Student-centric advice and objective recommendations
Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.
Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here.
Top 23 September Scholarships in 2023
While some high school students go back to school in August, many students begin their school year in September. The month of September is a busy one as students get acclimated to new classes, potentially playing fall sports, and get back into their clubs.
If you are a high school senior, September is even more busy with lots of admissions-related tasks. Most senior students will begin to work on their essays, applications, and start finalizing their college list.
September is also an excellent time to get back into the habit of applying for scholarships! Whether you are in high school, college, or graduate school, there are a number of excellent opportunities available to you.
Keep on reading to learn more about our top September scholarships!
Jump ahead to…
- Top September scholarships
- How to win scholarships in September
- Tips for students in September
- Frequently asked questions about September scholarships
- Other scholarship lists to explore
Top 23 September Scholarships in 2023
The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:
- The scholarship requires a fee to apply
- The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
- The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
- Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
- The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
- The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
- The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
- There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
- The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
- There is no available contact information
If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!
* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system.
** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements.
***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.
$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship
Scholarships360 Exclusive
Easy scholarship open to all US-based high school, college, community college and graduate students.
$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay
Sponsored
Easy scholarship open to all high school, college, community and graduate students.
$25,000 No Essay Scholarship
Sponsored
Open to high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.
Marshall Scholarship
Offered by Marshall Scholarships
US citizens with a bachelor’s degree who are pursuing a graduate degree in the United Kingdom.
George J. Mitchell Scholarship
Offered by US-Ireland Alliance
Open to 18 - 30 year old postsecondary students and graduates who are passionate about public service and wish to study in Ireland.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 30, 2023Paliwal Club of 100 Scholarship
Offered by 1,000 Dreams Fund & Ila and Dinesh Paliwal Foundation
Open to female college and graduate students who plan to major in science, technology, engineering, the arts, or math.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 30, 2023Questbridge National College Match Scholarship
Offered by Questbridge
Open to college-bound, academically excellent high school seniors who exhibit financial need.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 27, 2023Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship
Offered by UNCF
College seniors enrolled at any four-year HBCU who have demonstrated high academic achievement and a commitment to community service.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 26, 2023AMVETS Generation T Scholarship
Offered by American Veterans (AMVETS)
Open to veterans, active duty members, and their spouses who are enrolled in an eligible construction trades program.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 24, 2023Acorn Equality Fund Scholarships
Offered by Acorn Equality Fund
Open to college-bound LGBTQ+ high school seniors and university students who live in most counties in Illinois.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 23, 2023$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship
Sponsored
Easy scholarship open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.
Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship
Offered by National Hispanic Health Foundation
Open to graduate students who are pursuing a degree in healthcare.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 23, 2023The Gates Scholarship
Offered by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Open to minority high school seniors from low-income households with outstanding academic records and demonstrated leadership abilities.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 15, 2023Gourmet Foods International Culinary Scholarship
Sponsored
Open to current and future students pursuing careers in culinary arts or food science.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 15, 2023ExpressVPN Future of Privacy Scholarship
Offered by ExpressVPN
Open to all students who submit an essay on public health and privacy.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 15, 2023Carole Bailey Scholarship
Offered by AccessLex Institute
Open to ABA-accredited law school students who are interested in a public service-oriented legal career.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 15, 2023Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Offered by Fulbright Scholar Program
Open to US Citizens who have completed a bachelor's degree or have equivalent professional experience and want to teach or research abroad.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 15, 2023Bernard Heerey Foundation Scholarship
Offered by Illini Hillel
Open to college students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who regularly attend Jewish prayer services.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 9, 2023$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship
Sponsored
Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school students.
Niche $2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
Sponsored
Easy scholarship from Niche open to all high school, college, and graduate students.
- 1
- 2
-
Next
How to win scholarships in September
Many scholarships require students to submit an essay, and September scholarships are no exception! Writing a knockout essay is one of the best ways to boost your chances of winning scholarships. Application readers commonly go through hundreds or even thousands of submissions, so it’s important to craft a compelling essay that effectively demonstrates who you are, what you’re passionate about, and what you aim to achieve with your scholarship.
Fortunately, we have plenty of resources to help guide you through the essay-writing process!
- How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)
- How to end a scholarship essay
- How to write a 250 word essay
- How to write a 500 word essay
- How to write an essay about yourself
- Overview of common scholarship essay prompts
- How to write a winning scholarship essay
Tips for students in September
College Students
- Most college students start classes in late August or the start of September, so make sure that you are all ready to roll by then! Purchase or rent your books and other required materials before the first day of the semester. If anything is unclear, reach out to your professors for clarification.
- Financial success starts by developing positive habits early on. All college students will benefit by reading these tips on budgeting, saving money, and building credit.
Rising high school seniors
- The first semester of senior year in high school is extremely busy. Classes, sports clubs, college applications, and other activities will pack your schedule. Make sure that you manage your time well, and don’t forget to take care of yourself. Healthy meals, restful sleep, and asking for help when you need it works!
- Make sure that you have a solid draft of your personal statement, as well as a completed Common App or Coalition Application. Here are some tips on rocking your scholarship applications and essays!
Frequently asked questions about September scholarships
What is the best month to apply for scholarships?
Although scholarships are offered on a year-round basis, you’ll typically see the highest amount of scholarship opportunities from September through January. This is when a lot of scholarships open their application periods and accept submissions from students. As such, September is an excellent time to apply for scholarships! To get started, check out our free scholarship search tool.
What is the #1 way to increase your chances for a scholarship?
As we mentioned earlier, writing a stellar essay is one of the best ways to increase your chances of winning a scholarship. That being said, every piece of your application needs to be carefully considered. To learn more, check out these 10 tips on how to rock scholarship (and college) applications!
What is the easiest scholarship to get?
While some scholarships require essays and extensive applications, others are relatively straightforward and easy to apply for. Some may just take a couple of clicks! Take a look out our list of the top easy scholarships to start exploring.
