Top 359 Need Based Scholarships in September 2023

Open to any BIPOC and/or female high school senior or undergraduate who is a first-generation, low-income student interested in STEM.

Are you a low-income high school senior who has excelled academically, but feels that their dream colleges are financially out of reach? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you: the Questbridge National College Match Scholarship! Through this scholarship application process, you will be able to apply to the U.S.’s top colleges for free and be considered for early admission, as well as a full, four-year scholarship. If you win and are “matched” with a school, the scholarship will cover the costs of your tuition, room and board, books and supplies, and even travel costs! You nor your parents will be required to pay for college or take out any student loans. Rather, you will be expected to keep up the good work and potentially make a small contribution in the form of federal work-study, summer work, or summer savings. The scholarship process is hosted by Questbridge, “a powerful platform that connects the nation's brightest students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education and further opportunities.” If you’re an academically excellent high school senior from a low-income background, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a U.S. citizen and high school senior (or the equivalent) planning on enrolling full-time in a postsecondary institution in the U.S.? If so, consider applying for the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards 500 (yes, 500!) four-year scholarships to the highest-rated applicants. The scholarships range from $1,000 per year to $7,500 per year - totaling between $4,000 and $30,000 in aid over the course of one’s undergraduate career. The scholarship is funded by Elks National Foundation, an organization dedicated to investing in their communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, meeting the needs of today’s veterans, and improving their quality of life. If you’re a U.S. citizen currently in your last year of high school with plans to attend a U.S. post-secondary institution full-time, we encourage you to apply for the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship!

Are you a high-achieving high school senior who will need financial help to attend the college(s) of your dreams? If so, consider applying for the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship! This prestigious scholarship offers winning applicants up to $55,000 per year. In addition to monetary awards, winners receive college planning support, advising, and networking opportunities. The scholarship is funded by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the foundation has awarded more than $222 million in scholarships. The Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship typically accepts applications from August until mid-November, each year. If you’re an academically excellent high school senior looking for some financial help to attend college, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a college-bound high school senior attending a public school in the United States? Further, do you come from a low-income household? If all those statements apply, consider applying for the Hagan Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship vows to meet the unmet financial need of its top applicants, awarding up to $6,000 per semester (for a total of $48,000 over four years)! If winners achieve a 3.75 GPA or above during their time in college, they will also be eligible to extend their Hagan Scholarship for two additional years to attend graduate school. Applicants may even receive additional money depending upon their GPA, grade level, and other academic achievements. All this information can be found in the “description of scholarship.” The scholarship is funded by Dan Hagan, a self-made businessman from rural Missouri who is dedicated to helping students in similar circumstances to those he experienced in his youth. If you meet the eligibility criteria and want some help paying off your college costs, we encourage you to apply! Bear in mind that this scholarship runs from September 1st to December 1st of the current year.

Are you a college-bound high school senior looking for financial assistance to pay off your postsecondary education? If so, consider applying for the Dell Scholars Program! The program is open to incoming college students who are eligible for the Pell Grant and participated in a college readiness program in grades 11 and 12. The Dell Scholars Program was created by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation in 1999 to provide support for students from low-income backgrounds pursuing a degree. Each year, 500 students are selected to become Dell Scholars and receive $20,000 to pay for their college expenses. In addition to the scholarship, Dell Scholars receive other benefits like a laptop, Chegg credits for textbooks, access to teletherapy, and more. If you come from a low-income background and need some help paying for your education, we encourage you to apply! Bear in mind that this scholarship runs from October 1st to December 1st annually.

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

Are you a Black or African American U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is currently a high school senior? Furthermore, are you planning on soon attending college and have an interest in global entrepreneurship and/or community engagement? If that sounds like you, consider applying for the Ron Brown scholarship! Dedicated to supporting community-minded and intellectually gifted African Americans, the scholarship awards $40,000 scholarships to 45-50 hardworking students each year. The scholarship is awarded over the course of one’s four-year undergraduate career, offering $10,000 per year. Winners must be planning on attending accredited four-year universities in the United States. In order to apply, applicants must submit two 500-word essays, transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. If you’re passionate about community engagement and want some help paying for college, we encourage you to apply! Bear in mind that this scholarship opens in September and has two annual deadlines. The deadlines are November 1st (to have your application be considered for the Ron Brown Scholar Program AND forwarded to a select and limited number of additional scholarship providers) and January 9th (final deadline in order to be considered for only the Ron Brown Scholar Program).

Are you an exceptional and motivated college junior who hopes to complete a graduate degree in the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences? If so, consider applying for the Beinecke Scholarship Program! The scholarship is funded by The Sperry and Hutchinson Company, an organization led by the Beinecke brothers who shared a deep affection and interest in leading a company that set the pace for corporate philanthropy. To honor Edwin, Frederick, and Walter Beinecke, the board of Directors of The Sperry and Hutchinson Company created this scholarship in 1971 to provide financial support and to encourage exceptional young students to pursue opportunities available to them in the field of arts, humanities, and the social sciences. Each chosen scholar will receive $5,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school. If you’re passionate about completing a graduate degree in the arts or social sciences and are looking for some help to fund your graduate study, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a high school senior with critical financial need and perseverance in overcoming adversity? Further, will you be enrolled in a U.S. college or university the fall after graduation? If so, consider applying for some of the many Horatio Alger Undergraduate Scholarships! These scholarships aim to help U.S. citizens with financial need attend college at a lower cost, awarding between $10,000 and $52,000 each. The scholarships are offered by the Horatio Alger Association, an organization with a mission to “fund need-based college scholarships for low-income youth to pursue their dreams through higher education.” As each scholarship has differing criteria, there are bound to be some you meet the criteria for. We recommend giving them a look-through and applying if you meet the criteria! Bear in mind that this scholarship runs from December 1st to March 15th annually.

Are you a full-time high school junior in the U.S. dedicated to pursuing and completing a bachelor’s degree after high school? Additionally, do you demonstrate critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income)? If either applies, we encourage you to apply for the Horatio Alger National Scholarships! Awarding low-income students for overcoming and persevering through the challenges in their lives, the Horatio Alger National Scholarships grant $25,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to 106 students each year. All you need to do to apply is fully complete and submit the online application and required materials (which are also submitted on the application). If you’re a low-income student passionate about receiving an undergraduate education, the Horatio Alger National Scholarships may be a great opportunity for you! Bear in mind that this scholarship runs from December 1st to March 15th annually.

The CCNMA Scholarships range from $500 to $1,000 per student and are based on several criteria, including: commitment to the field of journalism, scholastic achievement, community awareness and financial need. Students must be enrolled full time for the entire academic year in which they apply. They must also be a California resident or attend an accredited college or university in California. All winners are invited to and recognized at the annual CCNMA Scholarship Banquet. If you meet the below eligibility criteria, we encourage you to apply!

The Daniel Murphy Scholarship is funded by the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, an organization with a mission to provide financial and educational support Chicago students from underfunded neighborhoods. Each year, the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund awards approximately 130 - 140 scholarships worth around $7,500 each to help exceptional, low-income middle school students from Chicago attend college preparatory high schools. These scholarships can be renewed for an additional three years, meaning recipients can earn up to $30,000 total. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading for more application details.

The Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program is designed to provide financial assistance for currently employed early childhood educators and providers who enroll in a certificate, associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree program in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Family Studies, Child Care Administration, or fields that directly name early child development and its specific areas of inquiry. Both U.S. Citizens and non-citizens are eligible to apply, but every applicant must be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts. For more information on the employment requirements and a full list of eligible institutions, we encourage you to visit the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance's website. If you're eligible, we encourage you to apply! Keep on making a difference in your own life and those of the children you serve, every day.

The Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) is open to Ohio residents in an associate degree, first bachelor’s degree, or nurse diploma program at an eligible Ohio or Pennsylvania institution with an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) of $3,750 or less and a maximum household income of $96,000. To apply, interested students must submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by October 1st of the application year. If you're eligible, we encourage you to apply, and wish you good luck! Keep on reading to learn more.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, a government branch that works to increase “mutual understanding by means of educational and cultural exchange that assist in the development of peaceful relations.” Each year, their Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program awards up to $5,000 to Pell Grant-eligible students at accredited U.S. universities who are applying or have been accepted to study abroad programs. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.

The Forward Steps Scholarship is dedicated to empowering foster youth to achieve their academic goals and pursue their passions. This scholarship is exclusively available to applicants with a background in the foster care system. If you're a Colorado resident and plan to attend or are currently enrolled in one of Forward Steps' partnering colleges, universities, or trade schools in the Denver metro, Longmont, Fort Collins, or Greeley areas, we encourage you to apply. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take a step forward towards your future!

The International Society of Women Airline Pilots Financial Scholarship is awarded to a minimum of two applicants each year to be used towards an advanced flight training program. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an advanced flight training program; or have completed ab-initio flight training, hold a current first class medical certificate. Additional requirements include last 3 pages of your log book, 2 letters of recommendation, and a list of FAA.