Skip to main content

About Step 1

Step 1 Scholarship Search is a completely free online tool to help students and families search for scholarships. Funding education expenses through scholarships helps your savings, earnings and other financial aid go further and can reduce the overall amount of loans that you need to repay.

About the Sponsors

ICAN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering students and families as they plan for life after high school. ICAN provides free, personalized advising on career exploration, academic planning, college selection, financial aid, and the transition to college or training. In addition to one-on-one support, ICAN partners with schools to deliver comprehensive career and college readiness programming, presentations and curriculum that help ensure every student has the tools and knowledge to achieve their goals.

ISL Education Lending is a nonprofit organization that provides free tools and resources to help families plan so they can reduce their need to borrow to pay for college. For those that must borrow to meet their cost of attendance, ISL Education Lending offers lower-rate student loans.

ICAN and ISL Education Lending developed Step 1 because they saw an unfulfilled need among students — a single online source for local, regional and national scholarships that encompassed opportunities for students other than high school seniors. Their goal is to make Step 1 the only scholarship search tool needed.

About the Search

Step 1 searches an extensive database of scholarships to find those that match your specific criteria. After you create a free account, you provide information about your interests, qualifications, background and more. This information is matched to available opportunities with applications due within the next 90 days. You can select more criteria or make changes to change your search results at any time.

Step 1 Is for You

Although high school seniors are generally the most focused on finding college scholarships, opportunities are available for current college students as well as younger students. In addition, parents or educators can perform searches for scholarships for their students.

Step 1 works with high school counselors to create a one-stop tool for local, regional and national scholarship opportunities.

Sponsored by Two Trusted Nonprofits

Sponsor logo: ISL Education Lending

Sponsor logo: ICAN