<p>JMU has limited merit aid at this time, and all is competitive. I am not as familiar with other in-state options.</p>
<p>You still have a few years, so things could change, but currently the largest scholarships at JMU are the Dingledine and Centennial. Both require a separate application, Dingledine requires November 1 Early Application.</p>
<p>Other smaller scholarship are offered by the university and individual programs, and range from smaller amounts (like 1000 - 2500 per year… some renewable, some not) to approximately 1/2 in-state tuition renewable scholarships. </p>
<p>There is information about scholarships on the JMU website.</p>
<p>As an undergraduate student you are personally able to take out Direct Loans of 5500 for freshman year, 6500 for sophomore year and 7500 for each of junior and senior year. Most other loans need to be taken by parents or with the assistance of a qualified co-signer. These numbers may change slightly by the time you are applying, but likely not significantly. Depending on family EFC you could be eligible for Work Study, Virginia grants, Perkins Loans, Pell grant. If your family applies for a Parent PLUS loan and is denied you would be eligible for approximately an additional 4000 in Direct Loans per year.</p>
<p>You also could look into the possibility of attending a CC for 2 years then transferring to a four year university. Most of the fou year universities in VA gave articulation agreements with the state CCs.</p>
<p>VA has terrific state school options… you also could look at private and OOS schools that will give you significant merit for your stats. Focus on doing well in HS, and on strong test scores ECs… do your best, you are certain to have great options!</p>
<p>Good for you for starting to think of this now. :-)</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>