Top 76 Scholarships for Disabled Students in September 2023

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 US-Based high school students in the classes of 2024 and 2025 — no essay, minimum GPA, test score, or citizenship requirements.

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

Are you a graduating Learning Ally high school senior member with a learning disability? If so, consider applying for the Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Award! The Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Award is open to graduating Learning Ally high school senior members with learning disabilities who plan to pursue postsecondary education. The scholarship is offered by Learning Ally, a leading nonprofit education solutions organization devoted to transforming the lives of early and struggling learners through proven solutions to improve literacy. This scholarship of theirs is in honor of the long-term and loyal donor to Learning Ally, Marion Huber, who was particularly committed to its mission of engaging students with learning disabilities. Each year, the scholarship awards the top winners $6,000 each and special honors winners $2,000 each to help them cover the costs of their education. If you have a learning disability, are passionate about continuing your education, and are looking for help funding college, we encourage you to apply!

The Elizabeth Schalk Memorial Scholarship is a beacon of hope for those who have experiencedmental health issues, not only providing financial support for such students' education but also commemorating the enduring spirit of Elizabeth Schalk, who courageously battled mental illness throughout her life. The scholarship is open to high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students, offering an opportunity for those who have personally experienced mental illness or have witnessed its impact on their loved ones. To apply, share your unique journey and the profound effect mental illness has had on your life and relationships.

Are you a post-secondary student in the U.S. who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder? If so, consider applying for the Baer Reintegration Scholarship! Multiple applicants are awarded scholarships each year, with the amounts varying based on one’s financial need. The scholarship is offered by the Center for Reintegration, a non-profit organization “committed to helping people with mental illnesses pursue a meaningful life through reintegration.” Reintegration refers to the process through which individuals with mental illnesses find pursuits meaningful to them, restore relationships, and move toward independent living.  If you’re a college student diagnosed with any of the above-mentioned disorders, the Center for Reintegration would love to help you pay for college! We encourage you to apply.

Are you a graduate student interested in working directly with children to address their special needs? If so, consider applying for the NAJA Graduate Scholarship Program! The program is open to students pursuing graduate-level studies for one year in fields that address the special needs of children and youth. Some such needs may include counseling, mental health, special education, speech pathology, exceptional children, remedial skills development, and gifted and talented. To help address these needs, the scholarship program was created by the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA). Since 1962, the Junior Auxiliary Project has served to help children and make a difference in their lives by providing support, resources, and education for its programs. Each year, multiple scholarships of varying amounts are awarded to help pay for the education of students planning to work with children. If you are interested in working with children and attending to their special needs, we encourage you to apply!

Are you the child of a worker who was left injured or killed in a work-related accident while working for a Colorado-based employer? If so, you may qualify for the Pinnacol Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship is open to the children of workers who were left disabled or killed in a work-related accident while working under a Colorado-based employer. Applicants must also be currently enrolled in or planning to attend a postsecondary institution. Offered by the Pinnacol Foundation, the scholarship works to support students pursue their academic goals. They are dedicated to ensuring that the children of workers who were injured or killed on the job have the opportunity to pursue their desired education. Thus, every year, recipients of the scholarship earn up to $4,700 to cover the costs of attending school. If this sounds like a fitting opportunity for you, look into applying! Keep in mind that the scholarship cycle runs from November 1st to February 15th of each year.

Are you a Missouri college student and public safety officer who has been left disabled in the line of duty? Alternatively, are you the child or spouse of a public employee who was left killed or disabled in the line of duty? If so, consider applying for the Public Safety Officer or Employee's Child Survivor Grant Program. The program is open to college students under 24 years of age in Missouri who either have been left disabled themselves or have a relative who was left disabled or killed in the line of duty. Missouri's Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development provides this program to provide support to public employees and their families, especially those who have experienced hardships and challenges. Thus, every year, the Department awards multiple applicants with funding to partially cover their tuition at a Missouri college or university. If you or a family member has been killed or disabled in the line of duty, you may be eligible for this opportunity.

Are you attending the Flatiron School and are from an underrepresented community or background? If so, consider applying for the Flatiron School Access Scholarship! The scholarship is open to underrepresented students enrolled in a Flatiron School program who are looking for financial assistance to afford their schooling costs. Eligible applicants include women, underrepresented minorities, people with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ+ students, and low-income students. Through the Access scholarship, the Flatiron School hopes to provide opportunities for students who are motivated despite the challenges they face. Thus, every year, select scholarship applicants are chosen to earn up to $5,000 to help cover tuition for full-time programs. If you are a Flatiron School student from an underrepresented community, we encourage you to apply!

Are you under the age of 18, have a disability, and have been accepted for membership by a guide dog training program? If so, consider applying for the Canines for Disabled Kids Scholarship! The scholarship is open to minors with physical disabilities, psychological disabilities, or who are on the Autism Spectrum. In addition, applicants must have been accepted by a guide dog training program. The scholarship is funded by Canines for Disabled Kids, a non-profit organization that supports child-canine service teams to promote independence and social awareness. The scholarship recipients are awarded between $250 and $5,000 to help pay for their guide dog training program. Applications are considered semiannually, with deadlines typically on both the last day of December and May. If you could use some help paying for your guide dog training program, we encourage you to apply!

The Sunwise Capital Autism Scholarship is funded by Sunwise Capital, an organization that provides business owners the capital to achieve financial credibility resulting in their business. Each year, their Sunwise Capital Autism Scholarship awards $500 to multiple high school graduates, undergraduates, and life skill students with autism. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.

Do you belong to a group (race, sexuality, disability, etc.) that has been historically underrepresented on study abroad programs? Further, are you currently attending a university that is a member of the IES Abroad Consortium? If both apply, consider applying to the David Porter Need-Based Diversity Scholarship! The scholarship is offered biannually, with deadlines on May 1st and November 1st of each year. Each application cycle, the scholarship awards up to $5,000 to two lucky applicants. In order to apply, students must apply to an IES Abroad Program and complete the connected application. The scholarship is offered by IES Abroad, an organization with a mission to “educate students to become global leaders through premier study abroad and internship programs.” If you belong to a historically underrepresented group and dream of studying abroad, we encourage you to apply to the David Porter Need-Based Diversity Scholarship!

Are you a high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student currently or planning to enroll in a postsecondary school? If so, consider applying to the Design Your Future Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship offers two $2,500 awards to applicants who write an essay about their dream future life and career, and how they plan on achieving such goals with the help of the scholarship. While every student is welcome to apply, bear in mind that preference will be given to underrepresented minorities and those pursuing design and engineering-related fields. The scholarship is funded by Chairish, an online, vintage furniture, art, and home accessories platform. If you want to “design your future” and potentially earn some money to fund your journey too, we encourage you to apply!

Are you pursuing a full- or part-time course of study in the arts? If so, you may be eligible for a scholarship from the Academy of Special Dreams College Scholarship Fund. These scholarship opportunities are for students with a disability who have demonstrated financial need. The scholarship is jointly funded by the College Scholarship Fund and the Working Artists Fund. The College Scholarship Fund targets traditional college-aged students with disabilities who are pursuing either a full- or part-time course of study in any medium of Art. The Working Artists Fund is focused on the disabled adult artist who actively pursues a career or vocation in any artistic field and who occasionally requires financial support to further that career or vocation. If either (or both) of these apply to you, we encourage you to apply for the Academy of Special Dreams College Scholarship Fund! 

The Diversity in Esthetics Scholarship for PCA Partner Schools is funded by Beauty Changes Lives, an organization focused on empowering the next generation of beauty professionals through scholarships, mentorship, and advanced education to build their confidence in the industry. Every year, their Diversity in Esthetics Scholarship for PCA Partner Schools awards $5,000 to one student from an underrepresented group who is entering or currently enrolled in an esthetics program at a PCA SKIN® Partner School. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.

The Charmaine Letourneau Scholarship is a prestigious award given annually to a Deaf or Hard of Hearing individual who plans to pursue an academic or training program at a qualified institution. The scholarship committee prioritizes applicants who exhibit active participation in Deaf and Hard of Hearing organizations, display leadership qualities in their school or community, show dedication and hard work in their studies, and have a high potential for employment or further educational opportunities upon completion of their program. Apply now for a chance to receive this amazing scholarship and get help funding your post-secondary education!

The Learning Disability Resources Foundation Awards Program is funded by the Learning Disability Resources Foundation, an organization that strives to create, discover and stimulate innovative services to meet the unmet needs of individuals with learning disabilities. Every year, their Learning Disability Resources Foundation Awards Program provides a laptop or tablet to multiple college or graduate students with Dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning disabilities who are not in their final year/semester of study. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.

The Martin Frank Diversity Travel Award program is designed to broaden participation of those pursuing professional careers in physiological sciences. The specific intent of this program is to increase active participation in and networking at scientific meetings among trainees and early career faculty who are from groups underrepresented in the physiological sciences and those with disabilities. Specifically, the program provides travel awards to underrepresented diverse groups of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and early career faculty members (within 5 years of obtaining a PhD) to attend the American Physiology Summit, and APS conferences. Applicants attending U.S. institutions and conducting research within the 50 States and U.S. Territories are also eligible to apply.