Believe it or not, there are billions of dollars in private scholarships available each year.  They are all over the place.  Really.  They are locally in your community, in corporations and organizations.  The challenge is finding them, because they are not advertised. Although there is enough private scholarship money available for every American, however, you have to be discipline and persistent.  These private scholarships are in a range of categories like: Art, Talent, Ethnicity, Community Based, Skills, Religion, and for Veterans.  The list goes on and on.  You must be willing to put in the work to obtain them.  Your first step is to identify your characteristic as a student.  Second, start your research locally in your community and on your job.  Third,  do research and go to the internet and google for them.  Hustle!