Top 55 Scholarships for College Freshmen in 2020

Scholarships are not only for high school students. These are the top scholarships for college freshmen!

Freshman year of college is a year of many transitions for students: a new school, tougher classes, and more independence. Freshman year of college is also when your tuition bills start. One of the best ways to reduce your student loan burden and graduate with little (or no) debt, is through scholarships. While most college freshmen are busy with college life and academics, taking some time to apply for the available scholarships for college freshmen can get you ahead of the game!

Jump ahead to:

Top Scholarships for College Freshmen
Tips for College Freshmen
Summary of scholarships
Expired scholarships

Top scholarships for college freshmen students:

$1,000 Ascent Social Cause Student Scholarships

Eligibility: Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and 18 years or older
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: November 16th

Tallo’s $1,000 “Easy Future Employer” Scholarship

Eligibility: High school and college students who set up a Tallo profile
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 15

$1,000 CollegeXpress “One Sweet” Scholarship Contes t

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to all students who are 13 years or older and legal residents of the United States or DC.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 31

Annual Black Entrepreneurship Grant

Eligibility: Open to current or aspiring Black entrepreneurs undergraduate or graduate students across any field or business stage
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: December 1

The “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to all students, including high school, college, and graduate students
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: October 31

The “Be Bold” No-Essay Community Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to students who register to Bold.org and has invited many friends
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: October 31

Big Sun Scholarship

Eligibility: Student athletes who are high school seniors or in college
Amount: $500
Deadline: June 19, 2021

Billy Welu Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to college students who combine outstanding bowling talents with academic excellence
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: June 21, 2021

Black Students in Public Health Grant

Eligibility: Open to black undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing a career in any area of public health
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: November 1

$1,000 Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to all students ranging from high school students to college and community college students.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 31

CollegeXpress $10,000 Scholarship

Eligibility: Students must attend one of the nearly 900 CollegeXpress partner colleges
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: May 31, 2021

Cyrus Artisan Rugs Scholarship

Eligibility: Current or incoming undergraduate students who is currently enrolled, or about to enroll, in an interior design or similar course
Amount: $500
Deadline: February 8, 2021

Denny’s Hungry for Education Scholarships

Eligibility: All high school and college students with at least a 2.5 GPA who share their ideas to fight childhood hunger
Amount: $1,000 to 3,000
Deadline: Varies, but most are December 11

10X Digital Marketing Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students and high school seniors pursuing a career in digital marketing
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: December 1

Frontline Heroes Nursing Grant

Eligibility: Awarded to an aspiring or current nurse to aid with the cost of their tuition or student loans. Current nursing students, recent nursing graduates, or aspiring nursing students are all eligible to apply
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 25

Future Designer Scholarship

Eligibility: To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be an incoming (graduating high school senior) or college student who designs a holiday greeting card
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: November 1

Galactic Fed Young Entrepreneurs Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to high school and college students who are entrepreneurial self-starters
Amount: $500
Deadline: April 2, 2021

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

Eligibility: 9th-12th grade high school, college, or graduate students, including adult students
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: July 31, 2021

Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship

Eligibility: High school seniors accepted to college, undergraduate and graduate students in the USA
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: May 1, 2021

HireAHelper Skilled Trade & Technology Scholarships

Eligibility: Currently enrolled (or planning to) as a high school senior, or in a community college, undergraduate, graduate, technical college, or vocational program
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Deadlines are as follows: Winter: April 16, Spring: July 17, Summer: October 14, and Fall: January 15 at 11:59 p.m. PST of each year

Hustle Tech & Business News No-Essay Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to all undergraduate and graduate students who sign up for the Hustle free daily newsletter and share what they learned.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 31

Jones T-Shirts “Love Your Career” Scholarship

Eligibility: High school seniors and college students
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: January 10 and September 10

Little Bundle Superdad Scholarship — College Award

Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate level students who are either single fathers or are the children of single fathers are eligible to apply
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: January 1, 2021

Little Bundle Supermom Scholarship — College Award

Eligibility: Open to undergraduate or graduate level single moms, children of single moms, or people whose lives have been impacted in positive ways by single moms
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: July 1, 2021

Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship

Eligibility: High seniors, college students, and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in health, wellness, or fitness
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: August 1, 2021

Nikhil Desai Asian-American Experience Scholarship

Eligibility: All Asian-American (including Middle Eastern) students who are juniors in high school or older are eligible to apply. First-generation applicants will be preferred. An essay about growing up Asian-American is required
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: March 1, 2021

Nikhil Desai “Perspective” Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to students at all levels of education who submit an essay about a moment that changed their perspective on life. Preference given to first generation students
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: February 1, 2021

Penny Hoarder Smart Money Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to all college and graduate students who sign up for the Penny Hoarder Daily newsletter and then share how they applied what they learned to their personal finances
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 31

Providian Medical Scholarship

Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students with a 3.0 or above GPA who submit an essay about medical technology and the future
Amount: $500
Deadline: January 15 and June 15

Scholarcash Role Model Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to all high school, college, and graduate students who submit any essay about role models
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: December 1

Scholarship America Dream Award

Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in higher education programs (two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school)
Amount: Winners receive awards ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. Awards are renewable up to three additional years or until a first bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first, on the basis of full-time enrollment, satisfactory academic performance, and availability of funding. Each year of eligible renewal, the award will increase by $1,000.
Deadline: October 15

ScholarshipPoints $10,000 Scholarship Program

Eligibility: Open to all high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: October 31

Selectblinds $1000 Scholarship

Eligibility: High school, college, or university students with a minimum GPA of 2.5
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: July 15, 2021

Share Your Dream Job No-Essay Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to students at every level who create a TikTok video about what a great day at their dream job would be like
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 31

Shout it Out Scholarship

Eligibility: Must be a college or community college student by the fall of 2025
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: September 30, 2021

Smart Borrower No-Essay Scholarship & Loan Forgiveness Grant

Eligibility: Open to all high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: October 31

Solar Scholarship

Eligibility: High school seniors, college and graduate students with an interest in solar energy
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: July 1, 2021

Survey Junkie Brand Influencer No-Essay Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to all students who join Survey Junkie to share opinions on products and services
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 31

Taylor Price Financial Literacy for the Future Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to high school and college students who submit an essay. Applicants from minority groups underrepresented in the financial world and those with non-profit or volunteering experience will be preferred
Amount: $500
Deadline: April 14, 2021

Ted Rollins Eco Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students and high school seniors planning on earning a business or sustainability degree
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: December 1

Unigo Flavor of the Month Scholarship

Eligibility: Students who are currently enrolled or will be enrolled in college by 2026 who write a short essay.
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: July 31, 2021

WayUp Dream Job No-Essay Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to all undergraduate and graduate students who create amazing job candidate profiles on the WayUp platform
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 31

WiseGeek Life Isn’t Easy Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to college students at every level who have faced difficult circumstances head-on and come out stronger for it.
Amount: $500
Deadline: October 31

Back to top

Tips for College Freshmen applying for scholarships

Scholarships are not just for high school students! College students (including college freshmen) can and should be applying for scholarships.
If you receive need-based financial aid from your college you will need to re-apply each year with the FAFSA.
Some renewable merit scholarships (both from private organizations and your college) will require a specific GPA or number of credits to renew the scholarship. Keep this in mind and maintain a strong academic record!
Work study jobs or other part time jobs can be a great way to earn money (either for spending or for putting towards tuition).

Summary of scholarships:

Back to top

Expired, but returning next year:

$1,000 Easy Scholarship: Make a Plan to Vote!

Eligibility: Students who are at least 18 years old
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 15

Bellhops Moving Forward Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to high school seniors and college students who submit an essay about the importance/impact of their major
Amount: $3,000
Deadline: September 15

Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship

Eligibility: High school seniors, college students, community college students, or graduate students who write an essay about cyberbullying
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: June 30

codePost Computer Science Education Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students who advance computer science at their schools.
Amount: up to $500
Deadline: June 30

El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship

Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students of Latino descent
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: July 6

GraphicDesignDegreeHub.com Creativity Scholarship

Eligibility: High school seniors accepted to college and undergraduate students in the USA majoring in Graphic Design
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: July 31

Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to minority students who are high school seniors or currently attending college. Applicants must be interested in studying criminal justice.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Deadline: June 1