Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology and philosophy at the University of California, once attempted to explain the relationship between siblings via a cosmic metaphor. “If parents are the fixed stars in the child’s universe, the vaguely understood, distant but constant celestial spheres,” said Gopnik, “siblings are the dazzling, sometimes scorching comets whizzing nearby.”
To those of us with siblings, this makes perfect sense. Our siblings do not always provide the steady, calm presence of parents, instead, providing flashes of excitement and, occasionally, frustration. However, most of us can realize that we should be grateful to have our brothers and sisters in our lives.
When it comes time to depart for college, many of us leave them behind for the time being. Others are lucky enough to attend school concurrently with their brother or sister or have their younger sibling follow in their footsteps. This, of course, places financial stress on the family. However, many colleges have programs to help out in this scenario, including, but not limited to:
The St. Anselm College Family Grant
Amount: $4,000
Deadline: Varies
Saint Anselm College, a small, private Catholic college located in Goffstown, New Hampshire, prides itself on not only their students’ outstanding learning ability but their personal character as well. In 2015, TIME Magazine ranked St. Anselm among the fifty best liberal arts colleges in the nation.
A school that focuses on instilling “family values” within their students, St. Anselm certainly backs up this assertion via the St. Anselm College Family Grant, which offers any family with two or more full-time students a financial break to the tune of $6,000 apiece. That is, $6,000 for two siblings attending concurrently, $12,000 for three, and so on. The grant divides equally among the siblings’ tuition costs. Students must fill out the CSS profile to qualify.
Twinsburg High School Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 ($500 per twin)
Deadline: April 6, 2020
The town of Twinsburg, Ohio, lying almost exactly halfway between Akron and Cleveland, is home to 19,000 people. Each year, however, that number increases for the town’s annual Twins Day Festival, usually held during the first weekend of August. Nearly 2,000 sets of twins, triplets, and other multiple siblings descend on the Ohio village to celebrate their heritage and unique biological status.
One of the festival’s major attractions is the Twinsburg High School Scholarship, which is given to a set of twins with upcoming college expenses. To qualify, a set of twins must be registered for that year’s festival and have registered for and attended at least three of the last five festivals. Applications become available closer to the festival’s date, but this is definitely worth checking out for any twins who regularly attend this Woodstock of multiple siblings.
Otterbein University Sibling Grant
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Need-based award
About two hours southwest of Twinsburg, located directly north of the bustling college metropolis known as Columbus, is a town of 36,000; Westerville, OH. Westerville is known for many things, such as being the capital of the Prohibition movement and the hometown of current Ohio Governor John Kasich. The campus sits on 140 acres, tucked in between Alum Creek, a trickling brook that slices the edge of Westerville, and the main state road.
Following in the tradition of its neighbor Twinsburg, Otterbein offers compensation for siblings that attend the school at the same time, with $1,000 awarded annually to each sibling. The grant, however, only applies to undergraduate students who are currently dependents. Via the Siblings Grant, Otterbein furthers its reputation as a flagship “small-town” college willing to help those in need.
Johnson & Wales University Family Scholarship
Amount: Up to $2,000 each
Deadline: Awarded on full-time enrollment
It’s clear that Johnson & Wales University is not your traditional garden-variety college experience. Spread across campuses in Denver, CO, Providence, RI, Charlotte, NC, and Miami, FL, JWU is a fantastic school for those planning to major in a hospitality-related field. Some students at JWU elect to forego their senior year of high school in order to enter its practical, hands-on learning-based curriculum.
JWU provides incentives for either twin to enter the school at the same time or siblings following shortly behind their older siblings in the form of the JWU Family Scholarship. The scholarship offers $2,000 each to the siblings enrolled in the school. The college’s website does not state a deadline or provide an application for the scholarship. However, the scholarship is renewable for up to four years and asks those interested to contact their financial planning department.
Rider University Sibling Grant
Amount: $2,000 ($1,000 per semester)
Deadline: Before the start of the semester
For students attending Rider University and also happens to have a sibling currently attending as well, they may qualify for the Sibling Grant. The grant is given to each additional sibling that enrolls for a maximum of four years. Students interested in the grant need to notify Rider University’s financial aid office before the start of the semester.
Like Rider University, many other universities and colleges offer some sort of sibling discount, whether through a scholarship or grant. If you’re interested in attending the same school as your sibling, do some research through the school’s website! You may find a sibling scholarship or grant you qualify for.
| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
5.34%-15.96%* Variable
3.99%-15.61%* Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CITIZENS |
 |
4.92% - 15.08% Variable
3.99% - 15.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT SALLIE MAE |
 |
4.50% - 17.99% Variable
3.49% - 17.99% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CREDIBLE |
 |
6.00% - 13.75% Variable
3.99% - 13.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT LENDKEY |
 |
5.50% - 14.56% Variable
3.69% - 14.41% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ASCENT |
 |
3.70% - 8.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ISL |
 |
4.99% - 16.85% Variable
3.47% - 16.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT EARNEST |
 |
5.00% - 14.22% Variable
3.69% - 14.22% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ELFI |
