scholarships without essays for high school seniors

The Best No-Essay Scholarships to Apply for in 2024

"Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship

Powering The Future - Whiddon Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility criteria:.

• Field of Study : STEM
• Education Level : High school, undergraduate, or graduate student
• Background : Financial need

“I Matter” Scholarship

• Education Level : High school student
• Background : Low-income and/or BIPOC

Cody Cochlin Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : Undergraduate student
• Financial Status : Low-income
• Athletics : Rollerblading, rollerskating, snowboarding and/or skateboarding

Betty and Louie Dicks SCSU Scholarship

• School : South Carolina State University
• Gender : Male
• GPA : 2.75 or higher

Hispanic Achievement Scholarship

• Education Level : High school senior
• GPA : 3.0 or higher
• State : New York
• Identity : Hispanic
• Background : First-generation college student
• Citizenship Status : U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA recipient

“Equal Opportunity” Scholarship

500 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

Conscious Consumer Scholarship

1000 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

Catholic Colleges No-Essay Scholarship

Bold.org No-Essay Community Scholarship

Appily Adult Learners Scholarship

100 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

ScholarshipOwl No-Essay Scholarship

GIST Sports Media No-Essay Scholarship

Survey Rewards No-Essay Scholarship

Christian Colleges No-Essay Scholarship

CollegeXpress No-Essay Scholarship

The GIST Women’s Sports Business Scholarship

Audrey Claire Todd Memorial Scholarship

• High school attended : Castle View High School

Bold.org No-Essay Top Friend Scholarship

WayUp Dream Job No-Essay Scholarship

• Graduation Year : Between 2020 and 2026

CapCut Meme Master Scholarship

300 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

200 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

400 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

Nitro Pay For College No-Essay Scholarship

Survey Junkie Brand Influencer No-Essay Scholarship

Best Catholic Colleges No-Essay Scholarship

About no-essay scholarships.

As an increasing num ber of students enroll in college, student loan debt is reaching unprecedented levels, nearing $1.6 trillion in the United States. Cumulative student debt is now greater than the amount of credit card debt that Americans have, and it is expected to continue growing. 

By the end of 2021, total student loan debt is expected to grow b y $2 trillion as rising college costs continue to outpace inflation. In 2018, tuition at four- year public colleges was twice the amount that it had been in 1988, and financial aid isn't enough for most students.

To make matters worse, federal grants no longer go as far as they used to, with Pell Grants now covering just 29% of the tuition, room, and board costs of a four-year public college, as compared to 79% in 19 75.

For many undergraduate and graduate students, the high price of tuition combined with housing, books, and other college expenses make it impossible to complete their college education without taking out loans. 69% of students who graduated college in 2018 had to take out loans, with the average graduate owing nearly $30,000. 

Scholarships are a great way for high school, college, or graduate school students to reduce their need for student loans. Even though college scholarships are helpful, the process of searching and applying for the right scholarship opportunities can be stressful, especially when students have other responsibilities such as homework, extracurricular activities, and professional work to worry about. 

No-essay, easy scholarships are incredibly useful opportunities for college students who are searching for easy and fast applications and for high school students planning ahead for their college expenses. While you should also consider applying to scholarships with essay requirements to increase your chances of winning, no-essay scholarships on bold.org are a great, quick way to begin your scholarship search, all while still putting your best foot forward.

To help you on your scholarship journey, we’ve created this list of our top no-essay scholarships available for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students on bold.org. You can apply by clicking on any of the scholarships above!

This list is a great place to start your scholarship search, but you can find even more exclusive scholarships on bold.org .

Sign up here and apply to your first scholarship right now.

Why no-essay scholarships?

There is a wide variety of no-essay scholarships available to students across all levels of education. Some no-essay scholarships require creative application materials, however, applying for many no-essay scholarships is as easy as making a few clicks.

No-essay scholarships are easy scholarships that busy students can take advantage of. Since no-essay scholarships are easy scholarships to apply to and not as time-consuming as essay scholarships, you can apply to many no-essay scholarships, making it more likely that you will win some free money towards your mounting college expenses.

What are no-essay scholarships?

No-essay scholarships are any scholarships that don't require an essay to apply! Some no-essay scholarships require alternative application materials, such as a video, picture, or other creative project, while others have no application requirements at all.

What qualifies as a no-essay scholarship?

On Bold.org, you can find a wide variety of scholarship opportunities to help reduce your college costs. No-essay scholarships are particularly easy to apply for and are determined by the following qualifications.

No essay needed

As you can probably guess, no-essay scholarships stand out due to not requiring an essay in order to apply. These simple scholarships seek to make the application process as easy as possible so high school and college students can pursue higher education.

Open eligibility

Many no-essay scholarships have broad eligibility requirements, such as being open to all students, regardless of your field of study. Other scholarships are open to all high school students or all college students, so you should be able to find plenty of scholarships that you're eligible for.

Quick and simple application

No-essay scholarships are also known for being some of the easiest to apply for since you don't need to spend the time and effort necessary to write an essay. Since no-essay scholarships are so effortless to apply for, you can apply for many scholarships with ease!

You can check out more easy to apply for scholarships here.

Types of no-essay scholarships available

Many no-essay scholarships require just a few clicks to apply, with no application materials needed. Other no-essay scholarships include creative scholarships that ask for videos, photographs, or other forms of media to apply.

How to find no-essay scholarships to apply for

You can start finding no-essay scholarships by creating your free account on Bold.org, a scholarship provider dedicated to making college accessible for all students. Bold.org will match scholarships directly to you, and you can even search by category to find scholarships related to your interests, characteristics, and field of study. 

Additionally, you can filter scholarships by your level of education, allowing you to find scholarship opportunities whether you’re in high school, college, or even graduate school. 

When to start applying for no-essay scholarships

You can start applying for scholarships at any point in high school, but many students start the scholarship search as high school juniors or seniors. If you're already in college and just starting to look for scholarships, don't worry! There are plenty of scholarships that don't require essays available for undergraduate and graduate students. Start applying now so you can win as many scholarships as possible.

What to consider when applying for scholarships

Getting an easy scholarship with no essay required is a great way to fund your tuition. However, keep in mind that no-essay scholarships often don't allow for the personal touch of a written essay, so winning scholarships can feel like a random drawing. Luckily, there are several things you can do to increase your chances of winning a scholarship award. Keep reading for our tips on winning no-essay scholarships.

How to apply for no-essay scholarships

Once you've created your Bold.org account, go to the scholarship page to find hundreds of scholarships exclusively available on Bold.org. Then, you can either browse through all of the scholarship opportunities or you can filter the scholarship list by education level or by category to find the best-fitting scholarships for you. You can even choose to only display no-essay scholarships to find our top easy scholarships.

Each scholarship will have eligibility requirements, deadlines, and the award date included in the description. Some no-essay scholarships will require you to submit a link or complete a task, but for many no-essay scholarships, applying is often as easy as just clicking apply!

Who can apply for no-essay scholarships

No matter what level of education you're in, Bold.org has no-essay scholarship opportunities for you. Many scholarships are even open to high school students, so don't wait to apply!

High school students

You can start applying for scholarships on Bold.org as early as your freshman year of high school. Some scholarships are open to high school students of all grades, but there are some exclusively for high school seniors.

College students

Many no-essay scholarships seek to help college students complete their degrees by easing the burden of tuition. Whether you're a current or incoming student, a graduate student, or even a trade school student, there are no-essay, easy scholarships for you on Bold.org.

Tips for winning no-essay scholarships

Seek out more restrictive scholarships.

Scholarships with less broad eligibility will have fewer applicants as a result, increasing your chances of winning one. On Bold.org, you can even filter by category to find scholarships relating to your field of study, hobbies, or identity.

Apply early and often

An additional way to increase your chances of winning a no-essay scholarship is to apply as early as possible. You can check your notifications to find out about the newest scholarships added to the site. Applying for multiple scholarships can also make you more likely to win, so apply for as many as possible to maximize your chances.

Make your profile unique

Since no-essay scholarships don't give you the chance to show off your personality with creative writing, making your Bold.org profile as complete and unique as possible can help you stand out and make the most of your one entry. You can demonstrate your personality by adding personal information to your profile, such as your passions and goals for the future.

Frequently asked questions about no-essay scholarships

Are no-essay scholarships legit.

Due to the ease of no-essay scholarships, they can seem too good to be true and you may worry about scholarship scams. Luckily, no-essay scholarships on Bold.org are all legit! Just make your free account and start funding your college tuition.

How can I improve my chances of winning no-essay scholarships?

Although no-essay scholarships can be some of the easiest scholarships to apply for, it can feel impossible to make yourself stand out from the other students. To increase your chance of winning more scholarships, try applying for scholarships with limited eligibility, such as scholarships for high school juniors or scholarships with minimum GPA requirements.

How many no-essay scholarships can you get?

There is no limit to the number of scholarships you can win on Bold.org. Since no-essay scholarships typically take just a few minutes to apply for, you can apply for many so you can win as much money as possible.

Are no-essay scholarships taxable income?

No-essay scholarships aren't just easy to apply for, they're easy to use too since scholarship money from Bold.org does not count as taxable income. If you win a scholarship, you will be contacted directly and the money will be sent to your current or future college.

How many people apply to no-essay scholarships?

Due to the ease of no-essay scholarship applications, many students apply. So, be sure to apply for as many as possible so you can maximize your chances of winning one. Also, make sure to utilize our no-essay application tips so you can stand out from other applicants and boost your odds of winning.

Are there GPA requirements for no-essay scholarships?

While every scholarship has specific eligibility requirements, most no-essay scholarships do not have GPA requirements.

For example, all of the above scholarships are open to students regardless of GPA, and you can find even more scholarships without GPA requirements on Bold.org.

Can only college students apply for scholarships?

Some scholarships are only available to undergraduate or graduate students, but many are also open to high school students. Some scholarships on Bold.org, such as the College Xpress No-Essay Scholarship , are exclusively open to high school students.

High school is a great time to get ahead on finding scholarships for your college education, but don’t worry if you’re just starting your search in college - there are plenty of scholarships to apply to!

Why has student loan debt increased?

The student loan crisis has spiked in recent years, i ncreasing by 107% since 2008. A factor that has contributed to this increase is the rising tuition rates that wages have not kept up with. The average cost of a Bachelor’s degree has increased by 25% since the 2008 recession.

 In decades prior, it was feasible for students to pay their tuition simply by working, reducing the need for loans. Today, around 70% of full-time college students work, yet 69% of first-year college students in 2019 took out student loans, showing that working doesn't provide enough income for most students to pay for college out of pocket.

On average, people with loans owe nearly $33,000 each, and most owe between $20,000 to $40,000. However, many borrowers owe significantly more than this, with over 3 million people owing more than $100,000, including 800,000 borrowers who owe over $200,000.

Is student loan debt equally distributed?

Average student loans across demographics reflect both racial and gender-based gaps. The average white borrower owes roughly $30,000 as compared to Black borrowers who owe around $34,000 on average. White borrowers also repay loans at more than twice the rate than that of Black borrowers. This difference in the amount of loan debt perpetuates the racial wealth gap, making it easier for white students to repay loans and begin saving post-graduation.

In addition to the racial gap in student loans, there is a prominent gender gap that disadvantages women. While there are currently more women enrolled in colleges than men, making up around 56% of college students, women hold a disproportionate amount of student debt.

As a group, women hold about two-thirds of the national student loans, which equals nearly $929 billion. Since women also tend to make less money than men after graduation, this unequal amount of debt is even harder to pay off.

Due to the discrepancies in student debt distribution, there are many scholarships available exclusively for students from disadvantaged groups. The list above includes scholarships for racial minorities, first-generation students, women, and other underserved groups, and you can find even more scholarships on Bold.org.

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. 

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 $10,000 scholarship.

Award Amount:  $10,000

Scholarship Deadline:  Monthly

Details: The Niche $10,000 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

Award Amount:  $25,000

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.

Fountainhead Essay Contest

Award Amount: $500 - $1,000

Scholarship Deadline : April 29

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

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.

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.

Best 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 

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! 

$2,000 No Essay Scholarship

Help cover the cost of college without writing a single essay!

Niche is giving one student $2,000 to put toward tuition, housing, books or other college expenses — no essay required.

Apply below for your chance to win so you can focus on your education, not your finances. Good luck!

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By proceeding you acknowledge and agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and  Scholarship Rules .

Who Can Apply

All high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year. Please note: Not everyone is eligible for this scholarship. Niche sponsored scholarships and sweepstakes are for people with US citizenship or a valid Visa/US passport only. Read the scholarship rules for full eligibility requirements.

How It Works

The $2,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is an easy scholarship with no essay required! Only one entry allowed per person. The winner will be determined by random drawing and then contacted directly and announced in Niche's email newsletter and on the Scholarship Winners page.

About Niche scholarships

We believe cost shouldn’t keep anyone from pursuing a higher education, so we connect students with thousands of scholarships — many of which don’t require an essay — to help them afford college. In 2023 alone, we offered over $285,000 in Niche scholarships. Read more about Niche scholarships here or visit our FAQs .

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

30 Best Scholarships for High School Seniors in 2023

What’s covered:, overview of scholarships, 30 best scholarships for high school seniors, tips for applying for scholarships.

The final two years of high school are filled with classes, activities, and friends. It’s also time to think about post-graduation and college. As you look at different colleges, you need to consider how you are going to pay for your education. It’s important to think realistically about what your school will offer in financial aid and how you will pay for your share of the cost. 

The difference between scholarships and loans is huge. Scholarships don’t require repayment and loans must be repaid, with interest. Sometimes, student loans are unavoidable. However, you want to ensure that you minimize the amount of student loan debt that you take on.  

Start your scholarship search early in your high school career. Create a calendar with deadlines for each scholarship that you will apply for. Add notes for the different requirements for each application, such as an essay, your latest transcript, or financial information. Some scholarships are available for you in your junior year and many deadlines will land in the summer before your senior year.  

There are scholarships based on merit and academic performance. Others are most interested in meeting financial needs. Some organizations are looking to support students who are interested in certain fields of study. Others are open to students from the same community or geographic region. Check with your high school guidance office as they will have information on opportunities that are unique to your school or community. Your employer may also have a scholarship program. Starbucks, Burger King, and McDonald’s are just a few businesses that support their employees in this way. There’s almost certainly something for every student.

Now, let’s get into some amazing scholarship opportunities.

General Opportunities

1. equitable excellence scholarship.

Amount: $2,500-5,000 (plus a $500 donation to the high school of winners)

Deadline: N/A

Eligibility:  

• High school seniors who demonstrate positive qualities such as courage and determination shown in community volunteer work 
• U.S. citizen, legal resident, or current resident in the U.S., District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico 

Application Requirements: Transcript

The Equitable Excellence Scholarship is awarded to driven and determined students of high character, with recipients coming from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. In addition to a scholarship, recipients are also provided with development opportunities such as mentoring, networking, and skill-building programs. 

2. Live Más Scholarship – Taco Bell Foundation

Amount: Up to $25,000

Deadline: January 11 

• Employed in a restaurant position with Taco Bell
• On track to apply to a post-high school or post-secondary program (both two- and four-year programs are eligible)
• Have not previously won a Live Más Scholarship

Application Requirements: A two-minute video describing your passion 

The Live Más Scholarship selects winners a little differently than the traditional scholarship award winners. The Taco Bell Foundation is less concerned with academic and athletic excellence and more interested in finding passionate students who blaze their own paths, pursue their dreams, and inspire others. Students who have already been awarded a Live Más Scholarship can apply for a renewal.

3. Too Cool to Pay for School  

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: Last day of the months of March, June, September, and December

Eligibility: Full-time high school, college, or graduate students

Application Requirements: Short application form 

The Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship is Access Scholarships’ contribution to help four lucky students each year cover school-related expenses. The scholarship can be used to cover any education-related expenses, such as tuition, textbooks, housing, and other fees. This scholarship is super quick and easy to enter (no essay required!), making it a great opportunity to apply for each quarter. 

4. GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

Amount: Up to $40,000

• U.S. citizen
• A high school senior
• Demonstrated leadership, integrity, drive, and citizenship within the community, school, and workplace
• Planning on enrolling full-time in a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited four-year college or university

Application Requirements:

• Minimum 3.0 GPA 
• Personal statement 

Sponsored by General Electric (GE) and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, this scholarship is dedicated to honoring the legacy of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Awarded to skilled and successful students, the scholarship promotes principles important to its namesake: individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride. The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program is looking for students with demonstrated leadership, drive, and citizenship. 

See our blog post on GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program for more information.

5. VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship

Amount: Up to $35,000 

Deadline: October 31 

Eligibility:  

• 9th-12th grade students
• Enrolled in a public, private, or parochial school, or home study program in the U.S., its territories, or its possessions

Application Requirements: Three-five minute audio-essay

The VFW works to promote patriotism while investing in future generations, particularly “democracy-loving” high schoolers. Dating back to 1947, the Voice of Democracy Competition is an audio-essay program giving students the chance to express their thoughts through a recorded essay about democratic- and patriotic-themed principles. Essays are judged on three criteria: originality, content, and delivery. Applicants can win awards ranging from $1,000 to $35,000, making this an exciting scholarship opportunity.

6. Doodle 4 Google Competition

Amount: $30,000 for the student and $50,000 technology grant for their school

Deadline: March 7

• K-12 students
• U.S. citizen or legal resident 
• Enrolled in a U.S.-based school (including homeschool or a school in Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands)

Application Requirements: Unique doodle that includes the letters G-O-O-G-L-E

The Doodle 4 Google Competition gives applicants the opportunity to create one of the doodles that graces Google’s homepage every day. The competition’s themes change yearly (this year’s theme is to share what you appreciate the most) and the only requirement for them is that they must include the letters G-O-O-G-L-E. Applicants are encouraged to express themselves through whatever medium they desire—although if you create a 3D doodle, you’ll need to submit it in a 2D format. 

7. Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Amount: Up to $10,000 

Deadline: November 6

Eligibility: High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student (no citizenship requirements)

Application Requirements: Original essay between 800 and 1,600 words

Applicants for the Atlas Shrugged Essay contest are tasked with writing an essay about one of three provided topics on Ayn Rand’s novel, Atlas Shrugged . Judges of the contest are looking for clear, articulate writing; well-organized thoughts; and an exceptional grasp of the philosophy underlying Rand’s book. 

8. Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship

Amount: $10,000 (plus a $1,000 donation to the winner’s school)

Deadline: March 2

Eligibility: 

• 14 years of age or older
• High school, college, or university student enrolled in an academic program designed to conclude with a diploma or degree
• Legal resident of one of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico
• International students who have a student visa to attend school in the United States are considered legal residents and are also eligible

Application Requirements: Submit a design for the front of a greeting card

Express your artistic side for a chance to win a $10,000 award from the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship. Submit a photo, artwork, or computer graphic for use as the front of a greeting card that will both wow judges and win votes on the scholarship’s Facebook page for the chance to win this generous award. 

9. Tall Clubs International (TCI) Foundation Academic Scholarship  

Deadline: March 1

• Entering the first year of higher education 
• Meet height requirement: over 6′ 2″ for men and 5′ 10″ for women (in stocking feet) 
• Sponsorship from a TCI member club 
• Transcript 
• Essay between 550-650 words
• Two letters of recommendation 

This scholarship is aimed at students with their heads in the clouds, literally. Men must stand over 6′ 2″ and women 5′ 10″ in their stocking feet to qualify for the scholarship. In addition to meeting the height requirement, applicants must demonstrate merit in fields like academics, athletics, and community service to earn this award.

10. Niche $25,000 No Essay Scholarship

Amount: $25,000 

Deadline: March 29

Eligibility: High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student 

Application Requirements: Create a Niche account 

You can enter for a chance to get a $25,000 scholarship in just minutes without the need to write an essay—all you need to do is create a Niche account for your chance to win. 

Scholarships for Academic Merit

11. cameron impact scholarship.

Amount: Full tuition 

Deadline: September 8

• High school seniors 
• Demonstrated excellence in leadership, activities, and community service or civic affairs
• Planning on enrolling full-time at an accredited four-year college or university
• Minimum 3.7 GPA 
• Letters of recommendation

This scholarship is awarded to high school seniors who have demonstrated excellence in numerous pursuits—academics, extracurricular activities, and community service—with a desire to make a positive change in their communities and the world. Left intentionally broad, the scholarship welcomes students with the aspiration to make a positive impact in both the private and public sectors, and through any number of professional careers. A quarter of scholarships are allocated to students pursuing careers in education, nonprofits, government, and the military who have a goal of public service.

12. Coca-Cola Scholars Program

Amount : $20,000 

Eligibility:

• High school senior
• U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, asylee, Cuban-Haitian entrant, or Humanitarian Parole as defined by the U.S. Department of Education for Federal Financial Eligibility
• Planning to pursue a post-high school education
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Complete an eligibility quiz
• Must provide information on academic performance, leadership, and service

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship is awarded to exceptional students with a thirst for knowledge and a desire to make a difference in the world. Coca-Cola Scholars are high achievers and demonstrate leadership, service, and a commitment to change in their school and community. 

13. Davidson Fellows Scholarship

Amount: $10,000-$50,000

Deadline: February 15

• 18 years old or younger
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Created a significant piece of work
• Nominations from two individuals who are not family members
• Available to attend an in-person or virtual awards ceremony 

Davidson Fellows are gifted students who experts believe have the potential to make significant contributions to society. These students have completed a significant and meaningful piece of work in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, or “Outside the Box”. This can include the creative application of existing knowledge, a high-impact new idea, an innovative solution with a broad range of implications, or a remarkable performance, just to name a few examples. 

14. National Elks Foundation Most Valuable Student (MVS)

Amount: $4,000-$50,000

• Plan to be a full-time student pursuing a four-year degree at an accredited U.S. institution of higher learning

Applicants work through the ranks of local, district, and state levels to be considered for the MVS. The Foundation selects the top 500 students from these applications for the national semi-finalist competition. The top 20 students from the semi-final competition will participate in a Leadership Weekend with in-person interviews. The top two students (one male and one female) are awarded $50,000 scholarships. Runners-up receive $40,000 and $30,000 scholarships. The remaining 14 students receive $20,000. The additional 480 of the top 500 applicants earn a $4,000 scholarship.   

Opportunities for Students with Significant Financial Need

15. horatio alger association – targeted scholarships.

Amount: Up to $52,000

Deadline: Varies

• Critical financial need (defined as $55,000 or less gross adjusted household income)
• Demonstrated integrity and perseverance through overcoming adversity

Horatio Alger scholarships are awarded to promising young students from low-income families. These targeted scholarships are endowed by members of the Horatio Alger Association at several different universities and colleges. Some are also targeted to specific fields of study. 

16. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

Amount: Up to $55,000 per year

• Cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.5
• Demonstrated unmet financial need—applicants with a family annual gross income up to $95,000 are considered 
• JKCF uses the Common App (include JKCF as one of your “schools”)
• Common App asks for a recommendation from your school counselor and two teachers
• Several short essays
• Household financial information

The Cooke College Scholarship Program offers scholarships to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need. JKCF Scholars join a nationwide community with ongoing personal and professional support and development opportunities. Recipients can use their scholarship funds to cover tuition, living expenses, books, and required fees. 

17. Engebretson Foundation Scholarship

Amount: $5,000 per semester

• In need of financial assistance 
• Planning to attend a four-year college

Application Requirements: 

• Minimum 3.75 GPA and/or in the top 5% of graduating class
• Score of 28 or higher on the ACT 
• Teacher recommendation 

The Engebretson Foundation Scholarship is aimed at high-achieving, academically talented students with financial need. One winner is chosen annually to receive a $5,000 per semester scholarship. 

18. Dell Scholars Program

Amount: $20,000, a laptop, and $500 of textbook credits annually for four years 

• Enrolled in an approved college-readiness program, like College Possible or Upward Bound
• On track to graduate from high school in the coming academic year
• Demonstrated financial need 
• Pell-eligible

Application Requirements: Minimum 2.4 GPA

This program is for students with “grit, potential, and ambition” to strive for a college degree. Dell Scholars are also provided with wrap-around support for academic success, financial matters, and teletherapy professional counseling.

Opportunities for First-Generation Students 

19. colgate-palmolive haz la u educational grant program.

Amount: Up to $100,000

• Of Hispanic heritage (includes Spain, Brazil, Philippines)
• High school senior 
• Planning to enroll in an accredited institution of higher education 
• U.S. citizen, resident, or DACA-eligible
• 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale

This scholarship program is designed for Hispanic students who have maintained academic excellence throughout high school, participated in community service, and demonstrated leadership. Colgate-Palmolive offers this program in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation in support of higher education for Hispanics.

20. Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program

Amount: N/A

Deadline: March 18

• Planning to enroll in an accredited four-year higher education institution 
• Demonstrated financial need
• First-generation college student 
• Planning to study: Transportation Management, Math, Science, Engineering (any field), Architecture, Environmental Design, Pre-Med, Psychology, or Spanish Language/Literature
• Minimum 3.5 GPA
• Teacher/advisor letter of recommendation (optional, but highly recommended)

This scholarship seeks to support first-generation, underrepresented college students studying in select fields. The intent of the award is to help students who are passionate about pursuing higher education overcome barriers—like lack of resources and hardships encountered in their communities—and achieve successful futures.  

For more info, check out our list of first-gen scholarships . 

Opportunities for Students of Color

21. ron brown scholarship.

Amount: $40,000

• African American 
• Academically excellent  
• Community service participation 
• Two essays 

This scholarship program provides awards for academically gifted African Americans who are active within their communities. Applicants should have demonstrated an interest in public service, community engagement, business entrepreneurship, and global citizenship—the four pillars of the late Ronald H. Brown’s mission to uplift people of all races, cultures, and ethnicities. 

22. McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship

Amount: $5,000-$100,000

• U.S. resident or a DREAMer/DACA recipient
• Under 21 years old 
• Have at least one parent of Hispanic heritage
• Minimum 2.8 GPA
• Letter of recommendation 
• List of community service projects

This scholarship program provides 30 college-bound students of Hispanic heritage awards ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. Recipients are selected based on a variety of factors including academic achievement, community involvement, and financial need.

23. APIA (Asian Pacific Islander) Scholars

Amount: $2,500-$20,000

Deadline: January 19

• Asian or Pacific Islander ethnicity, heritage, or ancestry 
• Citizen, national, or permanent resident of the U.S
• Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are also eligible
• Planning to enroll or continue in an accredited undergraduate program in the U.S.
• Minimum 2.7 GPA

This scholarship is an excellent opportunity for students of Asian or Pacific Islander descent to receive valuable funds for college. APIA Scholars works to support underserved APIA students through their scholarships—a special focus is given to students who live at or below the poverty line, students who will be the first in their family to attend college, and students from backgrounds underrepresented in higher education. Strong applicants will have also demonstrated leadership and community service. 

24. Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars

Amount: Up to $35,000 over four years 

Deadline: January 11

• High school seniors
• U.S. citizen 
• Excellent academic performance 
• Plan on attending a four-year, accredited college or university in the U.S.
• Four essays 
• Standardized test scores
• Household information

The Jackie Robinson Foundation goes beyond sponsoring scholarships, to guide minority students through the process of higher education. JRF Scholars have access to many benefits, including networking and mentorship, internship and employment opportunities, an annual conference, and year-round programming. 

25. National Society of High School Scholars STEM Scholarship

Deadline: October 13

• Planning to pursue a degree in a STEM field
• List of STEM activities

The NSHSS STEM Scholarship provides support for students from groups underrepresented in STEM fields. The goal is to increase diversity in STEM-related professions through college and university education. Check out the other NSHSS scholarship opportunities for high school and post-secondary students.

26. Native American Education Undergraduate Scholarship–American Indian Education Fund

Amount: Up to $2,000

Deadline: April 4

• Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian
• All future undergraduate students in a two- or four-year college, university, vocational, or technical school are encouraged to apply
• Personal summary 
• Tribal enrollment card/documentation
• There is an essay of no more than four, double-spaced pages typed in 12-point font

The American Indian Education Fund believes that “education is one of the most important cornerstones of self-sufficiency and quality of life.” With that in mind, the AIEF works to end the cycle of poverty by providing scholarships, literacy programs, and school supplies to Native American students. A GPA between 2.0 and 3.5 is desirable—as is an ACT score of 14 or above—however, all current or future undergraduate students are encouraged to apply.

Opportunities for Student-Athletes

27. foot locker scholar athletes.

Amount: Up to $20,000 

Deadline: January 30

• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Legal Resident
• Entering an accredited four-year institution for an undergraduate degree
• Involved in high school sports, intramural sports, or community-based sports
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Two essays—one written and one video

Unlike most athletic scholarships, the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program is as likely to reward the student who kept team spirit high as it is the student who led the state in scoring. This scholarship honors athletes exhibiting excellence and leadership cultivated on the field and in the locker room to positively change the lives of others. 

28. Sara Scholarship

Amount: $2,000 per year—renewable for four years for a total of $8,000

Deadline: April 30 

• Female high school seniors 
• Active engagement with the sport of golf as a hobby, as a member of a team, working as a caddy, or at a golf course
• Minimum 3.3 GPA 
• Standard application
• Personal essay
• Student Aid Report (SAR)

Established in 2012, the Sara Scholarship was founded in memory of Sara Sheehan through the Henry & Sara Sheehan foundation. This scholarship grants awards to high-achieving female high school seniors who demonstrate financial need, excellence of character, a passion for golf, and a plan to pursue a college degree.

29. Lindsey Vonn Foundation Scholarships

Amount: $5,000

Deadline: March 31

• Ages 10 to 18 
• Passion and promise in a sport
• Essay about you and your sport (students are encouraged to create submissions that will stand out)

The Lindsey Vonn Foundation provides scholarships, programs, and mentorship in order to support future generations by helping them pursue their passion, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals. Applicants that are 200% below the Federal Poverty Line are prioritized. 

30. United States Tennis Association

Deadline: May 1

• High school seniors  
• Involved in community service or volunteering
• Participant in National Junior Tennis and Learning
• Two letters of recommendation
• Recent photo
• FAFSA student report

There are several endowed scholarships available through USTA and students are encouraged to apply to all those that they are eligible to receive.

31 (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 .

More work = fewer applicants

The more work applying for a scholarship is, the smaller the applicant pool will likely be. Scholarships involving video production, such as the Live Más Scholarship, or a well-thought-out essay, like the Dell Scholars Program, all demand a healthy amount of hard work which keeps the competition at bay. 

Apply to a mix of larger and smaller awards

All the above scholarships are relatively well-known, so they will still be incredibly competitive even if they involve a lot of work. Don’t limit yourself to applying for huge national awards—look for local groups who may have smaller awards, but also smaller pools of candidates.

Research past winners

Scholarship committees tend to have an idea of “what they’re looking for.” To present yourself in the best light, research past winners to get a better sense of what scholarship committees want to see. Most scholarship pages will have a section dedicated to past winners, what their application was like, and where they are now. If not, you can always Google the name of the scholarship and “past winners.”

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 10 easiest scholarships to apply for.

Financial Aid

Scholarships are awesome resources if you're checking out different ways to pay for college. It's free money after all—what's not to love?

As it turns out, most scholarship programs have application processes that aren't exactly lovable. Students generally have to submit a lot of information about themselves: transcripts, GPAs, test scores, resumes, community service activities, and so on. There might even be a few essays and grade requirements thrown in as well. You don't want to complain—because, again, free money—but these applications sure are tedious when you're working on college apps, high school courses, and financial aid applications all at the same time.

The following easy scholarships have application processes that are a bit more manageable. Some ask you to write short essays, while others don't require any essays at all! The awards might not be as large as some other scholarships out there, but when the application process is so easy, you really don't have much to lose. I'll start off with some words of warning before getting into the good stuff: essay and no-essay scholarships that are so easy to apply for, you might end up applying to all of them!

Caveat: If a Scholarship Seems Too Good to Be True ...

Unfortunately, there aren't too many legitimate "easy" scholarships out there. If a scholarship application sounds too good to be true, be cautious—you don't want to fall victim to a scholarship scam!

Here are some things to look out for:

• A scholarship application that asks for personal information that isn't relevant to the award: Many top scholarship programs ask for personal information (transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, and even financial information for need-based scholarships); however, this info is all relevant to candidate evaluation. If you're ever uncomfortable providing personal info for a scholarship program, dig deeper. Can you verify that the program is legitimate? Does it have its own website, or can you only find info about it through a third party? Try Googling "[award name] scam" to see whether anything suspicious pops up.
• A scholarship that asks you to make payments to enter or win: Scholarship programs are in the business of giving money to students, not taking it. A scholarship program is likely just a scam if the application asks you to make a payment—especially if it asks you to enter credit card information.

Now that we've got that out of the way, it's time to get to the good stuff: all the best easy essay and non-essay scholarships and how to win them!

Essay Scholarships

The scholarships in this section ask students to submit short essays with their applications. Even though you'll have to write an essay, the rest of the application (and the essay itself) should be easy and manageable for all these awards. In fact, most of these applications shouldn't take more than one to two hours to complete.

Bachus & Schanker, LLC Scholarship

This scholarship program is a bit different from most of the other awards included in this post—it's funded by a private law firm in Colorado. Students compete for a $2,000 award by writing an essay (at least 800 words) about the 7th Amendment and how it affects their lives. Scholarships are awarded twice a year, to be paid toward tuition for the upcoming semester.

• Eligibility: High school seniors who have been accepted to a four-year university and university students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Deadline:  July 30 (to win a scholarship for the fall semester) and November 30 (to win a scholarship for the spring semester)

Courage to Grow Scholarship

This $500 award is given out to one lucky student every month. To compete for the award, applicants must explain in 250 words why they think they deserve the scholarship, intended to support students who found “courage to forge ahead when sometimes it would be easier to give up.” Past recipients’ essays have discussed overcoming obstacles from bullying to breast cancer.

• Eligibility: US high school juniors and seniors and college students with a minimum 2.5 GPA
• Deadline: Last day of every month 

Odenza Marketing Group Scholarship

Odenza Marketing Group gives away two $500 scholarships each year, once in the spring and again in the fall. To compete for this award, applicants must like the Odenza Facebook page and write two short essays of about 500 words each. Each scholarship must have a clear thesis statement, offer supporting evidence in paragraph format, and be grammatically correct. In other words, these essays should follow the argumentative essay format you've learned in English class.

• Eligibility: Current high school students (US or Canadian citizens) aged 16-25 or students who have at least one year of college remaining. Applicants must also have a minimum 2.5 GPA.
• Deadline March 30 for spring, November 15 for fall

Some of these applications won't take you longer than a few minutes.

No-Essay Scholarships

When it comes to easy applications, you can't get much easier than the following scholarship programs. You'll still have to submit some information about yourself (and, in some instances, complete some brief activities or tasks), but you won't have to write any essays to qualify.

AFSA High School Scholarship

For this scholarship, all you need to do is complete an entry form and answer an eight-question quiz. Five $1 ,000 awards are given out each year. Winners are randomly selected by a computer-generated drawing. Your odds of winning are based on the total number of entries received. Essentially, it’s a scholarship raffle, and you get one ticket per “draw.”

• Eligibility: Current high school seniors (US citizens or legal residents)
• Deadline: June 30, 2023

Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship

This scholarship has one of the easiest applications out there: just fill out a few questions, and you're done! A $1,000 scholarship is awarded every three months. Winners are selected randomly.

• Eligibility: Current high school, college, and graduate students studying in the US
• Deadline: The last day of every March, June, September, and December

The Annual Haiku Society of America Haiku Award in honor of Harold G. Henderson

This scholarship program gives out three prizes of $200, $150, and $100 , but the application process is fun and easy. Students qualify by simply writing and submitting up to five original haikus. If you win, your haiku also gets published in an anthology and on the HSA website! Note: There is a small fee to apply, but the site is indeed reputable.

• Eligibility: All students in grades 7-12
• Deadline: Open June 1 - July 31

"No Essay" College Scholarship

This $2,000 award is given out monthly. To apply for this scholarship, submit an application that includes basic identifying information, your GPA, and your SAT/ACT scores. Winners are randomly selected, and you can submit a new application every month.

• Eligibility: High school students, adults heading back to school, current college students, and anyone else looking to attend college or graduate school within the next year

Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest

Do you have a creative side and an eye for fashion? Students can compete for the grand prize of $10,000 (one each for the dress and tux categories) by designing and wearing prom outfits made out of duct tape. Check out the website for fun pictures of past winners!

Eight $500 prizes are given to runners-up (four for dresses and four for tuxes).  Applicants can enter as individuals or as part of a couple. Submissions that get the most votes win prizes, so be sure to recruit your friends to vote for you!

• Eligibility: High school students in the US and Canada (excluding certain states and territories—refer to the official rules for details)
• Deadline: The submission window is generally open from March through June, and winners are announced in July. Check the website for exact dates. 

U.S. Bank Student Union Scholarship

Multiple awards are available through this scholarship. To qualify, you'll need to create an account and complete learning modules about financial education. The more modules you complete, the more money you're eligible to earn. 

One first prize winner and one second prize winner are randomly selected during each of two entry periods. Winners can receive up to $20,000 , depending on how many learning modules they complete 

• Eligibility: Current US undergraduate students
• Deadline: Spring and fall of each year. Check website for more details.

Because College is Expensive Scholarship

This $500 scholarship is awarded to one student four times a year (March, June, September, and December) .If you want to enter, all you have to do is fill out the form on the Cedar Lending website.

• Eligibility : High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; current college students; anyone else looking to attend college or grad school
• Deadline : March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st. One winner is selected by the 15th of each month. 

3 Tips for Winning Easy Scholarships

Just because a scholarship is easy to apply for, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy to win. Since these scholarship applications are so simple to complete, you'll probably have a lot of competition. Here are some strategies to help you submit your best applications possible:

#1: If you have to write an essay, you'll have a better shot at success if your views align with those of the organization awarding the scholarship. To prepare, do some research about the company or charity's mission statement. For instance, don't write an essay about how much you love fossil fuels if the scholarship is offered by an environmental organization! 

#2: Make sure your application is polished. You won't have the opportunity to make more than a first impression (remember, these apps are short and sweet!), so double-check for any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors.

#3: Last but not least, be sure that your application is complete and on time!

What's Next?

These scholarships are excellent options if you want to churn out as many applications as possible. As you might've noticed, though, the award amounts are a bit underwhelming (though keep in mind that several smaller awards can be just as helpful as one big award!). Larger scholarships and grants are often available through colleges directly and applying for financial aid using the FAFSA .

You'll have to spend more time on your applications if you're gunning for a top scholarship, but the payoff can be more than worth it. To learn more about some of the best scholarships out there, check out our guides to the top scholarships for high school juniors and seniors .

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Scholarships

Best Scholarships for High School Seniors – 2024 [With Application Tips]

Written by Medha Pandey

It is the final year of high school, so you are a step closer to becoming a college student. This year is crucial as you prepare for college-level courses. You might feel excited and anxious at the same time. 

Along with the demanding syllabus of college, comes the steep difference in the cost of education. However, securing academic scholarships can be a practical approach to meet the educational cost of college up to a certain extent. There are four major types of scholarships that you, as a High School senior can apply for:

• Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on academic achievements.  
• Essay-writing scholarships are awarded to students demonstrating unique views and ideas on a topic through impressive essays. 
• Athletic scholarships are for students excelling in sports. 
• Art or creative scholarships are for students with exceptional talent in visual arts, music, dance, theater, or creative writing. 

In this article, we will list the best scholarships for high school seniors and provide helpful tips for applying.

Why are scholarships important for High School seniors?

Scholarships mainly provide financial aid to help high school students achieve their academic goals stress-free. The two major ways scholarships help High School seniors are:

• Scholarships provide Financial-aid

Upon reaching high school students might go through some mixed feelings. Students at this stage prepare themselves for college. Some students might have also decided about the colleges they want to be in, but the families can’t afford the finances for college, and for those students, full-ride scholarships come across like a magic wand. They cover their entire college degree expenses from books to food.

The scholarships with a financial aid program for students to help pay for their college degree expenses, either fully or partially. 

Many scholarships come with prize-money rewards that help the students meet their educational need expenses at the moment.

• Scholarships encourage students to develop professional skills

Specific scholarships also fund academic research, educational travel, and internships for students. This encourages the students to follow their field of study passionately with money being the least of their worries. Getting hands-on experience in their fields develops professional skills in the students. 

Best merit-based scholarships for High School seniors

A student can get a scholarship based on merit from his/her school directly. Or they can search for merit-based scholarships at colleges or universities from online resources based on their skills and field of interest. 

Here’s a list of top merit scholarships for high school students: 

1. QuestBridge Match Scholarship  

Award amount .

A full 4-year scholarship will be provided with a scholarship of $200,000.

Eligibility 

• You should be a high school student. 
• Eligibility depends on your academic results. The test scores, writing ability, and class rank regarding financial need are considered.  

Deadline 

Last week of September.

Click to Apply

2. The Burger King Scholars Program                              

Award amount.

$1000 to $60000.   

 Eligibility 

• You must be a citizen of the U.S. or a Canadian citizen living in the U.S. 
• The students must acquire a minimum GPA of 2.0 to qualify for a scholarship. Other skills, community services, and work experience are also considered.  

 Deadline

 Mid-December

3. The Gates Scholarship          

Full cost of attendance that includes tuition fee, transportation, and more.  

• An American Indian, African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, or Pacific Islander American with a minimum of 3.3 GPA can enroll. 
• A high school student getting in the top 10% of the graduating class is eligible for the scholarship.  

15th September.

4. The Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship              

• The award of $1,000-$4,000 is given to the student per year in his full college career.
• Weekend interviews are set for students who can participate and win a chance to get an award of $5,000 to $12,500 per year.
• You must be a U.S. citizen. Apply with financial information and an essay. 
• You are qualified based on academic achievements, financial needs, community services, and leadership skills.

15th November.

Click To Apply

5. The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship  

Amount award.

A scholarship of $10,000 is given for an additional 3 years. (total $40,000).

• Must be a U.S citizen with a 3.0 GPA. 
• Must also have leadership qualities. 
• Must be committed to civic engagement.
• Must be in high school, graduating in 2024.

Early January. Click to Apply

6. Davidson Institution Fellows Scholarships

$10,000,$25,000, and $50,000 are awarded to students who have performed well and accomplished a good piece of work. 

• You must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. 
• No minimum age eligibility is required. 
• The application process must be nominated by at least 2 people.

14th February Click to Apply

7. The Carson Scholars Fund

The Carson Scholars award an amount of $1,000.

• A minimum 3.75 GPA is required for eligibility. 
• Direct application is not available for this scholarship. A student must be nominated by the educator from your school. The overall process is provided here . 

12th January 2024

❓Feeling clueless about your target GPA? Read: How to calculate GPA ?

8. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship

 award amount.

 A $ 7,500 scholarship is awarded to college students and juniors. 

• You must be a U.S. citizen with a minimum of 3.0 GPA. 
• Your goal must be to graduate in mathematics, natural sciences, or engineering. A
•  Goldwater Campus representative must nominate you for the scholarship. 
• You also have to submit transcripts and recommendation letters with research essays. 

The last Friday of January each year is the deadline for application.

9. Cameron Impact Scholarship

A merit scholarship of 4 years is awarded to the student. It covers full tuition fees, fees, and books of the college or universities they are studying in.

• A minimum of 3.7 GPA is required. 
• You must have qualities to have an impact on the global community. You must have a positive impact in and after college.

Applications start from 1st February 2024 for 2025 classes.

10.  The Equitable Excellence Scholarship

This merit-based scholarship program has replaced the AXA Achievement Scholarship.

Amount Award

• The authorized distribution for new awards is up to $750,000, with 100 renewable awards of $5,000 each. 
• 100 one-time awards of $2,500 each. 
• The top 100 applicants receive renewable awards for up to four years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned. 
• The next 100 applicants receive non-renewable awards. 
• A $500 gift card will be provided to each recipient’s teacher of choice.
• High School seniors in the 50 US states, DC, or Puerto Rico are encouraged to enroll in an accredited college or university for the upcoming academic year. 
• They must demonstrate ambition and self-drive, provide a release to publicize their achievements, and have a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. 
• They must also provide photographs for program promotion and information.

Click To Apply  

🏆Achieving academic excellence? Navigate the Best Merit-based scholarships for more options.

💡Need to improve your GPA to secure the best merit-based scholarship? Read: How to improve your GPA?

Best essay-writing scholarships for High School seniors

Essay writing contests or scholarships award writers through financial aid as well as publication. Writing scholarships recognize your work and provide a platform for future writing. Winners’ names are exposed to judges and can be used as publishing credit. Here are the top essay-writing scholarships for high school seniors:

1. Scholastic Art &Writing Awards

Up to $12500

Eligibility

Students of middle school and high school from grades 7 to 12 can enter this competition. There are 28 different categories of art and writing to get yourself enrolled in.

Between December and January depending on your region.

Click to Apply  

2. Wiingy Future STEM Leaders Scholarship

• Scholarship Amount of up to $1200. 
• Publication of the winner’s essay and bio on their official site.
• Even if your essay didn’t make the winning list, Wiingy features its choicest essays on its official page!
• Applicants must be currently enrolled as a school or college student in a recognized institution.
• Applicants must be majoring in or intending to major in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subject.
• Must be able to submit an essay of 400-600 words on a given topic.

Starting from Oct 2023 till Mar 2024, Wingy will select one student each month for Wiingy’s Future STEM Leaders Scholarship. The deadline is the 31st of every month.

3. Bennington Young Writers Awards

• Scholarship Amount of up to $1000.
• Second place wins $500. 
• The third-place winner gets $250.
• Also, students are eligible for scholarships at Bennington College.
• Each year students from 9 to 12 grade participate in any one category of poems, non-fiction, or fiction. There is no entry fee.
• Both U.S. and international students are invited.

             See eligibility details

Deadline details

4. Youth Scholarships- Patriot’s Pen

• $500 is the prize for a winner who comes first at the state level. 
• $5000 for the winner at the national level.
• Get published as the winner of the session you participate in.
• It is open to students in grades 9-12.
• Middle and high school students can participate in this essay writing competition.
• Not necessarily have to be a U.S. citizen but a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

             See eligibility details  

Midnight 31st October.

Click to Apply.

5. The Adroit Journal

• The winners get an award of $200. 
• The work of the winner and the runner-up from the secondary and undergraduate categories is published in the Androit Journal.

The students in secondary and undergraduate can participate in the competition. International students who have passed a year earlier can also participate.

15th December.

6. John Locke Institution

• The prize for the Junior category and subject category is a scholarship of $2000 for attending any John Locke Institution program.
• For receiving the prize the winners are called for an academic conference and an award dinner. But these are paid.
• An e-certificate is given to the winners who are unable to attend. Others who attend the ceremony get a signed copy of the certificate. 
• The overall best essay winner gets a fellowship with US $10,000 for attending summer school for a year or more or getting courses for the year.
• Students from around the world can participate in this competition.
• Candidate must be 18 years old, or younger on that date.

March 16 – April 15, 2024

7. We the Student’s Essay Contest

• Must be U.S.-based citizens. 
• Students who study in middle or high school from 13 to 19 years of age can participate in this competition. 

See details

8. Jane Austen Society Essay Contest

• The award for the first-place winners is a $1000 scholarship. 
• The first-place winners also get free registration along with two nights lodging for the Annual General Meeting.
• The second-place winner gets a $500 scholarship.
• The winner who stands 3rd gets $250 as a scholarship.
• Along with these prizes, the winners get a membership in JASNA. Their essays are published on the institution’s website too.

Students from all over the world are invited to compete in 3 divisions:

• High School
• College/University
• Graduate School

9. SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest

• The first prize winner gets $ 1,000 a scholarship.
• The second prize winner gets $ 500 a scholarship.
• The third prize winner gets a scholarship of $300.
• Winners’ names are posted on the association’s website.

Students from 9-12 grade studying in private or public schools in the US can participate. 

19th February, 2024

10.  Calibre Essay Price

• High School seniors can apply. See eligibility details

22nd January, 2024

💡Read the December 2023 winning essay of Wiingy’s Future STEM Leaders Scholarship Program and find the top student essays for reference.

Best Athletic Scholarships for High School Seniors

A student can get an athletic scholarship from his/her school directly. Or they can search for athletic scholarships at colleges or universities from online resources based on their skills and field of interest. 

Here is the list of top athletic scholarships:

1. U.S. Sports Scholarships 

Offers 50 sport-specific spots annually to ensure every player receives personalized attention in finding a suitable American school with the best financial package.

• All high school students from their junior year and senior year can apply for this scholarship. 
• Besides, students with a minimum GPA are also eligible for this scholarship program.

Depends on upcoming trials. Please see the details .

Click to apply 

2. Athlete Honors Scholarship Program

Every year the winner from high school students across any part of the country is awarded with the amount of $500.

• Students with a minimum GPA are also eligible for this scholarship program.
• The students applying for this scholarship program must acquire a good knowledge of Visual & Performing Arts and Dance. 

May 1, 2024

To apply for this scholarship you need to submit a 500-word essay and Letters of Recommendation while filling out the application before the deadline.

3. Heisman High School Scholarship

This scholarship program will choose 101 high school athlete students and will award them up to $10,000.

• This program applies to high school students in their senior year only.
• The student must hold US citizenship.
• They must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above.
• During the 2023–2024 academic year, students must be seniors, graduating with the class of 2024.

October 17, 2024

To apply, visit the homepage of this scholarship program and sign up to create an account.

4. Markus Paul Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is fully sponsored by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) for high school seniors planning to pursue sports-related fields in college. 

The scholarship provides a $5,000 tuition scholarship annually to Black American students preparing to coach in the Strength & Conditioning profession.

• A current student with Black American heritage must complete the application.
• Applicant must enroll in a major in Physical Education, Exercise Science, Strength and Conditioning, or similar, to become a Strength and Conditioning Coach at the collegiate or professional level. 
• The applicant must not be a current member of the NSCA Foundation Board of Directors, Scholarship Committee, or an affiliate employee.

The application starts on August 1, 2024, and continues till Oct 15, 2024.  

To apply for this scholarship program submit your written essay, Proof of enrollment, Academic transcript, Resume or CV, and Letter of Recommendation while filling in the application details.

⭐ Explore more NSCA scholarships

 5. TrophyCentral Sportsmanship Scholarship 

The winning student will be awarded with the sum of  $1,000.  

Note: The scholarship will be paid directly to the college or university in which the winner is enrolled.

• The applicant must be a high school student of a public or private school in the US.
• The student must have a GPA of at least 3.25 out of 4.0 in the junior high school year or the first semester.
• They must show amazing sportsmanship and start college in September 2024.

September 2024

6. Massachusetts Youth Soccer Scholarship Program

Two award winners will be announced, one male and one female. They will receive a scholarship of $1,000 each. 

• The applicant must be a High School senior.
• The applicant must be a player registered with Massachusetts Youth Soccer for a minimum of two years.
• The student should be residing in Massachusetts.
• Often, the task requires a comprehensive essay of no more than 500 words.

 7. Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship

The winner will get a scholarship of $1,500 which they have to use in the 2024 fall semester. The student may use the scholarship to carry out academic expenses like tuition fees, books, and supplies.

• The applicant must hold the citizenship of the United States or hold the residence in one of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., or Puerto Rico.
• They must be a high school student in their senior year, undergraduate, or graduate students.
• The student must acquire a good knowledge of Athletics, Biology, Behavioral Science, Sports/Exercise Science, Psychology, Healthcare, Dental Health/Services, Pharmacy, Therapy/Rehabilitation, Nursing, Medicine

August 1, 2024

8. MFMA Scholarship Program

This program will announce 5 winners who will get a scholarship of $1,250. 

• The applicant must be a High School senior and College Student.
• They must be a US citizen or hold permanent citizenship of the country.
• They must be athletes.
• The applicant must hold an interest in Environmental Science, Architecture, Engineering, Biology, and Sports Flooring.

Click to apply  

9.   The BigSun Scholarship 

The winner will be awarded with the sum of $500. 

• The applicant must be a high school senior or must be attending a post-secondary institute.
• All senior high-school student-athletes are eligible.

June 19, 2024

Email a short essay of around 500-1000 words to their official mail account [email protected]. 

10. Brian Pearson Memorial Scholarship

A scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded to one male and one female high school student annually.

• The 2023 scholarship is open to students in their junior or senior year of high school during the 2023-2024 school year. 
• Students aiming to pursue post-high school education.  

April 1, 2024

📱Calculating your GPA? Read: How to calculate GPA ?

Best art scholarships for High School seniors

Whether a student is a freshman or a senior set to graduate from high school, there are various art scholarships available. As soon as you turn fourteen, you may begin applying for high school scholarships! The top art scholarships for high school seniors are:

1. Dwain and Polly Wright Educational Scholarship

• Graduating seniors from Macon High School.
• Students who have completed at least two English, Language Arts, or Vocational classes. 
• Students who are accepted to a two or four-year college, university, or technical school for further education.
• For detailed eligibility criteria please click here .

May 1, 2024.

2. Be Bold Scholarship

• Based on these attributes, the student whose profile is the boldest will receive the scholarship.

Feb 1, 2024

3.  American Classic Homes Scholarship   

• You must be a junior, sophomore, or graduating senior from high school.
• Your age should be between 16 to 22 while in college or graduating high school.

Jan 12, 2024

4. Hunter Dean Temple Art Scholarship  

$1,800 each is given to 4 winners

• You must be an undergraduate student from North Carolina.
• The field of study should be the Arts.

June 11, 2024

5. Reginald Kelley Scholarship

$1,500, 3 winners each get a sum of $500

• Subjects must include Music, arts, or science.
• You must be a high school senior or an undergraduate student.

 June 20, 2024

6. Valley Humanities Review High School Scholarship

• Students who study at Lebanon Valley College are enrolled in undergraduate humanities.
• High school students who are doing research in the humanities.

 Dec 15, 2024

7. Zinggia Art Scholarship  

• A high school senior with a minimum of 3.0 GPA.
• A student of the U.S. or a resident of Ohio state.
• Aims to build a career in visual arts.

 May 3, 2024

8. FormSwift Scholarship Program

• You must be a U.S. citizen or Canadian citizen.
• International students can also apply. 

Aug 15, 2024

9. The Kress Foundation Interpretive Fellowships at Art Museums  

• Must be pursuing art-related professional courses.
• Must have a degree in art education, art studio, or art history.

Clic k to A pply

10. Visual Arts Scholarship   

• The student must be a U.S. citizen who has attended a private or public school in the past two years.
• Plans to study two to four years of visual arts major.
• The students who have already won the scholarship earlier are ineligible.

✏️Wish to get ample room to exhibit art skills? Find out the Best Art Scholarships for more options.

Best scholarships for summer for High School seniors

According to the Education Data Initiative research, 84% of students receive some form of financial aid . If not financial aid, scholarships for summer sessions can fund educational research, trips, and projects to help you achieve the finest of your academic potential.

Here you go with the best scholarships for summer programs to apply for:

1. Washington University in St. Louis 

High School Summer Scholarship Program

Assistance with scholarships is available based on need. A 10% discount is available to returning students and children of WashU staff. Here are more specifics on costs, need-based scholarships, and savings.

• You must be a current junior high school graduate.
• You should have an IELTS Academic score of at least 6.5 or a TOEFL iBT score of at least 90 as an overseas student.

Further guidelines about international students can be found here .

The High School Summer Scholars Program has two application deadlines: 

Early (March 1, 2024) and regular (April 1, 2024). 

• The early deadline and income documentation for need-based scholarships ends on March 1, 2024. 
• The regular deadline is April 1, 2024
• The scholarship application section and income documentation are a must for need-based scholarships. Decisions will be made by April 8, 2024.

Click to apply for the summer program

2. University of Notre Dame

Office of Pre-college Programs

Students can get financial aid for their studies under the Office of pre-college programs.

Summer Scholars program dates are June 8-22, 2024, and June 29-July 13, 2024. High school students must be:  

• Current sophomores and juniors, have strong academic standing and be self-motivated, self-disciplined, and mature. 
• They must express a desire to be part of the Notre Dame community and be at least 16 by August 1, 2024.

Further application guidelines can be found here .

• Applications Live: October 16, 2023
• Application Deadline: February 20, 2024
• Financial Aid Request Form Deadline: February 12, 2024

To access the financial aid request form for Summer Scholars Session I, click this link .

To access the financial aid request form for Summer Scholars Session II, click this link .

✍️Kindly ensure that a parent or guardian fills out the form by February 12, 2024.

3. Rice University

Summer Session Financial Aid

Rice undergraduates who received academic year need-based aid are eligible for institutional aid equivalent to 50% of summer tuition.

• You must be a current graduate. 
• As long as you are enrolled in Rice undergraduate courses, the Summer Rice Grant is only available for two summers. (Each summer, up to nine credit hours). 

✍️Note : The Summer Rice Grant is exclusively for Rice online, in-person, or “Rice in country” coursework and other faculty-led overseas programs during the summer, not for non-Rice summer programs.

Email [email protected] with any inquiries you may have about your eligibility for a summer grant.

Usually, the summer request form deadline spans around the last week of May.

  Click to apply for the summer program

4. Yale University

Summer Session Financial Aid Program

Summer 2024’s maximum YSS financial assistance award per student is $5,070, with students not exceeding this limit within a 10-week summer.

• You should be an undergraduate student for the Summer Pell Grant Program.
• Yale College students with a Safety Net percentage of 80% or higher will receive an application fee waiver, similar to the ISA percentage in YaleHub. 

Session A: May 27 – June 28

Session B: July 1 – August 2

5. Stanford University

Summer Session

 Standford’s Summer Session offers need-based funds for students. 

• You must be a high school or university student at a recognized educational institution. 
• Available to students who missed a standard quarter or will graduate at the end of summer.

Mostly, the last week of May. 

6. Carleton College

Summer Liberal Arts Institute

The Summer Liberal Arts Institute (SLAI) is a summer learning community for high school students in Northfield, Minnesota, allowing them to explore the liberal arts at a top 10 private residential college. Students learn from top-ranked faculty, earn college credit, and develop research skills.

• You must be an undergraduate with a strong inclination toward discovering your discipline and the practical applications of your courses.

Round 1 Deadline: February 5, 2024

Round 2 (Final) Deadline: March 11, 2024

7. University of Pennsylvania

Penn Summer Abroad Fellowship and Scholarship Program

Under the Penn Summer Abroad Fellowship and Scholarship Program, students can get funds to study abroad, exponential learning, and exploration of their disciplines. 

• You must be an undergraduate pupil at Penn or another US university with accreditation.
• You should be able to fill out the online application form which includes 
• An essay application
• Letter of recommendation
• Application to more than one program (if needed)
• Additionally, for each type of scholarship program, there are specific requirements which you can find here . 

Deadlines vary depending on the scholarship program you choose. 1. The William A. Levi Travel Fellowship – January 31st, 2024

2. Fund for Education Abroad – Application opens: Mid-November

                                                  Application closes: Early January

                                                  Scholars announced: Early April

Click to apply for the summer scholarship

8. Emory University

Pre-college Program

Award amounts cover tuition, granted on a rolling basis, with notifications sent via email to applicants. Acceptances must be returned via email.

• You must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
• International students are not allowed.
• You must complete the Pre-College Financial Aid application, application items, and application fee, and submit your parent’s current tax return.

Financial Aid applications usually close by April 15.

Click to apply for the summer scholarship  

🎗️Pursuing higher education? Read Best Scholarship for College Students .

Scholarship application tips for High School seniors

Looking for a perfect scholarship program for High School seniors is a task. But no worries, here are some tips that might be helpful to you in your scholarship journey.

Start looking early

Somehow, at some point in time, we all end up in this last-minute situation. You should not wait to become a high school senior and then start looking for scholarships. Ideally, you should start looking for opportunities as soon as you enter grade 8 of middle school. 

So that the rest is planned well. You will also have enough time to filter the scholarship and find the perfect one for yourself.

Know where to look

Finding a scholarship can be like exploring a treasure map, and this article will help you to navigate the journey. Just like you found this article through an online search, you can: 

• Seek advice from your school counselors about some local scholarships.
• Learn about grants and resources from the State’s financial aid website .
• Search in your local area for scholarships.

Create your target list

Again, a more important piece of advice will be: Stay organized. Keep track of the deadlines for all the scholarships you are considering applying for. To keep yourself organized and on top of the application process, make a calendar or spreadsheet.

Looking for a scholarship is not a one-time process. Students must be consistent and dedicated to this process. To have the best chance at winning a scholarship students must keep searching, apply often, and be updated.

Think outside the box

In this article information about a variety of scholarships is provided, that are suitable for High School seniors. But, don’t be limited to them, explore and find scholarships that are suitable and specific to your hobbies and requirements.

Personalize and proofread your application

That personal touch is as important as other application items for your scholarship. Your skills, views, ideas, needs, and goals should underline your personality. Besides, do proofread your application without fail. Pay attention to every detail. Who knows if you’ve made the silliest of mistakes only to ruin your chances!

Starting early is crucial for finding high school scholarships. Seek advice from school counselors, State’s financial aid website, and local area websites for local scholarships. Stay organized by tracking deadlines and using a calendar or spreadsheet. Explore scholarships specific to your hobbies and requirements. Personalize and proofread your application to highlight your skills, views, ideas, needs, and goals. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best buy scholarship for high school seniors.

The Best Buy Children’s Foundation is offering $1,000 scholarships to high school students in grades 9-12, aiming to support post-secondary education, solid grades, and community service or work experience, as part of the Best Buy Scholarship Program.

What is the easiest type of scholarship to get?

The scholarship that aligns with your interests and best potential is the easiest to get for you. For example, if you’re good at writing essays, the Wiingy Future STEM Leaders Scholarship is very easy to apply for.

Also, Merit-based scholarships, awarded during the acceptance process, are often the easiest to obtain for colleges, especially private schools, as they don’t require a separate application.

Which scholarship gives the most money?

Elks National Foundation and Davidson Fellows Scholarship program offer up to $50000 in scholarships in the USA.

Is senior year too late for scholarships?

No, senior year is not too late for a scholarship! Many universities and institutes offer scholarships to high school seniors as discussed in this article.  This is the year when you brush up on your major skills and prepare to get into a good college for university studies. Yes, had you been able to begin your hunt a little early, it would have been much easier to secure a scholarship, but be “better late than never!” 

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The 10 Best Writing Scholarships for High School Students

Some of the best and most rewarding scholarships require applicants to write a personal essay, poem, or other written work. 

Are you interested in a certain genre, like sci-fi or young adult literature? There’s a scholarship for people who like to write those kinds of books!

Do you have a portfolio of written work from your high school career? Many scholarships seek extensive portfolios that center on a particular subject – why not revise your portfolio and submit your materials to a scholarship evaluation committee?

We’ve found ten of the best writing scholarships for high school students and undergraduates. 

Prizes range from the several thousands to the tens of thousands of dollars, while others come with publishing-related perks and paid-for professional development opportunities.

YoungArts’ National Arts Competition for Writing

Open exclusively to students in grades 10 or 12 (or ages 15-18), YoungArts’ National Arts Competition evaluates submissions for five categories : creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, and short story and spoken word.

Of previous winners, the organization remarks that their portfolios were creative, thought-provoking, and intentional. There are separate requirements for each category. 

For novels , candidates share the first 20 pages of their novel along with a 200-word synopsis. 

Spoken word artists will submit two to three written poems, with the total material not exceeding ten pages. Spoken word category applications may also submit a video performance for each poetry submission.

There are five levels of prizes awarded to candidates whose work reveals innovative and outstanding technique, depth, and perspective. 

The Level 1, 2, and 3 prizes are worth $3,000, $1,500, and $1,000 (respectively). The Silver prize is worth $5,000, while the Gold prize totals $10,000.

The National Press Club Scholarships

The National Press Club Journalism Institute offers four scholarship awards to individuals pursuing a future career in journalism and supporting a commitment to civic discourse and transparency.

One award – the Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship – is given to a high school senior pursuing a career in journalism. The candidate must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

A second award – the Scholarship for Journalism Diversity Honoring Julie Schoo – bestows a $5,000 one-year award to the winner. This prize is renewable for up to three years, amounting to up to $20,000 in scholarship funds devoted to college expenses. Applicants share the same requirements as the Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship.

Past winners of the various scholarships have gone on to study at UC-Berkeley, Harvard, Columbia, and Brown.

Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest

The Regions Riding Forward Scholarship was conceived to honor stories of inspiring Black Americans. Whether it’s a national public figure, regional superstar, or local hero – all tales are worth telling, and Regions wants to hear them.

Applicants provide a 500-word or less written or 3-minute or less video essay about a Black American who has inspired them. 

Regions promises to award $5,000 scholarships to 30 high school seniors and $3,500 scholarships to 30 first-year, sophomore, or junior college students!

The evaluation committee will recognize 15 written essay submissions and 15 video submissions for each of the two application cohorts. 

Competitive applicants should have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher and be in good academic standing at their current institution of learning.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the United States’ longest-running program dedicated specifically to creative teenagers.

Students in grades 7-12 can select from over 25 categories of writing and art, with writing categories including critical essay, memoir, and flash fiction.

The critical essay, for example, is meant to inform or even convince a reader about a particular topic. Examples include reviews and editorials. 

Graduating high school seniors are eligible to submit an entire writing portfolio comprising six separate works which are indicative of the writer’s broad range in style and technique. 

The Gold Medal Portfolio winners will earn a $10,000 prize , while Silver Medal with Distinction Portfolio winners will receive $1,000 scholarships.

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship in Literature

Both the U.S. News and World Report and Forbes Magazine have named the Davidson Fellows Scholarship one of the country’s most prestigious scholarships. Most recently , applicants were allowed to participate in teams of two!

The committee awards $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000 scholarships to exceptional students who have completed a significant work of literature. 

To be eligible for a Davidson Fellows Scholarship in Literature, applicants must be 18 years old or younger and provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence.

Candidates submitting a piece to the Literature category must provide a 60-75 page portfolio , containing three works from the four genre selections: fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and drama or screenplay. A literacy narrative is an additional requirement.

Applicants must submit a process essay, a video describing their work, and two letters of recommendation from those who are familiar with their work.

Previous grand prize winners have shared portfolios that focus on preventing atrocities, providing positive representations of marginalized identities, and preserving family legacies.

Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award

Leroy F. Aarons was committed to providing an accurate representation of LGBTQ individuals and their lives in the media.

The scholarship award grants up to $5,000 in tuition money to an LGBTQ student intent on pursuing a journalism career. 

Current or incoming undergraduate students enrolled in a journalism or communications field are eligible to apply. Along with an application, candidates should share a one-page resume, proof of enrollment in an undergraduate program, and five work samples . 

Topics include writing about a senior LGBTQ activist in the applicant’s community or addressing a local legislative initiative. 

Videos can go from two to five minutes while image galleries can hold between ten and 30 images. Students can also submit infographics.

Winners promise to uphold the Excellence Contract , which requires them to maintain a 3.2 GPA in the year to which the scholarship applies. If the student’s GPA dips below a 3.0, they may be put on probation.

The committee selects prize winners based on their demonstrated awareness of the issues faced within the LGBTQ community and their dedication to accurate, unbiased news coverage.

Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards

Any high school student can share a short story of 4,000 or fewer words from within one of six genres: romance, mystery/crime, horror, thriller/suspense, sci-fi/fantasy, or young adult. 

The mystery/crime genre involves your average “whodunit” plot structures, as well as police, forensic, and legal dramas. 

Thriller/suspense are described as stories that delve more into the motive and backstory to crimes and criminals and seek to increase our adrenaline.

The grand prize winner will receive $2,500 along with an interview in an issue of Writer’s Digest, the winning story published on writersdigest.com, a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference in New York City, and a $100 gift certificate to writersdigestshop.com.

Talk about perks!

The Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship

Amy Lowell was an American poet who passed away in 1925.

Her scholarship honors her legacy by supporting travel expenses for talented American poets. While this is not a college-specific scholarship, the money can be spent on expenses like studying abroad.

In the most recent cycle , there were two winners selected from over 200 applicants. To apply, candidates submit an application along with a curriculum vitae and poetry sample, which consists of up to 40 typed pages.

The committee shares that there is no minimum age requirement to submit works and that while many recent winners have already been published, there is no requirement that candidates have previously published their poetry.

The Horror Writers Association Scholarships

The Horror Writers Association (HWA) offers two $2,500 scholar awards to support emerging horror writers. Students submit one application, which gets shared with the review committees of both scholarships. 

The Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship is available to female applicants, while the HWA Scholarship is available for applications of any gender. 

When reviewing applications, the committee will be primarily focused on the candidate’s academic record and plan and the likelihood that they will contribute to and grow the genre.

The scholarship funds may not be used for college tuition expenses. Those who win financial awards have two years’ worth of time to spend their funds, which must be used to further their horror writing career or professional development. 

Appropriate activities include online writing courses, writing and publishing presentations, subscription fees, etc.

Ayn Rand Scholarships (Anthem, The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged)

Ayn Rand is the author of three canonical novels, each of which has its accompanying scholarship award: Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged.

The Ayn Rand Institute has awarded over $2 million in scholarship money to contest winners and, most recently, they awarded $40,000 to hundreds of students worldwide.

The Anthem Scholarship is open to all 8th through 12th graders. First place wins $2,000 and there are 83 other prizes of $25 to $500. 

Applicants write a 600-1200 word essay in response to one of several prompts, with the purpose being to justify their argument clearly and creatively.

All high school juniors and seniors can apply for the Fountainhead Scholarship , which grants a $5,000 first prize and 83 other prizes ranging from $25 to $1,250 to those who pen an 800-1600 word essay that best articulates their view and understanding of the philosophy behind the novel.

The Atlas Shrugged Scholarship is only available to high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate-level students. 

The grand prize is $10,000, and other prizes range from $50 to $2,500. 

One of the topics might prompt an applicant to describe the economic and moral forces interacting behind the disappearance of specific goods within the novel.

Haven’t read any of the novels? No worries! The ARI will send applicants a free copy of any novel. At the very least, applicants will receive a free book!

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How to get scholarships for college in high school.

Your goal is to attend the college of your dreams, but you’ve started to discover all the expenses you’ll be responsible for when you do . College tuition, living expenses, books, supplies, the list can go on and on and can be overwhelming.

Scholarships are essentially gifts. For the most part, they don't need to be repaid. Many of them are out there, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, local community organizations, religious groups, and professional and social groups.

And there are many scholarships for students to apply for as early as their freshman year of high school.

Read on to learn more about how to get scholarships in high school.

Can high school students apply for college scholarships?

Many scholarship opportunities are available for high school students to start applying for to help pay for college. A scholarship might cover the entire cost of tuition, or it might be a one-time award of a few hundred dollars. Either way, they’re worth applying for, because any amount will help reduce the cost of your education.

Most scholarship deadlines are between September and May, although some scholarships allow you to apply throughout the year. This makes applying on breaks and off time easier so it doesn’t interfere with homework and studying.

Making the scholarship search a part of your high school routine will go a long way as far as possibly securing scholarships and will help to ensure you don’t miss deadlines.

College scholarships for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors

There are many college scholarships sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school are eligible to apply for. Here’s how to begin your search:

Online scholarship databases

There are plenty of online scholarship databases you can use to begin your search. We recommend exploring several as a starting point for your search. Use them to narrow down the scholarships that are out there so that you can then research a list of scholarships further.

School counselors

Contact your high school and college counselors and let them know you’re looking for scholarships. They’ll help you narrow down what kind of scholarships you may qualify for and where to look for them.

Teachers and coaches

If you’re interested in continuing any specific academic or athletic pursuits in college, reach out to teachers and coaches at your high school for help. Even if they don’t know of any specific scholarships, they’ll be able to help you present yourself well on scholarship applications.

Special interest organizations

Organizations that serve specific hobbies, pursuits, or demographics will also have information about relevant scholarships. A huge number of scholarships are available nationwide for specific interests, activities, and communities.

State scholarships

Contact your state’s education agency for more information about their merit and need-based scholarship programs.

Never hesitate to do a web search for a specific scholarship you’re hoping may exist. You’ll be surprised at the depth and breadth of what you’ll find.

Scholarship application tips

Every scholarship has a different application process, but many of the requirements overlap. While some local organizations may ask that you fill out a physical application, most applications are filed online.

Typical academic-based scholarships will require proof that you meet the eligibility conditions and an essay based on a given topic or prompt. Athletic and talent-based scholarships will also often ask you to provide evidence of your skill, which could mean a live performance, a portfolio, or a video of your athletic achievements.

Scholarship essay writing tips

When writing a scholarship essay, it’s best to start early. Make sure your essay fits the requested topic and do plenty of research. Ask a teacher you trust to look at your essay and offer critiques.

The essay is your chance to set yourself apart from the rest of the candidates. Do everything you can to make sure it stands out.

Final thoughts

The earlier you start applying for scholarships, the better your chances of receiving aid. Stay ahead of deadlines to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward when applying for scholarships. Good luck with your search!

10 Essay Scholarships For High School Seniors To Apply

Are you a high school senior who loves to put pen to paper? Do you dream of being the next J.K. Rowling or Ernest Hemingway? Well, get ready to grab your writing utensils, because we’ve got some fantastic news for you! 

There are numerous essay scholarships available exclusively for high school seniors. That’s right, you could earn money for college just by showcasing your writing skills. From creative writing to persuasive essays, the possibilities are endless. So, if you’ve got a way with words and a desire to earn some cash for college, it’s time to get cracking on those scholarship applications. Who knows, your writing could be the ticket to your college education and your future success!

Essay scholarships for high school seniors

1. afsa high school essay contest.

Are you a high school student with a passion for international affairs? Do you love to express your thoughts through writing? Then the AFSA Essay Contest is perfect for you! This scholarship challenges high schoolers to write an essay on a selected topic related to American foreign policy and global issues. Whether you’re interested in politics, economics, or human rights, this contest is an excellent opportunity to showcase your knowledge and writing skills.

The winners will receive a cash prize and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. to meet with government officials and tour international landmarks. Plus, it’s a chance to meet other talented young writers and make lasting connections. So, don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to share your voice and earn some scholarship money!

2. Interface “Tech for Good” Scholarship 

If you’re a tech enthusiast and have a passion for making a positive impact in the world, then the Tech for Good Scholarship is perfect for you! Interface Systems is offering a one-time grant of $5,000 to a high school senior or college student who can write an outstanding essay on the topic of how technology can be used for the greater good of humanity.

You can explore topics like sustainability, accessibility, social justice, healthcare, and education. The essay should be no more than 750 words and demonstrate your passion for both technology and making a positive impact in society. So, if you have some big ideas for how technology can be used to make the world a better place, then this scholarship is an excellent opportunity to showcase your creativity and passion!

3. WCF National Scholarship 

Do you have a passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to make a difference in the world? The WCF National Scholarship Competition is just for you! This essay scholarship is open to high school seniors and college undergraduates who have innovative business ideas and want to create a positive impact. The winner of the competition will receive a $20,000 scholarship to help them pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

The application requires you to submit a business proposal outlining your idea, a personal statement, and two letters of recommendation. So, put on your thinking cap and let your creativity run wild! Who knows, you might just be the next big thing in the world of entrepreneurship.

4. AEL Collegiate Essay Competition Scholarship

Are you passionate about education and leadership? Do you want to make a positive impact in your community? If yes, then Pepperdine University’s Aspiring Education Leaders (AEL) scholarship program might be just for you! This scholarship is designed for individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in education leadership and who are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

The AEL scholarship provides selected candidates with financial assistance to attend Pepperdine’s prestigious Graduate School of Education and Psychology, where they will receive exceptional training and mentorship from experienced educators and leaders.  Just submit an essay with a word count between 1,500 and 2,000. The winners get three $1,000, $1,500, and $2,500 essay prizes. If you have a strong passion for education, leadership, and community service, this scholarship could be an excellent opportunity to help you achieve your goals and make a meaningful impact in the world. 

5. America’s 911 Foundation College Scholarship  

Are you passionate about serving your community and helping others? America’s 911 Foundation is offering a scholarship that aims to support students who demonstrate a commitment to community service and patriotism. To apply, students are asked to write a 500-word essay on a given topic related to the 9/11 attacks and how they have affected their lives and worldview. The foundation awards scholarships to multiple students each year, with amounts ranging from $2,000 to $3,000.

This scholarship is a great opportunity for students to not only receive financial support for their education but also to reflect on the impact of one of the most significant events in American history. If you’re a student who is passionate about making a positive difference in the world and honoring the memory of those who lost their lives on 9/11, this scholarship is for you!

6. Life Lessons Scholarship Program  

Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes it throws unexpected events our way. To raise awareness about the importance of life insurance, Life Happens has created the Life Lessons Scholarship Program. This scholarship aims to support students who have faced a loss due to the death of a parent or guardian who did not have life insurance.

By sharing their experiences and lessons learned, applicants can win a scholarship of up to $15,000 to help them achieve their academic goals. It’s an opportunity to transform a difficult experience into a source of motivation and inspiration. So, if life has dealt you a tough hand, use your story to win this scholarship and show the world that you can turn a tragedy into a powerful life lesson.

7. Arts for Life Scholarship  

Are you a high school senior in Florida with a passion for the arts? Look no further! The Arts for Life Scholarship is here to help fund your future artistic endeavors. All you need to do is submit an original piece of art, along with a written essay on how the arts have impacted your life, for a chance to win up to $3,000 in scholarship money.

The scholarship is open to all graduating high school seniors in Florida who plan to pursue further education in the arts. So, whether you’re a painter, dancer, musician, or something in between, let your creativity soar and apply for this unique scholarship opportunity!

8. DAR Good Citizen Scholarship 

The DAR Good Citizens Award and Scholarship Contest was created in 1934 with an aim to reward students who have the qualities of a good citizen, specifically for students who have demonstrated qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities.

In the first stage, the eligible students are selected by teachers and peers. The student does not have to be a US citizen but accredited with their state board of education to be eligible for this award. The DAR awards one student per year.

9. Maxwell Foundation Scholarship  

The Maxwell Scholarship was created to help Washington high school seniors who want to pursue higher education in colleges of their choice. The Foundation provides students entering a four-year private college program throughout the academic year with the financial aid of up to $5,000 each year.

To be eligible for this scholarship, students have to be a resident of Western Washington, have an SAT or ACT score of 1200 or above, pursue a four-year degree at a recognized private university in the United States, and demonstrate financial need.

10. Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Scholarship  

Looking for a scholarship that will test your writing skills and reward you for your creativity and knowledge? The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has you covered with their youth scholarship program. Open to high school students, the VFW scholarship program challenges you to write an essay on a patriotic theme.

From exploring the meaning of the U.S. Constitution to discussing the importance of American democracy, this scholarship gives you the opportunity to express your ideas and learn about American history and values. Plus, there’s the added bonus of a chance to win some cash for college! Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to show off your writing skills and love for the country.

What kind of essays do scholarships want?

Experts caution that writing an essay for a scholarship is different from writing an essay for a high school class. There are thousands of candidates each year, making it an extremely difficult process to submit an essay for a scholarship. Students will have to make sure to write an essay that convinces the scholarship program board that they deserve the money up for grabs, as many scholarship applications call for one. 

From mechanical engineering scholarships to environmental scholarships to even scholarships for nursing , different scholarships have different formats and word limits, the first thing to keep in mind while submitting an essay is to adhere to the format as specified by the scholarship. It is essential to keep your essay within the allotted word count and make sure you are responding to the question that has been posed. Even though the essay prompt appears to be somewhat open-ended, your essay should nonetheless have a distinct beginning, middle, and end.

In essays and scholarship applications, students frequently feel pressure to present a particular persona or aspect of themselves. However, this is not always required. The essay should feel real and true to the student’s life. Above all, what the scholarship essay seeks is for the essay to stand out in a sea of academic writings by providing genuine insights into who the candidate is on a deeper level.

In conclusion, scholarships are a fantastic opportunity for students to fund their education and pursue their dreams. It’s essential to keep in mind that scholarship committees are looking for applicants who stand out, who have a unique perspective, and who are willing to put in the effort to craft a well-written and thoughtful essay.

So take the time to research the scholarships you’re interested in, brainstorm ideas, and write a compelling essay that showcases your strengths, passions, and achievements. Remember, your essay is your chance to make a lasting impression and persuade the scholarship committee that you are the best candidate for the award.

So go ahead, put pen to paper, and show the world what makes you extraordinary! However, if you wish to go for a scholarship without an essay too, a non-essay scholarship should work fine for you!

Sananda Bhattacharya, Chief Editor of TheHighSchooler, is dedicated to enhancing operations and growth. With degrees in Literature and Asian Studies from Presidency University, Kolkata, she leverages her educational and innovative background to shape TheHighSchooler into a pivotal resource hub. Providing valuable insights, practical activities, and guidance on school life, graduation, scholarships, and more, Sananda’s leadership enriches the journey of high school students.

Explore a plethora of invaluable resources and insights tailored for high schoolers at TheHighSchooler, under the guidance of Sananda Bhattacharya’s expertise. You can follow her on Linkedin

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Should college essays touch on race? Some high school seniors across the country feel the affirmative action ruling leaves them no choice.

Without affirmative action, should college essays mention race?

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How to Avoid Scholarship Scams

A healthy dose of skepticism and discernment can save students from falling for illegitimate scholarships, experts say.

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Experts say it's imperative that students and families use discernment when vetting scholarships and providing personal information.

While a junior in high school, Jocelyn Pearson spent many nights applying to dozens of college scholarships. Each took no longer than 15 minutes to complete and required nothing more than her basic information and a short essay.

Before long, her inbox was flooded with emails from the scholarship companies – but none were offering her scholarships. Instead, she was overwhelmed with marketing emails to the point where she had to create an entirely new email account. While it seemed smart to apply to as many big-money scholarships as possible, in the end it proved fruitless.

That's when Pearson realized that some scholarships weren't all they claimed to be. She decided her time could be better spent pursuing scholarships that, although the dollar amount may be much smaller, seemed more legitimate and offered a more realistic chance to win.

“That was a turning moment for me when I realized these other ones, they look easy, but there’s a reason,” says Pearson, now CEO and founder of The Scholarship System, a company that offers help securing college scholarships. Her experience motivated her to start the company to share with students and families what she wishes she had known.

"Unfortunately, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Just being aware of that, I think that alone can save students a lot of headaches."

Experts say it's imperative that students and families use discernment when vetting scholarships and providing personal information. Scholarship scams are often a ploy to gain someone's personal information and relentlessly market to them or potentially sell their information to other companies.

In more egregious cases, scammers may look to obtain someone's bank account information or Social Security number, which could have more serious ramifications.

Here are ways to spot and avoid potential scholarship scams.

Identifying Scholarship Scams

As the cost of college continues to rise and students search every nook and cranny for ways to pay for it , experts say this demographic is an easy target due to a mix of inexperience, vulnerability and desperation. Concerns over paying for college rose during the 2023-2024 school year due to delays rolling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, notes Will Geiger, co-founder and CEO of Scholarships360.org, a website that offers a free database of thousands of vetted scholarships.

Scammers often use clever language and official-looking branding to entice students to apply for scholarships that advertise attractive award amounts. Students may receive emails that look official and contain language that may pass the initial sniff test. But anything involving scholarships, financial aid or grant money requires a critical eye to ensure legitimacy, experts say.

Some of the most prominent red flags are when students are selected for scholarships they never applied for, the scholarship offers a "guaranteed" award or students are asked to pay a fee to be eligible for a scholarship. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application or processing fee, experts say.

Certain language might also be a red flag. If a scholarship claims to be a "no essay scholarship," asks applicants to "enter to win" or mentions a drawing, it's likely just a sweepstakes that's meant to attract a high amount of entries, making the chances of winning slim to none, experts say. These so-called scholarships are usually based on luck, rarely merit or need.

"I always recommend that students pay attention and be observant," Geiger wrote in an email. "If something looks off, double-check the scholarship and provider website. For instance, if you see typos or spelling mistakes, invasive questions or lack of detail around the organization awarding the scholarship you should pause and take some time to examine further."

Tips to Avoid Falling for Scholarship Scams

Scholarship scams are less common than other scams, but the Federal Trade Commission still receives hundreds of consumer reports each year regarding illegitimate scholarships and educational grants, according to a 2023 report . The Better Business Bureau has reported that it receives numerous complaints each year regarding scholarship scams.

Anything that requires bank account information, a Social Security number or anything that could leave an applicant vulnerable to identify theft or bank fraud should be avoided. Schools may ask for this information regarding merit-based awards or financial aid, but third-party scholarships won't until perhaps after a scholarship has been awarded, says Denard Jones, lead counselor at Empowerly, a college admissions consulting company.

Though students are busy and often juggling multiple tasks, one of the best ways to avoid falling victim to a scam is to take a little extra time to investigate a scholarship, Jones says.

"Read, read, read,” he says. “Read the instructions. Read the details. Read what’s going on, because a lot of times it’s right there in front of us, but we’re so quick to (go to) where we see a box – we just start filling it out."

Pearson says she looks at scholarships on a spectrum. On one end are the quick and easy ones that she initially targeted that don’t require much effort. On the other end are those with more defined eligibility and criteria and a more rigorous application process, such as lengthy essays and perhaps interviews. These typically require more effort and have some degree of selectivity, but often draw fewer applicants and are awarded by trusted local or national organizations with more transparency about their selection criteria.

Pearson eventually turned her attention to, and won, a local $500 scholarship and was able to decipher what was and wasn't worth her time. She also discovered that applying for scholarships is best done as a team effort by both students and parents. Parents have more life experience and often a more trained eye for spotting potential scams, she says.

She recommends parents help by researching and vetting legitimate scholarships while students spend their time applying for them. This allows students to focus on their essays and making their application as strong as it can be.

Students should also consult with their school counselors , experts says.

"The search process is the best place to make the difference, because if they’re helping their students choose the right scholarships from the beginning, then their student’s not going to be burned out wasting their time on all these scams," she says. "From the beginning, they could be applying to a lot of scholarships where they have actual chances of winning."

If students encounter a fraudulent scholarship or feel they have fallen victim to a scholarship scam, experts encourage them to report the website or company to the FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau . Additionally, those who have shared banking or financial information with a scammer should immediately get in touch with their bank, Geiger says.

Trying to fund your education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News  Paying for College  center.

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How to Respond to the Spelman College Supplemental Essay Prompt

Varonika Ware is a content writer at Scholarships360. Varonika earned her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications at Louisiana State University. During her time at LSU, she worked with the Center of Academic Success to create the weekly Success Sunday newsletter. Varonika also interned at the Louisiana Department of Insurance in the Public Affairs office with some of her graphics appearing in local news articles.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

If you’re looking into colleges to apply to, then you’ve probably heard about HBCUs , aka Historically Black Colleges and Universities. One well-known HBCU is Spelman College, an all-female school that’s one of the highest ranked HBCUs. If you’re interested in applying to Spelman College, you’ll have to complete a supplemental essay, so keep reading below to get tips on writing yours!

A look into Spelman College

Spelman College was founded in 1881 by Sophia B. Packard and Harriet E. Giles during a time when HBCUs were some of the only institutions that were willing to educate African Americans. It was originally a seminary but has since grown and set itself apart as one of the best HBCUs in the country. 

As one of only two all women HBCUs, Spelman has set itself apart as a leader in academics which has resulted in them being ranked as one of the top HBCUs in the nation. 

The Spelman supplemental essay prompt

“Why are you interested in attending Spelman College? We encourage you to consider the academic, historical, and social aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Spelman.” (Min: 125 / Max: 200 words)

Like most colleges, Spelman admissions wants to know why you want to attend their prestigious institution. It might be hard to choose just one thing, but you should consider what factors matter most to you for a desired college. 

Is the curriculum rigorous or well-known? Do students often find success after attending this college? 

However, you should keep in mind that the word count is brief, maybe two or so paragraphs, which means you have to make them count! It would also be more ideal to pinpoint one or two things, so that your essay isn’t too generic. 

Questions to consider:

• What is your favorite thing about Spelman? 
• What do you hope to achieve at Spelman? 
• What sets Spelman apart from other HBCUs?

Next steps for students

If you’re worried about the word count, it’s a great idea to research writing 250 word essays . They require concise but impactful wording, so it’s important to proofread and get your support system to read through it as well.  As you’re working on your application, don’t forget to fill out your FAFSA . You may also want to consider filling out the CSS Profile as well, but be sure to look into their fee waiver to see if you’re eligible. Make sure you apply for all the scholarships you qualify for as well!

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• Access exclusive scholarships only available to Scholarships360 members

Additional supplemental essay guides 

• Howard University
• Wellesley College
• Tulane University

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