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Top 50 Scholarships for College Freshmen in March 2023
Scholarships are not only for high school students. There are many great scholarships for college freshmen out there. Applying to scholarships once you’ve already started school can help you reduce future tuition payments and ensure that you can remain in school even if you encounter any unexpected financial obstacles.
Our team has assembled a thoroughly-vetted list of the top scholarships for college freshman to help you start your applications. Let’s get into it!
- Top scholarships for college freshmen
- How to win scholarships for college freshmen
- Tips for college freshmen
- Frequently asked questions
- Additional scholarships
50 Scholarships for College Freshmen in March 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
The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to…
Show More$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay
Sponsored
Easy scholarship from Nitro College open to all high school, college, community and graduate students.
$25,000 No Essay Scholarship
Sponsored
Easy scholarship from Niche open to high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.
Shui Kuen and Allen Chin Scholarship
Offered by Asian Pacific Fund
Are you a current or incoming college student passionate about advocacy and who has worked or whose parents have worked at an Asian restaurant? If so, consider applying for the…
Show MorePalantir Women in Technology Scholarship – North America
Offered by Palantir Technologies
The Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship – North America is funded by Palantir Technologies, an organization that makes products for human-driven analysis of real-world data. Every year, their Palantir Women…
Show MorePearl Mae Scholarship
Offered by Pearl Mae Foundation
Are you a high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student committed to a career in healthcare or first responder fields? If so, you might consider applying for the Pearl Mae…
Show MoreCynthia H. Kuo Scholarship
Offered by Silicon Valley Community Foundation
The Cynthia H. Kuo Scholarship is for Chinese students who are studying in the Bay Area and are actively involved in a Christian faith and/or youth group. Applicants must be…
Show MoreAnna N. Dosen Serbian Educational Fund
Offered by The Pittsburgh Foundation
The Anna N. Dosen Serbian Educational Fund is funded by The Pittsburgh Foundation, an organization that works to improve the quality of life in the Pittsburgh region by evaluating and…
Show MoreUnited Methodist GBHEM General Scholarship
Offered by The United Methodist Church
Are you a member of The United Methodist Church? Then you may be eligible to receive a United Methodist GBHEM Scholarship! The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry administers…
Show MoreRiley West Scholarship
Offered by Silicon Valley Community Foundation
The Riley West Scholarship is for active members of Oakland Interfaith Youth Gospel Choir who are planning to attend a two- or four-year college. Applicants must be active members in…
Show More$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship
Sponsored
Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.
Trade Scholarships
Offered by United Transportation Union Insurance Association
Trade Scholarships are awarded by chance, not grades however, successful completion of the coursework is required and proof of completion from the institution is required before awards are paid. Applicants…
Show MoreHouzz Scholarship Program
Offered by Houzz
Are you at least 17 years old and attending an interior design, architecture, architectural engineering, or skilled trade school in the U.S. or Canada? If so, you may want to…
Show MoreTzu Chi USA Scholarship
Offered by Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
Are you passionate about community service and giving back? If so, the Tzu Chi USA Scholarship may be a good fit for you! This scholarship is funded by the Buddhist…
Show MoreGalvanize the Future: A Richard L. Brooks Memorial Scholarship
Offered by American Galvanizers Association (AGA)
Are you planning to pursue a career in architecture, civil engineering or any related field? If so, consider applying for the Galvanize the Future: A Richard L. Brooks Memorial Scholarship!…
Show MoreSFM Foundation Scholarship
Offered by SFM Foundation
Are you a college student whose parents were left disabled or killed while working for Minnesota or Iowa employers? If so, consider applying for the SFM Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship…
Show MoreBrandenburg Education Scholarship
Offered by Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund
The Brandenburg Education Scholarship is funded by the Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund, an organization focused on innovation, collaboration, and investment to shape the diverse and dynamic Bay Area…
Show MoreFuture Entrepreneurs Scholarship
Offered by iSeeCars
Are you a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in the U.S. with an interest in entrepreneurship? You might want to consider applying for the Future Entrepreneurs Scholarship! Funded by iSeeCars.com…
Show More$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship
Sponsored
Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to high school students in the class of 2024, 2026, and 2026.
Niche $2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
Sponsored
Easy scholarship from Niche open to all high school, college, and graduate students.
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How to win scholarships for college freshmen
Now that you’ve got a list of some great opportunities, it’s time to start your applications. Most college scholarships receive a huge number of applicants, so it’s important to ensure that your application stands out from the crowd.
Essays are one of the best ways to showcase what makes you unique on a scholarship application. To ace your essay, check out our “Show, Don’t Tell” essay primer, and our guide on how to write an essay about yourself. And if you need a little nudge to get you started, try out our guide on how to start a scholarship essay – we’ve even included a few examples to inspire you to get that first word on the page!
It’s also important to keep word limits in mind as you write your essay. Different scholarship programs put different limits on their essay prompts, and you should adjust the scope of your essay based on those limits. Our guides to writing 250 and 500 word essays can help you tune your writing to these different limits.
Also see: The ultimate guide to finding and winning scholarships
Tips for college freshmen
Freshman year is a big year for students. If you are a first-year in college, it may be your first time living away from your parents, cooking your own meals, and managing your own money. To top it all off, this is all in addition to adjusting to college academics and balancing extracurriculars with schoolwork! Luckily, we have a few tips to help you through this transition.
These include guides on how to make money in college, how to save money, and how to decide whether work-study is worth it for you. You can also check out our guides on how to find roommates and how to pay for housing, and investigate whether you can pay for off-campus housing with student loans. And don’t miss our guide on how to get involved on campus!
Don’t forget the FAFSA
Remember, as a college student, you have to fill out the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile every year to keep your college updated on your financial need. If your economic situation changes, your need-based aid may increase or decrease as a result. In order to maintain eligibility for the Pell Grant, federal loans, and institutional aid, be sure to fill out the required forms every year.
Look into local scholarships
Local scholarships are one of the most overlooked resources for students looking to fund their bachelor’s degree. Many local institutions, such as community service organizations, religious institutions, or neighborhood associations offer scholarship funds, and sometimes memorial scholarships for past members. These can help undergraduate students earn their degrees without going into debt.
One reason why local scholarships are so important is because these specific scholarships receive less applications. That means each applicant has a higher chance of winning. Make sure to look into these scholarship opportunities to find some promising leads to fund your college education.
