Top scholarships for college students overall
We went through all our scholarships for college students and hand-selected the opportunities below based on three criteria:
- The scholarship is from a well-known organization that has been offering the opportunity for several years
- The award amount is substantial
- The eligibility information is not too narrow, so many students can apply
Here are our picks for the overall top scholarships for current college students:
- Scholarships360’s “Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship – For college students who write a short essay answering the following prompt: Please share specific examples of how earning this scholarship will help you achieve your educational and career goals. If applicable, include any proactive steps you have taken to secure funding for your future degree. Worth $1,000.
- Collegiate Inventors Competition – For college students who submit an original invention. Worth up to $10,000
- Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize In Ethics – For college upperclassmen who write an essay about ethics. Worth $10,000
- Stokes Scholarship Programs – For students pursuing fields relevant to work in the CIA. Worth $25,000
- Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest – For high school and college students who submit a greeting card of their own creation. Worth $10,000
- Dream.US Opportunity Scholarship – For undocumented high school seniors and college freshmen who live in a state whose public universities do not admit undocumented students
Top 5 exclusive scholarships for current college students
Here are some great scholarships for current college students offered by S360. You can only apply to them in one place – here on our site!
- Scholar Dollars Essay Scholarship for Black Students – For Black high school upperclassmen, college students, and graduate students. Worth $1,000
- “Tuition Solution” Scholarship for STEM Students – This scholarship is for HS upperclassmen and above who are studying STEM. It’s a quick application with a short essay prompt! Worth $1,000
- “A Helping Hand” Scholarship – Students with high financial need should be sure to apply for this S360 exclusive scholarship! Worth $1,000
- “Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship – Essay scholarship for current undergraduates looking to lower their tuition bill. Worth $1,000
- “Moving Mountains” Scholarship for Hispanic Students – Essay scholarship for Hispanic students who are HS upperclassmen or above. Worth $1,000
Top 3 scholarships for Black college students
- Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest – For Black high school seniors or college students, worth $8,000
- Scholar Dollars Essay Scholarship for Black Students – For Black high school upperclassmen, college students, and graduate students. Worth $1,000
- Black at Microsoft Scholarship – For Black high school seniors pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or a business field. Worth up to $20,000
Top 3 scholarships for Hispanic college students
- La Unidad Latina Foundation National Scholarship – For Latino/Hispanic undergrads with a minimum 2.8 GPA. Worth up to $2,000
- El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship – For undergraduate and graduate students attending Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the US. Worth $5,000
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund – For Hispanic students who will be enrolled at a 4-year college or grad school the following year. Worth up to $5,000. Approximately 10,000 awards granted per year
Top 3 scholarships for women in college
- Scholarships360’s “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women – For women of any major pursuing a college degree. Worth $1,000
- Forte Future Leaders Scholarship – For women in undergrad who identify as leaders and respond to a prompt about leadership. Worth $1,000
- Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship – For HS seniors and college undergrads who identify as female and are pursuing STEM. Worth $10,000
Top 3 STEM scholarships for college students
- Barry Goldwater Scholarship – For college students pursuing a research career in STEM. Worth $7,500
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Scholarships – For high school seniors and above who are Hispanic and pursuing a STEM degree. Worth up to $10,000
- Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship – For high school seniors with high financial need who plan to study computer science in college. Worth $10,000 per year
College scholarships by grade level
Whether you are a college freshman or a transfer student, we have specific guides to help you find and apply for scholarships:
- College Freshmen
- Community College Students
- College Sophomores
- College Juniors
- Transfer Students
- College Seniors
How to win scholarships as a college student
Here are a few tips for finding and winning scholarships and financial aid as a current college student.
Apply for need-based financial aid
Don’t forget about need-based financial aid, which includes Pell Grants, Federal SEOG Grants, and work study. To apply for need-based financial aid from the government or from your college, you will need to apply for financial aid.
The two major financial aid applications that students will come across are the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. These applications serve to assess your financial need. Both of these applications have specific deadlines, so make sure that you get everything in on time!
Additionally, financial aid is only offered on an annual basis, so you will need to reapply for financial aid in subsequent college years.
Apply to many scholarships to increase your odds of winning
A key part of any scholarship strategy should be applying to a broad array of scholarship opportunities. The more you apply to, the more you can win! Remember, this can take the form of video scholarships, local opportunities, and scholarships based on your major or your background.
Check your college’s financial aid office for scholarships
Your college’s financial aid office should be your first stop for college scholarships since they may be able to offer other forms of aid as well (like grants or work study programs). If you are not currently on campus, you can consult their website and reach out to a representative via email.
Look for departmental scholarships
Many colleges, such as the University of South Carolina, offer scholarships to current students on a departmental basis. Students who show particular promise in one field of study may be eligible to receive funding from their department for their additional years of schooling. You can try consulting your professors, your advisor, or the chair of the department you’re majoring in to see what opportunities are out there.
Study abroad scholarships
If you plan on studying abroad, you may be eligible for scholarships! There are many places to look for study abroad scholarships. These include your school’s study abroad department, the organization running the program you’re enrolling in, and our very own list of scholarships for students who are studying abroad! As studying abroad can often end up being expensive for students, it’s a good idea to pursue these options to reduce your costs.
If you win a scholarship, check to see if you must re-apply each year
Certain scholarships may require students to maintain a certain GPA, or provide proof of enrollment each year. Check the details of any scholarship you win to see if these rules apply.
Don’t forget local scholarships
Local scholarships are often some of the best bets for students looking to fund their higher education. Many local organizations, like Boy Scouts, Elks Clubs, and religious institutions, run scholarship programs or can put you in touch with other local opportunities. These can work out very well for students because they are typically more niche than national scholarships. This means they receive far fewer applications and each applicant has a higher chance of winning.
If you are involved in extracurriculars in your community or in the community of your college, including volunteer work and community service, be sure to inquire whether the programs run any scholarship funds and find out what the application process entails.
Look into fellowships
Programs such as summer fellowships can be a great way to help cut down on college costs while gaining valuable expertise in your field of interest. Fellowships can be part-time or full-time and adjust to your needs in case you want to study or work another job on top of them.
Additional financial tips for college students
As a college student, one great way to lessen the financial burden is to apply for scholarships. But remember, there are other ways to cut down on your costs! Whether you are looking for affordable housing or looking to reduce your spending, we’ve got you covered.
You can check out our guide on how to find online tutoring jobs, and our guide to work-study.
It’s also important to begin building a good financial history when you are in school. One great way to do this is to apply for your first credit card. We can help you choose the best option for students who are just beginning to open credit.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to get a scholarship while in college?
How do you find scholarships for college?
Which college scholarships are easy to get?
1. There are few application requirements, so you can apply to a ton of them. To begin with this strategy, apply to all of the scholarships on our easy scholarships list.
2. There are a lot of application requirements, so not that many people can apply. If your college offers a scholarship specifically meant for first-generation college students, the applicant pool is limited to both students attending your college and, out of that group, first-generation students. If you qualify, your chances of winning are way higher than a contest with broad application requirements. While these are a bit harder to find, you can start with our list of best merit scholarships.
3. Local scholarships. Student should always ask their high school guidance counselor for resources about local scholarships. They can also check out community organizations and ask recent graduates from their high school. Local scholarships typically have much less competition than other scholarships.
Do college transfer students get scholarships?
Can I get a full ride scholarship while in college?
What is the average scholarship amount?
Explore these other scholarship categories
- Top easy scholarships
- No essay scholarships
- Scholarships for college freshmen
- Top scholarships for college sophomores
- Top law school scholarships
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📝Sample Essay from a Scholarship Winner
Here's a winning scholarship essay from Dimiti M, who won our "Outstanding Undergraduate" Essay Scholarship. Read the essay below and keep scrolling for some commentary on what made this a winner.
Prompt: Please share specific examples of how earning this scholarship will help you achieve your educational and career goals. If applicable, include any proactive steps you have taken to secure funding for your future degree.
Essay
Earning the Outstanding Undergraduate College Scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals because it will help alleviate the financial burden of a college education. My short-term goal is to earn a mechanical engineering degree to pursue a Department of Defense job, preferably in Japan. Since my dad is an active duty member of the Navy, I want to follow in his footsteps through engineering. My long-term goal is to create a nonprofit organization to raise awareness for the United Nations' seventeen sustainable development goals. The first step to achieving that is by obtaining my bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. I want to contribute to the cause directly rather than simply spreading awareness anonymously through social media and behind a screen. I've always lived in small communities, so having the opportunity to compete among thousands of other individuals is a dream of mine. My intense passion for engineering and work ethic will allow me to rise above many challenges and give way to some of the world's most significant innovations once given the proper resources. My persistence to improve not only my field of study – but life itself – will allow me to make great strides in mechanical engineering and eventually – the world.
Why it worked
In only 250 words, Dimiti convinces us that he has thoroughly researched his educational and career path. While not all undergrads have this level of clarity about their future, it's a good idea to be very specific and definite in scholarship applications. This convinces scholarship readers that the student takes their education seriously and that the funds will be put to good use.
Dimiti also does a good job of describing his personal motivations for the path he's chosen. He describes how his father has informed his goals, and he lists the values he believes will help him achieve everything he hopes to.
Will Geiger
Scholarships360 Co-Founder, Former Admissions Officer