historical volatility formula is typically a standard deviation measurement. It takes a stock’s daily price changes and averages them over a period. There are several steps to calculating historical volatility:

1. Collect historical prices

2. Calculate the average historical price over a period

3. Find the difference between each day’s price change versus the average

4. Square those differences

5. Find the sum of those squared differences

6. Divide those differences by the total number of prices (this finds the variance)

7. Calculate the square root of the variance

The historical volatility formula is a tedious step-by-step process, but most brokerage platforms automatically calculate it. Many brokers even offer historical volatility charts. With a historical volatility chart, you can easily compare changes through time. For example, if a stock reacted sharply to an earnings release, the historical volatility charts will show a jump immediately after the earnings date while implied volatility might drop sharply after the earnings report.

How to Use Historical Volatility

Traders sometimes use historical volatility to help set stop-loss levels. For example, a day trader might take three times a stock’s daily average range – a measure of historical volatility – to set a stop price. This is known as volatility ratio trading.

Traders also use historical volatility when analyzing a stock, fund, or index to get a sense of its riskiness. High or low historical volatility stocks are not inherently bullish or bearish. Day traders might seek high historical volatility stocks as candidates for high-profit trading opportunities (but they also come with high loss potential).

You can also use historical volatility to help determine whether a stock’s options are expensive to help determine an options trading strategy. If implied volatility is extremely high when compared to a stock’s historical volatility, traders may decide that options are undervalued.

Historical vs Implied Volatility

Like historical volatility, it measures fluctuations in an underlying stock or index over a period, but there are key differences between the two indicators. Implied volatility is a forward-looking indicator of a stock’s future volatility.

The higher the historical volatility, the riskier the security has been. Implied volatility, on the other hand, uses option pricing to arrive at a calculation and estimate of future volatility. If implied volatility is significantly less than a stock’s historical volatility, traders expect a relatively calm period of trading, and vice versa.

Typically, when implied volatility is low, options pricing is low. Low options prices can benefit premium buyers. Sometimes investors will use a graph to determine how an option’s implied volatility changes relative to its strike price, using a volatility smile.

Historical Volatility	Implied Volatility
Measures past price data to gauge volatility on a security	Uses forward-looking option-pricing data to gauge expected future volatility on a security
Higher historical volatility often leads to higher options pricing and higher implied volatility	Imminent news, like a company earnings report or a key economic data point, can drive implied volatility higher on a stock or index
Traders can use historical volatility to help set exit prices	Traders can use implied volatility to find stocks expected to exhibit the biggest price swings

The Takeaway

Historical volatility is a useful indicator for both institutional and retail investors looking to get a feel for the level of recent fluctuations in a stock or index has been in the recent past. It measures a security’s dispersion of returns over a defined period. Implied volatility is a similar tool, but it is forward-looking and uses option pricing to arrive at its output.

Options trading and the use of historical volatility is helpful for some advanced traders. If that sounds like you, an options trading platform like SoFi could be worth considering. Its intuitive and approachable design offers investors the ability to place traders from the mobile app or desktop platform. Plus, there are educational resources about options available in case you want to answer a question or learn more about a certain topic.

Trade options with low fees through SoFi.

FAQ

What is considered a good number for historical volatility?

It depends. While one stock might have a high historical volatility reading, perhaps above 100%, another steady stock might have a low figure around 20%. The key is to understand the securities you trade. Historical volatility can be an indicator of a stock’s volatility, but unforeseen risks can turn future volatility drastically different than the historical trend.

What is a historical volatility ratio?

The historical volatility ratio is the percentage of short-to-long average historical volatility on a financial asset. You can interpret the historical volatility ratio by looking at short versus long historical volatility. If short volatility on a stock drops below a threshold percentage of its long volatility, a trader might think there will be a jump in future volatility soon.

This is similar to analyzing volatility skew in options. It is important to remember that the interpretation and technical rules of historical volatility can be subjective by traders.

How is historical volatility calculated?

Historical volatility calculations require finding the average deviation from the average price of an asset over a particular time. An asset’s standard deviation is often used. Historical volatility is usually stated as one standard deviation of historical daily returns.

Many trading platforms automatically calculate historical volatility, so you don’t have to do the calculations manually.

Photo credit: iStock/Eva-Katalin

Mar

2022

Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) Explained

What Is Internet Computer (ICP) Crypto?

By Brian Nibley | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

Bitcoin achieved decentralization of monetary value via a decentralized peer-to-peer cash system. The Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) hopes to accomplish something similar with the internet itself.

The goal of ICP crypto is to create a decentralized internet. Rather than having a handful of centralized servers host much of the crucial infrastructure — as is the case today — ICP envisions a new internet run by independent data centers the world over.

ICP crypto plans to run their protocol on millions of different computers. This new, decentralized internet could be an alternative to cloud services like Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services that currently power large swaths of the internet.

The developers behind ICP crypto claim that their network has several advantages over the centralized model.

How Does ICP Work?

The full details and answers to the question “what is ICP and how does it work” can get quite complicated. In order to understand how ICP works, it helps to have an elementary understanding of how blockchain works.

The Internet Computer runs on a blockchain protocol known as Internet Computer Protocol (ICP). Its network consists of a kind of tower made of building blocks. Independent data centers lie at the bottom, hosting specialized hardware nodes.

The nodes combine to create subnets, and the subnets host something called canister smart contracts. These are smart contracts that can be uploaded by users. The creators of the project hope that in eight years’ time, there will be billions of canisters running ICP.

A high-level overview of the protocol might look something like this:

Data centers (foundation) > Nodes > Subnets > Canisters (final end product)

Network Nervous System

A unique element of ICP is what’s known as the Network Nervous System (NNS). This is a system that controls, configures, and manages the network. Data centers that would like to join the network must apply to the NNS. The NNS has an open governance system, but it also oversees permissions for those wanting to participate in the network.

The NNS performs a variety of tasks necessary for managing the network. Chief among these is monitoring nodes for deviations from expected behavior, which could point to nodes performing poorly or malfunctioning in some way.

NNS and ICP Crypto

The NNS also has an important role to play in the token economy of the ICP. New ICP tokens are generated by the NNS to reward nodes and neurons that cast votes inside the NNS, which determines which proposals get submitted to the protocol. The issuance of these new ICP tokens is inflationary.

At some point, owners of data centers and owners of neurons can exchange their ICP crypto tokens with those who own canisters. Those who own and manage canisters can then convert their tokens into cycles, which can be used to charge canisters.

When canisters perform computational tasks or store information in their memory, they burn through cycles and at some point, must be recharged with additional cycles to continue with their tasks. This process is deflationary.

Subnets

One concept that deserves further explanation is subnets. Subnets are the building blocks of the ICP network. A subnet hosts a specific subset of software canisters hosted by the network. A subnet gets created as a result of several nodes coming together from different data centers.

This process is governed by the NNS. The nodes work together through the ICP to replicate the computations being carried out by the network canisters they host.

Who Created ICP?

ICP was created by a company called the DFINITY Foundation and a developer named Dominic Williams. The DFINITY Foundation is a nonprofit that was created to research and develop the Internet Computer, with the goal of creating a more open internet. Founded in 2016, it has 188 employees around the world and three research centers.

The ICP crypto project launched in May 2021 after several years of research. Researchers from around the globe contribute to the foundation’s work, including cryptographers who hold upwards of 200 patents and 100,000 academic citations.

ICP Coin Need-to-Knows

The Internet Computer Protocol has ambitions to create an entirely new, decentralized internet. ICP crypto is only one part of that burgeoning ecosystem.

The ICP token itself has a few use cases, including:

• Governance

• Rewards for participating data centers

• Payment for transaction fees

In a sense, it can be said that the Internet Computer Protocol converts crypto to processing power. Its network calculates a fee based on how much computing power a developer’s project will require. The website will run on the protocol so long as the fee is paid.

It’s thought that developers can create and run any kind of application on the Internet Computer.

This could include things like social media networks like Facebook and Twitter, software like all the apps we know and use today, and even some new kinds of apps that have yet to be discovered.

As one example, developers working on ICP have published the code for a social media app called “CanCan,” which they say is like a decentralized version of TikTok.

The Takeaway

What is ICP crypto? In a nutshell, the protocol is an elaborate smart contract platform designed to outcompete platforms like Ethereum and take on the challenge of creating an entirely new internet infrastructure.

FAQ

Is Internet Computer decentralized?

The Internet Computer Protocol is thought to be more decentralized than the current internet, which many have criticized as being a monopoly run by a handful of large technology companies. At the same time, some also criticize projects like ICP as being centralized tech projects, given they are created and managed by a central team who could, in theory, make unilateral decisions affecting the protocol at any given time.

How does ICP coin work?

ICP crypto works primarily as a method of payment for running programs on the Internet Computer Protocol. There are also other uses, such as governance and rewarding data centers who participate in the protocol.

Is Ethereum a replacement for the internet?

Ethereum is a platform for programming and running smart contracts. It doesn’t currently serve as a replacement for the internet and would be unfit to do so at this time. Gas fees are only one of many significant hindrances to this, as users have to pay very high fees to perform simple tasks. ICP crypto is thought to be a competitor to Ethereum and has hopes of one day replacing the current internet.

Photo credit: iStock/Nattakorn Maneerat

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Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Crypto: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies aren’t endorsed or guaranteed by any government, are volatile, and involve a high degree of risk. Consumer protection and securities laws don’t regulate cryptocurrencies to the same degree as traditional brokerage and investment products. Research and knowledge are essential prerequisites before engaging with any cryptocurrency. US regulators, including FINRA , the SEC , and the CFPB , have issued public advisories concerning digital asset risk. Cryptocurrency purchases should not be made with funds drawn from financial products including student loans, personal loans, mortgage refinancing, savings, retirement funds or traditional investments. Limitations apply to trading certain crypto assets and may not be available to residents of all states.

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Mar

2022

Is the Average College Tuition Rising? 2023 Price of College

By Melissa Brock | Going to College, Student Loans, student_loan | Comments Off

Between 1991 and 2022, the average published tuition and fees increased from the following amounts, after adjusting for inflation, according to the College Board’s Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid in 2021:

• $2,310 to $3,800 at public two-year schools

• $4,160 to $10,740 at public four-year schools

• $19,360 to $38,070 at private nonprofit four-year institutions

This piece will cover the average cost of college tuition and fees in 2021-2022, the increase in college tuition costs, the reasons for the rise of average college tuition, and college tuition options you may want to consider for yourself.

Average Cost of College in 2021/2022

In 2021-2022, the average published price for tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate students were as follows, according to the College Board’s Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid:

• $10,740 for public four-year in-state institutions, $170 higher than in 2020-2021

• $27,560 for public four-year out-of-state institutions, $410 higher than in 2020-2021

• $3,800 for public two-year in-district institutions (including average community college tuition), $50 higher than in 2020-2021

• $38,070 for private nonprofit four-year institutions, $800 higher than in 2020-2021

Increase in College Tuition Cost Over the Last 10 Years

Generally speaking, tuition has increased in the past decade. According to data from The College Board, the average published tuition price at a four-year nonprofit university during the 2011-2012 school year was $28,500 , while in 2021-2022 that number jumped to $38,070 .

However, tuition increases have remained at historically low rates for both the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. This can likely be attributed to decreased enrollment and tuition freezes as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reasons for the Rise of Average College Tuition

What are the reasons for the rise of the average college tuition? There are many reasons, including the following.

Less State Funding

After the 2008 recession, state and local funding for public higher education was cut dramatically. While there have been incremental increases in the amount of funding these institutions receive in the past 10 years, in most states funding for these institutions has not been restored to previous levels.

Now, there is concern that the Covid-19 pandemic may cause additional cuts in the future.

Campus Improvements

As many colleges increase their offerings, they must hire more faculty, make accommodations to house more students in residence halls, and implement capital and technological improvements. These costs may require students to pay more.

Non-instructional expenditures may include recreation centers, computer systems, housing, and food — all of this plays a role in tuition rate increases.

Recommended: How to Pay for College

Marketplace Lacks Transparency or Competition

The higher education marketplace lacks competitiveness and transparency, according to a report by the Manhattan Institute , which contributes to an increase in costs:

• Families may not know discounts right away: Students often do not know how much it will cost them to attend college because they only see the sticker price until after they’ve applied and been accepted, when the financial aid award shows the discounts and grant aid available. Transparency allows us to comparison-shop and colleges and universities can compete with one another for students’ business.

• A small number of colleges in an area: When small numbers of colleges exist in an area, costs often increase because no competitiveness occurs, particularly with students who commute to campuses.

• Perception of the financial value of education: As long as students believe improved earnings opportunities and the demand curve goes up, prospective students’ expectations determine how much they will pay for school.

• Regulations affect the marketplace: New business models haven’t appeared that offer higher education at a lower cost. Regulations due to federal intervention control financial aid dollars and accreditation requirements limit new entrants.

Personnel Costs Increase

The Higher Education Price Index measures the price change of the amount of money that institutions must spend to keep things going, including salaries for service and clerical individuals, administrators, professors, janitors, and even landscape professionals.

For example, in 2021, faculty salaries increased by 1%, as compared with 2.7% in 2020. Clerical costs increased 2.8%, and fringe benefits rose 4.1%.

Lack of Regulation or Caps on Tuition

No central mechanism controls college costs in the United States at the federal level. An unregulated fee structure means that colleges and universities can charge as much as they want in tuition and fees. Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, cap tuition.

In 2009, Missouri enacted one of the nation’s most stringent caps on tuition by limiting in-state tuition and required fee increases to align with the Consumer Price Index. Institutions would face fines if they exceeded that cap. However, Missouri’s governor lifted the price cap, and colleges can begin increasing without limits in July 2022.

College Financing Options

Numerous college financing options exist for students. Students can tap into various options to pay for costs. Undergraduate students received an average of $14,800 of financial aid 2020-2021, according to the College Board’s Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid, which includes the following:

• $10,050 in grants

• $3,780 in federal loans

• $880 in education tax credits

• $90 in federal work-study (jobs for college students)

Students may rely on scholarships, grants, work-study, and student loans, in addition to personal savings to pay for their education.

Scholarships

Scholarships refer to money received from colleges or another organization that students. Students don’t have to pay back scholarships. A total of 58% of students receive scholarships. Students receive an average award of $7,923 each, according to the Education Data Initiative .

Student Loans

Students can take advantage of federal or private loans. Federal loans are provided by the U.S. Department of Education. To apply for a federal student loan, students need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) each year.

Private loans are provided by banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. These are separate from any sort of federal aid, and as a result, lack the protections afforded to federal student loans — like income-driven repayment options or the ability to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. For this reason, private student loans are generally considered by students only after they have reviewed and exhausted all other options for financing.

Students and parents borrowed $95.9 billion in 2020-2021, which decreased from $135.1 billion (in 2020 dollars) in 2010-2011.

Grants

Students can tap into federal or state grants or institutional grants. Grants can also come from employers or private sources. Institutional grant aid for undergraduate students increased by 62% between 2010-2011 and 2020-2021 ($22.0 billion in 2020 dollars).

Work-study

Students can get a work-study award, which is money they must earn when they attend college. They must file the FAFSA in order to qualify for work-study and must work a job on campus to receive the money.

Personal savings

Families report paying $26,373 for college in 2020-2021, a 12% decrease from 2019–2020. It’s not uncommon for students to get help from their parents — nearly half of college costs are covered by parent income and savings, according to Sallie Mae’s annual How America Pays for College 2021 report. Strategies for paying for college for parents include things like setting up an account designed to help them save for college or other educational expenses.

As students and their parents consider their college options, they may consider focusing on programs that offer affordable tuition, or where they received a strong financial aid package. Some schools may even offer free college tuition for some students. Other students may opt to enroll in their school’s tuition payment plan, so they can spread tuition payments over a period of time.

Explore Student Loan Options From SoFi

Let SoFi help you explore low-cost loan options with our no-fee private student loans. Apply in just a few minutes and easily add a cosigner to the application. Plus, SoFi offers four flexible repayment options so borrowers can select the one that fits best with their financial plan.

The Takeaway

The average college tuition continues to increase. In 1991, the college tuition at a private four-year institution was just $19,360 and in 2022 it was $38,070. There are a number of reasons for increasing tuition rates, including factors like a dramatic decrease in state funding, lack of regulation, and an increase in operating costs at colleges and universities.

Many students rely on financial aid to pay for college. In the case that financial aid, including federal student loans, isn’t enough — private student loans may be an option to consider. If you think a private student loan is a fit, consider SoFi.

Find out more about how a private student loan from SoFi could help you pay for college.

Photo credit: iStock/MicroStockHub

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Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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Mar

2022

Choosing the Right Medical School

By Jacqueline DeMarco | Going to College, Student Loans, student_loan | Comments Off

Medical school is a big commitment. Not only will students spend four years of their life working towards a medical degree, but they’ll pay a big chunk of change for it (financing medical school is a major undertaking and can lead to debt). Which is why choosing the right medical school is so important. Keep reading for insight into how to pick the right medical school and how to finance it.

What Is Medical School?

Medical school is a necessary step towards becoming a doctor and generally, it takes four years to complete in order to receive an M.D., N.D., or D.O. degree. After medical school, graduates will need to pursue a medical residency in their specialty before they can become practicing doctors.

Recommended: How to Pay for Medical School

Different Types of Medical Courses

One of the first steps potential medical students can take to find the right medical school for them, is to better understand the different types of medical courses there are. Once they know what type of medical courses they want to take, they can narrow their search to just medical schools that offer those courses.

Traditional Courses

Some medical students may be attracted to more traditional courses that have students finish two years of pre-clinical work before they move on to the three years of clinical work they need to complete to get their degree. Typically, pre-clinical work occurs in a classroom setting. This is where medical students can learn the key principles of medical science. Once they move on to the clinical work portion of their studies, they will need to work in hospitals or clinics with direct supervision, while attending lectures.

This combination educates students on medical practices while making sure they get the hands-on experience they need to use their pre-clinical knowledge in real life situations.

Integrated Courses

Integrated courses are becoming more and more popular at medical schools, as this style, of course, combines pre-clinical and clinical education. In an integrated course, medical students can expect to learn practical clinical skills and work through problem-based learning.

Often in integrated courses, a lot of the students’ work is self-directed and early patient contact is encouraged.

Intercalated Courses

Intercalated courses are unique, as they allow students to take a year out of medical school to earn a BSc or MSc in a related subject. It’s not a guarantee that every medical school will allow students to do this, but in some schools students have the option or are mandated to do intercalated courses.

How to Choose Your Medical School

Every medical student had to ask themself at one point, which medical school is right for me? Here’s a few factors medical students can take into consideration to make answering that very important question easier.

1. Cost

Med school tuition is pricey and it’s not uncommon for students to take on debt for medical school. On top of tuition, students will also need to pay additional costs such as service fees and textbooks.

While medical schools do offer financial aid such as grants and medical school scholarships to their students, it’s important to prepare for the cost of medical school as not everyone receives financial assistance.

Attending an in-state school could help medical students find a lower tuition cost than at out-of-state or private options. For example, at the University of Utah, tuition for medical school if the student lives in-state is about $40,000 a year, whereas out-of-state students can expect to pay closer to $77,000 a year on tuition at the same school.

Each school charges different tuition rates, but generally, staying in-state can save medical students a lot of money.

Recommended: Average Cost of Medical School

2. Programs Offered

Apart from their general MD program, medical schools typically have multiple programs to choose from that lead to different careers paths. Before applying to medical school, students can take into consideration how many different programs are offered, how many students are accepted to each program, how long their ideal program takes to finish, and how that program aligns with their career goals.

3. Admissions Criteria

One of the easiest ways to start a search for the right medical school is by looking for schools where the applicant meets the admissions criteria. Students can do some research on the admissions criteria for each school to make sure their qualifications lineup, as well as what they need to do to apply to each specific school.

4. Location

Location matters. The location of a medical school can affect how much it costs a student to attend, what their housing situation looks like, and what their lifestyles outside of school is like. By choosing a local school, students may be able to save money on tuition or be able to cut costs by living with a family member. Not to mention, some locations simply have a higher cost of living than others. Students can crunch the numbers on what it would cost them to live at each medical school they want to apply to, so they can get a better idea of what attending medical school will cost them as a whole.

5. Career Path Opportunities

There are a wide variety of career opportunities that can arise after medical school and not all of them involve working as a practicing doctor. Medical school graduates can pursue teaching, research, and business opportunities amongst other exciting career paths. Students can check what career path opportunities a school’s curriculum and counseling center support before they apply to get a feel for if that medical school can help them meet their unique career goals.

SoFi’s Private Student Loans For Medical School

Students that need to take out medical school student loans, may find that SoFi’s private student loans can meet their needs. It only takes minutes to apply online and borrowers can apply with a cosigner. Keep in mind that because private student loans don’t have to offer the same benefits or protections as federal student loans (like the opportunity to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness), they are generally considered by students only after they have thoroughly reviewed all other financing options.

Borrowers can repay their SoFi student loans in a way that works for them by choosing a monthly student loan payment and rate that fits their budget. Borrowers never have to worry about fees and can enjoy a six-month grace period after graduation so that they have time to get settled in their post-grad life before they need to start making monthly loan payments.

The Takeaway

Choosing medical schools to apply to is a lot of work, but that research is a key step students need to take to find the best medical school for them.

For help covering the costs of medical school, learn more about SoFi private student loans.

FAQ

Is 30 too old for med school?

No, 30 is not too old to attend medical school. Applicants that apply for medical school will be in their mid-thirties four years later whether or not they pursue a degree. It’s up to them if those four years make a difference in the scheme of things.

What makes a good med school?

A good medical school is one that meets the needs of the student, when it comes to location, finances, and program opportunities.

How do you compare med schools?

Potential medical students can take factors like cost, location, and areas of study into account to compare and contrast their different medical school options.

Photo credit: iStock/Courtney Hale

Mar

2022

What Is a Scholarship & How To Get One

By Josephine Nesbit | Going to College, Student Loans, student_loan | Comments Off

Considering the average published college tuition according to The College Board ranges from $3,800 for a public two-year institution to $38,070 at private nonprofit four-year institutions, college students need all of the financial help that they can get.

One option is to use scholarships, which are a form of financial aid awarded to students to help pay for tuition and other education expenses. Unlike student loans, scholarships don’t need to be repaid.

Below, you’ll find the answers to “what is a scholarship?” as well as where to get a scholarship and the different types of scholarships that may be available to you.

What Is a Scholarship?

A scholarship is a form of financial aid that’s awarded to students to help pay for school. Over the last 10 years, the number of scholarships awarded has increased by 45%, according to the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA). Each year, there’s an estimated $46 billion in grants and scholarship money awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, colleges, and universities and an additional $7.4 billion awarded through private scholarships and fellowships.

Scholarships can be delivered in a lump-sum payment or the scholarship award can be broken up into multiple payments that are sent out each semester or school year. Depending on the scholarship, funds can either be sent directly to the student or sent to the school and the student would pay any additional money owed for tuition, fees, room, and board.

Scholarships are awarded based on a number of different criteria, including academic achievement, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, the field of study, financial need, and more.

Unlike student loans, scholarships don’t need to be repaid. Scholarships are generally considered gift aid.

What Is a Full-Ride Scholarship?

A full-ride scholarship is an award that covers everything — tuition, books, fees, room, board, and sometimes even living expenses. Full ride scholarships mean no other additional aid is needed to pay for school.

Full-ride scholarships are highly sought after and some may have strict guidelines and requirements.

Different Types of Scholarships for College Students

There are various forms of gift aid that students can use to pay for college. While there are differences between them, they’re similar in the fact that they do not need to be repaid. Here are different types of scholarships for college students.

Federal Grants

Federal grants are need based financial aid from the U.S. government to help students pay for college. The Department of Education offers a variety of grants to students attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and career schools.

Most federal grants are awarded to students based on financial need, the cost of attendance, and enrollment status. Students can start by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form annually to determine eligibility. Once FAFSA is submitted, your school will let you know how much you may receive and when you may receive it.

Here are grant programs provided by the federal government:

• Federal Pell Grants

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants

• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants

While grants don’t typically have to be repaid, there are circumstances that may require repayment, such as:

• You withdrew from the program early

• Your enrollment status changed that reduced your eligibility for the grant

• You received outside scholarships or grants that reduced the need for federal student aid

• You received a TEACH Grant but did not meet the requirements for the TEACH Grant service obligation

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State Grants and Scholarships

According to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), almost every state education agency has at least one grant or scholarship available to residents. Eligibility may be restricted to state residents attending an in-state college, but this isn’t always the case. Check what state financial aid programs may be available to you through your state education agency.

Scholarships and Grants From Schools

Institutional aid is awarded to students by the schools they plan to attend. Scholarships and grants from schools may be offered based on need or merit. For example, a student may be awarded a scholarship or grant through the school for strong academic or athletic performance.

It’s also important to read the requirements for scholarships and grants from schools. Some awards may demand that students maintain a minimum GPA throughout the year. Others may only be available for your freshman and sophomore years.

Private Scholarships

Private scholarships are financial aid awarded to students that are funded by foundations, civic groups, companies, religious groups, professional organizations, charities, and individuals. Most private scholarships have specific criteria required to qualify, according to the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) , and it may take some extra effort to research the availability of private scholarships.

Most private scholarships are only awarded for a single year. Check with the scholarship’s agency to find out if the scholarship is renewable and any criteria you may need to meet.

Main Sources of Scholarships and Grants

The main sources of scholarships and grants are from the four types of scholarships and grants listed above. Here are the major sources of scholarships and grants for college students and the percentage of total grants and/or scholarships that comes from each source:

• Federal grants: 47%

• State grants and scholarships: 8%

• Scholarships and grants from schools: 35%

• Private scholarships: 10%

Reasons to Be Awarded With a Scholarship

Scholarships aren’t only awarded to those with a 4.0 GPA. There are many reasons to be awarded a scholarship and students should consider their skills, areas of interest, and past achievements or awards.

Need-Based

Need-based scholarships are typically awarded to students based on their household income. The school’s financial aid office may also determine how much financial aid the student is able to receive.

Schools subtract your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from your Cost of Attendance (COA) to determine your financial need and how much need-based aid you can receive. Your COA is the cost to attend the school and your EFC is the number that financial aid staff uses to determine how much financial aid you would receive. Information provided on your FAFSA is used to calculate your EFC.

Academic performance may also be taken into consideration when awarding need-based scholarships.

Academic Scholarships

Academic scholarships, also known as merit scholarships, are awarded to students based on their GPA and SAT/ACT admissions test scores. Award committees may also take other factors into consideration, such as extracurricular activities and leadership qualities.

Athletic Scholarships

Athletic scholarships are awarded to students who show exceptional athletic abilities while also taking academic performance into consideration. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, a nonprofit organization that regulates student-athletes, has provided more than $3.6 billion in athletics scholarships annually to more than 180,000 student-athletes. Athletic scholarships are not available at Division III colleges. Only about 1% to 2% of high school athletes are awarded athletics scholarships to compete in college.

Community Service Scholarships

There are also scholarship opportunities for students who volunteer in their local communities. For example, the Equitable Excellence Scholarship awards students who have made a positive impact on their communities through volunteer service. The scholarship provides renewable awards of $5,000 to students for a total of $20,000 per recipient as well as one-time $2,500 scholarships.

Scholarships for Hobbies and Extracurriculars

Certain hobbies, interests, or extracurricular activities may also provide scholarships. For example, members of Starfleet, the International Star Trek Fan Association, can be awarded scholarships up to $1,000 in the categories including medicine, engineering, performing arts, international studies, business, science, education, writing, law enforcement, and general studies.

Scholarships based on Identity or Heritage

Some scholarship programs offer funds to help support traditionally underrepresented students. Outside of identity, many of these scholarships may require a minimum GPA, a need for financial assistance, leadership potential or participation in community activities.

There are also scholarships for mothers. When dealing with the costs of child care, many single mothers face unique obstacles to getting their college degrees.

Employer or Military Scholarships

Students may also be able to find opportunities through the employer of a family member. Eligibility and award amounts vary by employer. A variety of scholarships are also available to the children and spouses of active duty, reserve, National Guard, or retired members of the U.S. military.

How Can You Spend a Scholarship for Student?

How you can spend a scholarship for students depends on that specific program. Some programs may send the check directly to the college’s financial aid office to apply the funds to your tuition bill. Funds that are sent to the student may be used for education-related expenses deemed necessary by the school, like tuition, books, supplies, and housing.

Make sure to check with the scholarship program for rules regarding how you can spend your award.

How to Get a Scholarship for Student

There are several ways for students to find and apply for scholarships. Students can contact the financial aid office at the school they wish to attend or use other free resources. Some of these include:

• Your high school counselor

• The U.S. Department of Labor’s scholarship search tool

• Federal agencies

• Your state grant agency

• Your library

• Foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses or civic groups

• Organizations related to your field of interest

• Identity-based organizations

• Your employer or your parents’ employers

Check with each program to see how to apply and the requirements. Make sure you apply by the deadline.

Scholarship Requirements

Scholarship requirements vary by program. However, you may notice some common criteria, such as:

• A GPA minimum

• Age and grade requirements

• College enrollment requirement

• An essay requirement

• Financial requirements

• Location requirement

• Test score requirements

Depending on the program, there may be some requirements related to your major, ethnicity, gender, disability or military service. In some cases, applicants may be required to complete an interview. If you’re applying for scholarships, check with each program to be sure you fully understand the application requirements and eligibility criteria.

Alternative Funding Options for College Students

Outside of scholarships and grants, there are other ways for students to pay for college.

One option is to get a part-time job and send extra income aside to put towards tuition or other school-related expenses. While this will likely not cover everything, it could make your costs more manageable. If you have a 529 college savings plan, you can tap this savings account to pay for qualified education expenses on a tax-free basis.

Students can also turn to the federal government to see if they qualify for federal work-study jobs, federal student loans, aid for military families, aid for international students or certain tax benefits. According to the Department of Education, outstanding federal student aid totals $1.61 trillion, representing 43.4 million students. These are typically awarded based on financial need and students can see what they qualify for by filling out FAFSA each year.

Another option is to use private student loans to pay for college. These are nonfederal loans made by a lender, such as a bank, credit union, state agency, university or other institution. Private student loans can be an option to consider after you’ve exhausted all other forms of aid.

Unlike most federal student loans, private loans require a credit check and the loan’s interest rate will depend on the borrower’s creditworthiness, among other factors. Private student loans are not required to offer the same borrower protections as federal student loans, things like deferment options or income-driven repayment plans.

You can even apply for scholarships and grants to pay off student loans after you’ve already graduated. You may also be able to have your student loans forgiven through state or federal programs.

The Takeaway

Before taking on student loans, scholarships and grants can be used to supplement other forms of financial aid. Before you start applying for scholarships, make sure you read the program’s requirements and turn in the application before the deadline.

If you’ve taken out federal or private student loans, there’s always the option to refinance. By refinancing your student loans, you could potentially qualify for a lower interest rate that could help you pay off the principal faster and/or decrease how much you pay each month. Note that decreasing your monthly payments is often the result of extending your loan term, which can ultimately increase the cost of borrowing over the life of the loan. Refinancing any federal loans will eliminate them from federal protections or programs such as the option to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

You can refinance the student loan with SoFi. If a competitor offers a lower rate, SoFi will match it and give you $100 after funding the loan.

Check your rate and learn more about SoFi student loan refinancing today.

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