Top 25 Photography Scholarships for Students in June 2023

Are you an 11 - 18 year old who has a passion for saving the environment and/or the ocean? Additionally, would you like to make a statement about the impact of climate change through writing, artwork, or even dance? You might consider applying for the Ocean Awareness Art Contest! Dedicated to encouraging the next generation to get involved in ocean conservation (and environmentalism as a whole), the contest asks its applicants to create a piece of artwork that reflects an impact/aspect of the current environmental crisis and its effect on the ocean. Each year has a specific theme to focus on, with this year being climate change. If you would like to make a statement about climate change’s impact on the ocean through art, we encourage you to apply!

Easy scholarship from Nitro College open to all high school, college, community and graduate students.

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

The HIE Help Center Scholarship for Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Students is funded by the HIE Help Center, an organization that serves as an informational resource guide for families of children with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Every year, the HIE Help Center Scholarship for Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Students awards $1,000 to one postsecondary student pursuing a career in physical or speech therapy who submit a creative project about why they chose the field. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.

Are you a high school senior or college student interested in photo editing? If so, check out the Pretty Photoshop Actions Annual Scholarship! The scholarship is open to current or prospective college students who are looking to fund their education and write an essay-style tutorial for Adobe Photoshop. A photography business called Pretty Presents & Actions offers the scholarship award annually. The company was started in 2009 and is passionate about providing photo editing services and photography-related products to an international audience. Each year, the business awards $500 to help the lucky recipient pay for their college degree. If you’re a student interested in Adobe Photoshop and looking to fund your education, we encourage you to apply!

Are you an artistically driven individual who uses art to creatively benefit your community? If so, consider applying for the Trevor Coopersmith Urban Art Scholarship! The Trevor Coopersmith Urban Art Scholarship is open to all artistically driven individuals who utilize their art to creatively benefit their communities. The scholarship is funded by Trevor Coopersmith, a young artist and University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) graduate dedicated to helping out his community however he can. During college, Trevor worked four jobs in order to graduate debt-free without any financial support. Thus, he realized his dream was to help others by donating all his works and creating art for his community. Every year, his Urban Art Scholarship awards $350 to help one (1) lucky artist pursue their dreams. If you’re passionate about having a career in arts and are looking for some help to pay off your degree, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a post-secondary student with a passion for photojournalism? If so, consider applying for the International Documentary Photography Scholarship! The International Documentary Photography Scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students who use photography to bring attention to social issues. The scholarship is funded by Anchell Photography, Inc., an organization established by the award-winning photographer, Steve Anchell. Steve Anchell is a passionate photojournalist and photographer whose works have been exhibited in galleries and private collections around the world. To support young photographers pursuing socially conscious photography, Steve's "International Documentary Photography Scholarship" offers $1,000 to one talented applicant each year. Selection is based on students' submissions and demonstrated interest/involvement in using photography to document a person, group of people, place, event, or happening of social or personal importance. If you’re passionate about photography and are looking for some help to pay off your degree, we encourage you to apply!

The HSLDA Contests are funded by the Home School Legal Defense Association, an organization dedicated to protecting parents' rights to homeschooling and providing homeschooling families with the necessary resources. Each year, the Home School Legal Defense Association Contests award scholarships of varying amounts to multiple homeschooled students aged 7-19 (2nd graders through high school seniors) who create and submit original pieces of artwork, videos, or writing. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.

The Rick Jowett Fellowship was established by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation to support educational opportunities for photographers and videographers who work in media in Wisconsin. Recipients of the fellowship can use the grant for professional development in the areas of photography and videography. Applicants must specify how the funds will be used. Potential uses include but are not limited to courses offered by the National Press Photographers Association, the Poynter Institute, or any accredited college or university.

Are you an Asian or Pacific Islander high school senior or college student who is (or will be) pursuing a major in performing visual arts, journalism, and/or mass communications? If so, the Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship awards $1,000 to an applicant with an impressive artistic portfolio and thoughtful essay about their art. The scholarship is funded by Against the Grain Productions, an organization dedicated to promoting leadership, unity, and artistry in the Asian American community. If you would like to display your artwork while receiving financial help for college, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a high school student residing in the American west or U.S. territories whose Governors participate in the bipartisan Western Governors’ Association (WGA)? More importantly, do you love where you live and have a passion for art? If so, you might consider applying for the Celebrate the West Contest! Each year, the scholarship awards between $200 and $1,500 to 23 lucky students who create a piece of artwork that most thoughtfully reflects an insight about the West or the applicant’s relation to the West. In order to apply, you simply need to email a digital copy of your artwork and your entry form to [email protected]. If you’re passionate about art and have some insights about where you live, we encourage you to apply!

Are you pursuing a degree in visual arts? You might consider applying for the CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship! This scholarship is open to Black high school seniors, college, and graduate students who are studying fields such as architecture, ceramics, fashion, graphic design, illustration, interior design, painting, photography, and video production. The scholarship is funded by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Spouses, an organization comprised of the wives and husbands of African American members of the U.S. Congress. Since 1988, the organization has awarded more than $9 million in scholarships to deserving students. If you’re passionate about visual arts and are seeking funds to help pay for college, we encourage you to apply!

The AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships are funded by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), an organization that “advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force.” Every year, the AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships award up to $5,000 to multiple postsecondary students pursuing a degree in graphic design, illustration, or photography. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.

Are you an Iowa high school senior with a passion for the arts? Furthermore, do you intend on attending an in-state (Iowa) college or university to pursue an arts-related major? If so, look no further! The Iowa Scholarships for the Arts are annual scholarships awarding $2,500 to multiple students. To apply, submit 3-5 artistic work samples which best represent the artwork you intend on studying in college. This program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, an organization dedicated to empowering Iowa to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities by connecting Iowans to the people, places and points of pride that define Iowa.

Are you a high school student interested in graphic design and/or marketing and are looking to aid in future educational expenses? Consider applying for the Christophers High School Poster Contest! Each year, the Christophers, a nonprofit organization that promotes ideals of service to “God” and humanity regardless of religion, offers a scholarship for high school students. Students in grades 9 through 12 are eligible to submit a digitally created or hand-drawn poster addressing a certain prompt.  First place can receive up to $1,000, with second place receiving $500, third $250, and five honorable mentions receiving $100 each. Since the scholarship is for high school students, the award is given in cash to each student and can be used for educational expenses as they see fit. If you’re a high schooler with a knack for design, the Christophers High School Poster Contest could be a good fit for you! 

Are you interested in becoming a professional artist? If so, consider applying for the F. Lammot Belin Arts Scholarship! The scholarship is open to individuals planning to become professional/fine artists who are residing in or formerly resided in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Peter Belin funds the scholarship in memory of his father, F. Lammot Belin, former Chief of Protocol of the United States. Established to provide financial assistance to artists of outstanding aptitude and promise in the fine arts, the scholarship aims to help artists pursue their desired careers. Every year, they are happy to offer multiple recipients up to $10,000 to use for individual projects, formal or informal study, or travel. If you are passionate about becoming a professional artist and reside in Northeastern Pennsylvania, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student with a passion for photojournalism? If so, consider applying for The James Alan Cox Foundation Student Photojournalism Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards Digital SLR cameras to five high school students and $2,500 to six university students who submit photojournalistic images and news videos that “tell a story.” In addition to a photo or video, applicants must also submit an essay explaining their photo, school transcript, financial data, and two letters of recommendation. The scholarship is offered by the James Alan Cox Foundation, an organization founded in honor of television photojournalist James Alan Cox with the goal of “providing financial support to student photojournalists of high school and college age.”  If you’re passionate about photography and want to be awarded for your efforts and talents, we encourage you to apply!