Top Music Scholarships in 2021
Music is such a passion for certain students that they want to make a career out of doing what they love. While a career as a music teacher is rewarding for many, there are other options, including audio engineering, video game sound design, and music therapy. Whatever musical career path you decide upon, you can undoubtedly use a few scholarships to help fund your education.
Jump ahead to:
- Top Music Scholarships
- Need-based Financial Aid for Music Students
- Summary of Music Scholarships
- Upcoming Music Scholarships
Keep on reading to learn more about our top music scholarships including eligibility, award amount, and application deadlines!
Top music scholarships in 2021
$2,000 Diversity in Music Education Scholarship
- Eligibility: Minority students interested in or pursuing a degree in the arts. Recent graduates are welcome to apply
- Amount: $2,000 (3 scholarships are awarded!)
- Deadline: September 30, 2021
$1,000 Women in Music Scholarship
- Eligibility: Women interested in or already engaged in a career in the music industry
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: August 15, 2021
$500 Ocho Cares Artistry Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who draw, paint, sculpt, dance, act, sing, rap, play an instrument, film/photograph, produce music/films, write, etc.
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: July 31, 2021
$500 Shreddership: A Rock Scholarship
- Eligibility: Student musicians at every level who submit a link to an original improvised piece of music
- Amount: $500 (two scholarships are awarded)
- Deadline: August 1, 2021
Sikdope “Music Is The Cure” Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students at every level of education studying in the United States whose second language is English
- Amount: $3,020
- Deadline: August 1, 2021
Darryl Davis “Follow Your Heart” Scholarship
- Eligibility: Undergraduate students in any field of study. A passion for singing, a history of giving back to your community, and involvement with church is a plus
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: September 11, 2021
Becoming a Singer-Songwriter Idol Scholarship
- Eligibility: Minority students who wish to pursue their passions for singing and musical performance
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: September 20, 2021
NAMM President’s Innovation Award
- Eligibility: Minority students who wish to pursue their passions for singing and musical performance
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: September 20, 2021
Berklee College of Music Presidential Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students demonstrating the highest musical merit and the highest financial need are eligible. Audition required
- Amount: Tuition, on-campus housing, and a laptop
- Deadlines: Fall (September) EA: November 1; Fall (September)Regular Decision: January 15; Spring (January): July 1; Summer (May): December 1
Need-based financial aid for music students
If you are a current or prospective music major, you may also qualify for need-based financial aid through your college or through the government. There are two major financial aid applications you should know about:
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA) which is how students can access financial aid through the government. This financial aid can include federal student loans, Federal SEOG Grants, and Pell Grants.
- CSS Profile which is how some colleges and universities award institutional financial aid.
Be sure to check-in with your college to see what applications are required for need-based financial aid.
Summary of music scholarships
- Diversity in Music Education Scholarship
- $1,000 Women in Music Scholarship
- $500 Ocho Cares Artistry Scholarship
- $500 Shreddership: A Rock Scholarship
- Sikdope “Music Is The Cure” Scholarship
- Darryl Davis “Follow Your Heart” Scholarship
- Becoming a Singer-Songwriter Idol Scholarship
- Berklee College of Music Presidential Scholarship
- Berklee College of Music Presidential Scholarship
Upcoming music scholarships
$1,000 Kap Slap “Find Your Sound” Music Grant
- Eligibility: Open to beginning musicians who write about what they would do with their time if money wasn’t an issue
- Amount: $1,000
$1,000 Ella Henderson Dream Big Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to all high school students who share an essay about the way music changed their lives
- Amount: $1,000
$890 KUURO Master Your Craft Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students at every level of artistic study, including music, art (digital or print), film/tv, video, photography, and more
- Amount: $890
Austin Kramer Music Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to students at all levels who share an inspiring song, curate a 10-20 track playlist, and then submit a paragraph (under 100 words) explaining your playlist
- Amount: $500
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship
- Eligibility: African-American college students majoring in the performing arts
- Amount: $3,000
Gabriella Carter Music and Me Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to Black students who write an essay about the comfort that only music can bring
- Amount: $1,000
Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarship
- Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors or first-year college students who intend to make music a central part of their future life
- Amount: $4,000
Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
- Eligibility: Full-time students between the ages of 8–18 with exceptional musical talents
- Amount: $10,000
John Lennon Scholarships
- Eligibility: Current student or alumnus/alumna at a U.S. college or university between the ages of 17 and 24 who submit an original song in any genre
- Amount: $20,000 (three will be awarded!)
Ocean Awareness Contest
- Eligibility: Students ages 11 to 18 who create a work of art in their chosen genre, including visual art, film, music, poetry, prose, and interactive and multimedia
- Amount: Scholarships worth from $100 to $1,500
Peermusic Latin Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to students composers enrolled in college for the best original song or instrumental work in any Latin genre
- Amount: $5,000
Women Band Directors International Scholarships
- Eligibility: Aspiring female band directors enrolled in a university music curriculum pursuing a degree in music education
- Amount: $300 to $500
- Opens: September 1, 2021
