Top 59 Writing & Essay Scholarships in September 2023

Are you a big fan of The Walking Dead, or maybe Z Nation? Ever thought about what you would do in the case of a zombie apocalypse? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you: the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship! Each year, this scholarship awards $2,000 to the applicant who, in 250 words or less, best describes their escape plan if there were a zombie outbreak at their school. The scholarship is offered by Unigo in hopes of helping some creative, zombie-obsessed students pay off some of their postsecondary education. If you’ve been inspired by the zombie shows and movies from the past few decades and have come up with a plan of your own, we encourage you to apply to the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship! It’s due exactly when you’d expect: on Halloween.

Are you a high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student with a passion for reading, writing, and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the Ayn Rand Institute Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest! Each year, the contest asks its applicants to write an 800 - 1,600 word essay in which they analyze and make an argument about an aspect or plot point of the novel Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Eighty-four students are awarded for their efforts, earning between $25 and $10,000 each. The scholarship is offered by the Ayn Rand Institute, a California-based nonprofit “think tank” dedicated to promoting a better understanding of Ayn Rand’s philosophies. If you’re familiar with Atlas Shrugged, can make a convincing argument, and want to make some cash, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a college upperclassman interested in ethics, either as they pertain to your own life or on a bigger scale? If so, we may have a great opportunity for you: the Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in Ethics essay contest! The contest is open to college juniors and seniors attending a university in the U.S. who write an essay analyzing ethical issues in today’s complex world. The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity offers this scholarship. The foundation honors Romanian-born American author of Night and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel by funding programs that reflect his values. Thus, the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity is proud to host this annual essay contest to support young writers and encourage critical thinking on ethics. Contest winners can earn up to $10,000 to help pay for their educational endeavors. If you are passionate about ethics and want to put your thoughts into words, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a U.S. high school student with a love for U.S. history? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you: the JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest! Each year, the contest awards up to $10,000 to winning applicants who submit 700 - 1,000 word essays following the year’s prompt. Each year's prompt relates to U.S. history, with this year’s being: “Describe an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born.” The scholarship is offered by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. If you love U.S. history and want to put your writing skills and history knowledge to the test, we encourage you to apply!

Are you an 11 - 18 year old who has a passion for saving the environment and/or the ocean? Additionally, would you like to make a statement about the impact of climate change through writing, artwork, or even dance? You might consider applying for the Ocean Awareness Art Contest! Dedicated to encouraging the next generation to get involved in ocean conservation (and environmentalism as a whole), the contest asks its applicants to create a piece of artwork that reflects an impact/aspect of the current environmental crisis and its effect on the ocean. Each year has a specific theme to focus on, with this year being climate change. If you would like to make a statement about climate change’s impact on the ocean through art, we encourage you to apply!

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

Are you a high school or college student with a love for Minecraft? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the Minecraft Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship offers $2,000 to one applicant who best writes about how Minecraft can positively influence one’s education and career development. The scholarship is offered by Apex Hosting, a Minecraft server provider dedicated to supporting both new and experienced server administrators. If you’re a high schooler or college student with a love for Minecraft, it’s time to put your passion to good use and apply to the Minecraft Scholarship!

Are you a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in the U.S. who believes in the importance of empowerment (making someone feel stronger and more confident)? You might consider applying for the Responsify Empowering Others Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards $1,000 to one lucky student who writes the most thoughtful essay on empowering others and their own experiences with empowerment. All post-secondary students, whether domestic, international, online, or undocumented, may apply. If you're a post-secondary student looking for help affording your education, we encourage (and empower) you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.

Are you a university student passionate about editing the written word? If so, consider applying for the ACES Scholarships! Each year, the scholarships grant multiple awards to those aspiring to a career involving editing. While four of the winners will receive a $1,500 award, one applicant will be declared the Aubespin Scholar and win $2,500, and the recipient of the "Bill Walsh Scholarship" will be awarded $3,500. All winners will also be eligible for aid to attend the ACES: The Society for Editing conference. The scholarship is funded by ACES, an international members’ alliance of editors working in a wide variety of writing-centered fields, including digital media, book publishing, academia, and more.  If you want to potentially earn some money for college and truly put your editing skills to the test, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a student who demonstrates excellence in editing news? If so, consider applying for the Bill Walsh Scholarship! The Bill Walsh Scholarship is open to undergraduate juniors, seniors, and graduate students who demonstrate an interest in editing as a career. The scholarship is offered by ACES: The Society for Editing, a professional association of international scope for editors working to promote language, grammar, and accuracy through valuable resources and an annual conference. The Bill Walsh Scholarship is in honor of the late editor, author, and ACES guiding spirit, Bill Walsh, who devoted his career to his passion for language. Each year, the scholarship awards $3,500 plus financial aid to help one (1) talented student attend the ACES national conference. If you have a passion for writing, critical thinking, and are looking for some help to pay off your degree, we encourage you to apply!

Are you enrolled or about to enroll in a college, university, or trade school? Are you looking for a little extra help in funding your education to cover expenses that other scholarships and financial aid don't cover? If your answer is "yes," ServiceScape has a solution that could help out with books, supplies, or anything else you need to cover your educational expenses. Each year, Servicescape offers a $1,000 scholarship to an applicant who writes the most thoughtful essay on how writing impacts today’s world. The scholarship is funded by ServiceScape, a website that connects individuals with experienced writers, editors, and other professional experts. If you want to put your writing skills to the test in exchange for some financial help for college, we encourage you to apply!

Are you an elementary, middle, or high school student with a passion for engineering and sustainability? The EngineerGirl Writing Contest may then be a good scholarship opportunity for you! Dedicated to fostering young women’s interest in engineering, the Engineergirl Writing Contest asks students to submit thoughtful essays relating to engineering in our everyday life/world. In return for their efforts, one elementary schooler, one middle schooler, and one high schooler receive $500 scholarships. The scholarship is funded directly by EngineerGirl, ​​a website designed to bring national attention to the exciting opportunities that engineering represents for girls and women. Awards are paid directly to recipients and can be used for educational expenses as they see fit. All you have to do to apply is submit a 650-word essay. If you fit the eligibility criteria and this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply to the EngineerGirl Writing Contest! 

Are you a student at Ohio State University who has written a paper on a topic related to Jewish studies? If so, consider applying to the Charlotte Susan Roth Memorial Fund Essay Contest! All that’s needed to apply for the contest is a minimum 1,500-word essay on Jewish studies that has been written in one’s fall or spring semester at OSU. The top applicant will receive a $500 award and the second place applicant will receive $250.

Are you a high school sophomore or junior interested in entering an essay contest? If so, consider applying for the Achievement Awards in Writing! The awards are open to nominated students who submit a piece of creative/argumentative writing. The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), a nonprofit professional association of educators, offers the contest to recognize students’ talents and achievements. The NCTE focuses on improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. Each year, multiple winners are chosen and receive a certificate. Additionally, winners of the “First Class Award" will have their name and their school’s name appear on the NCTE website. If you are passionate about writing, we encourage you to apply! While the scholarship cycle does not open until November 15 of each year, students are encouraged to start thinking of and preparing their first drafts early.

Are you a current postsecondary student at any college or university in the U.S. who is passionate about their field? You might consider applying for the Clubs of America scholarship! Dedicated to helping students achieve their dreams, the scholarship awards $1,000 to one hardworking student each year. In order to apply, you must write an essay of 600 words or less about how your current studies will help you achieve success in your future career. Applicants also have the option of submitting a Youtube video that is 5 minutes or shorter in length. If you have passion for your field of study and are looking for some help to pay off educational expenses on your journey to your dream career, we encourage you to apply! The scholarship cycle runs from September 1st to August 31st of every year.