Over 1.7 million scholarships are awarded annually; however, only 7% of college students will receive a scholarship. On average, first-time undergraduates who receive government grants and scholarships at a 4-year college receive about $14,890 annually. On average, a student who receives a scholarship or grant at a private 4-year college will receive $8,005 more than a student in a public 4-year college.

That sounds depressing and you might ask what are my odds of winning a scholarship, but all hope is not lost. Many students and their families have applied for scholarships and used them to pay for college. But, you need to know the facts.

Can I count on an athletic scholarship?

You will hear parents brag that their student is an athlete so they aren’t worried about scholarships; their student will get a full ride athletic scholarship.

Statistics rarely lie. And unfortunately, the numbers show that the recruiting game is a tough process to go through. There are more than seven million high school athletes, but there are college roster spots for just two percent of them. Getting to the NCAA Division I level is even tougher. Just one percent of those seven million student-athletes get a full ride to a Division I program. The recruiting process takes work, and earning an athletic scholarship is far from easy.

Here’s chart that lists which athletic scholarships are available, how many, and the award amount: Scholarship Stats

I keep hearing it’s not worth the effort

Each year rumors and speculations arise around the topic of scholarships. You will hear statements like: there’s no way I will qualify so why bother applying; there are millions of applicants so I won’t win one; if you aren’t an A student you shouldn’t even bother. All of these, of course, are not true.

According to CollegeXpress, there are still a lot of rules surrounding scholarships, caveats to look out for, and other things you need to know to make your scholarship search easier and more successful.

Click here for 10 facts about scholarships you need to know.

CollegeRaptor reminds us that most people simply don’t understand how scholarships work or how to maximize the aid they receive. Everything from where to find them to what you need to do to win them is probably very different than what you think.

Click here for 5 common scholarship myths and misconceptions.

What are the odds of winning a scholarship?

The best answer I can give you is your chances are ZERO if you don’t apply. Do the work, follow the rules, and apply for the right scholarships by adapting the tools suggested by Monica Matthews, The Scholarship Mom who helped her son win over $100,000 in scholarship money. Think outside the box and apply for scholarships with the fewest applicants (like local ones), thus increasing your chances.

The simple adage applies to scholarship searches: no pain, no gain. It may take you time and require you to push your limits, but the reward is worth it.