College tuition fees have been skyrocketing over the past few years, making reliable college savings funds a priority for parents around the country. According to College Board, a nonprofit corporation that helps provide students with access to higher education, the average tuition fee at a moderate private university during the 2014-2015 school year sat at $46,272. Do not let that number discourage you though.

Effective College Funding Services Determining Merit Scholarships

As a parent, you only want the best education you can possibly afford your child. After all, every child has the right to receive a proper education. Even with rising tuition fees, know that there are many ways to help lessen your financial burden and provide your child with the best possible college education. One of the best ways to do this would be to help your child win merit scholarships.

Merit scholarships typically reward the performance of a student during High School. Most universities will provide a specific cash equivalent to help pay for a student’s tuition fees. Of course, the amount given depends on the criteria a particular student meets, including:

Completed FAFSA and CSS PROFILE

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an initiative from the U.S. Department of Education, and aims to help families find federal financial scholarships. Colleges love to see this type of initiative from parents, and often award merit money in the thousands range. The amount increases further if parents complete FAFSA and the CSS PROFILE.

Trusted college funding services like John McDonough’s The Studemont Group College Funding Solutions, LLC often help parents complete FAFSA and CSS PROFILE, as well as teach them how to take full advantage of the program.

Submitted Application Requirements On-Time

Most colleges do not enjoy waiting around for applicants to submit their requirements, especially if they’re still left waiting past the given deadline. On the other side of the coin, many colleges reward parents and students who are able to submit requirements (including mid-year report cards) early or on time. For example, The University of Rochester (NY) awards $400 to those who complete admission applications on-time.

Where You’re From

Many universities, especially private educational institutions, crave geographical diversity in their student body. As a result, more than a handful of universities provide significant merit scholarships to students from other states.

Sources: University Reveals the Secrets of Winning Merit Scholarships, CBS News How to Improve Chances of Getting Grants and Scholarships for College, Classroom.Synonym.com