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!

Here are the top scholarships for college freshmen students:

The “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all students, including high school, college, and graduate students
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: May 30

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: May 30

Big Sun Scholarship

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

$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: May 31

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

CollegeXpress $10,000 Scholarship

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

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

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

El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship

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

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

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

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

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

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

Huggable Supermom Scholarship — College Award

• Eligibility: College students who are single mothers
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: June 30

Jones T-Shirts “Love Your Career” Scholarship

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

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

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: July 15

Philosophy Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all undergraduate and graduate students studying philosophy.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: May 22

Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest

• Eligibility: High school seniors and college students
• Amount: $3,500 and $5,000
• Deadline: February 29

ScholarshipPoints $10,000 Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: Open to all high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: May 30

Selectblinds $1000 Scholarship

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

Shout it Out Scholarship

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

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: May 30

Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to students in New England with financial need
• Amount: up to $15,000
• Deadline: May 1

Straight North STEM Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students studying a STEM subject.
• Amount: up to $1,000
• Deadline: August 1

Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship

• Eligibility: College students
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: April 15 and  November 15

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

Upakar Indian-American Scholarship

• Eligibility: High-achieving high school and college students with financial need 
• Amount: $8,000
• Deadline: May 15

WomenIn Scholarship

• Eligibility: Females college students who plan on entering the video gaming industry 
• Amount: $2,500
• Deadline: May 31

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Tips for College Freshmen applying for scholarships

1. Scholarships are not just for high school students! College students (including college freshmen) can and should be applying for scholarships.
2. If you receive need-based financial aid from your college you will need to re-apply each year with the FAFSA.
3. 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!
4. 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 top scholarships for college freshmen in 2020:

1. The “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship
2. The “Be Bold” No-Essay Community Scholarship
3. Big Sun Scholarship
4. $1,000 Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship
5. codePost Computer Science Education Scholarship
6. CollegeXpress $10,000 Scholarship
7. Cyrus Artisan Rugs Scholarship
8. Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship
9. El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship
10. Future Designer Scholarship
11. Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
12. GraphicDesignDegreeHub.com Creativity Scholarship
13. Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship
14. Huggable Supermom Scholarship — College Award
15. Jones T-Shirts “Love Your Career” Scholarship
16. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship
17. Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship
18. Philosophy Scholarship
19. ScholarshipPoints $10,000 Scholarship Program
20. Selectblinds $1000 Scholarship
21. Shout it Out Scholarship
22. Smart Borrower No-Essay Scholarship & Loan Forgiveness Grant
23. Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship
24. Straight North STEM Scholarship
25. Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship
26. Unigo Flavor of the Month Scholarship
27. Upakar Indian-American Scholarship
28. WomenIn Scholarship

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