Scholarships are more important than ever for today’s college students

November is National Scholarship Month, so it’s as good a time as any to highlight the importance of college scholarships, especially given the challenges besetting higher education.

In fact, the National Scholarship Providers Association created the month to raise awareness of the vital role scholarships play in reducing student debt and expanding access to postsecondary education.

According to the Education Data Initiative, more than $100 billion in grant and scholarship money is awarded annually, including government sources. However, just 11 percent of college students receive scholarships.

This figure is much too low. How do we encourage more students to seek out scholarship opportunities?

The cost of attending public and private colleges and universities has risen sharply in rece