Congrats, your first semester as a college student is just around the corner!
Continue to apply for scholarships throughout college; you'll want to check out the scholarship lists below:
Scholarships for College Freshmen
Scholarships for College Students
Remember that photo of you on your first day of school as a kindergartner? The year you and your parents have dreamed of has arrived. You’re officially, rulers of the school, high school campus royalty, high school SENIORS: Class of 2021! You'll soon be bound for higher education.
It’s too early for senioritis to hit. So, before you get too excited, you have some serious things to knock off your high school senior to-do list. At the top of that list: Apply for college scholarships! The good news is there are A LOT of financial aid opportunities for senior high school students.
Scholarships are awarded for a variety of reasons. They can be merit based, essay based, academic achievement driven or athletic scholarships. Up your game by staying involved in your local community too.
Applying for scholarships your senior year is a numbers game, and the more scholarships you apply for your high school senior year, the better your chances of actually winning. The key to a great scholarship search is to start applying as soon as possible.
Check out these Four Scholarship Tips via this Instagram Reel:
Here at Fastweb, we can help high school seniors find scholarships and get you the financial aid you'll need to make college more affordable. Here is a list to get you started:
$1,000 April Scholarship
Deadline: 4/20/21Tzu Chi USA Scholars Program
Deadline: 4/30/21April 2021 Fastweb Invite a Friend Sweepstakes
Deadline: 4/30/21$2,000 Spring Scholarship
Deadline: 4/30/21The $25,000 "Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship
Deadline: 4/30/2021Travel is Education Scholarship
Deadline: 4/30/2021Anthem Essay Contest
Deadline: 4/29/21Paradigm Challenge
Deadline: 5/01/21Beans for Brains Scholarship
Safe Driving Scholarship
Deadline: 5/31/21Triumph Over Adversity Scholarship
Deadline: 5/31/21The Earnest Scholarship Fund
Deadline: 6/30/21Digital Privacy Scholarship
Deadline: 6/30/21$2,000 Minecraft Scholarship
Spirit of Giving Scholarship
Deadline: 7/31/2021Sugar Spun Scholarship
Mrs. Prindables, Future Educator Scholarship
Deadline: 8/19/21AES Engineers Scholarship
Deadline: 10/08/2021George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest
Deadline: VariesSilver Medal with Distinction Portfolio Award
Deadline: VariesYoung Women In Public Affairs Award
Deadline: VariesO Wines Opportunity for Success Scholarship
Deadline: VariesPulse of Perseverance Scholarship
Deadline: VariesProm Pics Contest
Deadline: VariesGold Medal Portfolio Award
Deadline: VariesAmerican Legion National Oratorical Contest
Deadline: RollingOptimist International Oratorical Contest
Deadline: VariesAlert Scholarship
Deadline: Varies
Award Amount: $1,000
Each new school year is an opportunity for a fresh start, so we're giving away a $1,000 scholarship to help kickoff the new school year.
Award Amount: $1,000 The Tzu Chi USA Scholars Program is available to graduating high school seniors and continuing undergraduate students. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Selection will be based on financial need, academic achievement, and community involvement.
Award Amount: $500
The Fastweb Invite a Friend Sweepstakes is open to registered Fastweb members who are legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and who are at least sixteen (16) years of age. You must log into your Fastweb account to obtain your personal referral link. For each person who registers for Fastweb via your personal referral link during the Promotion Period, you and your referral will entered as a pair into the monthly drawing.
Award Amount: $2,000
When you register on CollegeXpress and answer this one question you will be entered into our monthly scholarship contest. Just tell us “If you traveled for spring break, where did you go? If you didn’t, where would you have loved to go?”. All entries must be made in April 2021 to be valid.
Award Amount: $25,000
Build a profile at Bold.org to showcase your goals, achievements, and drive. The $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. To us, boldest does not mean “best”, or “most accomplished”. Being bold means being: Earnest, Determined and Moving. The scholarship will be awarded to the student whose profile is the most bold, according to these characteristics.
Award Amount: $500 - $1,000 The Travel Is Education Scholarship is open to U.S. students in grades 6 through 12. You must submit two-dimensional artwork, photos, or a writing (maximum one page) on the theme of "Becoming a Global Citizen". Sample topics are available on the Web site provided. You must be traveling on an ACIS tour between October 15, 2020 through October 14, 2021, in order to qualify for this award
Award Amount: $2,000 The Anthem Essay Contest is open to students in 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade. You must submit an essay of between 600 and 1,200 words based on Ayn Rand's "Anthem" You must choose on one of the three topics provided on the sponsor's website. Essays will be judged on style and content.
Award Amount: $100,000 The Paradigm Challenge is open to students up to the age of 18. You may work in a team or alone in creating an original and creative way to help solve real-life problems in homes, schools, communities, and/or around the world. Entries may come in the form of posters, videos, inventions, messages, community events, websites, mobile apps, or anything else that will help save lives. Additionally, you must submit a brief statement of your idea (140 characters or less) in order to qualify for this award.
Deadline: 5/14/21
Award Amount: $2,500 The Beans for Brains Scholarship is available to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students of all majors. You must know how to knit, crochet, and / or weave; and have a minimum 3.2 GPA to be eligible for this award. You must also submit one personal photo of yourself with your self - made project.
Award Amount: $1,000
The Safe Driving Scholarship is open to high school and college students. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and submit a 750 word essay that responds to the prompt: "Discuss the current texting and driving laws in your state and what could be improved to promote safety on the roads" in order to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: $1,000 The Triumph Over Adversity Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors, undergraduate, graduate, or law program students. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and submit a 750-word essay that discusses "an experience that you had while overcoming challenges related to a disability you personally have or helped a friend overcome. How did you overcome this adversity and achieve goals despite personal challenges?"
Award Amount: $5,000 At Earnest, we believe in helping people realize their hopes and dreams through further education. To give back to the community, Earnest launched a scholarship fund that will help 50 students take on less debt. For every student loan we refinance, we put a percentage of our profits towards the scholarship fund. The Earnest Scholarship Fund awards $5,000 to 50 deserving students. There are no essays to write and no fees, to ensure every student has the opportunity to enter the scholarship. Who can enter: Applicants must be enrolled, or soon be enrolled, as a full-time student at an accredited U.S. college or university in Fall 2021. There are no minimum GPA, residency, or major requirements. Applicants can be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (including DACA students).
Award Amount: $1,500 The Digital Privacy Scholarship is available to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. You must be U.S. citizen or legal resident and submit a brief message about digital privacy to qualify for this award.
Deadline: 7/31/21
Award Amount: $2,000 The $2,000 Minecraft Scholarship is open to high school and college students. You must be a U.S. citizen, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and submit an essay of at least 500 words that details your opinion on how Minecraft can be a positive influence on education and career development in order to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: $1,000 The Spirit of Giving Scholarship is available to high school seniors and current college students. You must submit an essay of between 500 and 750 words on one of the following three topics in order to be considered for this award: How have you advanced the spirit of giving in your community or abroad either through service or in giving? How has the spirit of giving affected you personally? How will your college or post-secondary education allow you to be of service to others or give to others?
Deadline: 8/1/2021
Award Amount: $500 The Sugar Spun Scholarship is open to high school seniors and current college students. You must submit an essay of no more than 1,000 words on one of the food related topics provided on the sponsor's website in order to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: $1,000
The Future Educator Scholarship is available to incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students. You must be pursuing a degree in education to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $500 The AES Engineers Scholarship is available to high school seniors and all students attending a post secondary educational facility. You must submit a required essay of between 500 and 1,000 words in answer to the following question: "When you look back on your life in 30 years, what would it take for you to consider your life successful? What relationships or accomplishments will be important on this journey?" You need not be majoring in engineering to qualify for this award. Selection is based on character, as determined by an evaluation of the essays that are submitted.
Award Amount: $2,000 The George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest is open to high school students. You must submit an 800 - to 1200 - word essay discussing an event, person, philosophy, or ideal associated with the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. Essays will be judged on historical accuracy, clarity of thought, organization and proven topic, grammar and spelling, and documentation.
Award Amount: $1,000 The Silver Medal with Distinction Portfolio Award is open to graduating high school seniors whose works have received national recognition. You must submit a portfolio of eight distinct art or written works that exemplify originality, technical skill and personal voice in order to be considered for this award. Art portfolios must communicate a single cohesive idea or visual investigation and written portfolios must demonstrate versatility and diversity in writing technique and style.
Award Amount: $1,000 The Young Women In Public Affairs Award is available to female students who are between 16 and 19 years of age of April 1st of each year. You must reside in a Zonta district / region, or be a citizen of a Zonta country to be eligible for this award. You must also demonstrate superior leadership skills and a commitment to public service and civic causes.
Award Amount: 8 awards of $5,000 The O Wines Opportunity for Success Scholarship is available to female high school seniors who plan to enroll full - time in a four - year undergraduate program. You must have a minimum 3.2 GPA and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: Varies
The Pulse of Perseverance Scholarship is available to high school and college students. To be considered, you must read the book, "Pulse of Perseverance: Three Black Doctors on Their Journey to Success" and submit a 250 - word essay focusing on how you are currently making a difference in your community and why you believe you have the #pulseofperseverance. You must also submit a 60 - second video on why you possess the #pulseofperseverance and what the scholarship will mean to you.
Award Amount: $250 The Prom Pics Contest is open to high school students. To be eligible, you must submit a high resolution photo from your prom event. Prizes will be awarded in each of the following categories: promposal, pre-prom, prom dance, and post-prom.
Award Amount: 16 awards of $510,000 The Gold Medal Portfolio Award is open to graduating high school seniors. You must submit a portfolio of eight distinct art or written works that exemplify originality, technical skill and personal voice in order to be considered for this award. Art portfolios must communicate a single cohesive idea or visual investigation and written portfolios must demonstrate versatility and diversity in writing technique and style.
Award Amount: From $14,000 - $18,000 The National High School Oratorical Contest is open to junior high and high school students who are under the age of 20 and citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States. You must prepare an oration on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government. A complete list of topics are available on the Legion's Web site. Each individual state winner certified into and participating in the first round of the national contest receives an additional $1,500 scholarship.
Award Amount: $2,500
The Optimist International Oratorical Contest is open to students under the age of 19. To be considered for this award, you must prepare a 4 to 5 minute speech on the topic, "How My Passions Impact the World" to be presented at your local Optimist Club's contest.
Award Amount: $500
The Alert Scholarship is available to high school seniors in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. To be considered, you must submit a 650 - to 800 - word essay about a personal encounter you, or someone you know, has had with drug and / or alcohol abuse, how it was dealt with, and, in your opinion, what was right or wrong about the way the incident or problem was handled. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
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Shawna Newman
Managing Editor, Contributing Writer
Shawna Newman is the Managing Editor and a writer at Fastweb. She has over 10 years of experience in higher education. Her direct work with college admissions teams, financial aid officers, college deans, ...
