Big Scholarships to Apply for in December

Consider applying for these big scholarship opportunities during December and January (AKA, your winter break)!

Niche $50,000 "No Essay" Scholarship

Available to: High School Freshmen through College Graduate Students, Year 5 Deadline: 12/31/24 Award Amount: $50,000 Help cover the cost of college without writing a single essay! Niche is giving one student $50,000 to help pay for tuition, housing, books and other college expenses — no essay required!

Live Más Scholarship

Available to: Ages 16-24 Deadline: 1/8/25 Award Amount: $25,000 The Live Más Scholarship is available to innovators, creators, and dreamers between the ages of 16 and 24. To be considered, you must create and submit a film, animation, or a simple testimonial of up to two minutes in length that tells the story of your life's passion.

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Science Competition

Available to: High School Students Deadline: 1/31/25 Award Amount: $10,000 The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Science Competition is available to students in grades K-12. You must work in a group of two to four students. Each team must select a technology, or an aspect of a technology, which is present in the home, school, or community, or any other technology relevant to their lives. They will explore what the technology does, how it works, and how, when, and why it was invented. The students must then project into the future what that technology could be like 10 or more years in the future and determine what scientific breakthroughs need to occur to make it a reality.

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

Available to: High School Seniors Deadline: 1/3/25 Award Amount: $40,000 The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program offers college scholarships of up to $40,000 for high school seniors nationwide who showcase leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship. Recipients join a network of exceptional students and young professionals who desire to lead, serve, and have a positive impact on their communities. Scholars will earn a $10,000 renewable scholarship - up to $40,000 total - for tuition, school fees, books, supplies, and on-campus room and board, attend an exclusive, all-expenses-paid Scholars Retreat in California, and receive support throughout their leadership journeys in college and beyond. Candidates must demonstrate the attributes of leadership, integrity, drive, and citizenship within their communities, schools, and workplaces, display strong academic performance (minimum 3.0 grade point average/4.0 scale or equivalent), be citizens of the United States of America, be current high school seniors attending high school within the United States, (including any U.S. territories or commonwealths), and graduating in winter 2024 or spring 2025. Applicants living on a U.S. Armed Forces base and attending high school outside the U.S. are eligible, and plan to enroll in a full time undergraduate course of study at an accredited four year college or university in the United States for the entire 2025-2026 academic school year Candidates can find out if they qualify, learn about the application process, get insights from past recipients, and apply online by the deadline of 3 p.m. CST on Jan. 3, 2025.

Profile in Courage Essay Contest

Available to: High School Students Deadline: 1/17/25 Award Amount: $10,000 The Profile in Courage Essay Contest is open to high school students. To be eligible, you must submit a 700 - to 1000 - word essay that describes and analyzes an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917. GED students under the age of 20 may also apply.

Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest

Available to: High School & College Students Deadline: 3/3/25 Award Amount: $10,000 The Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest is open to students who are at least 14 years of age. To enter, you must submit an original design for a Christmas card, holiday card, birthday card, or all - occasion greeting card. All designs or photographs must be the original work of the applicant.

CAPA Opportunity Abroad Scholarship

Available to: High School & College Students Deadline: 5/1/25 Award Amount: $5,000 - $10,000 The CAPA Opportunity Abroad Scholarship is open to students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in study abroad. This award is dedicated to supporting students from the following backgrounds: students of color, students with limited financial resources, first-generation, LGBTQIA+, students with disabilities, students of faith, veterans, and adult learners.

American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest

Available to: High School Students Deadline: Rolling Award Amount: $20,000 - $25,000 The National High School Oratorical Contest is open to junior high and high school students who are under the age of 20 and are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States. To be considered, you must prepare an oration on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with emphasis on a citizen's duties and obligations 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 a $2,000 scholarship. December and January are usually packed with activities. One big task for high school seniors and all current college students is to complete your 2025-2026 FAFSA. If you haven't already done so, use your winter break to get your FAFSA submitted! If you're feeling overwhelmed during the holiday season but want to stay on track applying for scholarships, it's okay to choose to apply for quick-apply scholarships! You can use your free time to enjoy the holiday season and still focus on ways to help you pay for school. There's finishing homework and assignments and preparing for finals and semester exams. Once you have wrapped up these end-of-semester activities, it's officially your December holiday break!