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Top 64 Writing & Essay Scholarships in May 2024

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Learn about our editorial policies

Writing is an extremely important part of success in high school, college, and life in general. For some students, writing is also an intricate part of who they are and how they express themselves. If you are someone who loves English class and is genuinely excited about a new creative writing assignment, then you should keep reading! Writing scholarships, creative writing scholarships, and essay scholarships are great ways to put your talent to use.

Whether you are planning on attending community college, a four-year program, or graduate school, we’ve got opportunities for you. Keep on reading to learn about the top scholarships for writers and creative writers including eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines!

Why choose Scholarships360

We helped over 4 million students find scholarships in 2023

We've spent over 4,000 hours reviewing 3,000 scholarship programs

13+ years of experience helping students make smart education decisions

The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

• The scholarship requires a fee to apply
• The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
• The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
• Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
• The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
• The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
• The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
• There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
• The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
• There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

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RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS360 WINNERS

Danielle Emretane

Winner of the Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

Fiorella Ruiz

Winner of the "Commencing at Community College" Scholarship

Jack Furman

Winner of the “Tuition Solution” STEM Scholarship

Morgan Breitschuh

Winner of the “Follow Your Own Path” Scholarship

Connor Godoy

Winner of the “Commencing at Community College Scholarship”

Kyamani Atterbury

Winner of the “Outstanding Undergraduate” Scholarship

$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high… Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to go to college, a graduate student who’s in a master’s program, or an adult learner who wants to return to school, you are eligible for our no essay scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. Finalists for this scholarship will be interviewed about their process for funding their education. Show Less

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Sallie Mae

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for…

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

“Mom to Scholar” Scholarship for Mothers This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Maria Geiger

The “Mom to Scholar'' Scholarship for Mothers is open to mothers who want to begin or resume their journey towards earning a technical or college… Show More

The “Mom to Scholar'' Scholarship for Mothers is open to mothers who want to begin or resume their journey towards earning a technical or college degree. This scholarship is funded by Scholarships360’s own Maria Geiger, who started her journey toward a B.A. at the same time that her oldest son Will started college. Maria knows firsthand how challenging it is to raise a family, have a job outside the home, and attend college, but would not change the way she did things for the world. Mothers who have a desire to earn their college degree bring unique perspectives that greatly enhance their learning experiences; for some, motherhood is a vocation that enlightens like no other. If you are a mother over the age of 35 who feels that the time is right to begin your academic or career journey, please apply! Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application! Show Less

$40,000 Build a College List Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by The College Board

Create a college list with six schools you're considering - no minimum GPA or essay required!

“Gutsy Graduate Student” Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Ok, so first question–why is this scholarship named the “Gutsy” Graduate Student Essay Scholarship? If you are enrolled in graduate school (during the 2024-25 academic… Show More

Ok, so first question–why is this scholarship named the “Gutsy” Graduate Student Essay Scholarship? If you are enrolled in graduate school (during the 2024-25 academic year) or have heard stories from those enrolled, you already know! “Gutsy” means courageous and determined, which nearly all successful graduate students are. Why else would one continue on with rigorous academics while often living on a shoestring? The rewards of graduate school are numerous, especially the more focused and advanced level of specialized study in your chosen field. Learning with like-minded people who share your passion is fulfilling, and the networking is awesome. The flipside of graduate school is the costly student loans to fund it. With this in mind, the "Gutsy" Graduate Student Essay Scholarship aims to help out a passionate graduate student who is actively looking for ways to fund their higher education journey. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. Good luck on your educational journey, and we hope to read your application!  Show Less

Niche $25,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Niche

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year!

“College Here I Come” Essay Scholarship for High School Seniors This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

The "College Here I Come" Scholarship for Class of 2024 is open to just who you think: high school seniors graduating in the class of… Show More

The "College Here I Come" Scholarship for Class of 2024 is open to just who you think: high school seniors graduating in the class of 2024! Here at Scholarships360, scholarships are our passion–we know that you can never have enough of them! After all, scholarships are essentially “free money” to help fund your education. We want to help out a lucky high school senior who is just starting out on their higher education journey and actively looking for ways to fund it. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We hope that you apply and look forward to reading your application! Show Less

“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Are you a woman in high school, college, or graduate school enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year? If so, let us help you! Our $500… Show More

Are you a woman in high school, college, or graduate school enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year? If so, let us help you! Our $500 “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women aims to help women cover the costs of pursuing their dreams. Whether that dream is starting a business, learning a foreign language, or attending college on the path to fulfilling your dream, the scholarship will cover those costs and make your journey a little easier. No matter your goals, we want to help out a woman who is passionate about their higher education journey and actively looking for ways to fund it. In order to apply, simply write an essay about how the $500 “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women will help you fulfill your dreams. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We encourage you to apply and look forward to reading your essay. Good luck! Show Less

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

“Tuition Solution” Scholarship for STEM Students This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Do you like figuring out solutions to difficult problems? Well, if you’re a current or aspiring STEM major, we have one for you! Our $500… Show More

Do you like figuring out solutions to difficult problems? Well, if you’re a current or aspiring STEM major, we have one for you! Our $500 “Tuition Solution” Scholarship is meant for high school juniors and seniors (graduating class of 2024 or 2025), as well as undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the 2023-24 academic year who are looking for ways to fund their postsecondary education in STEM. In order to apply, you must write an essay about how your passion for STEM started and how the scholarship will help you fulfill your dreams. No matter which STEM field ignites your interest, we look forward to reading your essays. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. Apply today - it’s time to cell-e-brate you! Show Less

“A Helping Hand” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

At Scholarships360, we know how hard it can be to pay off the hefty costs of a college tuition. Oftentimes, this is even more difficult… Show More

At Scholarships360, we know how hard it can be to pay off the hefty costs of a college tuition. Oftentimes, this is even more difficult for students coming from low-income backgrounds or for those who demonstrate financial need. This is where our “A Helping Hand” Scholarship comes in! We're offering a $500 scholarship to help out a low-income student who is passionate about their higher education journey and is actively looking for ways to fund it. This award is open to high school juniors and seniors (graduating class of 2024 and 2025), as well as undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year. In order to apply, students should submit an essay detailing how winning the scholarship would help you fulfill your dreams. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application! Show Less

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeXpress

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

At Scholarships360, our mission is to help students find and fund their postsecondary education. We know that students have a variety of educational and career… Show More

At Scholarships360, our mission is to help students find and fund their postsecondary education. We know that students have a variety of educational and career interests and aspirations. That is why we are offering the “Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship. This scholarship aims to support all current postsecondary students, regardless of the type of education they are pursuing. Thus, no matter your own unique educational path, we hope you apply for this $500 scholarship. In order to apply for the “Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship, students must submit an essay about their career ambitions. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application! Show Less

“Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Community college, also known as two-year college, is a golden opportunity for the right student. These schools offer an affordable education to a diverse range… Show More

Community college, also known as two-year college, is a golden opportunity for the right student. These schools offer an affordable education to a diverse range of students in a wide range of majors. If starting your postsecondary education at a community college is right for you, we have a scholarship just for you! The “Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship aims to financially support community college students who are passionate about their higher education journeys and actively looking for ways to fund it. In order to apply for the “Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship, students must submit an essay explaining how earning their degree at community college will help them achieve their educational and career goals. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application!  Show Less

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be… Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month. Show Less

“Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

The U.S. is home to over 2,000 four-year universities offering bachelor’s degrees. However, attending such universities can sometimes come with hefty costs that can deter… Show More

The U.S. is home to over 2,000 four-year universities offering bachelor’s degrees. However, attending such universities can sometimes come with hefty costs that can deter students from attending. If you’re in a situation similar to this, we may just have the perfect scholarship opportunity for you: the “Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship! With this scholarship, we aim to help out a lucky undergraduate student (enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year) who is passionate about their higher education journey and actively looking for ways to fund it. The scholarship is open to any U.S. citizen who is enrolled as an undergraduate at a four-year university in the U.S. during the 2023-24 academic year. In order to apply, submit an essay explaining how earning your bachelor’s degree will help you achieve your educational and career goals. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. We look forward to reading your application! Show Less

Ocean Awareness Art Contest This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs

Are you an 11–18 year old passionate about the creative arts and/or the environment? Consider applying for Bow Seat's Ocean Awareness Contest! The 2024 Ocean… Show More

Are you an 11–18 year old passionate about the creative arts and/or the environment? Consider applying for Bow Seat's Ocean Awareness Contest! The 2024 Ocean Awareness Contest – Tell Your Climate Story – encourages students to become climate witnesses and creatively share their personal experiences about our changing climate reality. Submit works of visual art, creative writing, poetry, spoken word, music, dance, film, and more for a chance to win cash awards of up to $1,000 and to join the world’s largest environmental youth community for the creative arts! Show Less

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Christian Connector

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian…

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian university or college.

Ayn Rand Institute Novel Essay Contest (Atlas Shrugged) This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Ayn Rand Institute

Are you a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student with a passion for reading, writing, and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand? If so, we may… Show More

Are you a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student with a passion for reading, writing, and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the Ayn Rand Institute Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest! Each year, the contest asks its applicants to write an 800 - 1,600 word essay in which they analyze and make an argument about an aspect or plot point of the novel Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Nine prizes of varying amounts are awarded each year, with a grand prize of $25,000! If you’re familiar with Atlas Shrugged, can make a convincing argument, and want to make some cash, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

Minecraft Scholarship

Offered by Apex Hosting

Are you a high school or college student with a love for Minecraft? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the… Show More

Are you a high school or college student with a love for Minecraft? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the Minecraft Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship offers $2,000 to one applicant who best writes about how Minecraft can positively influence one’s education and career development. The scholarship is offered by Apex Hosting, a Minecraft server provider dedicated to supporting both new and experienced server administrators. If you’re a high schooler or college student with a love for Minecraft, it’s time to put your passion to good use and apply to the Minecraft Scholarship! Show Less

Top 10 essay scholarships in 2024

Our editors hand-picked the following 10 essay scholarships with an eye for large awards, prestigious organizations, and scholarships that are open to a wide variety of students. Apply with confidence to the following essay scholarships:

• Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship – For high school seniors with financial need, worth up to $55,000 per year
• Questbridge College Match – For high school seniors with financial need, offers a full ride to college
• The Gates Scholarship – For low-income minority high school seniors, offers a full ride to college
• Tylenol Future Care Scholarship – For students enrolling in medical, nursing, or pharmacy school, worth $5,000-$10,000
• Regeneron Science Talent Search – For high school seniors interested in pursuing an individual STEM research project. Worth anywhere between $2,000 and $250,000
• Blacks at Microsoft Scholarship – For high school seniors pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or a business field. Worth up to $20,000
• Horatio Alger Undergraduate Scholarships – For high school students with high financial need, worth up to $49,000
• Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship – For high school seniors with high financial need who plan to study computer science in college. Worth $10,000 per year
• Ron Brown Scholarship – For Black high school seniors who plan to study global entrepreneurship and/or community engagement. Worth $10,000 per year
• Dream.US Opportunity Scholarship – For undocumented high school seniors and college freshmen with high financial need living in a state where public colleges do not offer in-state tuition to undocumented students. Worth $20,000 per year

Creative writing scholarships

Are you a writer who loves fiction, poetry, and screenplays? If so, you can put those talents to use by applying for creative writing scholarships.

Creative writing scholarships are a subset of writing scholarships that support students who enjoy writing poetry, fictional stories, plays, and generally using their imagination to guide their writing.

Here are the top creative writing college scholarships that you can apply for:

HelpTeaching.com Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school and college students who submit a educational short story or informational article (400-800 words) for young students
• Amount : $1,000
• Deadline: June 1st of every year

Cancer Unwrapped Teen Writing Contest

• Eligibility: Teens aged 9-12 who write about their own cancer journey or a family member in a maximum of 1,500 words.
• Deadline: Late March

YouthPLAYS New Voices One-Act Competition for Young Playwrights

• Eligibility: Students 19 years old or younger who submit an original one-act play between 10-40 minutes in length (10-page minimum). Multiple winners may receive up to $250 and publication by YouthPLAYS.
• Amount: $250 and publication by YouthPLAYS
• Deadline: Early May

National High School Poetry Contest

•   Eligibility:  U.S. high school students who submit a poem 20 lines or less that is unpublished, the sole work of the entrant, and not entered in any other concurrent contest.
• Amount: Up to $500.
• Deadline:  Rolling

The Narrative Prize

• Eligibility: Students who submit a short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction.
• Amount: $4,000
• Deadline:  Mid-June

Also see:  Top writing summer programs for high school students

College-specific creative writing scholarships

Some colleges and universities may also offer specific scholarships and financial aid to students with a talent in creative writing! Check with the colleges on your list for these college-specific creative writing opportunities!

Note that some of these scholarships may have requirements for winning students that stipulate that they take a certain number of creative writing classes when enrolled in the college.

Kenyon Writing Award

High school seniors can apply for this scholarship program at Kenyon College which offers up to $15,000 per year of merit based aid. It is based off of your portfolio and does not take into account financial need, high school GPA , or other factors. Submissions typically have to be in by January of your senior year.

Related:  How to answer scholarship essay questions about your career goals

Barbara Caras Memorial Scholarship for Film Students

The scholarship is open to students in Sarasota or Manatee County, Florida who have completed at least one full year at an accredited Florida College and are majoring in Film, Computer Animation, Creative Writing, Motion Design, or Illustration. Five recipients will earn a $2,000 award. The application deadline is July 31st of the current year.

Lycoming College Creative Writing Scholarship

The scholarship is open to students majoring in Creative Writing at Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA and must submit five poems and/or a short story not to exceed ten pages. Six recipients will be selected and can earn up to $3,000. The scholarship deadline for the Fall 2023 Class is March 1, 2023.  

Arkansas Tech University Gwaltney Scholarship

The scholarship is open to ATU students who submit individual works of fiction to the Department of English. Recipients earn a one-time cash award every year. The deadline to submit your entry is 2 weeks before the end of the spring semester.

Lake Forest College Carnegie English Essay Contest

The contest is open to first-year students of Lake Forest College who plan to study English either through the literature or creative writing track and submit an essay, between 500 and 1,000 words answering a designated prompt. Four winners will be awarded $2,500 annually. Submission deadline is March 1, 2023.

Austin Peay State University Creative Writing Scholarships

The scholarships are open to undergraduate and incoming APSU students who email a 10-20 page manuscript of fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction, to Lakota Withrow at [email protected] . Awards are for $600 or $1,200. The deadline to apply is March 18th.

Scholarship essay resources

When it comes to writing and essay scholarships, your writing skills will be put to the test. You’ll have to adapt your writing to specific styles in order to effectively and succinctly communicate your ambitions and potential. We have a host of resources to help you perform well in this arena and stand out from the crowd.

• How to start your scholarship essay (with examples)
• How to write a “why do you deserve this scholarship?” essay
• What’s the best scholarship essay format?
• How to write a 250 word essay
• How to write a 500 word essay
• How to write an essay about yourself

Frequently asked questions about writing scholarships

Do i have to major in english to earn a writing or essay scholarship, where can i get help proofreading my scholarship essays, how much should i write if there is no word limit on the application, explore these other scholarship categories:.

• Scholarships for English majors
• Easy scholarships
• Top scholarships for high school seniors
• Top creative writing scholarships
• Top scholarships for journalism students
• Top short story scholarships

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Top 60+ Scholarships for High School Seniors to Apply for in 2024

Introduction to Scholarships for High School Seniors

If you're a high school senior, then first off, congratulations! You're now in your fourth and final year of high school, which means a few different things... First, you're one step closer to becoming a college student - woohoo! Second, you're now officially able to start applying for scholarships for high school seniors. 

Scholarships are an AMAZING way to help you pay for college because the money you earn through scholarships does not ever need to be repaid.

Despite this, most students make the mistake of waiting to apply for scholarships until the very end of their senior year in high school, if not later, and miss out on so many great opportunities. 

To ensure maximum success, I suggest starting as early in the year as possible.

However, even if you're a little late to the game, luckily there are scholarships for high school seniors that are open and running throughout the entirety of the school year, and even into the summer after you graduate.

If you're completely new (or even relatively new) to the scholarship space, that's okay! I know from experience that the process of finding and applying for scholarships can be an overwhelming one. 

That's why, in this post, I have gathered some awesome scholarships for high school seniors that you can search through and apply for to get you started in attending college. 

But first...some frequently asked questions about scholarships for high school seniors

A scholarship is, to put it simply, free money that you can earn to put towards paying for college.

Unlike other types of financial aid (aka, loans), money that you earn from scholarships doesn't ever need to be repaid, which is what makes it so awesome. 

Nope, not at all! In fact, you're in a prime position when it comes to applying for scholarships because not only can you apply for scholarships that are open to high school students, but you can also begin to prepare for scholarships that are open to college students.

By starting the process as a senior in high school, you can get fully acquainted and comfortable with what it entails, so that once you get onto campus in the fall, you know exactly what you have to do to secure the bag! 

In addition to Access Scholarships , there are tons of other places and resources you can check out to help you search and apply for scholarships. 

You'll want to start by heading over to the website(s) run by your state that outline state-based financial aid and scholarship opportunities. 

Then, you'll want to reach out to your school counselor (and do research on Google) to learn about local scholarships that you can apply for. 

Another more unique way to find potential scholarship opportunities that are specific to you is actually through utilizing social media (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, even Pinterest!). You can follow hashtags on Instagram such as #TexasScholarships (if you live in Texas) so that anytime an organization posts a relevant scholarship with that hashtag, you can see it and apply if you're interested!  

Great question! One of the main ways that you can stand out through your application is through the extra requirements that you submit.

Whether it's an essay , a video, letters of recommendation, or other additional submissions, these are all places where you will want to dedicate extra time and effort to make sure that what you're sending in is authentically YOU, unique, eye-catching, and memorable. 

As a senior, I know that you must have a lot on your plate that you're trying to balance. My number one tip to get it all done (and be as successful as possible in the process) is to set goals AND stay organized - more on this in the tips section below the scholarships!

Easy Rolling Scholarships for High School Seniors 

Niche $25,000 scholarship.

Award Amount:  $25,000

Scholarship Deadline:  Monthly

Details: The Niche $25,000 No Essay Scholarship is open to high school seniors and is awarded monthly. 

ScholarshipPoints No Essay $2,500 Monthly Scholarship

Amount : $2,500 

Deadline : Expires on the last day of each month

Eligibility: The ScholarshipPoints Scholarship is a monthly no essay scholarship open to all high school and college students ages 16 and older, who are US residents!

Smart Owl No Essay $1,000 Scholarship

Amount : $1,000 (4 awards per month!)

Deadline : Expires on the 28th or 29th of each month

Eligibility: The Smart Owl Scholarship is a monthly no essay scholarship open to all high school and college students ages 16 and older, who are US residents!

CollegeVine No Essay $2,000 Scholarship

Award Amount:  $2,000

Details: Open to high school students of all grades in the US. 

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  End of every month

Details: Sallie Mae offers a $2,000 scholarship every month, open to high school juniors & seniors and current college students. To be considered, all you need to do is fill out the application form on their website.

CollegExpress Monthly Scholarship

Award Amount:  Varies, but usually $1,000 - $2,500

Scholarship Deadline:  Last day of each month

Details:  CollegExpress offers a monthly scholarship for high school seniors and students of other years in school. What's great is that when you enter for their monthly scholarship, you will also be automatically entered for their $10,000 scholarship!

CampusReel $2,000 Scholarship

Details: The CampusReel No Essay Scholarship is awarded monthly and all you have to do is sign up on their website. It's that easy!

Christian Connector Scholarship

Award Amount:  $2,500

Details:  The Christian Connector Scholarship is a scholarship for high school seniors (and juniors!) who are interested in or planning to enroll in a Christian college or university . 

Be Bold Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  Rolling monthly

Details:  The $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the  boldest  profile.

Niche $2,000 Scholarship

Details: The Niche $2,000 No Essay Scholarship is open to high school seniors and is awarded monthly. 

Appily Easy Money Scholarship

Award Amount:  $1,000

Scholarship Deadline:  Rolling

Details:  The Cappex Easy Money Scholarship is open to all students - no minimum GPA or essay required.

Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline: Quarterly (Last day of the month in September, December, March, and June)

Details:  The Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship is our own contribution to helping students fund their higher education. Simply fill in some easy info about yourself and you're entered to win!

No-Essay Surveys

Award Amount:  $Varies

Scholarship Deadline: Rolling monthly

Details: Not a scholarship, but if you're looking to make a few extra bucks this upcoming semester, sign up to take surveys 

Scholarships for High School Seniors by Deadline Month

Uplifting others scholarship.

Award Amount : $1,000 (3 awards)

Scholarship Deadline : July 31

Details:  Open to high school students of all years. 

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

Award Amount : $10,000 - renewable for up to 4 years

Scholarship Deadline : January 4

Details: The GE Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program honors the legacy and character of our nation’s 40th President. It rewards college-bound students who demonstrate exemplary leadership (in their community and through extracurricular activities), drive, integrity, and citizenship with financial assistance to pursue higher education.

Live Más Scholarship

Award Amount:  $5,000 - $25,000

Scholarship Deadline:  January 11

Details:  The Live Más Scholarship is Taco Bell's contribution to helping students achieve their higher education goals. To apply, students must submit a video telling the story of their real, true passion. 

Profile in Courage Essay Contest

Award Amount:  $500 - $3,000

Scholarship Deadline:  January 12

Details:  The Profile in Courage Essay Contest is open to all high school students. Essays will be judged on the overall originality of the topic and the clear communication of ideas through language.

Sierra Nevada Corporation Women in STEM Scholarship

Award Amount:  $7,500

Scholarship Deadline:  January 18

Details:  Open to female-identifying high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate school students pursuing non-medical STEM-related degrees .

Edison Scholars Program

Award Amount:  $40,000

Scholarship Deadline:  January 23

Details:  The Edison Scholars Program offers $40,000 scholarships to 30 high school seniors planning on pursuing STEM degrees at 4-year colleges and universities. Must live in Edison's service territory in Southern California. 

Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program

Award Amount:  $20,000

Scholarship Deadline:  January 30

Details:  The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program honors student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and strong leadership skills in sports, in their schools, and within their communities.

Jet Future Business Leaders Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  January 31

Details: This scholarship is for graduating high school seniors and currently enrolled college students who are interested in pursuing a career in business.

Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship

Details:  The Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship is designed to help you understand the negative effects that technology and too much screen time can have on our lives. Open to high school students of all years. 

EngineerGirl Essay Contest

Award Amount:  $500

Scholarship Deadline:  February 1

Details:  The EngineerGirl Essay Contest is open to all high school students (not just women !), and asks for an essay discussing the vital contribution of engineers in responding to the pandemic.

Columbus Citizens Foundation College Scholarship Program

Award Amount: Varies

Scholarship Deadline: February 1

Details: The Columbus Citizens Foundation administers scholarship programs that help hundreds of students every year in elementary school, high school, college, and medical school, and graduate programs in the arts.  

Jackie Robinson Scholars Program

Award Amount: Up to $30,000

Details: Scholarship for students accepted to accredited four-year colleges or universities. Must be a minority student , United States citizen, involved in community service and demonstrate leadership potential and financial need.

McDonald's HACER Scholarship

Award Amount: U p to $25,000

Scholarship Deadline: February 3

Details: Open to high school seniors who have at least one parent with Hispanic heritage. Must be a US resident planning to attend a two or four-year college or university. Minimum 2.8 GPA.

Elks National Foundation Legacy Awards Scholarship

Award Amount : $4,000

Scholarship Deadline : February 5

Details: $4,000 four-year scholarships available for children and grandchildren of Elks in good standing. Parent or grandparent must have been an Elk for two years and continue to be a member in good standing. Must be high school senior and apply through the related member’s Elks Lodge.

Americanism Essay Scholarship

Award Amount: $100 - $1,200

Scholarship Deadline : First Friday in February

Details: The Americanism Essay Scholarship is open to Illinois high school students and requires an essay on Americanism and good citizenship.

AFA Teens for Alzheimer's Awareness College Scholarship

Award Amount: $5,000

Scholarship Deadline: February 15

Details: AFA’s Teens for Alzheimer’s Awareness College Scholarship Essay Contest is an annual competition for college-bound students.  Applicants are asked to write a 1,200 to 1,500-word essay that describes the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on themselves, their families or their communities, and what they have learned in light of coping with the brain disorder.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholarship

Award Amount: up to $5,000

Scholarship Deadline : February 14

Details: Merit-based awards for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, eligible non-citizens, or DACA students of Hispanic heritage with plans to enroll full time in an accredited U.S. 4-year university in the upcoming academic year (can be a high school senior, current undergraduate student, community college transfer , or graduate student). 

The Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

Award Amount: $10,000

Scholarship Deadline : February 20

Details: Three scholarships (one $10,000; two $5,000) will be awarded to graduating U.S. high school students who promoted vegetarianism (includes veganism) in their schools and/or communities. Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or fowl. Applicants will be judged on a strong commitment to promoting a peaceful world through a vegetarian diet/lifestyle.

Scholars Helping Collars Scholarship

Award Amount : $1,500

Scholarship Deadline : February 28

Details: P.L.A.Y knows there are plenty of young minds out there that are passionate about helping animals in need. In an effort to encourage students and promote this cause, P.L.A.Y. will be awarding a $1,500 scholarship to a graduating high school student who best exemplifies their core beliefs.

Engebretson Foundation Scholarship

Award Amount:  $5,000/semester

Scholarship Deadline:  March 1

Details: This need-based scholarship is pretty straightforward: it's awarded to one student each year who demonstrates not only financial need but also impressive academic performance and leadership ability.

Horatio Alger National Scholarships

Award Amount : $25,000

Scholarship Deadline : March 8

Details:  The Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program is one of the major scholarship programs nationally that specifically assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. Open to US high school students with critical financial need. Minimum 2.0 GPA.

Executive Women International Scholarship Program

Award Amount : Varies

Scholarship Deadline : March 26

Details: To qualify for the scholarship, a student must be nominated by his/her school counselor or administrator. Students apply and compete at the local Chapter for up to $10,000 in scholarships. The first-place winner from each Chapter will then be submitted to the Corporate level for the opportunity to win the Corporate Scholarship.

Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program

Award Amount : $10,000

Scholarship Deadline : March 27

Details: The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and The Sallie Mae Fund are proud to offer financial assistance to outstanding students. Twenty-five (25) students completing a two-year, four-year, or trade/vocational certificate/certification program will be selected to receive a scholarship of up to $10,000.

E-Waste Scholarship

Award Amount : $1,000

Scholarship Deadline : April 30

Details: The E-Waste Scholarship, sponsored by Digital Responsibility, challenges students to learn about the impact of e-waste and what can be done to minimize it.

RealtyHop Scholarship

Award Amount: $2,000

Scholarship Deadlines : April 30, August 31

The RealtyHop Scholarship awards up to $2,000 a year to eligible undergraduate students and high school seniors working towards a bachelor and/or associate degree program in the US who demonstrate the ambition, diligence, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit that is central to our company culture.

Rover Scholarship Contest

Award Amount : $2,500

Scholarship Deadline : May 1

Details: Higher education: that magical time when deadlines are tight and budgets are tighter. Rover would like to help fund your education. Just write a 400-500 word essay for your chance to win $2,500!

Visionary Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,000 - $5,000

Details: The American College Foundation (ACF) offers the annual Visionary Scholarship program to financially support students in every grade level of high school.

Fountainhead Essay Contest

Award Amount: $500 - $1,000

Scholarship Deadline : June 7

Details: The Fountainhead Essay Contest is for high school juniors and seniors and has three essay prompt options.

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  July 31

Details:  The Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship is a merit-based program that helps students fulfill their dreams of a higher education. To apply, students must simply answer one of three essay questions ("feel free to re-use an essay that you wrote in class, for college admission or another scholarship competition.")!

Alex Austin's Overcoming Adversity Scholarship

Award Amount:  $500 - $1,000

Scholarship Deadline:  September 1

Details: Open to all high school and college students in the US, including DACA recipients . Students who identify as part of a minority or who will be first-generation college students are encouraged to apply.

Cameron Impact Scholarship

Award Amount:  Full-ride! 

Scholarship Deadline:  September 10

Details: The Cameron Impact Scholarship is a four-year, full-tuition , merit-based undergraduate scholarship awarded annually to 10-15 exceptional high school students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, extracurricular activities, leadership, and community service. 

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.7 to apply.

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship

Award Amount:  $40,000 per year 

Scholarship Deadline: November 18 

Details: The Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation’s best four-year colleges and universities. Minimum 3.5 GPA. 

Heisman High School Scholarship

Award Amount:  $1,000 - $10,000

Scholarship Deadline:  October 19

Details:  Open to high-achieving high school seniors in the US with at least a 3.0 GPA who participate in a wide range of sports as well as school and community activities.

Imagine America High School Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  December 1

Details: Imagine America, sponsored by the Imagine America Foundation (IAF), is a $1,000 career education award that is available to recent high school graduates who are pursuing postsecondary education at participating career colleges across the United States.

10x Digital Marketing Scholarship

Details: 10x digital awards a $2,000 scholarship each year to one talented student (twice a year) who is majoring in (or planning on majoring in) a field related to digital marketing. 

Undocumented students and international students studying in the US are eligible to apply.

Ron Brown Scholars Program

Details: RBSP competitively awards 45 – 50 four-year $40,000 scholarships ($10,000 each year) to the most talented and economically-challenged high school seniors who demonstrate a keen interest in public service, community engagement, business entrepreneurship and global citizenship.

Applicants for the Ron Brown Scholarship  MUST  be Black/African American , US citizens or permanent residents, and a current high school senior at the time of their application.

National Honor Society Scholarship Program

Award Amount:  Varies

Details: The National Honor Society is committed to helping students achieve their secondary education goals, and provides the following resources to students and their families to help with the planning process. 600 scholarships are awarded each year to high school seniors who are members of the NHS.

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship Program

Award Amount: $40,000

Scholarship Deadline : December 15

Details: A serious 2-for-1 scholarship for high school students interested in computer science. Win $40,000 for college AND a paid programming internship at Amazon. 

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic performance, experience with computer science, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, short answer responses, unusual personal or family circumstances, financial need, racial/ethnic/gender diversity, and an educator appraisal, preferred to be completed by a computer science teacher.

Burger King Scholars Program

Scholarship Deadline:  December 15

Details:  Open to high school seniors in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. 

Equitable Excellence Scholarship

Award Amount: up to $20,000 over four years

Scholarship Deadline:  December 17

Details:  Open to current high school seniors who plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year. 

Around the Corner from College Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  December 31 (and June 30)

Details:  This scholarship is Access Scholarship's opportunity created just for high school students! Open to high school seniors, but also to students in grades 9-11. DACA/undocumented and international students are also eligible to apply. 

Cirkledin's No Sweat Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  December 31

Details: Apply in 4 easy steps: Go to www.cirkledin.com, create a free Cirkledin account, hit the “Apply Now” button, and tell us “What is one thing that, if it were in the Olympics, you would win gold in?”

Careers Through Culinary Arts Program Cooking Competition for Scholarships

Award Amount:  Varies (up to full-tuition)

Scholarship Deadline:  Varies 

Details: Applicants must be a senior in a C-CAP designated partner high school in Arizona; Prince George’s County, Maryland; Tidewater, Virginia; or the cities of Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, or Washington, DC. Applicants must be accepted into the cooking competition for scholarships. Check the CCAP website for local coordinator’s contact information. 

United States Senate Youth Program

Scholarship Deadline: Varies by state

Details: The United States Senate Youth Program is a scholarship for high school seniors (and juniors!) holding elected student offices. Two students are selected from each state.

Scholarships for High School Seniors: Tips for Searching & Applying!

Look, the search and application process for scholarships for high school seniors is not always a smooth-sailing process. But, the fact that you've made it this far in the post and are taking the initiative to learn more about scholarships is a great start in itself!

Here are a few quick tips to help you along your scholarship journey...

1. Set goals for yourself along the way.

I was a high school senior not too long ago, so I know exactly what it's like to have to create a balance between your schoolwork, extracurriculars, college applications, and scholarships. 

It's not always an easy task, but that's why you should work on setting goals for yourself and creating a scholarship strategy ! 

Your goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant/Realistic, Timely). Setting goals for things such as how much you are aiming to earn from scholarships and when you will set aside time to search and apply will help you to stay on track with what you want to achieve.

2. Know where to look.

If you're here and you're reading this, that means you know one great place to look! The  Access Scholarships Search Engine is an awesome resource with tons of scholarships for high school seniors. But beyond Access Scholarships, be sure to...

• Reach out to your school counselor to discuss some of the local scholarships that are out there for you to apply for
• Head over to your state's financial aid website to learn more about their grants and resources 
• Also be sure to fill out your free application for federal student aid (FAFSA).

3. Apply often.

Don't think of the scholarship process as one that you can engage in only once every few months and see success with.

The scholarship process requires consistency and dedication. If you want to have the best chance at winning scholarships, you need to be dedicated to the process (creating a healthy mix of mostly essay scholarships with some no-essay scholarships is a good strategy) and put in the effort!

4. Be organized, thorough, and on time.

Lots of students find it helpful to organize their scholarship application and search process using a spreadsheet (virtual or physical). These are extremely useful because you can keep track of important deadlines, requirements for each scholarship, and more.

TIP: Click here to view and download a copy of my own  scholarship tracker so you can get organized for yourself!

5. Think outside the box.

I have provided you with a ton of great scholarships for high school seniors right here in this post.

In addition to these, don't be afraid to venture out to find scholarships that are specific to YOU in all aspects! This means thinking critically about your hobbies and interests, and passions outside of academics.

It also means thinking about things that define who you are that you could potentially leverage in your scholarship search. For example, are you a soon-to-be first-generation college student?  Or maybe you're planning on pursuing a STEM degree ? These are just two areas that you can identify and use to search for scholarships! 

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29+ Excellent Scholarships for High School Seniors

Secure some funding!

Planning for college is tougher than it used to be. Not only is competition more fierce, but the cost of attendance has soared. It’s a shame to see students step back from their goals because they can’t afford to go to school. We’ve put together this list of scholarships for high school seniors to help keep the dream alive. 

Top Scholarships for High School Seniors

These awards are available to most or all high school seniors who plan to continue their education. Some require applicants to submit an essay or meet other criteria. Before applying, be sure to read the guidelines carefully. 

“College Here I Come” Essay Scholarship for High School Seniors

• Amount: $1,000
• Eligibility: Open to all high school seniors
• Deadline: January 31

CollegeXpress “No Essay” Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all high school students
• Deadline: November 30

“Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors accepted to community college 

Beacon Scholarship for Rural America

• Eligibility: Low-income high school students from rural backgrounds
• Deadline: November 15

Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay

• Amount: $2,000
• Eligibility: High school, college, community college, and graduate students

“No Essay” College Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school and college students

Student-Led Virtual Tours Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all students
• Deadline: December 31

$2,500 November ScholarshipPoints Scholarship

• Amount: $2,500
• Eligibility: High school students and college students

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship

• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: May 1

JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest

• Amount: 15 awards ranging from $100 to $10,000
• Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 attending public, private, parochial, or home schools
• Deadline: January 13

Sloane Stephens Doc & Glo Scholarship

• Amount: $26,000
• Eligibility: Open to high school seniors and college students
• Deadline: February 20

$40,000 BigFuture Scholarships

• Award: Up to $40,000
• Eligibility: Open to U.S.-based high school students

Niche $50,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

• Amount: $50,000
• Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students
• Deadline: December 14

Merit-Based Scholarships for High School Seniors

These scholarships are awarded based on a student’s GPA, college entrance exam scores, or other qualifying factors. The eligibility is often very specific, so read the guidelines carefully before applying. Be sure to review our comprehensive list of Merit-Based Scholarships for High School Seniors . 

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

• Amount: $20,000
• Eligibility: Based on academic performance, volunteer work, and leadership skills
• Deadline: 2023 applications now closed; check website

Dell Scholars

• Amount: $20,000 plus money for books and a new laptop
• Eligibility: Applicants must qualify for a Pell Grant based on household income. 
• Deadline: December 1

Scholarships for STEM Fields

High school students planning to pursue studies in STEM fields may be qualified for scholarships in this category. Take a look at the opportunities below. Plus, check out these STEAM scholarships for minority students .

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship Program

• Amount: $40,000 and a paid programming internship at Amazon
• Eligibility: High school students interested in computer science
• Deadline: January 25

Buick Achievers Scholarship

• Award: Up to $25,000
• Eligibility: Must be studying engineering, technology, or related subjects
• Deadline: February 27

Geraldine Polly Bednash Scholarships

• Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: High school seniors, college, and graduate students majoring in nursing
• Deadline: Quarterly (July 31, October 31, January 31, April 30)

Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors and college students with an interest in web design 
• Deadline: October 3 and February 19

Annual Prevounce Preventive Health Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: High school seniors interested in healthcare fields
• Deadline: October 15

Medical Scrubs Collection Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors and college students pursuing careers in medical fields
• Deadline: December 15

Scholarships for Arts

Many students who intend to study the arts will find great scholarship opportunities by searching their specific field or interest. Here are a few examples. 

ServiceScape Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors must submit an essay about how writing impacts the world.
• Deadline: November 29

Betty Harlan Memorial Art Scholarship

• Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: Students pursuing a degree in visual arts
• Deadline: February 1

Food Dreams Scholarship

• Amount: $20,000 
• Eligibility: Pell-eligible high school graduates interested in culinary arts
• Deadline: Rolling

Scholarships for Minorities

These financial awards are for students from diverse backgrounds. While these types of scholarships were once very rare, they are becoming more common. 

Alex Austin’s Overcoming Adversity Scholarship

• Amount: $500 – $1,000
• Eligibility: U.S. high school and college students, including DACA recipients, who identify as part of a minority or who will be first-generation college students
• Deadline: September 1

Gates Millennium Scholars Program

• Eligibility: Outstanding minority students with significant financial need
• Deadline: September 15

Scholarships for Student Athletes

These financial awards are offered in support of high school students who were active in sports and/or plan to pursue a career in athletics. 

Big Sun Scholarship

• Amount: $500
• Eligibility: Student athletes who are high school seniors or in college
• Deadline: June 19

Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship

• Amount: $1,500
• Eligibility: High school seniors planning to pursue a career in health and fitness
• Deadline: August 1

Heisman High School Scholarship

• Amount: $500 to $5,000
• Eligibility: High school senior athletes
• Deadline: October 20

More Scholarships for High School Students

Looking for more? Check out the scholarship opportunities below.

Scholarships for Future Teachers

Scholarships for Women

How To Get a Full-Ride Scholarship

What’s been your experience with scholarships for high school students? Share in the comments below!

Want more suggestions check out  the ultimate guide to college scholarships.

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 31 top scholarships for high school sophomores and freshmen.

Financial Aid

It's never too early to start saving up money for your college education. Even if you are only in your first or second year of high school, there are plenty of opportunities to start bringing in money that will pay for your tuition, books, fees, and living expenses a couple of years down the line.

You might be surprised to learn that there are actually hundreds of scholarships available to underclassmen. If you're just starting your hunt, use this list of the best scholarships for high school freshmen and sophomores to get started.

This list includes a variety of scholarships for freshmen and sophomores. I've broken them down into the following categories:

Essay Scholarships

Special interest scholarships, creative scholarships, hobby- and activity-based scholarships.

• Location-based Scholarships

Easy Scholarships

These scholarships are not limited to one college or university, so students who win these awards will be able to use them for a variety of schools.

How to Use This List of Scholarships for Sophomores and Freshmen

Before we go over the scholarships you can apply for, let's quickly review the best ways you can use this list of scholarships for sophomores and freshmen.

Rule 1: Play to Your Strengths

Start out by looking at the different categories below. Are you creative? Then consider applying to some of the scholarships that require artwork or a movie for their applications. If you're a strong writer, on the other hand, consider applying to scholarships that require essays.

Rule 2: Apply to Many Scholarships

The beauty of starting your scholarship hunt early is that you have a lot of time! So use it wisely to apply to as many scholarships as possible.

We recommend applying to anywhere between five and 30 scholarships. Most scholarships on this list and beyond are competitive, meaning many students will be applying for them. You'll increase your chances of winning money if you don't put all of your eggs in one basket!

Rule 3: Pay Attention to Details

Make sure you read all the rules carefully before you apply for a scholarship, and be certain that your essays and other application materials address what is being asked. It's a waste of time to apply to scholarships if you're going to end up disqualified simply because you failed to follow the instructions.

Similarly, make sure to stay on top of important deadlines. You don't want to miss out on a great scholarship because you accidentally missed a due date!

Rule 4: Do Your Own Research

Keep in mind that this list is just a starting point. There are many more scholarships available to younger students, and there very well might be some that are more suited to your talents and interests. Don't be afraid to do some Google searches to see whether there are any scholarships out there that correspond to one of your unique traits.

Remember, the more obscure a scholarship is, the better your chance of winning it will be!

To start, let's take a look at scholarships that require students to write and submit essays as part of their applications.

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Student Essay Contest

The Oklahoma City National Museum hosts an essay contest for students in grades 5-12. Topics encourage students to reflect on how other individuals or communities have shown strength and resilience to overcome challenges or tragedies. Students in grades 9 and 10 can submit 500-word essays.

• 1st place: $200
• 2nd place: $150
• 3rd place: $100

Ayn Rand Essay Contest

High school freshmen and sophomores can write an essay on one of several topics related to the book Anthem by Ayn Rand. The deadline to apply is April 27, 2023.

• 1st place: $2,000 (one winner)
• 2nd place: $250 (three winners)
• 3rd place: $100 (five winners)

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Essay Contest

To enter this contest, high school students must write a 1,000-word essay answering the question, "What does the second amendment mean to you?" The deadline is December 31, 2022.

• 1st place: $1,000
• 2nd place: $600
• 3rd place: $200
• 4th place: $100

Fleet Reserve Association Essay Contest

Students in grades 7-12 can enter this essay contest by submitting an essay of no more than 350 words exploring the role and importance of the spirit of Americanism and patriotism among our country’s youth. The deadline is December 1, 2022.

• Grand national prize: $1,500
• 2nd place: $750
• 3rd place: $500

Unigo $10K Scholarship

Students 14 or older can apply for a chance to win one grand prize of $10,000. Your application must include a 250-word response to the prompt: "It's important to be happy with who you are, regardless of your wealth or intelligence level. So tell us, would you rather be smart, funny or rich...and why?" The deadline is December 31, 2022.

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

High school students can submit a 250-word essay on a topic of their choice for the chance to be entered into a competition to win a $1,000 prize. There are two contests per year. The fall contest deadline is December 31, 2022, and the spring contest deadline is July 31, 2023.

Profile in Courage Essay Contest

Students in grades 9-12 can submit a 700- to 1,000-word essay about "an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born." Essays must have at least five sources. The deadline for this year's contest is January 14, 2022.

• 1st place: $10,000
• 2nd place: $3,000
• Finalists: $1,000 (five winners)
• Semifinalists: $100 (eight winners)

MyImpact Challenge Contest

US students between the ages of 13 and 19 can apply to this scholarship to win one of 10 awards ranging from $1,500 to $10,000. You must complete the online application and submit an essay of no more than 1,200 describing your involvement in a community service project. The deadline for submission is May 21, 2023. 

• Student Grand Prize: $10,000
• Student First Prize: $7,500
• Student Second Prize: $5,000
• Student Third Prize: $2,500
• Student Honorable Mention: $1,500 (six prizes)

Optimist International Essay Contest

US students under the age of 19 can submit an essay on the topic "Who is an everyday hero who brings out the optimism in you?”. Club winners advance to the District contest to compete for a $2,500 scholarship. Students need to contact their local clubs to enter. Most club level contests are held in early February. Clubs must submit their winners to the district chair by February 28, 2023 . and Districts must submit a winner's information by April 15, 2023.

Visionary Scholarship Program

Any currently enrolled US high school student can apply to receive a prize from $1,000 to $5,000. Applicants must submit a completed application, a copy of their most recent (unofficial) high school transcript, and a 500-word essay. The deadline for this year's contest is June 1, 2023.

These next scholarships require a special action on the part of the applicant, from volunteering to playing an online game.

Humanity Rising Service Challenge

High school students who volunteer for a non-profit that meets Humanity Rising’s criteria may apply for this scholarship by sharing their service story. You must make an account in order to access the scholarship details and apply for the challenge. Awards range from $500 to more than $2,000, and all deadlines are rolling.

Sportsmanship in eSports Scholarship

This scholarship is available to all students who are involved in playing competitive eSports, like League of Legends or Teamfight Tactics. One $2,500 scholarship is awarded each year to students who demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship. The deadline to apply is November 2, 2023   (they appear to not be awarding a scholarship in 2021).

Are you the creative type? This next set of scholarships for freshmen and sophomores is all about artistic ability and creativity. For these contests, you'll need to submit a piece of art, whether that's a story, painting, video, photograph, etc.

Create Real Impact Contest

Any student between the ages of 14 and 22 can submit either a video or graphic design on the topic of how to address reckless driving. The contest closes on April 27, 2023 .

• High School Social Media Campaign Prizes: $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500
• Video Category Prizes: $1,000, $500, and $250
• Graphic Design Category Prizes: $1,000, $500, and $250

Doodle 4 Google

Students from kindergarten to 12th grade can apply for this scholarship. Applicants must submit a Google Doodle related to this year's theme. All submissions are divided and judged by age group. The deadline is March 4, 2023.

• National Winner: $30,000 (plus a $50,000 technology award for the winner's school)
• National Finalists: $5,000 (four winners, one per age group)

Scholastic Art & Writing Award

Students in grades 7-12 with a keen interest in writing or art may apply to win a Best-in-Grade Award. Students in 12th grade only can also apply to win a Portfolio Award. Deadlines vary by region .

• Portfolio Award–Gold Medal: $12,500 (16 winners)
• Portfolio Award–Silver Medal: $2,000 (30 winners)

Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest

US students who are at least 14 years old may apply for this scholarship of $10,000. You must design a greeting card using a photo, piece of artwork, or computer graphic for the front image. Submissions must be submitted as JPEGs (.jpg). The deadline is March 3, 2023. 

Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest

US high school students interested in art can apply to win up to $34,000 in national awards . Applicants must submit an original piece of art with a patriotic theme. The first-place winner from each state will then advance to compete for the national award. The winner's art will also be featured on the cover of the VFW Auxiliary magazine and the Auxiliary website. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2023.

If you've got a long-term hobby or activity you like to do, these next scholarships are right up your alley.

WIA Student Pilot Scholarship

Any high school student who is an active member of Women in Aviation International (WAI) may apply for this $3,000 scholarship. You must submit a completed WAI form, two recommendation letters, a 500-word essay, a resume, copies of all aviation licenses and medical records, and the last three pages of your pilot logbook, if applicable. The deadline for submission is October 12, 2023.

SBO Magazine Music Student Scholarship

Students in grades 4-12 can apply for this essay contest to win one of 10 $1,000 prizes. Essays must be 250 words or less and answer the contest's theme: "Why did you join band, and why do you stick with it?" The deadline is April 30 .

Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship

US high school students can apply to this for a chance to win a $1,000 prize. Applications must be submitted along with a 140-character message that completes the following statement: "Instead of spending time with technology, I'd rather ... " The top 10 applicants will be contacted and invited to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay on technology addiction. The winner will be selected from this 10. Applications for this year's contest are due January 30, 2023.

Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award

Any full-time student aged 8-18 can apply to win one of 20 $10,000 scholarships. Applicants must show outstanding classical music achievement and demonstrate financial need. You must submit at least two audio samples of your music along with tax forms, transcripts, and other supporting information. To be considered for the JKCYAA Fall 2023 Class, all application materials must be received by April 15, 2023 .

Davidson Fellows Award

US students aged 18 or younger who have completed a "significant piece of work" in one of the categories listed here can apply to win a large scholarship. The deadline for this scholarship is F ebruary 15, 2023 .

• 1st place: $50,000
• 2nd place: $25,000
• 3rd place: $10,000

BMI Student Composer Awards Program

Both US and international students (in the Western Hemisphere) younger than 28 can apply to win a scholarship of up to $5,000. Each applicant must submit an audio recording of an original music composition along with legible manuscripts. The deadline for this scholarship is expected to be in February 2023.

Eagle Scout of the Year Award

US students aged 15 or older who are active members of a Boy Scout Troop, Varsity Scout Team, or Venturing Crew can be nominated to win a $10,000 scholarship. Applicants must be active in their religious institutions and have received the corresponding Boy Scout religious emblem and Eagle Scout Award; they must have also shown practical citizenship in their churches, schools, Scouting groups, and communities. Nomination and application forms must be received by the applicant's corresponding department (state) headquarters by March 1, 2023 .

• Runners-up: $2,500 (three winners)

National High School Oratorical Contest

US high school students under the age of 20 can apply to receive a maximum scholarship of $25,000. Students must first compete in their local oratorical contests and deliver a prepared speech on a particular topic. Winners will then advance to the national competition.

• 1st place: $25,000
• 2nd place: $22,500
• 3rd place: $20,000

State winners who participate in the national contest's first round will receive $2,000, and those who advance past the first round will receive an additional $2,000.

Location-Based Scholarships

Some scholarships are only for students who live in particular areas. Check out the following list of scholarships to see whether there are any contests in your region.

Meriwest Annual High School Essay Competition

Applicants must be in grades 9-12, have a GPA of at least 2.0, and live in one of these California counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco. Students who live in Arizona's Pima County are also eligible. If you live outside these counties, you can still enter the contest if you're a member of the Meriwest Credit Union. The scholarship competition awards 12 prizes annually that range from $100 to $1000 . The deadline to apply is March 31, 2023. 

Meriwest Annual High School TikTok Comptetition

Any high school student who is a resident of New York State and whose parent(s) were disabled or deceased in service to the US Armed Forces is eligible for this award. The award provides a $450 annual fund to help the student pursue higher education. The application deadline is June 30, 2023.

Oklahoma's Promise — Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program

Oklahoma students currently enrolled in grades 8-10 and whose families make $60,000 or less annually can apply for the chance to receive full tuition for an Oklahoma public two-year college or four-year university, or partial tuition for an accredited Oklahoma private college. The application must include the first two pages of the applicant's most recent federal tax return. The deadline for this scholarship is June 30, 2023 .

This final section of scholarships for sophomores and freshmen includes those that are extremely easy to apply for—all you have to do is register for a website or submit an online application and you're good to go!

$2,000 "No Essay" College Scholarship

Any student can apply by simply registering on the website. A winner is chosen each month to receive $2,000. The deadline to apply is the last day of each month.

$1,000 Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship

Any high school student who registers and completes a profile at Cappex.com will be entered into a monthly drawing to receive $1,000. The deadline to apply is the end of each month.

Top Ten List Scholarship

Any US student 14 or older can apply for the chance to win a $1,500 scholarship. Applicants must respond to the following statement in no more than 250 words: "Create a Top Ten List of the top ten reasons you should get this scholarship." The deadline is December 31, 2022.

What's Next?

Too old for these scholarships? Check out these scholarships that you can apply to in your senior year of high school !

Need more money than what these scholarships offer? Then check out our list of amazing full-ride scholarships and 80+ colleges that offer full-ride scholarships .

Mary Ann holds a BA in Classics and Russian from the University of Notre Dame, and an MA from University College London. She has years of tutoring experience and is also passionate about travel and learning languages.

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75 Best Scholarships for High School Seniors

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Save on tuition and supplies with scholarships for high school seniors! Here are over 75 of the best scholarships to apply to in 2024! 

As any parent knows, college is a huge expense and one that often leaves families stretching their budgets. Fortunately, there is an abundance of college scholarships for high school seniors and undergraduates. We’ve rounded up some of the best scholarships that are available to students across the country.

Our top picks include popular scholarships, those with high dollar amounts, and those with wide accessibility. We’ve listed these scholarships in order by the deadline. As 2025 approaches and more scholarships open, we’ll be adding to the list, so don’t forget to check back!

Hip Tip: Though our list focuses more on national scholarships, there are a plethora of state-based and local scholarships too! Some other helpful sites to find college scholarships include Bold.org , Scholarships.com , Scholarships360 , and Access Scholarship s.

Scholarships for high school seniors:

1. Sallie Mae $2,000 Scholarship Sweepstakes

• Deadline : Last Day of Every Month
• Award: $2,000
• Who Can Apply? High school juniors and seniors and college undergraduates
• Details & How to Apply: Sallie Mae $2,000 Scholarship Sweepstakes

Sallie Mae gives away scholarships every month. Applying is super easy. Just fill out the straightforward form!

2. Too Cool To Pay For School Sweepstakes

• Deadline : Quarterly (Last day of March, June, September, & December)
• Award: $1,000
• Who Can Apply? High school juniors and seniors and college undergraduates who are enrolled full-time.
• Details & How to Apply: Too Cool To Pay For School Scholarship

Entering the sweepstakes for this scholarship is a cinch! Just fill out the quick form and cross your fingers that you get picked!

3. Appily Easy Money Scholarship

• Deadline : Rolling
• Who Can Apply? High school students planning on enrolling in college
• Details & How to Apply: Appily Easy Money Scholarship

Need some extra funds for school? There is no essay or minimum GPA required to apply for this scholarship offer. Just fill out the form and submit!!

4. UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship

• Deadline : April 6, 2024
• Award: Up to $10,000 for 2 winners, up to $5,000 for 30 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students who have epilepsy, have an immediate family member with epilepsy, or are a caretaker to someone with epilepsy
• Details & How to Apply: UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship

Students impacted by epilepsy may be eligible to apply for this scholarship. There is no GPA or financial need requirement, but the top applicants will have demonstrated academic and personal achievement and have participated in extracurricular activities. Immediate family members of UCB, Inc. employees are ineligible.

5. Help America Hear Scholarship

• Deadline : April 7, 2024
• Award: $4,000 + 2 ReSound Hearing Aids
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school seniors with hearing loss
• Details & How to Apply: Help America Hear Scholarship

This scholarship is designed to give those with hearing loss a leg up at school. To apply, submit a 500 – 1,500 word essay about living with hearing impairment and your goals for the future.

6. Build A Better Future Scholarship Program

• Deadline : April 8, 2024
• Award: $10,000 each to 5 students plus an extra $5,000 to the top finalist
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school seniors who are passionate about helping their communities.
• Details & How to Apply: Build A Better Future Scholarship Program

Applicants who design, work on, and submit their plans for a community improvement project may win a $10,000 tuition scholarship. The top finalist will receive an additional $5,000 to continue funding their project. To apply, submit a 2-5 minute video along with 5-10 photos showcasing your work in action.

7. Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship

• Deadline : April 15, 2024
• Award: $5,000 each to 3 students
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and undergraduates studying political science, history, cultural anthropology, or geography
• Details & How to Apply: Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship

To apply, describe how you plan to make the world a better place thanks to the lessons you’re learning in political science, history, cultural anthropology, or geography courses.

8. U.S. Bates Scholarship

• Deadline : April 11, 2024
• Award: $5,000 each to 3 winners, renewable for up to 4 years ($20,000 total)
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors headed to college that are children or step-children of U.S. BAC (International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers) member
• Details & How to Apply: U.S. Bates Scholarship

Children of U.S. BAC members may apply for this renewable scholarship. You have the potential to collect $20,000 over a four year period. Be prepared to submit your transcript and a possible essay.

9. Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarship

• Deadline : April 12, 2024
• Award: Up to $3,000
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and college freshmen who are looking to make music a “central part of their future”
• Details & How to Apply: Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarship

This college scholarship for high school seniors and undergrads celebrates those with a passion for music. Vocalists and those who play an instrument may apply. Submit a music sample and an essay regarding your musical intentions. See the guidelines on the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society website .

10. Musicians Making A Difference Scholarship

• Award: $5,000 each to 2 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors enrolled in college for Fall 2024 and who have performed solo or with an ensemble either through school or the community
• Details & How to Apply: Musicians Making A Difference Scholarship

Applying for this scholarship is pretty straightforward. You’ll need to write a short 600-word essay. Share why you think you should be chosen, how you’ve positively impacted your community, and how this scholarship will help you with your post-graduation plans and career goals.

11. ESA Scholarships for Children of First Responders

• Award: Varies – Up to $12,000
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors who have parents who are first responders
• Details & How to Apply: ESA Scholarships for Children of First Responders

Over 20 awards will be given out by the Electronic Security Association and the first round winners will be considered for an additional award of either $12,000 or $3,000.

12. Addiction Resource Scholarship Essay Contest

• Deadline : April 12, 2024, & Summer 2024 (exact date to be announced)
• Award: $1,000 to first place, $250 to second place
• Who Can Apply? 18-year-olds who are enrolled in a 4-year school and pursuing a university degree
• Details & How to Apply: Addiction Resource Scholarship Essay Contest

To apply, write an essay about the connection between substance abuse and mental health among college students. Essays should be no more than 1,200 words. Apply in April for the scholarship to go towards your Summer 2024 college courses or apply in the summer for your scholarship to go toward your Fall 2024 tuition.

13. Allegra Ford-Thomas Scholarship

• Deadline : April 13, 2024
• Award: $5,000 ($2,500 per year for 2 years)
• Who Can Apply? Graduating high school seniors who are enrolling in a 2-year community college, technical college, or specialized program for those with learning disabilities or ADHD
• Details & How to Apply: Allegra Ford-Thomas Scholarship

Those with a documented learning disability or ADHD diagnosis can apply for this scholarship. The winner will receive $5,000 over the course of two years.

14. Anne Ford Scholarship

• Award: $10,000 ($2,500/year over 4 years)
• Who Can Apply? Graduating high school seniors who are enrolling in a 4-year college or university and have a learning disability or ADHD
• Details & How to Apply: Anne Ford Scholarship

Unlike the Allegra Ford-Thomas Scholarship, the Anne Ford Scholarship is for graduating high school seniors headed to a four-year institution. Those with a documented learning disability or ADHD diagnosis can apply for this scholarship. The winner will receive $10,000 over the course of four years.

15. Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers Program

• Deadline : April 14, 2024
• Award: Up to $7,500 + possible Summer 2025 internship
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school seniors who are entering STEM fields and have at least a 2.5 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers program

Interested in pursuing a STEM career? Consider joining SPHE and applying for this scholarship program. They gave out 346 scholarships last year!

16. Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

• Award: $10,000
• Who Can Apply? Students between the ages of 8 and 18 who have worked on an inspiring service project within the past year
• Details & How to Apply: Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Have you recently participated in an extraordinary service project? If so, consider applying for the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The award is given to those who demonstrate courage, tenacity, positive spirit, generosity, and  a high moral purpose. Winners receive $10K towards their education or their service project. Plus, the lucky winner will also receive media coverage and networking opportunities!

17. Organization of Latino Actuaries Scholarship Program

• Award: Up to $7,500 + possible summer internship
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors attending college in the next year and are interested in pursuing actuarial science
• Details & How to Apply: Organization of Latino Actuaries Scholarship

The Organization of Latino Actuaries (OLA) wants to encourage the future generation to join their ranks. If you’re a student interested in following in their footsteps, consider applying for one of their scholarships. Some winners receive $5,000 and a summer internship. Others receive a $7,500 scholarship. Head to their website to see if you qualify.

18. Alex Austin’s Overcoming Adversity Scholarship

• Award: $1,000 to each of the 5 recipients
• Who Can Apply? High school and undergraduate students who have at least a 2.5 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: Alex Austin’s Overcoming Adversity Scholarship

Have you overcome adversity? Professional cornerback, Alex Austin, has paired with Access Scholarship to possibly help you out. Write a 500-word essay about your experience and submit it along with the application form. Five lucky winners will each receive $1,000 towards their education.

19. Minority Cosmetic Science Scholarship

• Award: $5,150
• Who Can Apply? High school or undergraduate BIPOC students studying cosmetic science or natural cosmetology
• Details & How to Apply: Minority Cosmetic Science Scholarship

Curly Hair Crisis awards this scholarship to BIPOC students pursuing studies in cosmetic science and related fields like cosmetology, anthropology, botany, chemistry, biochemistry, herbalism, microbiology, To apply, write an essay about yourself and how you plan to impact the hair, skin, and/or nail industry.

20. Mamie Marie Clay Matthews Memorial Scholarship

• Award: $1000 each to 3 winners
• Who Can Apply? African American high school juniors and seniors  with religious affiliation who are pursuing education, engineering, horticulture or theology
• Details & How to Apply: Mamie Marie Clay Matthews Memorial Scholarship

To apply for this scholarship, write a maximum of 1,000 words using the following prompt:

“Please tell us about yourself and how you plan to positively impact the world through your field of study. Tell us the importance of the interconnectedness of faith, family, and friends.”

21. Ronran Glee Literary Scholarship

• Award: $2,000 each to 5 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and 2-year or 4-year undergraduate students
• Details & How to Apply: Ronran Glee Literary Scholarship

This college scholarship for high school students and undergrads aims to promote the practice of close reading. To apply, write a 600 – 2,000 word essay from the following prompt:

“Please select a paragraph of your choosing (provide a copy of the paragraph in your response), preferably from an ancient literature or philosophy book, and write a short essay expounding your understanding of the writer’s underlying meaning of the text. Avoid summarizations and vague language that wanders from your central thesis that should be stated at the beginning of your essay.”

22. Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund

• Award: $7,500 each to 10 winners
• Who Can Apply? Taiwanese American high school seniors and college freshmen who have at least a 3.0 GPA and can demonstrate financial need
• Details & How to Apply: Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund

Are you a descendant of a Taiwanese citizen? This is one of the college scholarships for high school seniors that you may be eligible to receive. All majors are accepted, but you must demonstrate your household income is at or below the Federal/State/County Low Income Level.

23. E-Waste Scholarship

• Deadline : April 30, 2024
• Who Can Apply? High school, college, or graduate students
• Details & How to Apply: E-waste Scholarship

Students can easily apply for this scholarship that promotes awareness about the impacts of e-waste. To apply, submit a 140-character message about e-waste. If you are chosen as one of the top 10 finalists, you’ll then be asked to write a 500 – 1,000 word essay.

24. RealtyHop Scholarship

• Deadline : April 30, 2024 and August 31, 2024
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and college undergraduates
• Details & How to Apply: RealtyHop Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded twice a year to students who exemplify ambition, diligence, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit. To apply, use your school email address and submit a 500-word essay.

25. Rover Scholarship

• Deadline : May 1, 2024
• Award: $2,500
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors, college undergraduates, and graduates with a GPA of 3.0
• Details & How to Apply: Rover Scholarship

Write a 500-word essay for your chance to win this scholarship. Family members of Rover staff members are ineligible, but family members of dog walkers or sitters may apply.

26. Victoria Soto Memorial Scholarship

• Award: Up to 12,000 each to 4 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors,
• Details & How to Apply: Victoria Soto Memorial Scholarship

Winners of this scholarship demonstrate academic excellence, participate in extracurricular activities, and possess leadership skills. Two of these scholarships will go to local high school students in Stratford, Connecticut, one scholarship to a student in the state of Connecticut, and one to a student from anywhere in the country. Winners must demonstrate “the spirit to Live, Laugh, and Love life and education as Vicki did.”

27. Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation

• Award: Up to $5,000 for up to 4 years
• Who Can Apply? Students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who are in a printing or graphics program at a higher education institution in the USA and are pursuing a career in printing technology, printing management, graphic communications, packaging, or publishing
• Details & How to Apply: Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation

Winners of this scholarship can get up to $5,000 per year for up to 4 years. The award will be paid directly to the school’s financial aid office.

28. Exceptional Youth Scholarship

• Deadline : May 17, 2024
• Award: $10,000 each to 10 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who have devoted at least 100 hours to community service or mentoring
• Details & How to Apply: Exceptional Youth Scholarship

This college scholarship for high school seniors is a great opportunity. Students who have spent considerable time volunteering or doing community service initiatives can apply. Head over to their website to download the application instructions .

29. Morgan Levine Dolan Community Service Scholarship

• Deadline : May 18, 2024
• Award: $5,000 each to 5 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school, undergraduate, and graduate students who play a sport or do community service and live in NJ, CT, NY, or PA
• Details & How to Apply: Morgan Levine Dolan Scholarship

This scholarship is sponsored by the personal injury law firm of Morgan Levine Dolan. It is open to high school and college students in select states. Apply if you play a sport or do community service.

30. Bryan Cameron Education Foundation Scholarship for High School Seniors

• Deadline : Early deadline is May 22, 2024, and the official deadline is September 5, 2024, OR until 3,000 applications have been received
• Award: Four-year, full-tuition scholarship
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors in the class of 2025 with at least a 3.7 GPA and who are headed to a 4-year college or university.
• Details & How to Apply: Bryan Cameron Education Foundation Scholarship

This is one of the college scholarships for high school seniors that students will want to apply to receive as it will completely pay for tuition. To apply for this scholarship, students must have a strong work ethic and demonstrate excellence in extracurricular activities and active participation in community service or civic-minded areas. 25% of the scholarships will go to students pursuing careers in education, nonprofits, government, and/or military and have a stated professional goal of public service. Only 3,000 applications will be reviewed so aim to apply sooner rather than later.

31. There’s Space For Everyone Scholarship

• Deadline : May 31, 2024
• Award: $3,000 each to 8 recipients
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors, undergraduates, and graduates enrolled in school
• Details & How to Apply: There’s Space for Everyone Scholarship

Extra Space Storage gives out these educational scholarships that celebrate students committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. Fill out the application form and write a statement about your commitment to those principles and how furthering your education will allow you to continue to uphold them.

32. Christian College Scholarship

• Award: $5,000
• Who Can Apply? Students 13 and older who intend to enroll full-time in a Bible School or Christian college or university.
• Details & How to Apply: Christian College Scholarship

Fill out the questionnaire to be considered for the scholarship. The winner is chosen at random on or around May 31st each year. Those already attending college are not eligible.

33. American College Foundation (ACF) Visionary Scholarship

• Deadline : June 1, 2024
• Award: $5,000 grand prize, $1,000 to five additional finalists
• Who Can Apply? High school students of any grade
• Details & How to Apply: ACF Visionary Scholarship

Students don’t need to show financial need to score this scholarship. Simply fill out the application, submit your transcript, and write a 500-word essay on why college is important to you.

34. The Lep Foundation for Youth Education – CURE Cancer Support Scholarship

• Who Can Apply? Students who have been diagnosed with cancer and whose treatments are a financial burden
• Details & How to Apply: CURE Cancer Support Scholarship

The Lep Foundation for Youth Education wants to help students with cancer afford tuition. Applying for the scholarship is simple. You’ll need a letter from your physician confirming your diagnosis. You’ll also need to write a one-page essay about your condition and the challenges your family has had to face due to cancer and cancer-related treatments.

35. Digital Marketing Scholarship

• Deadline : June 1, 2024
• Award: $4,000
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and college undergraduates pursuing a major related to digital marketing and will take at least 10 credit hours in the Fall of 2024.
• Details & How to Apply: Digital Marketing Scholarship

Digital Marketing is the way of the future and if you have a desire to study a related field, there is a scholarship for you! To apply, write a 500-word statement about your life story, your intended field of study, your future career, and how you will make an impact on the world. A panel of three judges will pick a winner by July 15, 2024.

36. Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship

• Who Can Apply? High school seniors
• Details & How to Apply: Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship

Time to show off your storytelling skills! Write an essay about your life story, intended field of study, career, and how you plan to impact the world. The most compelling essays will win a $5,000 award.

37. Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest

• Deadline : June 5, 2024
• Award: Up to $15,000
• Who Can Apply? High school students who have not been a finalist in previous years
• Details & How to Apply: Stuck at Prom Scholarship

This fun contest encourages students to use their creativity. To enter, you’ll need to create a prom outfit using Duck Brand Duct Tape. You’ll be judged on workmanship, originality, use of colors, accessories, and the use of Duck Brand Duct Tape. To get started, take a video or write an essay documenting your project. Then, snap at least one high-resolution photo of yourself wearing your masterpiece and head to the scholarship website to submit your entry.

38. Ayn Rand Scholarships – The Fountainhead Essay Contest

• Deadline : June 7, 2024 for Summer (deadlines for fall and winter will be announced soon)
• Award: $25,000
• Who Can Apply? High school juniors and seniors worldwide.
• Details & How to Apply: The Fountainhead Essay Contest

This is a rolling scholarship that comes around in the summer, fall, and winter. Each season has a new deadline and prompts related to Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead . High school students can currently apply for the summer season. Each essay must be between 800 – 1600 words and double-spaced. This season’s prompt is:

“In conversation with Peter Keating, Roark says “to get things done, you must love the doing, not the secondary consequences.” What evidence is there in the story that Roark loves the doing? What are the secondary consequences he does not prioritize? How does his love for his work guide his major life decisions? How does Roark’s approach to his work relate to the overall theme of the novel? To answer all of these questions, give specific examples from the novel.”

39. Ayn Rand Scholarships – Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

• Deadline : June 14, 2024 for Summer (deadlines for fall and winter will be announced soon)
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students worldwide.
• Details & How to Apply: The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

This is a rolling scholarship for high school seniors and those already enrolled in college. The contest comes around in the summer, fall, and winter. Each season has a new deadline and essay prompt related to the book Atlas Shrugged . Students can currently apply for the summer season.

Each essay must be between 800 – 1600 words and double-spaced. This season’s prompt is:

“Over the course of the novel, Hank Rearden struggles to resolve a dramatic internal conflict. What are the conflicting premises or ideas in his soul, and how does he eventually resolve this conflict? In what way does Rearden’s conflict represent the conflict within the best of American businessmen, and a central conflict in American culture? Judging from how Rearden resolves his conflict, how do you think the author might propose resolving the cultural conflict?”

40. $2,000 CollegeVine “No Essay” Contest

• Deadline : June 30, 2024
• Who Can Apply? All students are eligible
• Details & How to Apply: $2,000 CollegeVine “No Essay” Contest

Don’t miss out on this easy opportunity. All you have to do is enter and the winner will be chosen by a lottery system.

41. Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship

• Deadline : July 20, 2024
• Who Can Apply? All grade levels
• Details & How to Apply: Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship

Have you recently experienced a loss? Write a 200-800 word essay on the following prompt:

“How has the loss of a close family member or loved one caused you to focus on what matters most in your life and what you want to “fight” to achieve?”

42. Whiddon Memorial Scholarship

• Deadline : July 24, 2024
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate STEM students who demonstrate financial need
• Details & How to Apply: Whiddon Memorial Scholarship

To apply, submit a short essay or video talking about how you’ve overcome adversity and why you are passionate about pursuing STEM.

43. Gen & Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

• Deadline : July 31, 2024
• Who Can Apply? All high school, undergraduate, and graduate students starting school within the next 12 months
• Details & How to Apply: The Gen & Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

It’s simple to apply for this merit-based scholarship. Fill out the application form and submit a maximum of 250-word essay. The essay can be about why you deserve the scholarship, your academic or career goals, or any topic of your choice.

44. Trinity Thomas’ Uplifting Others Scholarship

• Award: $1,000 each to 3 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school, undergraduate, and graduate students who have inspired others
• Details & How to Apply: Trinity Thomas’ Uplifting Others Scholarship

Gymnast Trinity Thomas has paired up with Access Scholarships to award 3 lucky winners $1000 each. To apply for the scholarship, fill out the application form and write a statement about something you did to encourage, uplift, or inspire someone else. The statement needs to be 500 words or less. In addition to describing the experience, make sure to include the influence the experience had on your life.

45. TrophyCentral Sportsmanship Scholarship Award

• Deadline : September 20, 2024
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.25 who have demonstrated a unique form of sportsmanship, compassion, or kindness
• Details & How to Apply: TrophyCentral Sportsman Scholarship Award

Are you a high school senior headed to college in the fall of 2024? If you’ve demonstrated sportsmanship, compassion, and//or kindness, head over to TrophyCentral to apply for their scholarship award. Special consideration will be given to those entering a branch of the military or who are the first generation in their family to attend college. To be eligible, you must have an average GPA of 3.25 throughout your first semester of junior year.

46. Questbridge National College Match Scholarship

• Deadline :  Anticipated September 2024 – check back soon!
• Award: Full Tuition
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors with a low family income
• Details & How to Apply: Questbridge National College Match Scholarship

Need a full-ride to college? Questbridge National College Match Scholarship wants to make it happen. Low-income students are welcome to apply. If you “match” with a school, your tuition, books, supplies, boarding, and more will be covered. There is no specific GPA requirement, but winners demonstrate academic excellence.

47. The Gates Scholarship

• Who Can Apply? High-performing, low-income, minority students who are high school seniors with a GPA of 3.3 or above.
• Details & How to Apply: The Gates Scholarship

Did you exhibit outstanding academic achievement? High school seniors who are African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific American, and/or Hispanic American are eligible to apply for this generous scholarship. You must be Pell-eligible and have a GPA of at least 3.3. If that’s you and you’re in the top 10% of your class, consider applying!

48. Epic Flight Academy Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship

• Deadline : October 1, 2024
• Award: Up to $20,000
• Who Can Apply? High school juniors and seniors who want to pursue aircraft mechanic training
• Details & How to Apply: Epic Flight Academy Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship

When it comes to your dreams, the sky is the limit! Those interested in joining an aircraft mechanic program can apply for this sizable scholarship. You must be willing to start training within 12 months of receiving the scholarship. To apply, you’ll need two letters of recommendation, have to write an essay, create a YouTube video, and take an aviation-related photo. See the complete guidelines on the scholarship website.

49. Heisman High School Scholarship

• Deadline : Anticipated October 2024 – Applications open starting in August. Check back soon!
• Award: $10,000 to 2 National Winners, $2,000 to 12 National Finalists, $1000 to 88 State Winners
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who participated in an eligible sport while also doing volunteer service or demonstrating leadership.
• Details & How to Apply: Heisman High School Scholarship

To apply for this scholarship, you must have participated in one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games ,  the   Paralympic Games,  or the  National Federation of State High School Associations . A school official will need to review your application.

50. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy Competition

• Deadline : October 31, 2024
• Award: $35,000 to grand prize winner, up to $21,000 given to other finalists
• Who Can Apply? High school students
• Details & How to Apply: VFW Voice of Democracy Youth Scholarship Competition

This scholarship for high school students pays out BIG. Contestants are to submit a 3 – 5 minute audio essay, a typed version of the essay, and an application form. See the VFW website for more information.

51. Prudential Emerging Visionaries Scholarship

• Deadline : November 2, 2024
• Who Can Apply? High school students ages 14-18
• Details & How to Apply: Prudential Emerging Visionaries Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate an inspiring commitment to positive change. To apply, fill out the application form and share your solution for change.

52. Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholarship

• Deadline : November 8, 2024
• Award: $250,000
• Details & How to Apply: Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholarship

This prestigious competition seeks to find the future’s brightest talents in the fields of science and mathematics. The top finalist will receive a whopping $250,000 which is the largest award currently being given to a high school senior.

53. Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship for High School Seniors

• Deadline : November 16, 2024
• Award: Up to $55,000 per year
• Who Can Apply? High school students with a GPA of 3.5 who have demonstrated financial need and will attend a 4-year accredited undergraduate school
• Details & How to Apply: Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

This is one of the very best college scholarships for high school seniors. Students can get up to $55,000 PER YEAR to pay for tuition, books, living expenses, and fees. Any course of study qualifies as long as it is at an accredited 4-year undergraduate school and will result in a baccalaureate degree. The foundation accepts applicants with a family income up to $95,000.

54. The Elks Foundation Scholarship

• Deadline : Anticipated November 2024 – check back soon!
• Award: Up to $7,500 per year to 500 students
• Details & How to Apply: The Elks Foundation Scholarship

You don’t need to be an Elks member to apply for this scholarship. With 500 recipients, there are plenty of scholarships to go around, so throw your hat in if you can!

55. Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship

• Deadline :  Anticipated December 2024 – application window opens in Fall 2024! Check back soon!
• Award: Up to $40,000 + a possible summer internship at Amazon
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors with financial need who are planning on pursuing computer science or engineering and have at least a 2.3 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship

Passionate about STEM? Consider applying for the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship. It’s designed to support low-income, high-performing students. It’s one of the best college scholarships for high school students as 400 students will win scholarships up to $40,000!

56. National Honor Society Scholarship

• Deadline : November 28, 2024  -application window opens on September 16, 2024!
• Award: Varies
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school seniors who are active members of the National Honor Society and in good standing with a GPA of at least 3.0
• Details & How to Apply: National Honor Society Scholarship

Are you part of the National Honor Society? If so, you can apply for one of the best college scholarships for high school seniors. This year, the NHS is giving away $2 million in scholarships to 600 lucky students. These students will example scholarship, service, leadership, and character. When the application window opens, head on over to their website to apply. The top 25 finalists will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. to collect their award.

57. Imagine America Scholarship

• Deadline : Anticipated December 2024  – Application window opens in September 2024!
• Award: $1,000 to up to 5 winners
• Who Can Apply? High school graduates with a 2.5 GPA who have participated in community service during senior year and have demonstrated financial need.
• Details & How to Apply: Imagine America Scholarship

This is one scholarship that doesn’t require an impeccable GPA. Up to 5 winners will be chosen. The catch is that the $1,000 must be used towards tuition at one of the schools that support the scholarship. The full list of schools can be found on the Imagine America website.

58. Science Ambassador Scholarship

• Deadline :  December 13, 2024 (applications open in Fall 2024)
• Award: Full-Ride Scholarship
• Who Can Apply? Female high school seniors and undergraduates studying STEM
• Details & How to Apply: Science Ambassador Scholarship

Women who are serious about studying STEM fields should consider applying as this is one of the best college scholarships for high school seniors. You’ll be expected to create a video explaining a STEM topic that you are passionate about.

59. Stromberg Chicken’s $1,000 Scholarship 

• Deadline : December 31, 2024
• Who Can Apply? College students and high school seniors 18 and older who plan to enroll in agricultural studies or a related field
• Details & How to Apply: Stromberg Chicken’s $1,000 Scholarship

Do you have eggs -cellent writing skills? Enter to win this scholarship by submitting a short, 500-word essay. There are three prompts to choose from: The Benefits and Challenges of Backyard Chicken Farming, The Role of Chickens in Sustainable Living, or The Benefits of Integrating Chickens into a Home Garden Ecosystem.

One aspect of this scholarship that we love is that there is no GPA requirement or application forms. The money can also be used towards tuition, books, computers, accommodation, or any other education-related expense.

60. Unigo $10,000 Scholarship

• Who Can Apply? High school students 14 years and older.
• Details & How to Apply: Unigo $10K Scholarship

Looking for easy scholarships for high school students? Apply to the Unigo $10K Scholarship. You just need to submit a 250-word response to the question:

“Would you rather be smart, funny or rich? Why?”

61. HW Part Store Scholarship

• Who Can Apply? Those 18 and older who are enrolled or planning to enroll in agricultural sciences at accredited U.S. colleges or universities
• Details & How to Apply: HW Part Store Scholarship

Interested in studying agricultural sciences? To apply for this scholarship, you’ll need to provide proof of eligibility and write a 500-word essay on one of the following topics:

The role of machinery in reducing human-risk in construction. The benefits of maintaining commercial construction machinery. The role of aftermarket parts for construction machinery.

62. The Dell Scholars Program

• Deadline :  Anticipated December 2024 – check back soon!
• Award: $20,000 each to 500 students
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school seniors who participated in a college readiness program, are low-income and have at least a 2.4 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: The Dell Scholars Program by Michael & Susan Dell

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation gives away tons of scholarships every year to low-income students headed to college. If you participated in an eligible college readiness program during high school, you may be eligible to apply.

63. National Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship

• Deadline : Anticipated January 2025 – check back soon!
• Award: Up to $5,000
• Who Can Apply? 2024 high school seniors planning to pursue a career in government service
• Details & How to Apply: National Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship

Applying for this scholarship takes a little effort, but it may be worthwhile for interested students. To apply, you must write a one-page essay about why you plan to pursue a career in government service. If George Washington’s Delaware River crossing inspired you, make sure to include that information in your essay. You’ll also need to submit a recommendation from your principal or guidance counselor, your transcripts, and national testing scores. You must also be available to attend the Scholarship Awards Ceremony (transportation, food, and lodging for the ceremony have been paid for in the past).

64. Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship

• Award: Up to $25,000
• Who Can Apply? College-bound high school students, undergraduates, and grad students in good academic standing
• Details & How to Apply: Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship

Last year, applicants had to submit a 2-minute video detailing their passion and how they are planning to pursue it. They also had to mention why their passion makes the world a better place and how they will create a positive impact. With a payout of up to $25,000, this is one college scholarship worth trying to win!

65. Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarships

• Award: Up to $35,000 over 4 years
• Who Can Apply? Minority, college-bound high school seniors who demonstrate financial need and academic excellence
• Details & How to Apply: Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarships

This is a very competitive and prestigious college scholarship that will be worth its while to any winner. In addition to a hefty scholarship amount, you’ll also receive mentoring and have the opportunity for networking and community service. About 60 scholarships are given out annually and you do not need to be an athlete to apply.

66. The Sierra Nevada Corporation Women in STEM Scholarship

• Award: $7,500 each to up to 5 recipients
• Who Can Apply? Female high school seniors, undergraduates, or graduates studying a non-medical STEM field and have a 3.5 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: The Sierra Nevada Corporation Women in STEM Scholarship

This helpful scholarship is available to women studying a non-medical STEM field. You must be enrolled as a full or part-time student at a 4-year institution for the upcoming school semester.

67. The Chevron Dinah Shore Scholarship

• Award: Up to $10,000 to 2 recipients ($2,500/year for up to 4 years)
• Who Can Apply? College-bound female high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Details & How to Apply: The Chevron Dinah Shore Scholarship

To win this scholarship, you must demonstrate a passion for women’s golf and helping the younger generation to love and participate in the game. You do not need to be playing collegiate golf to apply.

68. BigFuture Scholarship For High School Seniors

• Deadline : Varies
• Award: One $40,000 winner and one $500 winner
• Who Can Apply? High school students in the class of 2025
• Details & How to Apply: BigFuture Scholarship

This unique scholarship provides an incentive for high school students to apply to colleges. There is no essay or GPA requirement to apply. Head on over to BigFuture’s website and follow the instructions. Students will need to create an account and then create a career list, college list, and scholarship list. You’ll also have to fill out a FAFSA form and apply to at least two of the colleges on your list before the deadline above. Special consideration is given to those with a family income of $60,000 or less.

69. McDonald’s HACER Scholarship

• Deadline : February 2025 (Watch for applications to open in Fall 2024)
• Award: Up to $100,000
• Who Can Apply? Hispanic high school seniors with at least a 2.8 GPA who are headed to a two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational school.
• Details & How to Apply:  McDonald’s HACER Scholarship

This is one of the very best college scholarships for high school seniors and those with at least one Hispanic/Latino parent may apply. U.S. residents and DREAMER/DACA recipients are eligible. Winners will have demonstrated financial need, academic achievement, and community involvement. Several recipients will win a scholarship with Tier 1 receiving $100,000, Tier 2 receiving $20,000, and Tier 3 receiving $5,000.

70. Engbretson Foundation Scholarship

• Deadline : March 1, 2025
• Award: $20,000
• Who Can Apply? 2025 Graduation high school seniors who demonstrate financial need, have at least a 3.75 GPA or are in the top 5% of the graduating class, and received a 28 ACT or 1240 SAT score.
• Details & How to Apply: Engbretson Foundation Scholarship

High achievers who are in financial need can apply for this sizable scholarship. Visit the link above to see if you qualify. This award frequents many lists of the best college scholarships for high school seniors.

71. Niche $10,000 “No Essay” Award

• Deadline : Anticipated March 2025 – Check back soon!
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors and college students planning to college in the next year
• Details & How to Apply: Niche $10,000 “No Essay” Award

Applying for this scholarship couldn’t be easier! Head on over to Niche’s website and fill out the entry form with your name, birthday, and contact information. There are no essays or long answers required to apply. One student will be chosen at random and the winner will be announced on April 15, 2024. Good luck!

Hip Tip : Niche also has a $2,000 No Essay scholarship that is worth checking out!

72. “Be Bold” No Essay Scholarship

• Deadline :  Anticipated April 1, 2025 – C heck back soon!
• Who Can Apply? Any students of any age, field of study, or GPA can apply
• Details & How to Apply: “Be Bold” No-Essay $25,000 Scholarship

This is one scholarship opportunity you’ll want to take! The “Be Bold” scholarship is open to students of any education level or GPA. Head over to their website to apply. You’ll create a profile and your mission is to make it BOLD. That does not mean you need to be the best or most accomplished student. Instead, Bold.org is looking for those who are earnest, determined, and moving. Get creative and have fun! The boldest profile wins!

73. Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarship

• Deadline :  Anticipated March 2025 –  Check for soon!
• Award: Up to $15,000 per student ($5,000/year for up to 3 years)
• Who Can Apply? Black high school students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, computer information systems, or a business field and have at least a 3.0 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarship

Black high school students who love computers and engineering should consider this sizable scholarship. Be prepared to have to write a short essay on how you plan to engage the technology industry in your future career.

74. Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship

• Deadline : Anticipated April 2025 – Check back soon!
• Award: Up to $40,000 per student ($10,000/year for up to 4 years)
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors & college freshman – junior years with at least a 2.5 GPA and pursuing an eligible STEM major
• Details & How to Apply: Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship

This is one of the best scholarships for high school students and college undergraduates in STEM fields. You may be eligible if you are enrolled or plan to enroll in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics.

75. Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

• Deadline : Anticipated 2025 – check back soon!
• Award: $20,000 each to 150 students
• Who Can Apply? High school seniors headed to a 4-year college who have at least a 3.0 GPA
• Details & How to Apply: Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation  

The Coca-Cola Foundation hands out scholarships every year and due to the amount given, they are some of the best college scholarships for high school seniors to receive. If you’re a high achiever, keep an eye out for this scholarship to open!

76. GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

• Award: Up to $40,000 ($10,000/year for 4 years)
• Details & How to Apply: GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

Do you demonstrate leadership, integrity, drive, and citizenship within your community, school, or workplace? Apply for this hefty scholarship that pays up to $10,000 per year for four years! This is one of the top-rated college scholarships for high school seniors.

77. Wrist-band.com Scholarship

• Deadline : Anticipated Spring of 2025
• Who Can Apply? High school and college students age 18 and older who are starting a university program in the spring semester of 2025
• Details & How to Apply: Wrist-band.com Scholarship

To apply for this scholarship, submit a 300-word essay using the following prompt:

“What do you think the future looks like for the custom printing industry? If you were a small business owner, how would you use customized items to market your business? What are the benefits of custom printing for businesses?”

78. ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship

• Deadline : Last business day of each month
• Award: $1,000 per winner, 4 winners per month
• Who Can Apply? High school and college students age 16 and older who will be enrolled in school within 3 months of the award
• Details & How to Apply: ScholarshipOwl “No Essay” Scholarship

There is a chance to win this scholarship every single month. Applying is super easy as there is no essay required! Head on over to the ScholarshipOwl website to apply. You have about a 1 in 140,000 chance of winning! 🤞

Not headed to college right away? Consider the Thiel Fellowship…

• Award: $100,000
• Who Can Apply? Entrepreneurs and/or inventors ages 23 and under
• Details & How to Apply: Thiel Fellowship

College may not be the right choice for everyone. Entrepreneurs and inventors who want to postpone college can apply for the Thiel Fellowship for a chance to receive funds to help them launch their ideas. This grant is given by entrepreneur Peter Thiel, who co-founded PayPal and other companies.

Is there a college scholarship the Hip Community should know about? Tell us about it in the comments!

Apply to our favorite weird college scholarships too! Plus, here’s where to find free college textbooks !

About the writer:

Kara is a writer and photographer from the Midwest. Her creative work has appeared in various publications over the past decade. With a background in finance, she loves to be money-savvy.

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Comments 13.

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SO sorry about that, Shelly! This has been fixed now if you wanted to check again! 💕

Oh bummer! SO sorry for any issues. ❤️ Are you having trouble with one of the links above?

Same here. Page doesn’t load. Can’t see anything.

Hey Tahania! Is this this post that’s not loading for you, or certain links? We’d love to check into this more! 🥰

Hello again! We found the issue and it has been fixed if you wanted to check back! 🤗

Thank you so much for this! So helpful! Our son will be a senior next year and it’s our first time navigating scholarships and financial aid…Yikes!!!! Starting a Pinterest board right now!

You’re SO very welcome, Krissy! Glad this will help! 🤗

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Thanks so much for letting us know. We were able to find the issue and it has been fixed! 🙌❤️

Hmm. What’s with that picture though? It’s like it’s saying someone that wears all black etc couldn’t be an A student?

Very sorry for that confusion, Babs. That has been updated. Thanks so much for the heads up on what you were seeing! 🤗💕

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51 Scholarships Worth $1,000 for High School Students

With hundreds of scholarships available to high school students, it can quickly become overwhelming trying to decide which ones are worth submitting an application. While eligibility requirements automatically narrow your list, that still leaves tons of scholarships to choose from. Afterall, with school, college applications, and the excitement of senior year, motivation to complete dozens of scholarship applications and essays can be hard to find. That’s why we’ve created this list of high stakes scholarships, all with at least $1,000 awards. These scholarships are the biggest bang for your buck and definitely worth setting aside time to work on applications. Apply for free money in the most efficient way possible with these $1,000 scholarships just for highschool students! 

Want to find more scholarships? Check out our other scholarship lists !

Our Top Scholarship Pick

The $25,000 “be bold” no essay scholarship.

Rolling monthly application deadlines

Award: Awards $25,000

Overview: The $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. No-Essay Scholarship in just a few clicks! Fund your education with verified new scholarships, available only on Bold.org. New scholarships are added daily, and membership is 100% free for students.

Imagine Dragons Origins Scholarship

Deadline: Sep 15, 2021

Award Amount: $10,000 4 winners, $2,500 each

Overview: In their decade of touring the world, Grammy-winning band Imagine Dragons saw firsthand that music knows no boundaries. It’s a universal language that connects people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and cultures.

Unfortunately, many of those who come to America from other countries face incredible educational and financial challenges. In an effort to honor the unifying spirit of music, the band’s scholarship supports and amplifies their voices, knowing that diversity makes us all stronger.

The Imagine Dragons Origins Scholarship will help four refugee, immigrant, or first-generation American students to achieve their educational dreams with $2,500 each.

Bubba Wallace Live to Be Different Scholarship

Deadline: May 31, 2021

Award Amount: $10,000

Overview: Bubba and Live To Be Different’s mission is to encourage the next generation to be better and more inclusive than every generation before it so that they can achieve anything they put their mind to, just as Bubba has done in his journey standing up for racial justice while trailblazing as one of NASCAR’s most successful African-American drivers.

In doing so, Live To Be Different strives to empower and support disadvantaged individuals with educational, medical, social, or other types of assistance needed to help make their dreams reality.

To enter, please share an experience of a time when you encountered adversity, and what you did to overcome it.

Breanden Beneschott Fire Memes Scholarship

Deadline: October 1, 2021

Award Amount: $1,000

Overview: The Breanden Beneschott Fire Memes Scholarship exists to support the creative souls of the world who dream up and make memes that spread truth, humor, and ideas.

The scholarship is open to anyone in school and anyone with student debt. To enter, all you need to do is:

• Submit your favorite memes. Bonus points for originality.
• Share a short caption for the meme(s), including your Instagram handle.
• Follow the Fire Meme Scholarship Instagram at @fire.student.memes and like/comment on your favorite memes.The best submissions will get featured on The Fire Meme Scholarship Instagram. Winners will be chosen in part based on the popularity of their submissions!

3LAU “Everything” Scholarship

Deadline: June 20, 2021

Award Amount: $14,770

Overview: We all have goals and dreams, but it takes a special system of motivation and support to chase them every day and to work towards being the best versions of ourselves. It can be our families, friends, loved ones, creative talents, academic pursuits, and artistic passions. We all have something that drives us.

Who or what is your everything?

The 3LAU “Everything” Scholarship is open to any high school or undergraduate student who has big dreams and a passion for life and expressing themselves.

JuJu Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: Jun 30, 2021

Award Amount: $20,000 4 winners, $5,000 each

Overview: Pittsburgh Steelers and former University of Southern California WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is dedicated to giving his all on the field for his teammates, and off the field for his community. In 2019, he created The JuJu Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of youth initiatives and lifting the spirits of those in need.

Today, JuJu and his foundation are partnering with Bold.org to help students achieve their educational dreams. The JuJu Foundation Scholarship will help four students who are facing economic hardship to pay for their education with $5,000 each. All current high school and undergraduate students studying in the US who face financial challenges in paying for their education are welcome to apply.

Hustle Tech & Business News No-Essay Scholarship

Overview: This scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of The Hustle Daily. You will be a strong applicant if you:

• Read The Hustle every day
• Share The Hustle with your friends
• Apply what you learn to accelerate your education and career

Finalists to this scholarship will be interviewed about how they applied what they learned from The Hustle Daily to their education and career!

While the scholarship will be awarded on May 31, 2021, the scholarship will have rolling monthly application deadlines. Students applying within earlier application windows will have a greater chance of winning the award.

HomeCare.com Nursing Scholarship

Deadline: April 29, 2021

Award Amount: $8,000 4 winners, $2,000 each

The HomeCare.com Nursing Scholarship is designed to provide equitable opportunities for prospective Black nurses to excel in their studies. All prospective nursing majors, LPNs, or RNs are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

To apply, please submit a 400-600 word essay sharing who or what inspires you in your nursing career, and how you will apply your motivation to serve the public through your practice.

Lewis University Launch Your Career Scholarship

Overview: The Lewis University Launch Your Career Scholarship is designed to supply the next generation of Lewis University students with the tools to make an impact and succeed even before setting foot on campus to start their adventure as a Lewis University student.

All current high school seniors or undergraduate students who have Lewis University as a college of interest and are interested in attending are eligible to apply!

Ayn Rand “The Fountainhead” Essay Contest 

Award Amount: $5,000 for 1st place

Overview: Have you read one of Ayn Rand’s thought-provoking novels? Now’s the time! Enter an Ayn Rand Institute essay contest for your chance to win thousands of dollars in scholarship prize money. ARI has held worldwide essay contests for students on Ayn Rand’s fiction for more than thirty years. This year we will award over 230 prizes, totaling more than $70,000.

Allwork Scholarship 

Deadline: March 22, 2021

Award Amount: Up to $10,000

Overview:  This merit-based scholarship supports architecture students with demonstrated financial need. Students must be nominated by the dean or chair of the school of architecture in which they are currently studying in order to apply for this award.

Morning Brew Tech & Business News Scholarship

Overview:  This scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of Morning Brew. You will be a strong applicant if you:

• Read Morning Brew every day
• Share Morning Brew with your friends

Finalists to this scholarship will be interviewed about how they applied what they learned from Morning Brew to their education and career!

Diversity in Music Education Scholarship

Deadline: Sep 30, 2021

Award Amount: $6,000 3 winners, $2,000 each

Overview: The Symphonic Distribution Art Student Debt Scholarship exists to support students from a minority background who are looking to take their career in the arts to the next level. This scholarship is open to all minority students who are interested in, already enrolled in, or are recent graduates with a degree in the arts. To apply, applicants must submit a short video about why music and the arts are important to culture and how they can be used to promote cross-cultural inclusion.

Zippia’s Teacher Dream Job Scholarship

Deadline: December 31, 2021

Overview: Tell us in 500 words or less, why you want to be a teacher. Describe your dream job to us and tell us WHY this is your dream job. Send your essay in the body of the email (no attachments) to [email protected] with the subject line: “My Teacher Dream Job Scholarship Contest Entry”.

Diller Teen Awards 

Deadline: APPLICATIONS FOR THE THE 2022 AWARDS WILL OPEN IN AUGUST, 2021

Award Amount: $36,000

Overview:  The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards recognize Jewish teens in the United States who have demonstrated remarkable leadership and initiative in projects that embody the values of  tikkun olam , “repairing the world.”

Soo Joo Park Scholarship for Asian American Women

Deadline: Sep 1, 2021

Award Amount: $2,000

The Soo Joo Park Scholarship for Asian American Women exists to uplift and support the voices of individuals from Asian American background who have faced challenges big or small to make a difference in their own lives and their community. The scholarship is open to Asian American women ages 16 and up from immigrant backgrounds in any field of study and educational level.

Skimm Money No-Essay Scholarship

Award Amount: Up to $1,000

This scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of Skimm Money. You’ll be a strong applicant if you:

• Read Skimm Money regularly
• Check out articles on theskimm.com/money for more ways to take control of your money
• Finalists to this scholarship will be interviewed about how they applied what they learned from Skimm Money to their lives.

This scholarship will have rolling monthly application deadlines. Students applying within earlier application windows will have a greater chance of winning the award.

Next Young Leaders Program Scholarship

Deadline: July 15, 2021

Overview: To contribute to the advancement of leadership for the future, the Next Young Leaders Program Scholarship will be awarded to one very ambitious and impactful student who has stellar leadership qualities and displays excellence in and out of the classroom. The Next Young Leaders Program is a program led by Agha Haider, who is focused on providing high school seniors with an opportunity to navigate the college process, receive a virtual mentorship, and a scholarship towards their college education. All high school juniors (2022) are eligible to apply for this scholarship. To apply, please describe an example of your leadership and write about what being a leader means to you.

Dashanna K. McNeil Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: July 1, 2021

Award Amount: $9,008 6 winners, $1,501 each

The Dashanna K. McNeil Memorial Scholarship exists to honor her life and to encourage those who share her commitment to healing and continue in their studies and pending careers.

To apply, please answer the essay question below:

If you’re a high school senior : As a graduating high school student, why do you want to become a nurse, and is there a specific area of nursing you would like to pursue?

Endeavor Design Scholarship

Deadline: Jun 18, 2021

Award Amount: $1,865

The Endeavor Design Scholarship is offered in support of creating racial equity in the fields of Fashion/Footwear, Industrial, and Graphic Design.

Requirements:

• Scholarship reserved for Black High School students, Massachusetts residents only
• Must be a High School Senior/Student who plans to enroll in a full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or CEGEP institution for the entire academic year
• Pursuing a design-related degree; majors include: Fashion Design, Footwear Design, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, or related fields.

To apply, submit 5-7 photos of your portfolio. Write a brief statement about what design means to you and how a career in design would be transformational for you.

Teen Entrepreneur Scholarship

Deadline: Aug 31, 2021

Award Amount: $3,000

The Teenage Entrepreneur Society is announcing the Teen Entrepreneur Scholarship with the aim of providing support for young entrepreneurs in need of funding for either their education or furthering their business. All high school entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

To apply, please talk about a support system in your life and how they’ve given you the tools to be successful in your entrepreneurship ventures.

HerCampus x Pocket: The Future Connection College Scholarship Competition

Award Amount: $5,000

Overview: Living in the digital age can mean something different to everyone, and we want to hear what it means to you. To enter, answer the following prompt in 300-500 words: “What does it mean for you to come of age in a hyper-online, always-connected world?” Get creative, have fun with your essay, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine. You can read the full official rules here .

3Wishes Women’s Empowerment Scholarship

Deadline: Nov 30, 2021

Overview: At the core of 3Wishes is the support, upliftment, and encouragement of women past systemic and social barriers. The 3Wishes Women’s Empowerment Scholarship is designed to support one special woman in achieving her dreams in and out of the classroom.

All women planning to attend college sometime in the next two years are eligible. To apply, please write about how you think society can most effectively empower women.

While not required, applicants who have volunteer experience, express financial need, and/or are women of color are encouraged to apply.

AMPLIFY No Code Scholarship

Deadline: Jul 1, 2021

Award Amount: 1,000

Overview: As creators that have benefited directly from the “no-code movement”, we’re excited to give back to this community and empower a creator in this space. The funds can be used to invest in no-code education or to invest in the software required for your no-code project.

To apply, please share a 500-word essay, describing your project aspirations and how no-code would allow you to accelerate progress toward your goals.

Davidson Fellows Scholarship

Deadline: The 2021 application deadline has passed. The 2022 application will be available this fall.

Award Amount: $50,000

Overview: The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships to extraordinary young people, 18 and under, who have completed a significant piece of work. Application categories are Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy and Outside the Box. Davidson Fellows are honored every year in Washington, D.C. with Congressional meetings and a special reception. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider’s website.

WCEJ Thornton Foundation Low-Income Scholarship

Award Amount: $5,000 5 winners, $1,000 each

Overview: As one small way to make higher education more accessible to low-income students, the WCEJ Thornton Foundation Low-Income Scholarship will be awarded to five students in any field of study who have an exemplary academic record, but are in need of financial assistance to pursue their dreams in higher education.

To apply, you must be a high school senior, someone returning to school, or already enrolled in a post-secondary education program. please write about your greatest achievement, what it taught you about yourself, and what you hope to achieve in the future.

One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest

Deadline: January 9, 2022

Overview: The One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest is open to students who are no more than 25 years of age. You must submit a video between three and eight minutes that shares and highlights solutions to the issues discussed in the chosen sustainability topic(s) chosen from the list on the sponsor’s website. The film entry’s theme must be solution – based. The film should talk about an environmental / sustainability problem and then discuss what could be a potential solution to this problem. Videos may be submitted by either an individual or a group and animated videos of no more than 45 seconds will also be considered.

Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship

Deadline: Oct 5, 2021

Award Amount: $10,020

Overview: Cat Zingano is an inspiration to many for the fight she displays in all aspects of her life. The Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship will be awarded to a student who is fighting through their own loss of a close family member, legal guardian or loved one, and is in need of financial support for their education as they move forward.

Brandon Zylstra Road Less Traveled Scholarship

Deadline: Aug 1, 2021

Award Amount: $10,640 2 winners, $5,320 each

Overview: To support an ambitious and determined Black student who may not have the financial backing to pursue their dreams, the Brandon Zylstra Road Less Traveled Scholarship will be awarded to two Black high school students who plan to attend college.

To apply, please write about what you’re passionate about, what steps you plan to take toward a career involving this passion, and one time when you overcame tremendous adversity to excel despite the odds.

All Black students studying in the US are eligible to apply for this scholarship!

DAR Good Citizen Scholarship

Deadline: The portal will reopen for application submissions on November 1, 2021.

Overview: The DAR Good Citizen Scholarship is open to high school seniors who demonstrate the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. You must submit a personal statement and essay to be considered for this award.

Women in Music Scholarship

Deadline: Aug 15, 2021

Overview: As one part of supporting women in music, the Women in Music Scholarship will support women who are passionate about playing/creating music and would like to pursue a career in the industry.

The scholarship is open to all women from any field of study who are interested in or already engaged with a career in the music industry, which includes being a producer, DJ, publicist, blogger, are anything related to music and the overall industry.

Austin Kramer Music-Maker Scholarship

Deadline: Jun 28, 2021

Let’s make some music!

I think music is the key to life. Without it, we’d be lost! I was thinking of that this year on my birthday and wanted to encourage students to…create music!

• Sing me an original song idea. Send me your beat.
• Whistle a hook. Play a few notes. Hum the melody.
• A few notes or a complete arrangement.
• Any instrument, length, or style. Any major.

I’m looking for your newest musical thought. You don’t have to be a professional musician or music-major, just someone who has a passion for creating music.

To apply, upload to Soundcloud and share the link. Or share a Spotify link if you’re ahead of the game and have already released it.

Finally, tell me how you came up with it in a few sentences or more.

Abran Arreola Latinx Scholarship

Award Amount: $2,000 2 winners, $1,000 each

Overview: With many Latinx students today being the first in their families to attend college, finances can often be a burden in the educational journey. This leads to fewer Latinx individuals with degrees and fewer employment opportunities, perpetuating the cycle of poverty that is seen more often in Latinx households.

Taking inspiration from my mentors, I’d like to pay it forward with the Abran Arreola Latinx Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to two Latinx students who are pursuing higher education and who believe in the power of community.

To apply, please tell us about an important experience in your life. How has that experience shaped your understanding of yourself, the world, and your community?

Spirit of Giving Scholarship

Deadline: July 31, 2021

Overview: The Spirit of Giving Scholarship is available to high school seniors and current college students. You must submit an essay of between 500 and 750 words on one of the following three topics in order to be considered for this award: How have you advanced the spirit of giving in your community or abroad either through service or in giving? How has the spirit of giving affected you personally? How will your college or post-secondary education allow you to be of service to others or give to others?

Take Flight With Embry-Riddle Scholarship

Overview: To encourage and drive innovation for prospective ERAU students, the Take Flight With Embry Riddle Scholarship is designed to support ambitious students interested in aviation, aeronautics, astrophysics, engineering, or a related field with funds to help with their studies and pursuit of a meaningful career.

While the scholarship will be awarded on March 1st, 2022, the scholarship will have rolling monthly application deadlines. Students applying within earlier application windows will have a greater chance of winning the award.

A Heroes Family Scholarship

Overview: As one small way to help the families of first responders, the A Heroes Family Scholarship exists to provide financial support for a student who has lost a parent or spouse to an on-duty tragedy of a first responder.

The scholarship is open to students in any field of study who are pursuing a 2 or 4-year degree, which can include a traditional college program, trade or vocational school, or professional certificate program.

The only requirement is that you are a surviving child or spouse of a first responder.

Fleming Law College Scholarship

Overview: As a way to support students and allow them to express their experiences in the smartphone era, the Fleming Law College Scholarship exists and will be awarded to one high school senior or undergraduate student in any field of study at a 2 or 4-year college.

To apply, please write about your experience with smartphones, How you think they impact your day-to-day life, and how you think it impacts your actions behind the wheel.

Nervo “Revolution” Scholarship

Overview: To amplify women and all their strength and courage, mulit-talented DJ duo, Nervo, will award their “Revolution” Scholarship to one ambitious and influential young woman who wants to change the world.

Female students in the US at all levels of study are eligible to apply for this scholarship. To apply, please tell us about your greatest ambition and how you hope to bring that vision to reality.

Travel Is Education Scholarship

Deadline: We have extended our 2021 contest through 2022. The postmark deadline for submission is January 31, 2022.

Overview: The Travel Is Education Scholarship is open to U.S. students in grades 6 through 12. You must submit two-dimensional artwork, photos or a writing (maximum one page) on the theme of “Becoming a Global Citizen”. Sample topics are available on the Web site provided. The contest is open to students aged 11-20 traveling on an ACIS tour from October 15, 2020 through October 14, 2022.

ABC Humane Wildlife Academic Scholarship – Women In STEM

Overview: At ABC Wildlife, we believe diversity is critical in every scientific field from biology to chemical engineering. While women represent 48% of the American workforce, they make up only 13% of engineering professionals and a mere 7.2% in the field of mechanical engineering. Overall, women are critically underrepresented in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

National Center for Learning Disabilities Scholarships

Deadline: June 15, 2o21

Award Amount: $2,500

Overview: NCLD offers annual scholarships and awards that celebrate the work and achievements of those students and leaders working to improve the lives of the 1 in 5 with learning and attention issues.

Rho Brooks Women in STEM Scholarship

Deadline: Jul 31, 2021

Award Amount: $1,500

Overview: Across the country, women are largely underrepresented in STEM because they lack support from their peers, colleagues, and mentors.

As a way to shift this cultural paradigm, the Rho Brooks Women in STEM Scholarship exists to support and incentivize young women to pursue a degree in STEM. The scholarship will be awarded to one female high school senior or undergraduate student who will be attending a college or university in the fall of 2021.

To apply for this scholarship, please tell us a bit about yourself, the biggest influence in your life, and how it’s shaped your career aspirations.

Autism Scholarship Contest

Deadline: December 10, 2021

Overview: The Kelly Law Team (KLT) is delighted to announce that for the fourth year since 2016, it is offering an educational scholarship. This year, as in 2015 and 2017, the scholarship will be open to those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who wish to continue their education. The award will be applied to offset tuition at the educational institution chosen by the applicant. Our firm believes that because ASD may have a profound impact on a person’s education, tuition assistance can have a positive influence on an individual’s desire and ability to pursue their educational goals.

Writing With a Purpose Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,605

Overview: The Writing With a Purpose Scholarship exists to inject hope and encouragement into African American college students looking to break into the field of journalism. The winner will receive a $1,000 award, and the runner up will receive a $500 award.

You must be a high school senior or an undergraduate African American student looking to get into journalism.

To apply, from a journalist’s perspective, please conduct a short case study on yourself. Describe a defining moment in your life and highlight its significance for your audience in this journalistic case study.

Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarships

Deadline: February 20, 2022

Award Amount: One award of $10,000 and two awards of $5,000

Overview: Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, The Vegetarian Resource Group each year will award $20,000 in college scholarship money to graduating U.S. high school students who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities. Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who do not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs.

Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship

Deadline: Jun 13, 2021

Award Amount: $7,001

Overview: In honor of my wonderful mother, the Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship exists to support more open and honest dialogue about the millions of people who are struggling with mental health and those people who have loved ones who are struggling with mental health.

The scholarship is open to all students who have had challenges with mental health or who have had loved ones who have struggled with mental health.

To apply for the scholarship, you will be asked to write a short essay about how your journey with mental health has impacted your beliefs, relationships, and aspirations.

Nitro Pay For College No-Essay Scholarship

Overview: Nitro is a leading financial aid and loan resource platform, guiding you on everything from the FAFSA to best practices for federal and private loans.

By applying, you’ll automatically get registered for Nitro, setting you up for success in funding your education in the most effective way.

It will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of the Nitro platform.

While the scholarship will be awarded on Sep 30, 2021, the scholarship will have rolling monthly application deadlines. Students applying within earlier application windows will have a greater chance of winning the award.

Undiscovered Brilliance Scholarship for African-Americans

Deadline: May 16, 2021

Overview: In the spirit of organizations like The Hidden Genius Project that find and nurture promising young Black students who may not otherwise receive sufficient support, the Undiscovered Brilliance Scholarship for African-Americans aims to support a brilliant Black student with ambitious dreams.

It will be awarded to a talented Black student at any level of education or field of study on the basis of their ambition, talent, and drive, as well as on the impact that additional support would have for them.

Penny Hoarder Smart Money No-Essay Scholarship

Deadline: September 15, 2021

This scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of The Penny Hoarder Daily. You will be a strong applicant if you:

• Read The Penny Hoarder Daily every day
• Share The Penny Hoarder Daily with your friends
• Apply what you learn to accelerate your personal finances

Finalists to this scholarship will be interviewed about how they applied what they learned from The Penny Hoarder Daily to their personal finances!

CollegeXpress No-Essay Scholarship

We’ve partnered with CollegeXpress to create this exclusive scholarship for high school students who are interested in college resources.

By applying, you’ll also receive:

• Rankings on the top colleges by academics, desired major, student life, cost, and more.
• Standardized test resources and tips.
• A variety of other resources geared towards high schoolers preparing for college!

While the scholarship will be awarded on Apr 1, 2021, the scholarship will have rolling monthly application deadlines. Students applying within earlier application windows will have a greater chance of winning the award.

Earnest Scholarship Fund

Deadline: June 30, 2021

Award Amount: $5,000 each to 50 winning applicants

Overview: At Earnest, we believe in helping people realize their hopes and dreams through further education. To help more students get to school, we created the Earnest Scholarship as a way to award 50 students who best articulate how their education will enable their dreams. To maintain the Earnest Scholarship, we put a percentage of each loan we refinance into our scholarship fund.

More Helpful Guides:

What to Do If You Run Out of Financial Aid?

Work-Study or Part-Time Job—Is One Better Than the Other?

The Big Question: How to Fund College

8 Tips for Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay

Disclaimer : This article contains affiliate links to products and services. We may receive commissions for purchases made through these links.

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40 College Scholarships for High School Juniors in 2023

What’s covered:, why scholarships matter, college scholarships for high school juniors, tips for applying for scholarships.

Think it’s too early to apply for a scholarship? If you’re a high school junior, think again. There are many college scholarships open to 11th graders and other students who aren’t yet seniors. 

So, what’s available? Here’s your guide to top scholarships for juniors.

Are you applying to schools and want to know your admissions chances? Calculate your chances right now and understand your odds before applying.

Scholarships can help offset the cost of college tuition and other expenses, such as room, board, and textbooks. Unlike loans, you don’t have to pay them back, so they can be enormously helpful to you throughout your education.

Receiving a merit scholarship is also an honor that can help you get into a college. If you receive the award as a junior, you’ll be able to include it on your college application.

It’s a good idea to start early because you’ll save time during your busy senior year. It can also give you peace of mind to know that you have supplemental income to add to your college fund. You may even be able to attend a college you may not have been able to afford otherwise.

1. Alexander Hamilton Awards

Scholarship award: $1,000

Open to: High school juniors

Thirty-five awards are given to underserved students based on academic, personal, service, and entrepreneurial accomplishments. Honorees participate in a five-year empowerment program at no cost to them. They also receive two $500 monetary awards — one at the beginning of the program and one at the end.

2. American Legion Oratorical Contest

Scholarship award: 18,000 (top prize); each state winner receives a $1,500 scholarship, and those who advance past the first round receive an additional $1,500 scholarship

Open to: High school students under age 20

This oratorical contest has a mission of instilling a deeper knowledge of and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Students must speak about some aspect of the Constitution and ways that citizens can serve the nation.

3. Carson Scholars

Open to: Students in grades 4-11

Carson Scholars give back to their communities through community service. They must have a minimum GPA of 3.75 and a demonstrated track record of community service. Only one student per high school may apply.

4. The Coolidge Scholarship

Scholarship award: Full ride, including tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study

Open to: High school juniors 

Coolidge scholars display academic excellence and a demonstrated interest in and appreciation for public policy and the values of Calvin Coolidge. Award recipients participate in an orientation in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, the summer before their senior year of high school. They return for one week for the next three summers.

Top applicants are designated “Coolidge Senators” and are invited to participate in the Senators Summit in Washington, D.C.

5. Doodle 4 Google

Scholarship award: $30,000 plus $50,000 tech grant for the recipient’s school

Open to: K-12

Open to young artists, Google announces a theme for the competition each January and features the National Winner’s artwork on the Google homepage after the contest closes in March.

6. Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

Scholarship award: $1,000 (first place)

Open to: Students in grades 9-12

For this scholarship, students submit a personal statement responding to a prompt or topic of their choice. Applicants may reuse an essay used for another purpose, such as a class or other scholarship application.

7. National Merit Scholarship Program

Scholarship award: $2,500

Your PSAT scores qualify you to be considered for this prestigious award. Semifinalists will complete applications through their school, once notified of their status by National Merit. Scores are ranked within states, so students from higher-scoring states are less likely to become semifinalists. Approximately 7,250 students receive scholarship awards. To learn more about the process, read How to Qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program .

8. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Scholarship award: $5,000-$15,000

Open to: Students between the ages of 14-18

This award recognizes students for outstanding service to others at the local, state, and national levels. (Find more community service scholarships here .)

9. Samsung American Legion Scholarship

Scholarship award: $10,000 each (National Scholars, two from each region)

Open to: High school juniors and seniors

In order to qualify for this scholarship, you must have attended one session of The American Legion Boys State or American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program. You must also be a direct descendant of a wartime U.S. military veteran who served on active duty during at least one of the periods of war officially designated as eligibility dates. The scholarship is awarded based on academic record, involvement in school, and community service.

10. United States Senate Youth Program

Scholarship award: $10,000

Open to: Rising high school juniors and seniors

Students apply for this competition by contacting their state selection coordinators. They must display leadership by serving in an elected or appointed position within an organization related to student government, education, public affairs, or community service. Two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity school system, will spend a week in Washington, DC.

11. Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Science Competition

Open to: Students in grades K-12 (separated by age groups)

Students submit projects that show engagement in real-world problem-solving with a strong emphasis on STEM. All entries must include an abstract, description, bibliography, and five sample web pages.

For more STEM scholarships, check out A Guide to STEM Scholarships .

12. Voice of Democracy Youth Scholars

Scholarship award: $35,000 (first place)

Students produce an audio-essay to respond to a theme regarding their democratic and patriotic values.

13. “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

Scholarship award: $25,000

Open to: All students 

Students at all education levels from high school to graduate school are challenged to create the boldest profile according to these characteristics: earnest, determined, and moving. Carpe diem—preference is given to applicants who apply early. 

14. $1,000 Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship

Open to: High school, community college, and college students 

Truly an easy scholarship to apply for, the short, simple-to-fill-out application asks a few basic questions such as your GPA, the colleges you’re considering applying to, and what you intend to major in. 

15. The Fountainhead Essay Contest

Scholarship award: $5,000 first place, $1,250 second place, and $250 third place 

Open to: 11th and 12th graders 

Perfect for students who love to read, write, and think about books, the Fountainhead Essay contest challenges applicants to write an 800 to 1,600-word essay about Ayn Rand’s novel, The Fountainhead . 

16. SelectBlinds $1,000 Scholarship

Open to: High school and college students 

Show off your innovative spirit and highlight what you’re passionate about for the opportunity to win this $1,000 award. To enter, share a unique way to use window coverings (other than covering windows) or highlight a technology that you think can improve window coverings. Additionally, applicants are asked to submit a 250 to 750-word essay answering one of five prompts. 

17. Unigo Flavor of the Month Scholarship

Scholarship award: $1,500

Open to: Students ages 14+

Ice cream lovers and creative writers rejoice—there’s a scholarship just for you! To enter, submit an essay no longer than 250 words answering the question: “If you were an ice cream flavor, which would you be and why?” 

18. American College Foundation Visionary Scholarship

Scholarship award: $5,000

Open to: High school students in grades 9-12 

Write a 500-word essay on why college is important to you, and submit your most recent high school transcript for a chance to win this robust award. Financial need is not considered when choosing a winner, but punctuation, grammar, ability to follow guidelines, originality, and overall quality are—so be sure to submit your best work.  

19. The Christian Connector Scholarship

Scholarship award : $5,000 

Open to: High school students with interest in attending a Christian college or university

A can’t-miss scholarship opportunity for students thinking about attending a Christian college, university, or Bible college, simply fill out the form on their website to put yourself in the running for this award. Note, the scholarship can only be used at qualifying schools—any school that is a member of the CCCU , NACCAP , or ABHE automatically qualifies.

20. CollegeXpress One Question Scholarship  

Scholarship award: $1,000 or $10,000

Open to: Students ages 13+ 

Applicants must fill out a registration form and answer the following question in one sentence: “What is your favorite college mascot?”

21. Courageous Persuaders Video Scholarship Competition

Scholarship award: $2,000 grand prize 

Open to: High school students

Create a 30-second (or shorter) commercial delivering a message about the dangers of drinking or texting while driving—the grand prize-winning video will be run on television. Looking for ideas? Check out last year’s winning video . 

22. Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Americanism Essay Contest

Scholarship award: $1,500 grand prize 

Open to: Grades 7-12

The FRA—a group representing the sea Services: U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard—welcomes students to write a 350-word essay promoting the spirit of Americanism and patriotism. Submissions must be made through an FRA member of a local FRA branch. If you’re looking for inspiration, you can find past winning essays on the FRA’s website . 

23. Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Open to: Students ages 8 to 18

A scholarship for inspiring, public-spirited young people, the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes rewards students who have positively impacted their community and environment. Past winners of the award have organized and led extraordinary service activities, and demonstrate characteristics such as positivity, courage, generosity, and high moral purpose. 

24. Jane Austen Society of North America (JANSA) Essay Contest

Open to: High school students in grades 9-12

Literature lovers will welcome this opportunity to win an award for college. To compete, write an essay on a work of Jane Austen’s (the topic changes yearly; 2020’s contest is focused on her female villains). In addition to a scholarship, winners also receive a one-year JANSA membership, a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels, and their winning essay is published on JANSA’s website.

25. The James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists

Open to: High school students, college students, and graduate students 

Tell a story with still photography—think newspaper, not art gallery—to earn a chance at a $2,500 scholarship from the James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists. In addition to their photo submission, applicants are asked to include an essay, two letters of recommendation, their transcript, and a portfolio. 

26. Annual DNA Day Essay Contest

Scholarship award: $1,000 for first place and a $1,000 genetics material grant for winner’s school; $600 for second place and a $600 genetics material grant for winner’s school; $400 for third place and a $400 genetics material grant for winner’s school; $100 for ten honorable mentions

The American Society of Human Genetics hosts an annual scholarship competition to support National DNA Day. Students must write an essay that answers a unique question each year that displays an understanding of important concepts in genetics.

27. Teen Entrepreneur Scholarship

Scholarship award: $3,200

Are you a young entrepreneur or interested in starting a business one day? The Teenage Entrepreneur Society is awarding one high school student $3,200 to further your education or business. To apply, you must talk about the support systems in your life that have helped you succeed in entrepreneurship.

28. $500 High School Junior Scholarship

Scholarship award: $500

Are you a high school junior in the Class of 2023? If so, this might be the easiest scholarship you apply for. Visit niche.com , create an account, and you’ll be entered to win $500! If you win, you can use the money to pay for the college search process or apply the funds to your future education expenses.

29. CollegeXpress “Grill & Chill” Scholarship

CollegeXpress’s “Grill and Chill” Scholarship has a quick and easy application process. Simply answer one question—“What’s your favorite summertime food?”–in one sentence for your chance at winning a $1,000 scholarship. 

30. Americans United’s Student Essay Contest

Scholarship award: $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place

This annual essay contest by Americans United challenges students to write a 750 to 1,000-word essay about why religious freedom and the separation of church and state is important for them and their communities.

31. Speak Up! Scholarship

Scholarship award: $2,000

The National Society of High School Scholars is awarding five students involved in communications classes like Yearbook, Public Speaking, or Visual Design a $2,000 scholarship. Students must answer the following two questions in a 500 to 800-word essay: “What do you think are the most important aspects of clear and effective communication? What have you done to practice and perfect the art of communications?”

32. Claes Nobel Good Earth Sustainability Scholarship

The National Society of High School Scholars is awarding five students with a passion for sustainability, conservation, and preserving the Earth a $2,000 scholarship. Students must answer the following question in a 500 to 800-word essay: “Mr. Claes Nobel said: ‘I hope soon, you shall gain a new world view that fosters global stability and the cultivation of love and virtue.’ What do you think Mr. Nobel meant by this statement, and what does it mean to you personally?”

33. Annual Catholic College Scholarship

Open to: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors

The $2,000 Catholic College Scholarship Drawing is open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors interested in attending a Catholic college or university.

34. Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship

Open to: High school students, undergraduate students, graduate students

To raise awareness about technology addiction, Digital Responsibility requests students to answer this prompt in 140 characters: “Instead of spending time with technology, I’d rather…” Ten finalists selected will be asked to write a 500 to 1,000-word essay about technology addiction, and the winner will receive the $1,000 scholarship.

35. Minecraft Scholarship

Open to: High school and college students

Do you love playing Minecraft? If so, this annual scholarship awarded by Apex Hosting is the perfect opportunity for you. To enter, students with a 3.0 or higher GPA must write a 500-word essay about how Minecraft can positively influence the future of education and the workforce.

36. UniMovers Working Student Scholarship

Open to: College-bound seniors, college students, and non-traditional students

UniMovers understands the challenges of balancing school and work, so they want to award working students a $1,000 scholarship. To enter, students must write an essay about how they represent one of the core values of UniMovers in both their personal and professional life.

37. Phyliss J. McCarthy Scholarship for Excellence in Writing

Open to: High school juniors or seniors

A scholarship for aspiring writers, the Phyliss J. McCarthy Scholarship by Learncurious is offering one grand-prize winner a scholarship of $1,000 for answering one of three prompts in a 2,000-word essay.

38. Courage to Grow Scholarship

This scholarship that renews each month is simple—students must explain why they believe they should be awarded the scholarship in 250 words or less. Students must be juniors or seniors in high school with at least a 2.5 GPA.

39. NSHSS-DECA ICDC Conference Scholarship

Students who are members of both the National Society of High School Scholars and the Distributive Education Clubs of America can apply for this scholarship. Students must also have at least a 3.5 GPA and an interest in pursuing a career in marketing, finance, hospitality, or business. The scholarship requires one 500-word personal statement that asks students to describe their career plans and explain how DECA and NSHSS have prepared them to succeed.

40. Walgreens Expressions Challenge

Scholarship award: $2,000 (first place)

High school students between the ages of 13 and 18 are invited to create an artistic project about anything that is having an impact on them. Students can enter the contest as individuals or in groups of up to five people in total.

41 (Bonus). CollegeVine Scholarships

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: Quarterly

Eligibility: high school student and US resident

Application Requirements: create a free CollegeVine account or fill out chancing profile if you already have an account. 

CollegeVine provides a quarterly, no-essay scholarship of $2,000. All you have to do is sign up for a free account, which allows you to see your chances of acceptance at 1,600+ schools, get your essays reviewed by a peer, ask questions in our community forum, and more. If you already have an account, just make sure your chancing profile is filled out.

Awards will be paid out directly to students to help them cover any educational costs. Learn more about the CollegeVine scholarships .

Explore your options.

There are many other niche scholarships and resources available. Do your research to find find scholarships that are most applicable to your interests and strengths. The more specific the scholarship, the better your chances of winning. Similarly, local awards are easier to win than big, national competitions.

Know the terminology.

A need-based scholarship is awarded based on demonstrated financial need. A merit-based scholarship is awarded based on academic or extracurricular talents. Most external scholarships, such as the ones listed above, are merit scholarships, though some do take into account a student’s financial need.

The best way to win merit scholarships, however, is not by applying to external scholarships. You’re much more likely to win more scholarship money by applying to lower-ranked schools where your profile is especially strong. 

Read the rules carefully.

An error can lead to your disqualification from a scholarship. Make sure you understand all the rules and submit all the necessary components. Be sure to submit them before the deadline as well!

Want access to expert college guidance? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.

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High School Scholarships for Future Leaders

Figuring out how to pay for college can be daunting, especially for high school students with big dreams and limited resources. The good news is that many scholarships are available for students who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential, academic achievement, and a commitment to their communities.

While we can’t capture every option here, let us narrow your high school scholarship search with some of the top choices tailored for future leaders like you.

Scholarships from NSHSS

James W. Lewis High School Global Leader Scholarship

The James W. Lewis High School Global Leader Scholarship is a prestigious annual award granted to an outstanding National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) member. This scholarship recognizes individuals who have shown remarkable leadership qualities through their academic performance, involvement in extracurricular activities, and service to their communities. Recipients of this scholarship not only demonstrate academic excellence but also possess the vision and drive to make a positive impact on a global scale.

This scholarship awards five students $5,000 each.

Future Educators Scholarship

The Future Educators Scholarship celebrates the passion for teaching and commitment to education among NSHSS members. Applicants are evaluated based on academic excellence, extracurricular leadership, and dedication to community service, emphasizing their interest in education. This scholarship recognizes potential educators and invests in the future of education.

This scholarship awards five students $1,000 each.

Activism and Advocacy Scholarship

The Activism and Advocacy Scholarship honors NSHSS members who are dedicated to making a positive impact in the world. Candidates are assessed for their leadership in social justice initiatives, community activism, and advocacy efforts. This scholarship acknowledges the power of passion and purpose in driving meaningful change and amplifying voices for a better tomorrow.

STEAM Scholarship (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math)

The NSHSS STEAM Scholarship celebrates NSHSS members who excel in traditional STEM fields and the Arts. Applicants are evaluated based on academic achievement, participation in relevant extracurricular activities, and demonstrated interest in pursuing a career path that integrates their STEAM skills. This scholarship recognizes the interdisciplinary nature of learning and supports students in leveraging their diverse talents for future success.

The STEAM scholarship awards ten students $1,000 each.

Innovation in Technology Scholarship

The NSHSS Innovation in Technology Scholarship is dedicated to NSHSS members who showcase a passion for technological innovation. Ideal candidates demonstrate creativity and problem-solving through projects or initiatives leveraging technology to address real-world challenges. This scholarship encourages students to think outside the box and harness the power of innovation to positively impact society.

This scholarship awards five students $2,000 each.

Research and Academic Paper Scholarship

The NSHSS Research and Academic Paper Scholarship recognizes members who excel in research and scholarly pursuits. Applicants are evaluated based on the quality of a submitted research paper or academic project, showcasing their critical thinking, analytical skills, and ability to contribute meaningfully to their chosen field of study. This scholarship supports students' academic endeavors and encourages intellectual curiosity and exploration.

A total of 50 students are awarded $250 each for this scholarship.

Diversity Scholarship

The NSHSS Diversity Scholarship celebrates NSHSS members who are dedicated to expanding diversity and inclusion initiatives within their schools or communities. Candidates demonstrate leadership in fostering a welcoming and equitable environment, promoting understanding, and celebrating differences. This scholarship recognizes the importance of diversity in creating vibrant and inclusive communities and supports students who champion these values.

This scholarship awards $2,000 to five high school students.

Community College or Trade School Scholarship

Recognizing the value of vocational education, the NSHSS Community College or Trade School Scholarship awards NSHSS members planning to attend a community college or trade school. Applicants showcase their chosen career path, relevant skills and experience, and commitment to contributing to their chosen field. This scholarship empowers students pursuing alternative educational pathways and supports their journey towards fulfilling and impactful careers.

Five students will be awarded $1,000 each.

Other Leadership Scholarships

The Horatio Alger National Scholarship

This esteemed scholarship program awards up to $25,000 in renewable scholarships to graduating high school juniors who exhibit financial need, a strong commitment to pursuing higher education, and resilience in overcoming personal challenges. The Horatio Alger National Scholarship recognizes academic excellence and values integrity and perseverance in the face of great obstacles.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship

 With a focus on academic excellence, leadership, and community service, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship awards $20,000 scholarships to 150 exceptional high school seniors each year. Recipients of this scholarship exemplify the values of leadership and service, embodying the spirit of making a difference in their communities.

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program

Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this substantial youth leadership program is dedicated to supporting outstanding minority students with exceptional academic achievement, leadership potential, and financial need. The Gates Millennium Scholars Program aims to empower future leaders from diverse backgrounds to pursue their educational and professional aspirations. The large funding pool means that each year, 5,000 students are awarded money in various amounts.

The Ron Brown Scholarship Program

The Ron Brown Scholarship Program awards four-year college scholarships to African American high school seniors, recognizing academic excellence, leadership potential, and a commitment to public service. The award is $40,000 over the course of a 4-year program for 45-50 students. This program provides financial assistance and nurtures the development of future leaders dedicated to creating positive change in society.

Tips for Scholarship Applications

No matter what scholarships you decide to pursue (and we think you should try for a lot!), here are some tips to ensure your applications give you the best chance.

Do Your Research: It's never too early to understand your options. If you're feeling overwhelmed, try a NSHSS webinar for information! 

Start Early: Begin your scholarship search as soon as possible to identify relevant opportunities and gather necessary materials.

Read Criteria Carefully: Thoroughly review each scholarship's eligibility requirements and criteria to ensure you meet all qualifications before applying.

Mind Deadlines: Mark application deadlines on your calendar and submit your materials well in advance to avoid last-minute stress.

Gather Documentation: Collect all required documents, such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, and essays, in advance and keep them organized.

Proofread: Before submitting your applications, carefully proofread all materials to ensure they are error-free and present you in the best possible light. It never hurts to have a friend, loved one, or teacher proofread for you too.

With these tips and your own achievements, the scholarship opportunities are endless.

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60 Senior Project Ideas for High School Students – 2024

May 13, 2024

Many high school students look forward to the exciting moment of choosing a senior project. This makes sense since senior projects provide opportunities for students to direct what they’ve learned into something they care about, and to take their academic interests beyond the classroom. At the same time, deciding what to pursue can be nerve-wracking. After all the anticipation, when it finally comes time to decide on a project, students might ask themselves, now what ? If you find yourself in this dilemma, or if you could just use some further inspiration, continue reading for a list of 60 senior project ideas for high school students. Once you find a senior project idea that catches your eye, you can always put your own spin on it, or use it to inspire projects on topics outside this list.

What is a senior project?

Put simply, a senior project is a semester-long project you take on in your final year of high school. So, what counts as a senior project? This can vary widely. While different schools have different requirements (for example, some high schools expect students to focus specifically on internship experiences), the assignments tend to be pretty flexible. In the senior project ideas listed below, you will find suggestions ranging from assisting a science researcher, to interning at a local museum, to organizing an academic tutoring program, to helping with community voter registration. The final outputs for senior projects may also vary in form, from guidebooks, to plays, to research papers, and apps.

Considerations when choosing a senior project

Because a senior project is often seen as the culmination of your high school experience, you should choose a topic that reflects your passions and interests. At the same time, it’s an opportunity to develop new skills and challenge yourself as you prepare for your next steps after graduation. Whether you have plans to begin a 4-year university program, enroll in a 2-year degree program , take a gap year , or start a new job, a senior project can prepare you with experience that you wouldn’t receive in your high school classes in an ordinary semester.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself when thinking of a senior project idea:

• What field or career do you wish to pursue? If you’re not sure, what are 2-3 fields that you could possibly see yourself pursuing at this point in your life?
• What world issues do you care most about? Climate change? LGBTQIA+ rights? Accessible healthcare? If thinking about a particular issue sparks a passion, this could be a great place to start.
• Based on your high school coursework experience, could you see yourself spending extra time on an artistic project? A science-based one? A research paper with a political theme?
• What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Volunteering with kids? Hiking and camping? Dancing? Cooking? Perhaps you can orient your senior project to something that you already know brings you joy.

60 senior project ideas

Below you can find 60 high school senior project ideas, divided into some general categories that might help you focus your search. As you read through, feel free to stick to these exact ideas or use them to inspire other ones.

Business – Senior Project Idea

• Write a printed or virtual guidebook to small local businesses in your area, including descriptions, photographs phone numbers and social media accounts.
• Help a local business with an advertising campaign, through local news outlets and social media.
• Develop a mentorship program to help those who are searching for jobs with resumes, interviews, and cover letters.
• Intern at a start-up based in your area.
• Write a research paper about models for sustainable businesses.
• Organize an after-school program that helps students learn financial literacy.

Community service

• Organize a ride service to bring elderly community members to and from doctor’s appointments, or to provide them with groceries and other needs.
• Volunteer at a local soup kitchen.
• Organize a food drive at your school.
• Create a social media campaign for a local animal shelter to raise awareness.
• Collaborate with a local charity or non-profit with a mission you believe in to organize a fundraiser.
• Collect school supplies and art supplies for families in need.

Creative writing – Senior Project Ideas

• Write and illustrate a children’s book.
• Create a handmade poetry book.
• Intern at a small local publisher or magazine.
• Work to translate a short story or poem to another language.
• Write a screenplay for a short film.
• Start a school literary magazine that accepts student submissions of poems, essays, and short stories. Organize a team so that the magazine can continue after you graduate.
• Organize a peer tutoring program at your school for students who need extra help with writing, languages, or math.
• Construct a free library box in your neighborhood so that more people have access to books.
• Volunteer at a local elementary school to help children with their homework after school.
• Work with a local senior center to teach a foreign language to residents.
• Develop a website or app for students to match with language partners for practicing conversation skills.
• Start a visual or performing arts class for children in your community.

Environmentalism- Senior Project Ideas

• Design and build a sustainable garden.
• Organize a community clean-up day, or a series of community clean-up days, at a local park or waterfront.
• Organize an Earth Day festival at your school. This could involve live music and performance, environmental art displays, local vegetarian food, and sustainable clothing swaps.
• Write a research paper on one thing that contributes to climate change, as well as potential solutions.
• Write a guidebook to local parks and hiking trails so that locals and visitors alike can appreciate these outdoor spots.
• Create a fashion line with all reused materials.
• Research historic sites in your neighborhood or town, and write a printed or online guidebook to these points of local history.
• Record a podcast on the history of one of your hobbies (fashion? sports?) Contact an expert on this history to ask if you can interview them on the podcast.
• Write a research paper on the history of a particular protest movement.
• Write and direct a short play with a contemporary take on a historical event that interests you.
• Create a documentary film on the history of your community (school, town, etc.), and organize a community screening.
• Intern at a local history museum.

Performing Arts – Senior Project Ideas

• Write and record an original song.
• Write, direct, and show a one-act play.
• Organize a community dance performance with student choreographers and performers, featuring a range of different styles.
• Volunteer to help with accessibility needs (theater access, live captioning, etc.) at a local theater.
• Organize a school comedy night or talent show that benefits a charity of your choice.
• Research the history of a film genre, and direct a short film that reflects this genre.
• Intern for a local political newspaper or magazine.
• Volunteer on the campaign of a local candidate.
• Create an online blog to write on a political issue you care about, or write a series of op-eds for a local newspaper.
• Write a research paper on a local problem (housing prices, green space, voting access) that discusses possible solutions to this problem.
• Create a Model UN or Mock Trial team at your school if one doesn’t already exist.
• Help teens and other community members register to vote.

Science and medicine – Senior Project Ideas

• Build a Rube Goldberg machine .
• Work in the lab of a STEM professor at a nearby university who works on a topic you’re interested in.
• Research a community health problem (drug safety, air/water quality, nutritional food access) and develop solutions with the help of local politicians and/or medical experts. Create a research paper, blog, or documentary film on your findings.
• Assist at a doctor’s office or hospital by helping to translate for patients who are non-native English speakers.
• Design an architectural structure (for example, a house or bridge) and build a 3D model.
• Organize a technology support group at your school to make technology more accessible and help with easy tech repairs.

Visual arts

• Design a mural for your school to highlight an aspect of the school culture or commemorate an important moment in its history.
• Intern at a local art museum and learn how to give a tour of its current exhibits.
• Organize the collaborative building of a sculpture at your school made of all reused or found objects.
• Offer to take wedding or senior photographs for those who might not be able to afford a professional photographer.
• Study a famous painter, and then create a series of paintings (or art of another medium) based on, or in response to, their works.
• Create a school-wide photography exhibition, with a theme of your choosing.

Senior Project Ideas – Final thoughts

We hope that this list has sparked inspiration for your high school senior project. Remember that while senior projects are important (and hopefully fun) opportunities to culminate your high school experience, you don’t need to do it all in one project! If you’re inspired by more than one of these project ideas, hold onto them for years to come or pursue them as summer internships .

If you’re interested in more project ideas for high school students, we recommend the following articles:

• 100 Examples of Community Service Projects
• 98 Passion Project Ideas
• 100 Best Clubs to Start in High School
• Persuasive Speech Topics
• High School Success

Sarah Mininsohn

With a BA from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah is a writer, educator, and artist. She served as a graduate instructor at the University of Illinois, a tutor at St Peter’s School in Philadelphia, and an academic writing tutor and thesis mentor at Wesleyan’s Writing Workshop.

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Three high school students receive scholarships from Kansas Department of Insurance

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Three high school students received scholarships for a financial literacy essay contest from the Kansas Department of Insurance.

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced on Thursday, May 9, the overall winner of the financial literacy essay contest sponsored by the Securities Division of the Kansas Department of Insurance.

According to the Kansas Department of Insurance , earlier this year, the Department granted $10,000 each to three organizations for a financial literacy essay contest. Jobs for America’s Graduates Kansas (JAG-K), Junior Achievement of Kansas and the Kansas Council for Economic Education each entered a selection of essays from Kansas students who participated in their financial literacy programs offered in over 200 high schools across Kansas. The students with the top three essays from each organization were awarded a share of $10,000 in scholarships. The first-place essay from each organization then advanced to compete for an overall contest winner and a share of an additional $10,000.

The contest finalists and their awards are:

• 1st Place: $5000 – Morgan Allen, (Kansas Council for Economic Education), Centralia High School
• 2nd Place: $3000 – Maggie Lesmeister, (Junior Achievement of Kansas), Seaman High School
• 3rd Place: $2,000 – Steven Nguyen, (Jobs for America’s Graduates Kansas), Wichita Southeast High School

“This year’s winners demonstrated the ability to make an investment plan that builds upon their personal goals while evaluating risk and the threat of fraud,” said Schmidt. “Congratulations to all the winners this year, and I encourage them to apply their financial knowledge as they further their education.”

Kansas Department of Insurance said the winning students receive their scholarships in addition to the $5,000 scholarship they won in the first round of the contest. The students receive the award money in the form of a 529 savings account to use for the advancement of their education.

Kansas Department of Insurance previously announced winners from each participating organization can be found online at insurance.kansas.gov/news . For more information about the Kansas Insurance Department or to learn more about making smart investment decisions, visit insurance.kansas.gov and SmartInvestKS.com .

Copyright 2024 WIBW. All rights reserved.

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High school senior accepted into 231 schools, awarded $14.7 million in scholarships

Madison Crowell always knew she wanted to go to college.

The 18-year-old from Hinesville, Georgia, will fulfill that dream this fall when she heads off to High Point University in High Point, North Carolina, where she will attend under a full tuition scholarship.

But what makes Crowell's story extraordinary isn't just that she's going to college but that she had applied to hundreds of schools and was accepted into 231 of them and awarded $14.7 million in scholarships to help fund her longtime dream, according to High Point University .

"I wanted to apply to as many schools as I did … because I'm coming from a low-income area of Georgia and so I want to show the kids here in Liberty County that it's possible to get accepted into not only just local schools like Georgia Southern [University] and Savannah [Technical College], but that you can get accepted into schools like the University of Alabama and University of Colorado and [schools] that you think might be out of your reach but is definitely in reach," Crowell, senior at Libery County High School, also in Hinesville, told "Good Morning America."

In a statement , High Point University President Dr. Nido Qubein, celebrated Crowell and her decision to attend the university.

"We welcome you to our HPU family. You're going to do exceptional things right here at The Premier Life Skills University, where we call everybody to be extraordinary," Qubein said. "The sky is not the limit … and when you come here to High Point University, we know you'll be a leader. We know you'll make amazing things happen. We're here to resource her, cheer you on and celebrate you victory."

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MORE: Mississippi high school student receives over $1.4 million in college scholarships

Crowell said she and her parents – dad Sgt. 1st Class Delando Langley and mom Melissa Langley – have been preparing for her to go to college ever since she was a young girl but when she was in middle school, their preparations kicked into high gear and they would periodically take road trips and go on college tours whenever they could. She also said she made a commitment to herself, knowing that she wanted to pursue a career in the medical field and major in exercise science, that she would work toward her goal of going to college.

Although she has received so many acceptances and been awarded more scholarships than she initially expected, Crowell also said she knows what it feels like to not receive an immediate yes.

"I know what it's like to be deferred from a dream school and you don't know if you're gonna get the chance to apply again or you're not going to be accepted again," Crowell said, adding that she wasn't accepted into other top schools.

Now, as Crowell gets ready to say goodbye to her high school career and prepare for her next chapter in college, the aspiring physical therapist is sharing her top three tips for the next generation of high school students coming up behind her.

Madison's 3 tips for high school students

"Number one is always prioritize yourself," Crowell said. "Don't make this application process more stressful than it needs to be so always take time for yourself, whether that be self care, hanging out with your friends and family, or playing with your dog, whatever the case may be. Always take time to do things that you enjoy so that you're not getting burnt out."

MORE: Teen who went viral after college acceptance learns he earned a four-year scholarship

Crowell's next strategy is one she implemented with her mom while applying to both colleges and multiple scholarships. The mother-daughter duo would use a shared digital spreadsheet to keep track of Crowell's applications and the contact information for each of the schools and scholarships she was considering so it would be a one-stop resource that was easy to refer to.

"The second thing is to stay organized," Crowell said. "Staying organized is something different to everybody else so [make] sure that you find something that works for you and your family."

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For her final tip, Crowell recommends students stay positive throughout the process, even if it grows larger than expected.

"The third thing is just to always keep a positive sight on these things because it can get a little overwhelming," she said. "That also just goes hand in hand with making sure that you're keeping yourself sane and having outlets to release some energy."

"At the end of the day, I'm just another student," Crowell added. "We're about to graduate, some of us with uncertain futures. And I just want to make it known that nothing is impossible and that the sky is not the limit and that you want to keep pushing for greatness."

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Rochester high school senior awarded scholarship

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A character-based scholarship was presented to a local high school senior preparing for college Friday.

School leaders tell News 8 Anthony Diaz, a three sport athlete and senior at World of Inquiry School No. 58, was awarded the scholarship by Bob Johnson Automotive Group and Primetime 585.

An accomplished athlete, scholarship organizers say Diaz is headed to West Point in the fall and plans on using the money for college expenses.

“This is just one stepping stone to something bigger in life that I want to do when hopefully I make it big to the leagues,” Diaz said. “I just want to do things to make the community of Rochester better.”

The $500 scholarship is given each month. There are over 700 student athlete applicants in the running.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.