Top 10 undergraduate scholarships overall
We went through our database of thousands of undergraduate scholarships 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 10 undergraduate scholarships:
- Questbridge College Match – For high school seniors with financial need, offers a full ride to college
- The Gates Scholarship – For low-income minority high school seniors, offers a full ride to college
- Collegiate Inventors Competition – For college students who submit an original invention. Worth up to $10,000
- Dell Scholars Program – For Pell Grant-eligible high school seniors who participated in a college readiness program. Worth $20,000 with 500 scholarships awarded every year. Recipients also receive a free laptop, textbooks, and more
- Regeneron Science Talent Search – For high school seniors interested in pursuing an individual STEM research project. Worth anywhere between $2,000 and $250,000
- Blacks 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
- Ayn Rand Institute Novel Essay Contest (Atlas Shrugged) – For students who submit an essay about the novel Atlas Shrugged. Worth $25,000
- Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship – For high school seniors with financial need, worth up to $55,000 per year
- Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize In Ethics – For college upperclassmen who write an essay about ethics. Worth $10,000
- Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest – For high school and college students who submit a greeting card of their own creation. Worth $10,000
Top 3 undergraduate scholarships for Black students
- Scholar Dollars Essay Scholarship for Black Students – For Black high school upperclassmen, college students, and graduate students. Worth $500
- Generation Google Scholarship – For HS seniors, college, and grad students who plan to study computer science or engineering. Worth $10,000. Preference given to women and ethnic minorities
- Ron Brown Scholarship – For Black high school seniors who plan to study global entrepreneurship and/or community engagement. Worth $10,000 per year
Top 3 undergraduate scholarships for Hispanic students
- 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
- Dream.US Opportunity Scholarship – For undocumented high school seniors and college freshmen with high financial need living in a state where public colleges do not offer in-state tuition to undocumented students. Worth $20,000 per year
Top 3 undergraduate scholarships for women
- Navisite’s Next Steminist Scholarship Program – For women who are HS seniors or college students and submit a 60-second video about their dream STEM career. Worth $10,000
- “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women – For women in all grade levels who write a short essay. Worth $500
- Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship – For HS seniors and college undergrads who identify as female and are pursuing STEM. Worth $10,000
Top 3 undergraduate STEM scholarships
- Barry Goldwater Scholarship – For college students pursuing a research career in STEM. Worth $7,500
- Generation Google Scholarship – For HS seniors, college, and grad students who plan to study computer science or engineering. Worth $10,000. Preference given to women and ethnic minorities
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Scholarships – For high school seniors and above who are Hispanic and pursuing a STEM degree. Worth $25,000
Scholarships for undergrads 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:
- Scholarships for High School Freshman
- Scholarships for High School Sophomores
- Scholarships for High School Juniors
- Scholarships for High School Seniors
- College Freshmen
- Community College Students
- College Sophomores
- College Juniors
- Transfer Students
- College Seniors
How to win undergrad scholarships
Here are a few tips for finding and winning scholarships and financial aid for an undergraduate education.
Apply for need-based financial aid
Your first step should be to apply for need-based aid, including Pell Grants, Federal SEOG Grants, and work study. These are strictly based on your need, so your academic standing should not impact them as long as you are making Satisfactory Academic Progress.
The two major financial aid applications are the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. These applications serve to assess your financial need. Schools have their own deadlines for each application, so make sure that you get everything in on time!
Apply to many scholarships to increase your odds of winning
A key part of any good scholarship strategy is applying to a broad array of scholarship opportunities. The more you apply to, the more chances you have of winning! Scholarships can take many forms, such as video scholarships, local opportunities, and scholarships based on your major or your background.
Check your college’s financial aid office or high school counseling office for scholarships
Your college’s financial aid office or your high school’s counseling 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.
Frequently asked questions about undergraduate scholarships
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Is the Sallie Mae $2000 scholarship legit?
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