By Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Updated: September 16th, 2021

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
• Upcoming 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

Scholarships360 $1,000 No-Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: Easy scholarship open to any student who creates a Scholarships360 account!
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: September 30, 2022

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: September 30, 2021

$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship

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

Chapter’s $500 No Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all students who complete a 15-minute training call and become a Chapter Ambassador! Ambassadors can also earn up to $500 for referring community members to Chapter.
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: August 31, 2022

Tallo’s $1,000 “What Do You Think” Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school and college students who set up a Tallo profile
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: September 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: September 29, 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: September 30, 2021

$2,000 CollegeXpress Rule the School Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students ages 13+
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: September 30, 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

Jones T-Shirts “Love Your Career” Scholarship

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

“Choose Courage Over Comfort” No-Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: High seniors, college students, and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in health, wellness, or fitness
• Amount: $1,500
• Deadline: September 30, 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, 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: October 29, 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

Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship

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

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

Better Food, Better World Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students at every level of education who share their passion for natural foods & the environment
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: November 30, 2021

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: December 1, 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: December 31, 2021

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

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

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

Sportsletter Sports News Scholarship

• Eligibility: All students who sign up for the Sportsletter
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: May 1, 2022

National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses

• Eligibility: Open to aspiring or current nurses to aid with the cost of their tuition or student loans.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: May 16, 2022

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: $900
• Deadline: June 14, 2022

Big Sun Scholarship

• Eligibility: Student athletes who are high school seniors or in college
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: June 19, 2022

Solar Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors, college and graduate students with an interest in solar energy 
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: July 1, 2022

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

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 “What Do You Think” Scholarship
4. Chapter’s $500 No Essay Scholarship
5. $2,222 ScholarshipOwl ‘You Deserve It’ Scholarship
6. $10,000 Scholarship ScholarshipPoints Program
7. $1,000 Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship
8. $2,000 CollegeXpress Rule the School Scholarship
9. HireAHelper Skilled Trade & Technology Scholarships
10. Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship
11. Jones T-Shirts “Love Your Career” Scholarship
12. “Choose Courage Over Comfort” No-Essay Scholarship
13. Scholarship America Dream Award
14. Act Locally Scholarship 
15. GraphicDesignDegreeHub.com Creativity Scholarship
16. Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship
17. Future Designer Scholarship
18. Better Food, Better World Scholarship
19. Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
20. Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship
21. Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
22. Ted Rollins Eco Scholarship
23. Probo Medical Scholarship
24. Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship
25. Sportsletter Sports News Scholarship
26. National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses
27. Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship
28. Big Sun Scholarship
29. Solar Scholarship
30. Denny’s Hungry for Education Scholarships

Upcoming scholarships for college freshmen:

Billy Welu Scholarship

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

El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship

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

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 

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: $3,950

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

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

Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest

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

Selectblinds $1,000 Scholarship

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

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 passionAmount: $5,000 to $25,000 per year

Upakar Indian-American Scholarship

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