Our list is organized by application deadlines. We stayed away from random niche scholarships like those based on height and hair color and focused on scholarships for which most students qualify. Our list includes an assortment of merit-based scholarships and need-based scholarships as well as scholarships based on leadership, community service, public speaking, writing and creative art projects. We even include some scholarships for which a student can apply in less than five minutes. We hope this list is successful in helping set you up to thrive in your post-college life.
#1. Dell Scholars Program
Amount: $20,000
Deadline: January
The Dell Scholars Program awards 300 scholarships annually. Scholarships include laptops, text book credits, and up to $20,000 for tuition and fees. Since 2004, they have provided students with over $60 million in college scholarships and support services. The program targets low-income students who have at least a 2.4 GPA and also can demonstrate that they are driven and motivated. Students can begin applying in November before the deadline.
Contact: apply@dellscholars.org
#2. GE – Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program
Amount: $40,000
Deadline: January
Named after the nation’s 40th president, the GE – Regan Foundation Scholarship Program selects numerous recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship each year. The scholarships are renewable for up to an additional three years – up to $40,000 total per recipient. Undergraduate and graduate students may apply and use the money for for education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, and board. Applicants must demonstrate leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship.
Contact: ge-reagan@scholarshipamerica.org
#3. Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarships
Amount: $100,000
Deadline: January
Ronald McDonald House Charities awards scholarships to successful students who are able to demonstrate a financial need. Since 1985, Ronald McDonald House Charities has awarded more than $52 million in scholarships. Students need to live within a reasonable proximity to a Ronald McDonald House, be under the age of 21, and have at least a 2.7 GPA in order to be eligible. The national scholarships are $100,000 awards payable over four years in an amount of $25,000 per year and are for use in undergraduate education only.
#4. The Carson Scholars Program
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: January
If you have a passion for community service, this scholarship may interest you. The Carson Scholars Program recognizes and rewards academic excellence in students grade 4 through 11 who embody strong humanitarian qualities. Students must be nominated by their schools. New scholars receive a $1,000 scholarship towards college and previous winners are eligible to reapply for Carson Scholar Recognition annually. If you are interested in having your school participate in the program, have a teacher or administrator email the following contact: katie@carsonscholars.org.
#5. Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
Amount: $40,000
Deadlines: January
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship is a collaborative project from the U.S. Department of State and the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. The fellowship is open to both undergraduate students and graduate students. It was established to provide mentoring, professional development, and financial support to qualifying candidates who show an interest in entering the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service. The undergraduate and graduate fellowships awards cover up to $40,000 annually for tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees.
Contact: pickering@woodrow.org
#6. Buick Achievers Scholarship
Amount: $100,000
Deadline: February
The GM Foundation proudly sponsors the Buick Achievers Scholarship Program. The program targets well rounded students who have an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This year, 50 renewable scholarships will be awarded at $25,000 per year for four years ($100,000 total). Applicants must be high school seniors, high school graduates, or current postsecondary undergraduate students who plan to enter into full-time studies at an accredited university in the United States.
Contact: buickachievers@scholarshipamerica.org
#7. Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: February
The Gallery Collection/Prudent Publishing Company sponsors a wonderful scholarship opportunity for students. Applicants must create and submit a photo, artwork, or computer graphic for the front of a greeting card. Wording is not necessary but it can be incorporated into the design. The contest is open to high school and college students. Applications are due in February of each year but can be submitted as early as April of the year before the deadline.
Contact: scholarshipadmin@gallerycollection.com
#8. Davidson Fellow Scholarships
Amount: $50,000
Deadline: February
The Davidson Fellow Scholarship is open to extraordinary students 18 or under. Students must submit collegiate level projects in the categories of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy and Outside the Box. The work must be an accomplishment that recognized as meaningful and as a positive contribution to society. The grand prize is a scholarship of $50,000. $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships are also awarded.
Contact: DavidsonFellows@DavidsonGifted.org
#9. Harry S. Truman Scholarship
Amount: $30,000
Deadline: February
Each year, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation awards 55 to 65 scholarships in the amount of $30,000. Over 600 students apply annually. Applicants need to be driven, ambitious, demonstrate academic success, and dedicated to public service. While this scholarship is competitive, young leaders should apply for this wonderful opportunity to be awarded with a scholarship of $30,000.
Contact: office@truman.gov
#10. Optimist International Essay Contest
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: February
Optimist International sponsors an annual essay contest to to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions about life and society. Applicants must be 19 or under and must still be in high school. Students must submit a 700- to 800-word essay to local clubs. Clubs submit the local winning essays to the district competition. One scholarship of $2,500 per District is awarded by Optimist International each year.
Contact: programs@optimist.org
#11. Poster Contest for High School Students
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: February
Each year High school students in grades 9 through 12 are invited to enter a Poster Contest for High School Students sponsored by a nonprofit organization called The Chirstophers. The Christophers uses the media to spread two basic ideas: There’s nobody like you, and you can make a difference. Students simply need to submit posters 16×24 inches in size that display original work and that are crafted around an assigned topic. Scholarship prizes are $1,000 for first, $500 for second, and $250 for third.
Contact: s.holinski@christophers.org
#12. Doodle for Google
Amount: $30,000
Deadline: March
Doodle for Google is an annual art competition open to students grades k-12. 250 doodles from across the country are chosen by a panel of Google employees based on which doodles they feel best represent the theme for the year. There are 50 state winners, five national winners, and one grand prize winner. The grand prize is a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 Google for Education technology grant for the winner’s school.
#13. Frame My Future Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: March
DiplomaFrame.com offers a fun scholarship opportunity for crafty students with creative ideas. Applicants simply need to create a digital image that responds to the prompt, “This is how I frame my future.” Entries can include drawings, photographs, poetry, painting, a collage, or any other medium that can be converted to a digital image. Pieces simply must be completely original work. Five $1,000 scholarships are awarded to finalists.
Contact: info@diplomaframe.com
#14. National D-Day Museum Online Essay Contest
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: March
The National WWII Museum sponsors an annual essay contest aimed at helping young people understand the significance and the impact of WWII on society. Applicants must be high school students in the United States, its territories or its military bases. They must prepare an essay of up to 1,000 words based on a topic specified by the museum. Get your application in early because only the first 500 valid essays will be accepted.
Contact: info@nationalww2museum.org
#15. Optimist International Oratorical Contest
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: March
Each year nearly 2,000 local Optimist clubs host Oratorical contests aimed at helping young people develop informed voices. The winners at the Club level receive medallions and Zone winners receive a plaque. Districts have the opportunity to provide two $2,500 scholarships or a first place scholarship of $2,500, a second place scholarship of $1,500, and a third place scholarship of $1,000. The contest is open to students who have not graduated high school and who are 19 or younger. While the majority of the local club contests are in March, some may have an earlier deadline.
Contact: programs@optimist.org
#16. Davis-Putter Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: April
The Davis-Putter Scholarship is awarded to applicants who demonstrate a passion for social and economic justice. These need-based scholarships are awarded to those who academically qualify for college and are active in social justice movements on their campus and in their community. Early recipients fought for civil rights, against McCarthyism, and for peace in Vietnam. Grants of up to $10,000 are awarded.
Contact: davisputter@davisputter.org
#17. GotScholarship Give Away
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: April
GotChosen.com offers an easy way for students to win an educational scholarship. Virtually anyone 18 and over can apply for this opportunity which has no GPA, essay, or financial need requirements. The scholarship must be used on educational expenses like tuition, fees, books, and supplies. The graduates can also use the scholarship to help repay student loans. In the past GotChosen.com has offered other scholarship opportunities throughout the year. Check the website even if the April deadline has passed to see if they are offering any additional chances to win money for school.
Contact: info@gotchosen.com
#18. Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship
Amount: $25,800
Deadline: April
If you love to study and write poetry this scholarship opportunity is for you! Each year, the Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships is awarded to five young poets. The scholarship totals $25,800 and is sponsored by the Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. Note that the award is for applicants ages 21 to 31 and is intended to encourage the further writing and study of poetry.
Contact: hamos@poetrymagazine.org
#19. Conscious World Youth Leader Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: May
The Conscious World Youth Leadership Scholarship, which is open to students from every nation who are 18 to 25, is intended to honor and train conscious leaders all over the world. Each year the sponsoring organization, Conscious World Foundation, selects one “Conscious World Youth Leader” who has founded a project that uplifts and improves our world. Ten finalists receive prizes and one person wins the $5,000 scholarship.
Contact: support@consciousworld.org
#20. Google Science Fair
Amount: $50,000
Deadline: May
The Google Global Science fair is an exciting science competition open to students ages of 13 through 18. The students must formulate a hypothesis, perform an experiment, and present their results. This is a global competition open to students is nearly every country. While the grand prize is $50,000, other finalists have a chance to win various prizes and scholarships starting at $10,000.
#21. Nordstrom Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: May
Each year Nordstrom awards 80 scholarships to U.S. and Puerto Rican high school students and 10 scholarships to Canadian secondary school students. The scholarship totals $10,000 which is paid in four annual $2,500 installments. To qualify, students must be committed to attending a four-year university or college and they must demonstrate a history of academic success and community involvement.
Contact: nordscholar@nordstrom.com
#22. WyzAnt College Scholarships
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: May
WyzAnt is an organization that provides quality tutoring services to students. Their scholarship program rewards three applicants who submit compelling 300-word essays that articulate how education has been empowering. The scholarship amounts are $10,000 for first, $3,000 for second, and $2,000 for third. Each scholarship will be paid directly to the scholarship recipient’s college or university.
#23. GEICO Achievement Award Program
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: June
For more than 25 years, GEICO has offered the GEICO Achievement Award Program. This long-standing tradition provides $2,500 awards to support outstanding undergraduates who are dedicated to academic success, leadership and service. The scholarship is open to college sophomores and juniors, in the U.S., who are majoring in business, computer science, mathematics and related fields.
Contact: achievement@geico.com
#24. Golden Key Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Deadline: June and/or December
Golden Key offers $1,000,000 in scholarships and awards each year for members who are undergraduates and graduate students. The scholarships are in areas of education, leadership, community service, and more. Each scholarship requires a different application. Go to the scholarship page on the Golden Key International Honour Society page to find out more about each scholarship.
#25. Siebel Scholarship
Amount: $35,000
Deadline: June
The Siebel Scholars Foundation was established by the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation in 2000. Each year 85 graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership receive a $35,000 scholarships for their final year of studies. Students are chosen from among 17 of the world’s leading graduate programs in business, computer science, and bioengineering.
Contact: ssf@siebel.org
#26. Stuck at Prom Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: June
Duck Tape gives out $50,000 in scholarships each year to high school seniors who create the best prom outfits using nothing but Duck Tape. The rules are simple. Craft unique prom wear using Duck Tape, attend a school-sanctioned, photo your experience, and then submit up to five photos to StuckAtProm.com. Students have a chance to win a scholarships ranging from $500 to $10,000.
#27. Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: July
Since 2001 the en and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship Program has been helping qualifying students pay for higher education. The scholarship is merit-based and thus financial need is not weighed in the decision. Students must fill out an online form and submit a 250 word essay on an assigned topic in order to apply for the scholarship. Winners receives a $1,000 scholarship.
Contact: scholarships@gkscholarship.com
#28. U.S. Bank Financial Genius Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: September
The U.S. Bank Financial Genius Scholarship Program is only open to students ages 13 and up her are U.S. residents as well as high school seniors or currently enrolled in undergraduate education in a two or four-year school. Applicants must fill out a simple application as well as complete all eight Financial Genius education modules to qualify. Residents of New York and Florida, Puerto Rico, Guam, and other U.S. Territories are not eligible for the scholarship.
Contact: scholarship@usbank.com
#29. JW Surety Bonds Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: September
JW Surety Bonds has a contest in which brilliant young minds to craft compelling content for their website. In recent years fewer than 200 students entered into the contest. Contestants are given a list of acceptable topics from which they must create an interesting, professional, and compelling blog post. Semifinalists will have their work published on the corporate website. The finalist wins a $1,000 scholarship.
Contact: scholarship@jwsuretybonds.com
#30. Siemens Competition in Math, Science, & Technology
Amount: $100,000
Deadline: September
Considered to be one of the nation’s premier competition in math, science and technology, the Siemens Competition promotes greatness in math, science and technology. The competition is open to High school students who submit innovative individual and team research projects. There are regional and national scholarships awarded ranging from $1,000 up to $100,000. Entries are accepted as early as May of each year.
Contact: siemenscompetition@discovery.com
#31. Quest Bridge National College Match
Amount: Full Scholarship
Deadline: September
The QuestBridge National College Match allows low-income students who have had academic success with admission and full four-year scholarships to partner colleges. The scholarships are provided by participating colleges and cover the full cost of tuition, room and board. They are loan-free and require no parental contribution. QuestBridge’s partner colleges include some of the nation’s leading colleges and universities.
Contact: questions@questbridge.org
#32. Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest
Amount: $20,000
Deadline: October
The Ayn Rand Institute offers several essay contests for students as young as 8th grade. The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is the ARI’s ultimate essay contest. It is open to 12th grade, undergraduate and graduate students, and offers the chance to win a $20,000 scholarship. Runners up can win anywhere from $50 t0 $2,000 in scholarship prizes. Applicants must write an essay in 800 to 1,600 words on one of three assigned topics. The essays will be judged on style and content and must display an acute understanding of Atlas Shrugged.
Contact: essays@aynrand.org
#33. Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway
Amount: $100,000
Deadline: October
Students 18 to 24 are eligible for scholarships of $5,000 to $100,000 with Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway. Eligible students simply have to go to the Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway website and submit their “one of a kind goal” to enter for a chance to win up to $100,000. Finalists will compete for tuition scholarships in a handful of NCAA football bowl championship games.
#34. First Freedom Student Competition
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: November
Open to students grades 9 through 12, the First Freedom Student Competition is a national essay and video contest. Students must write and essay or produce a video which explores the history and current-day relevance of religious freedom. Students who submit the top essay and video each receive a scholarship for $2,500. Registration deadline is in November and winners are announced by the following April.
Contact: competition@firstfreedom.org
#35. Intel Science Talent Search
Amount: $150,000
Deadline: November
The Intel Science Talent Search (Intel STS) receives over 1,800 applications for their scholarship each year. Candidates are judged on the quality of their cutting-edge technological solutions to solve complex problems. 300 semifinalists are chosen to receive cash prizes. From there, the field is narrowed down to 40 finalists who compete in a week-long event in Washington, D.C. The top nine contenders receives scholarships of $35,000, $75,000, or $150,000. The other 31 finalists receive a scholarship of $7,500. A total of $1.6 million is awarded.
#36. Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: November
Established in 1995 by Prudential in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors middle school and high school students for outstanding service to others at the local, state, and national level. Students chosen as Local Honorees receive a Certificate of Achievement from their schools or organizations. State Honorees receive an award of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for national recognition events. National Honorees receive an additional award of $5,000and a $5,000 grant for a charitable organization of their choice.
Contact: info@applyists.com
#37. Voice of Democracy Scholarship
Amount: $30,000
Deadline: November
Nearly 38,000 high school students from across the country enter to win a share of the $2.2 million in educational scholarships annually through the Voice of Democracy program (VOD). The goal of VOD is to provide students with the opportunity to express their opinions and beliefs on democratic ideas and principles. Students must be in grade 9 through 12 to qualify. Applicants are required to write and record an original speech on the provided topic and submit their recording. This scholarship is sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization.
Contact: kharmer@vfw.org
#38. Elks Most Valuable Students Competition
Amount: $15,000
Deadline: December
The Elks National Foundation awards 500 four-year scholarships to the highly qualified high school students. The scholarships range from $1,000 to $15,000 a year for the student’s four years of college. Students must pursue a four-year degree on a full-time basis (at least 12 semester hours) at a U.S. college or university in order to be eligible for the scholarship. Applications must be submitted in early December to the Elks Lodge closest to the student’s permanent U.S. address.
Contact: Scholarship@elks.org
#39. Scholarship America’s Dream Award
Amount: $15,000
Deadline: December
Scholarship America’s Dream Award is a renewable scholarship fund aimed at motivating students to finish college. Students who are entering their second or higher year of college are eligible for application. Scholarship awards are between $5,000 and $15,000 each year and grow by $1,000 each year until students graduate (up to a 5-year degree program).
Contact: dreamaward@scholarshipamerica.org
#40. American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest
Amount: $18,000
Deadline: Fall
The American Legion sponsors an Oratorical Contest for high school students under the age of 20 to help foster a deeper understanding of the constitution among young people. Speeches must be emphasize the duties and obligations of citizens to our government regarding some aspect of the U.S. Constitution. Over $138,000 in scholarships can be awarded each year. The overall national contest winner gets an $18,000 scholarship. Second place takes home $16,000, and third gets $14,000. Each department (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the national contest’s first round receives a $1,500 scholarship. Those who advance past the first round receive an additional $1,500 scholarship.
Contact: oratorical@legion.org
#41. Anne Frank Outstanding Scholarship Award
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Fall
The Anne Frank Center USA has a scholarship available for students who exemplify the commitment, ideals and courage that Anne Frank exhibited. These community leaders must be graduating high school seniors who have been accepted to a four-year college. The grand prize is a $10,000 scholarship. A second winner will receive a one-time $5,000 scholarship. Runners up will receive a one-time stipend towards their college education.
Contact: info@annefrank.com
#42. AXA Achievement Scholarship
Amount: $25,000
Deadline: Fall
The AXA Achievement Scholarship is awarded to 52 students nationwide who demonstrate ambition and drive. One student is selected from each state, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Each state winner receives a scholarship award of $10,000. Ten students are selected from the pool of 52 as national winners and receive an additional $15,000, bringing the national AXA Achievers’ total scholarship awards to $25,000 each. AXA has a second scholarship opportunity called AXA Achievement Community Scholarship in which they award up to 375 students a $2,500 scholarship.
#43. Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship
Amount: $20,000
Deadline: Fall
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a few scholarship opportunities for students. Each year over 1,400 students receive scholarships of $3,45 million. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship awards 150 students with an achievement-based scholarship of $20,000. Applicants must be current high school (or home-schooled) seniors attending school in the United States who are planning on attending an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution. They must also have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
Contact: scholars@coca-cola.com
#44. Poetry Out Loud Scholarship Contest
Amount: $20,000
Deadline: Fall
Poetry Out Loud is a scholarship contest that encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. Poetry Out Loud starts at the classroom level. Winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to a regional and/or state competition, and eventually to the National Finals. Scholarship awards range from $200 for school-wide winners to $20,000 for the national winner. If you are interested in competing check with your school counselor about how to host an event at your school.
Contact: mail@poetryoutloud.org
#45. Chegg $1,000 Monthly Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Monthly
Every month Chegg.com has a simple $1,000 scholarship contest. The only requirement is a three-sentence response to a question or a prompt given by Chegg. Contestants must be at least 16 years old and must currently be enrolled in high school. Registration is free. This is one of the easiest ways to get money for college so get started today.
#46. ScholarshipPoints.com Scholarships
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Monthly
Each year, the ScholarshipPoints.com awards more than $100,000 in scholarships to current and future college students. ScholarshipPoints.com awards three or more $1,000 scholarships every month and a $10,000 scholarship every three months to ScholarshipPoints.com members. Members earn points by doing things like taking online surveys, playing online games, and referring friends to the program. Members “spend” their points to enter drawings. Membership is free.
Contact: members@scholarshippoints.com
#47. Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Monthly (10 months)
The Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation creates innovative scholarship opportunities in which participants of all levels have a fair chance at earning money for school. There are no essays, applications, or GPA requirements. Students simply take a quiz to show common knowledge. Students who receive the highest score on the quiz can win $250 to $2,500. The maximum amount that any one person may win with CKSF is $5,000.
#48. Discover Card Scholarship Program
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Quarterly
Discover Card has an easy way for students to win $2,500 of educational scholarship money. Students 16 or older who either are enrolled in an accredited four-year program or plan to enroll in an accredited four-year program qualify. Five winners are drawn randomly every June, September, December, and March.
#49. DoSomething.Org Seasonal Scholarships
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Quarterly
DoSomething.org is an organization comprised of young people who are passionate about social change. They offer various socially driven scholarship offers throughout the year. For example, students can come up with ways to engage and serve the elderly, they can participate in a text conversation with a person from a different religion, and they can organize clothing recycle programs, among a list of other things. Each campaign awards a winner with a $1,000 scholarship. When you compete to win a campaign you automatically enter to win a $10,000 scholarship.
Contact: scholarships@dosomething.org
#50. Horatio Alger Scholarship Award
Amount: $22,000
Deadline: Varies
The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. offers a scholarship in honor of Horatia Alger, Jr., who wrote novels about young urban poor people overcoming great adversity with courage and moral strength. This is a need based scholarship awarded to students who can demonstrate that they have a drive to overcome adversity and succeed. Students can win up to $22,000. There are lower levels of scholarships for state finalists. Most states have fall application deadlines. A handful have spring deadlines.