Scholarships are not only for high school students. There are many top scholarships for college freshmen. We know that 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.

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

One of the best ways to reduce your student loan burden and graduate with little (or no) debt, is through scholarships. Keep on reading to find and win scholarships!

Top scholarships for college freshmen students in 2021

Student Loan Hero Smart Money Giveaway

• Eligibility: Open to all high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: June 30, 2021

$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school, college, community and graduate students
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: June 30, 2021

Tallo’s $1,000 Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school and college students who set up a Tallo profile
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: June 30, 2021

$10,000 ScholarshipPoints Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: Open to all high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: End of each month

$2,222 ScholarshipOwl ‘You Deserve It’ Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all students who are at least 16 years old
• Amount: $2,222
• Deadline: June 28, 2021

Scholarships360 No Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: All high school, college, and graduate students are eligible for this scholarship!
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: June 30, 2021

$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: June 30, 2021

Act Locally Scholarship 

• Eligibility: High school and undergraduates with an interest in volunteering or working to better their local community through social, environmental, or economic change
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: July 1, 2021

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

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, 2021

El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship

• Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students of Latino descent
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: July 5, 2021

Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to students at every level of education who write a short essay about mental health
• Amount: $905
• Deadline: June 13, 2021

First-Generation College Students Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors or current undergraduate students who are the first in their family to attend college or university
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: August 2, 2021

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 21, 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

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: October 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, 2022

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

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: June 30, 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

Probo 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

Selectblinds $1,000 Scholarship

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

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

Solar Scholarship

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

Sportsletter Sports News Scholarship

• Eligibility: All students who sign up for the Sportsletter
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: June 30, 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 31, 2021

Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship

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

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: June 30, 2021

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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 renew your FAFSA each year. This will ensure that you continue to qualify for need-based aid including grants, student loans, and work study.
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 scholarships:

1. Student Loan Hero $1,000 Giveaway
2. $2,000 Nitro College Scholarship
3. Tallo’s $1,000 ‘Spring into College’ Scholarship
4. $1,000 Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship
5. $2,222 ScholarshipOwl ‘You Deserve It’ Scholarship
6. $10,000 Scholarship ScholarshipPoints Program
7. Scholarships360 No Essay Scholarship
8. Act Locally Scholarship 
9. Big Sun Scholarship
10. Billy Welu Scholarship
11. Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship
12. El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship
13. Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship
14. First-Generation College Students Scholarship
15. Future Designer Scholarship
16. Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
17. GraphicDesignDegreeHub.com Creativity Scholarship
18. Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship
19. HireAHelper Skilled Trade & Technology Scholarships
20. Jones T-Shirts “Love Your Career” Scholarship
21. Little Bundle Superdad Scholarship — College Award
22. Little Bundle Supermom Scholarship — College Award
23. Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship
24. Probo Medical Scholarship
25. Selectblinds $1000 Scholarship
26. Shout it Out Scholarship
27. Solar Scholarship
28. Sportsletter Sports News Scholarship
29. Ted Rollins Eco Scholarship
30. Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship
31. Unigo Flavor of the Month Scholarship
32. WayUp Dream Job No-Essay Scholarship

Expired, but returning next year:

10X Digital Marketing Scholarship 

• Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students and high school seniors pursuing a career in digital marketing 
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: June 1, 2021

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, 2020

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, 2020

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

Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all students at every level of education who write a short essay about mental health
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: May 31, 2021

Great Outdoors Wilderness Education Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students who have incorporated the outdoors into their education, worldviews, and career goals in some meaningful way
• Amount: $1,000  
• Deadline: April 1, 2021

Grow the Game Volleyball Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to students at all educational levels who demonstrate passion, achievement, and leadership efforts in growing the game of volleyball
• Amount: $2,500   
• Deadline: March 31, 2021

John J. DiPietro COME OUT STRONG Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to to high school seniors who will attend college in 2021 and current undergraduate students in any field of study. Writing an essay about how a role-model influenced you required. 
• Amount: $3,950bol
• Deadline: May 31, 2021

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, 2020

One Move Ahead Chess Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to students at every level who submits an essay about how the game of chess has influenced their life
• Amount: $1,000  
• Deadline: March 29, 2021

Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest

• Eligibility: High school seniors and college students
• Amount: $3,500 and $5,000
• Deadline: February 28, 2021

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, 2020

Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to students between the ages of 16 and 26 who submit a video entry about their life’s passion
• Amount: $5,000 to $25,000 per year
• Deadline: January 20, 2021

Upakar Indian-American Scholarship

• Eligibility: High-achieving high school and college students with financial need 
• Amount: $8,000
• Deadline: April 30, 2021

WayUp $1,000 Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students who share passion and vision for diversity and inclusion 
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: June 1, 2021