Top scholarships for college students

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What are scholarships for college students

Scholarships for college students are financial aid for college created specifically for college students. College student scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back. 

Eligibility requirements for college student scholarships

Before you apply to college student scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements to see if you qualify. Some common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a FAFSA®. Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!

Are college student scholarships worth my time

Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning. 

Pro tip? Don’t skip over college student scholarships that have smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!


How to find college student scholarships

There are many resources to help you find college student scholarships.

Scholarship resources

  • The financial aid office at a college or career school
  • Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
  • Federal agencies
  • Free scholarship search engines, like Scholarship Search by Sallie
  • Local libraries, businesses, or associations

Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation," or the county you live in and “foundation."


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Easily search through hundreds of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.

Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.


Scholarships for college students

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship

Due 12/31/2024

$2,000

ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship

Monthly deadlines

$50,000

CampusReel $2,000 Virtual Tour Scholarship

Monthly deadlines

$2,000

Be Bold No-Essay Scholarship

Monthly deadlines

$25,000

Father James B. Macelwane Annual Award in Meteorology

Due 6/13/2025

$1,000

Brooksville Education Foundation Scholarship

Due 6/15/2025

Amount varies

TGMF | Sallie Mae Fund Completing the Dream Gap Scholarship

Due 12/06/2024

$2,500

Food Dreams Scholarship

Rolling (evaluated when received)

Amount varies

What types of scholarships are available for college students

Need-based scholarships

These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.

Merit scholarships 

Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to be eligible. 

Career-specific grants or scholarships

These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”

Community or nonprofit scholarships

Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them. 


Tips for successful scholarship applications

  • Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application. 
  • You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
  • If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off. 
  • Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application. 
  • Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
  • Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
  • Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date. 
  • Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for. 

Here are more tips that can help you understand all there is to know about scholarships and up your chances of winning.


Frequently asked questions about scholarships for college students

These tips can help as you get ready to apply for scholarships for college students.

There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.

You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.

There’s no limit on the number of scholarships you can apply for or win, so apply for as many as you can. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are many! Check them out. Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.

Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—certain scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.

Need more money for college?

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footnote 1. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Ends 12/31/2024. See Official Rules.

footnote FAFSA® is a registered service mark of U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid.

footnote Sallie Mae does not provide, and these materials are not meant to convey, financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult your own financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney about your specific circumstances.

footnote External links and third-party references are provided for informational purposes only. Sallie Mae cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided by any third parties and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions contained therein. Any copyrights, trademarks, and/or service marks used in these materials are the property of their respective owners.