Top 5 scholarships for college juniors overall
We went through all our scholarships for college juniors and hand-selected the opportunities below based on three criteria:
- The scholarship is from a well-known organization that has been offering the opportunity for several years
- The award amount is substantial
- The eligibility information is not too narrow, so many students can apply
Here are our picks for the overall top 10 scholarships for current college juniors:
- Ayn Rand Institute Novel Essay Contest (Atlas Shrugged) – For students who submit an essay about the novel Atlas Shrugged. Worth $25,000
- Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize In Ethics – For college upperclassmen who write an essay about ethics. Worth $10,000
- Stokes Scholarship Programs – For students pursuing fields relevant to work in the CIA. Worth $25,000
- NSHSS James W. Lewis Collegiate Global Leader Scholarship – For college students who show leadership skills and a commitment to diversity. Worth $5,000
- Generation Google Scholarship – For HS seniors, college, and grad students who plan to study computer science or engineering. Worth $10,000. Preference given to women and ethnic minorities
Top 3 scholarships for Black college juniors
- Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest – For Black high school seniors or college students, worth $8,000
- Scholar Dollars Essay Scholarship for Black Students – For Black high school upperclassmen, college students, and graduate students. Worth $500
- Generation Google Scholarship – For HS seniors, college, and grad students who plan to study computer science or engineering. Worth $10,000. Preference given to women and ethnic minorities
Top 3 STEM scholarships for college juniors
- Barry Goldwater Scholarship – For college students pursuing a research career in STEM. Worth $7,500
- Generation Google Scholarship – For HS seniors, college, and grad students who plan to study computer science or engineering. Worth $10,000. Preference given to women and ethnic minorities
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Scholarships – For high school seniors and above who are Hispanic and pursuing a STEM degree. Worth $25,000
How to win scholarships for college juniors
Now that you’ve got a list of opportunities, it’s time to focus on how to craft a successful scholarship application. Luckily, we can help. We’ve got a wide array of resources to help you stand out from the crowd in your applications. Here are a few that you’ll find especially helpful:
- How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)
- “Show, Don’t Tell” essay primer
- How to write a 250 word essay
- How to write a 500 word essay
- Writing an essay about yourself
- How to win local scholarships
- How to write a scholarship resume
Tips for college juniors
As a junior, you’re halfway through your time at college. Can you believe it? Senior year and graduation will be here before you know it, which means making the most of your time has never been so important.
Junior year is a great time to start looking for internships within your major. You can use our internship guide to get started with that process! And for those internships that require a little more, take a look at our article for how to write an internship cover letter.
Or perhaps instead of internships, studying abroad is on your horizon. If so, check out scholarships that can help fund your study abroad experience!
Frequently asked questions
Is junior year of college too late to apply for scholarships?
Will outside scholarships reduce my financial aid if I am already in college?
Some colleges reduce need-based aid packages if a student receives additional outside scholarships. It’s a good idea to check in with your financial aid office before applying to outside scholarships to ensure that you would actually benefit from the scholarship money. Some schools will not reduce your need-based aid at all, others will reduce it by a proportion of your scholarship earnings, and others might reduce it by the exact amount of your scholarship.
So, be sure to check with your financial aid to see how these scholarships would affect your financial situation. But don’t worry – you’ll never end up with less money overall as a result of winning a scholarship.
Explore these other scholarship categories
- Top scholarships for college students
- Top scholarships for women
- Easy scholarships to apply for
- Top writing and essay scholarships
- Top scholarships for Black students
Join for exclusive scholarships, personalized matching, and application tracking. 0% Spam, 100% Free.
📝Sample Essay from a Scholarship Winner
Here's a winning scholarship essay from Dimiti M, who won our "Outstanding Undergraduate" Essay Scholarship. Read the essay below and keep scrolling for some commentary on what made this a winner.
Prompt: Please share specific examples of how earning this scholarship will help you achieve your educational and career goals. If applicable, include any proactive steps you have taken to secure funding for your future degree.
Essay
Earning the Outstanding Undergraduate College Scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals because it will help alleviate the financial burden of a college education. My short-term goal is to earn a mechanical engineering degree to pursue a Department of Defense job, preferably in Japan. Since my dad is an active duty member of the Navy, I want to follow in his footsteps through engineering. My long-term goal is to create a nonprofit organization to raise awareness for the United Nations' seventeen sustainable development goals. The first step to achieving that is by obtaining my bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. I want to contribute to the cause directly rather than simply spreading awareness anonymously through social media and behind a screen. I've always lived in small communities, so having the opportunity to compete among thousands of other individuals is a dream of mine. My intense passion for engineering and work ethic will allow me to rise above many challenges and give way to some of the world's most significant innovations once given the proper resources. My persistence to improve not only my field of study – but life itself – will allow me to make great strides in mechanical engineering and eventually – the world.
Why it worked
In only 250 words, Dimiti convinces us that he has thoroughly researched his educational and career path. While not all undergrads have this level of clarity about their future, it's a good idea to be very specific and definite in scholarship applications. This convinces scholarship readers that the student takes their education seriously and that the funds will be put to good use.
Dimiti also does a good job of describing his personal motivations for the path he's chosen. He describes how his father has informed his goals, and he lists the values he believes will help him achieve everything he hopes to.
Will Geiger
Scholarships360 Co-Founder, Former Admissions Officer