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What Are Micro Scholarships? Everything You Need to Know
By
Varonika Ware
Varonika Ware is a content writer at Scholarships360. Varonika earned her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications at Louisiana State University. During her time at LSU, she worked with the Center of Academic Success to create the weekly Success Sunday newsletter. Varonika also interned at the Louisiana Department of Insurance in the Public Affairs office with some of her graphics appearing in local news articles.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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As you start looking into applying for colleges, you’ll be glad to know that there are tons of ways to finance your education, including micro scholarships. You may be wondering, “what are micro scholarships?” Look no further, as we have answers–keep reading below to find out more!
What’s a micro-scholarship?
A micro-scholarship is a small grant offered by a college or university that you can sign up for online. They must be put toward a four-year institution and can be earned in high school and in community college.
Related: How to pay for college (A step-by-step guide)
How much do micro-scholarships offer?
As their name suggests, micro-scholarships aren’t a large amount of aid. These types of scholarships can be around $500 to $1,000 each, but the limit of aid that you can receive depends on your desired school.
How do I apply for a micro-scholarship?
You can apply for micro-scholarships on some college websites as well as platforms such as RaiseMe. Eligibility requirements will likely vary depending on which scholarship you’re applying for, but it’s a good idea to make sure your grades and performance in activities are the best they can be. Similarly to traditional scholarship applications, some might require an essay while others might not.
See also: How to write a winning scholarship essay
How are micro-scholarships different from regular scholarships?
Award amount
While one regular scholarship could cover part or the entirety of your college expenses, micro-scholarships tend to be much smaller than that. Fortunately, students can “bank” micro-scholarships, but there will likely be a limit depending on your school.
These scholarships might be small, but they can be mighty if you stack them up over time!
Application process
Micro-scholarships can be earned based on things you’re already doing! Getting straight As? Or becoming a star athlete? Great! You might qualify for a few micro scholarships already. However, as mentioned, some of them will require an essay or further documentation just like usual scholarships.
Scholarship availability
In order to win a micro-scholarship, you might have to do a little research since certain websites and institutions offer them. On the other hand, regular scholarships are offered almost everywhere, even in the places you least expect.
Micro-scholarships can also be applied for in high school and community colleges without the stress of using the money as soon as possible. You’re free to let the money accumulate until you are enrolled in a four-year institution, while traditional scholarships usually have deadlines or the money will be forfeited.
Key Takeaways
Additional scholarship resources
When funding your college education, it is wise to start early and apply often. Scholarships360 offers a variety of scholarships for students at every level of their education, from middle school students to high school seniors to graduate students (and every grade in-between!). Women and Black students can take advantage of specific scholarship opportunities. Some scholarships require essays and applications, but others are no-essay or easy to apply for scholarships. Remember, Scholarships360 is here to provide valuable resources and access to scholarships for students. We wish you all the best on your educational journey!
