Need-Based Scholarships: What You Need to Know

What are Need-Based Scholarships?

Need-based scholarships are generally awarded to students and families who can demonstrate financial need. The scholarship application process usually requires proof of income or financial hardship.

Financial-Need Scholarships and Grants

Quad City Regional Auto Show Scholarship

Deadline: 1/19/25 Award Amount: $5,000 The Quad City Regional Auto Show Scholarship is available to students from eastern Iowa and western Illinois. You must have worked or have a relative who has worked for at least one year at a new car dealership located in the Foundation service area. You must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this award.

Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: 2/7/25
Award Amount: $500 - $5,000 The Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors and full - time college freshmen and sophomores. To be considered, you must demonstrate financial need and exhibit academic excellence, leadership skills, and community involvement. You must also be a resident of the District of Columbia, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.

IMEG Engineering Scholarship Program

Deadline: 3/14/25
Award Amount: $10,000 The IMEG Engineering Scholarship Program is open to full - time, underrepresented sophomore, junior, and senior students. You must be pursuing a degree in engineering and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this award.

Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship

Deadline: 4/1/25
Award Amount: $3,000 The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship is available to undergraduate students. You must demonstrate a record of academic achievement, qualities of leadership, a commitment to public service, and financial need to be considered for this award.

Children and Youth Scholarship

Deadline: 5/1/25 Award Amount: $500 The Children and Youth Scholarship is available to students who are residents of Maine and are enrolled in or attending an accredited college or vocational / technical school. You must demonstrate financial need and be a U.S. citizen to be considered for this award.

Taigh Scholarship

Deadline: 2/12/25 Award Amount: $1,000 The Taigh Scholarship is available to graduating high school senior students in rural Caledonia County, Vermont. To be considered for this award, you must demonstrate financial need and strong education and work ethic. Additionally, you must submit an application, at least one letter of recommendation, academic transcript, and an essay submission describing commitment, goals, financial need, community service, and your uniqueness.

Oregon Opportunity Grant

Deadline: Rolling Award Amount: $900 - $7,500 The Oregon Opportunity Grant is available to students of all ages who are pursuing their first associate or bachelor's degree at an eligible public or private institution. To be eligible for this award, you must demonstrate financial need, have been a resident of Oregon for at least one year, be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (six credit hours).

GHF Emerge Scholarship

Deadline: Rolling Award Amount: $1,000 The GHF Emerge Scholarship is available to students interested in pursuing a career in Nursing. You must demonstrate financial need and be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen to be considered for this award.

Boundless Opportunity Scholarship

Deadline: Rolling Award Amount: Varies The Boundless Opportunity Scholarship is open to non-traditional students residing in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. You must demonstrate financial need, academic promise, strength of character, leadership potential, a well - rounded personality, and willingness to give back to the community to be eligible for this award.

CIA Assistance Grant

Deadline: Rolling Award Amount: $1,000 - $5,000 The CIA Assistance Grant is available to students in a degree program at Culinary Institute of America. You must demonstrate financial to be eligible for this grant.

Alice Belkin Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: Rolling Award Amount: $4,000 The Alice Belkin Memorial Scholarship is available to graduate students at UCLA. You must be from an underrepresented cultural, racial, linguistic, geographic or socioeconomic background. You must have an interest in international relations and globalization and have at least a 3.0 GPA. You must demonstrate financial need and be a US citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for this award. A statement of interest and two letters of recommendation are required with your application.

The Gates Scholarship

Deadline: 2024 Deadline Passed – Check back for the 2025 scholarship details. Award Amount: Full-Tuition The Gates Scholarship is available to African - American, American Indian / Alaska Native, Asian / Pacific Islander American, and / or Hispanic American high school seniors. You must have a minimum 3.3 GPA and be Pell-eligible to be considered for this award.

Who Qualifies for Need-Based Scholarships?

To qualify for need-based scholarships, a student must submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some scholarship providers may require prior-year tax information from the student's parents or legal guardians.

Types of Need-Based Scholarships

There are a variety of need-based scholarships. Such as the following: • Federal Need-Based Scholarships • State Need-Based Scholarships • Nonprofit and Private Need-Based Scholarships • College and University Need-Based Scholarships It's important to understand that financial aid and scholarships are not the same thing. Both terms can often be used incorrectly. Students apply for need-based scholarships and are asked to prove their need for financial support. Federal and state financial aid cannot be given if a student has not s their FAFSA and meets the qualifications to receive financial aid.

Writing a Financial Need Scholarship Essay

If you're applying for a need-based scholarship that requires an essay. Be sure to follow the essay prompts. Some need-based scholarship applications may want the student applicant to explain their financial situation and/or struggles to pay for an education. Meanwhile, other need-based scholarship application prompts may not be financially focused.

Additional Financial Resources

Consider checking out the following resources for more information related to financial support and opportunities to help you pay for school: Public Service Careers that Will Pay for Your College Degree What’s the FAFSA? And Why Should You Care? Are Financial Aid and Scholarships the Same Thing? 10 Ways to Pay for College That You May Not Have Considered Billions in Financial Aid Goes Unclaimed Every Year Save time by getting scholarship matches that fit YOU; create your free Fastweb profile today!