GEARUP for Scholarship Literacy
Evaluation Tips
Consider when evaluating resources for scholarships:
- ATTENTION to finding credible sources
- PERSPECTIVE of different viewpoints
- RELEVANCE of sources
- AUTHORITATIVENESS of the authors/publishers of my sources
Ask yourself…
- What is the purpose of the information - why was it created? Hint: Look at the "About" page to determine who authored the information
- Is the author or website objective and un-biased? Hint: Remember that websites that end in .com (commercial) often are seeking to sell you something, or make money in some way. Those ending in .edu or .gov or .org could be a bit safer, since they are affiliated with education, governmental agencies or organizations. However, you should use evaluative strategies on ALL websites, just to guarantee that you are getting the best information.
Accuracy
- How do we really know that information is accurate? While there is no single rule that guarantees the correctness of the information in a website, there are ways to increase your confidence that the information is factually correct.
- If statistics or quotes are provided on a web page, does the author provide their source? Can that statistic or quote be verified by a reliable second source?
- Have you viewed the information about scholarship scams to verify that the information that you are viewing is trustworthy?
Identifying Scholarship Scam Websites
Websites for Scholarship Literacy/Avoiding Scams
There can be websites out there promoting scholarships that are actually a scam. We've compiled some resources from experts to help you know what to look for and some questions to keep in mind as you evaluate scholarships you discover. Note: After you have reviewed the Office of Student Financial Assistance's Scholarship website, you can contact them with any questions.
Avoiding Student Aid Scams. This website from Federal Student Aid: An Office of the U.S. Department of Education offers
https://studentaid.gov/resources/scams
Beware! How to Identify Scholarship Scams. This webpage from fastweb (A MONSTER Company) features this article from September 2020 outlines how you can "learn how to spot scholarship scams as you navigate the search process"
https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/beware-student-scams
How To Avoid Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams. This website from Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information spells how how to avoid scammers and also what to do if you are a victim of a scholarship scam.
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scholarship-and-financial-aid-scams
Avoiding Scholarship Scams. This website from College Board identifies common signs of scams, how to investigate companies, and offers a free online Scholarship Search.
https://professionals.collegeboard.org/guidance/financial-aid/scams
BBB Tip: Scholarship scams. This website from the Better Business Bureau offers tips from August 2021 on avoiding scholarship scams and offers a link to BBB Scam Tracker.
https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16922-bbb-tip-scholarship-scams
Common Scholarship Scams and How to Avoid Them. This website from finaid mentions common red flags for scholarship scams.
- Last Updated: Oct 15, 2025 12:29 PM
- URL: https://nku.libguides.com/scholarship
- Print Page
