Students increasingly turn to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to find college scholarships, but experts warn of widespread scams. A Sallie Mae survey found two-thirds of college students search for scholarships on TikTok, with 20 percent searching weekly. Yet nearly half reported encountering fake scholarships or those requiring application fees.

Financial aid experts emphasize that legitimate scholarships should never require payment. The Federal Trade Commission advises students to verify scholarship information through official sources and trusted organizations. TikTok claims to remove fraudulent content when identified, while Meta declined to comment on Instagram's scholarship-related policies.

With average annual tuition exceeding $26,000 at public colleges and over $52,000 at private institutions, students face mounting pressure to find funding. Despite the risks, only about one-quarter of students consistently verify scholarship legitimacy before applying. Education professionals recommend focusing on institutional aid and merit-based scholarships from colleges themselves, which typically provide more substantial support than outside awards.