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Top 42 Writing & Essay Scholarships in September 2022
Writing is an extremely important part of success in high school, college, and life in general. For some students, writing is also an intricate part of who they are and how they express themselves. If you are someone who loves English class and is genuinely excited about a new creative writing assignment, then you should keep reading! Writing scholarships, creative writing scholarships, and essay scholarships are great ways to put your talent to use.
Jump ahead to:
- Top writing scholarships in 2022
- Top creative writing scholarships in 2022
- Resources for writing scholarship essays
- Frequently asked questions about writing scholarships
- Upcoming essay scholarships
- Explore these other scholarship categories
Keep on reading to learn about the top scholarships for writers and creative writers including eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines!
Top writing scholarships in 2022
“College Here I Come” Essay Scholarship for High School Seniors
- Eligibility: Open to all high school seniors
- Amount: $1,00
- Deadline: January 31, 2023
“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: All postsecondary students, regardless of the type of training/education they are pursuing
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: January 31, 2023
“Gutsy Graduate Student” Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: Incoming or current graduate students, including those seeking master’s, doctorates, and graduate certificates
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: January 31, 2023
“A Helping Hand” Scholarship
- Eligibility: Low-income, graduating high school seniors as well as current college and graduate students with financial need
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: January 31, 2023
“Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: U.S. citizens and permanent residents currently attending four-year universities in the U.S.
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: January 31, 2023
“Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors accepted to community college and students planning/already attending community college.
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: January 31, 2023
Sloane Stephens Doc & Glo Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors and college students
- Amount: $26,000
- Deadline: February 20, 2023
- Eligibility: Open to students in a trade or career school who have obtained a high school diploma/GED and are under the age of 30.
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: Rolling
Arctic Physical Therapy Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to college students who write an essay about the benefits of physical therapy.
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: August 31, 2022
Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest
- Eligibility: Students in grades 11 and 12, undergraduate, and graduate students who write a 800 – 1,600 word essay
- Amount: Up to $10,000 (many prizes!)
- Deadline: September 26, 2022
Questbridge National College Match Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors
- Amount: Full funding (including tuition, room, and board) for four years
- Deadline: September 27, 2022
Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship
- Eligibility: Incoming or current college students who submit a personal statement about the importance of not texting and driving
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: September 30, 2022
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors or those enrolled in a skilled trade program who write 2 essays on their passion & future in a skilled trade
- Amount: $2,000
- Deadline: September 30, 2022
- Eligibility: Open to incoming and current college students majoring in computer science related fields
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: September 30, 2022
Responsify Empowering Others Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to college and graduate students who submit an essay about empowering others
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: October 5, 2022
ACES Scholarships
- Eligibility: Open to college and graduate students who answer questions related to editing and the written word
- Amount: $3,500
- Deadline: November 15, 2022
Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors who demonstrate scholarship, leadership, and financial need.
- Amount: $50,000
- Deadline: November 15, 2022
ServiceScape Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors and current college students who submit a 300 word essay
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: November 29, 2022
Worthy Women’s Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to women age 30 or older who have decided to enroll in school to pursue their passions
- Amount: $2,500 (3 scholarships will be awarded)
- Deadline: December 5, 2022
Allied.com Military Scholarship Competition
- Eligibility: Open to current or former active duty military members (and their dependents) majoring in logistics or an equivalent field.
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: December 15, 2022
Future Journalism Teacher Scholarships
- Eligibility: Open to college Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate Students majoring in Education and intending to teach Journalism.
- Amount: $1,000 (2 scholarships are awarded)
- Deadline: December 15, 2022
Medical Scrubs Collection Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors and college students pursuing or interested in medicine
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: December 15, 2022
Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school students, college students, graduate students, and adult learners
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: July 31st and December 31st of each year
Engineer Girl Writing Contest
- Eligibility: The contest is open to individual girls and boys in the following three competition categories: Elementary School Students (grades 3-5), Middle School Students in (grades 6-8), or High School Students (grades 9-12)
- Amount: $250 to $500
- Deadline: February 1, 2023
Women’s Army Corps Veterans’ Association Scholarship
- Eligibility: Female high school seniors who are the child, grandchild, niece or nephew of an Army Service Woman
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: February 2, 2023
Ayn Rand Anthem Essay Contest
- Eligibility: Students in 8th through 12th grade who write a 600 – 1,200 word essay
- Amount: Up to $2,000 (many prizes!)
- Deadline: April 27, 2023
Ayn Rand Fountainhead Essay Contest
- Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors who write an essay about Ayn Rand’s book The Fountainhead.
- Amount: up to $5,000
- Deadline: April 27, 2023
Rover Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors and college students who write an essay about the impact of technology on their lives
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: May 1, 2023
CardRates.com Financial Futures Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors and college students majoring in a business field.
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: July 31, 2023
Melissa Linville Criminal Justice Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors, college students, and graduate students who are studying in the criminal justice field
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: August 1, 2023
Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors, college students, and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in health, wellness, or fitness
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: August 1, 2023
Mrs Prindables Future Educator Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to incoming college freshmen or current college students intending to major in education
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: August 17, 2023
Clubs of America Scholarship Award
- Eligibility: Open to college students who write an essay on their career aspirations
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: August 31, 2023
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors, college, and graduate students who intend to major in the life sciences and related fields
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: Biannual
Chairish Design Your Future Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to all students, with preference given to design and engineering majors and students from underrepresented backgrounds
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: Biannual
The HotelPlanner.com Graduate Technology Scholarship For Military Veterans
- Eligibility: Open to veterans of the US military and their spouse/partner or children pursuing a degree related to technology.
- Amount: $1,000 (10 scholarships will be awarded)
- Deadline: Biannual
Love Your Career Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to students who submit an essay on 3 steps they plan to take in the next year to plan a future towards a career they love
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: Biannual
PixelPlex Bi-Annual STEM Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors and college students who submit an essay about STEM
- Amount: $2,000
- Deadline: Biannual
Tocris Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors and college students pursuing a science-related field of study.
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: Biannual
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
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
- Eligibility: Scholarships are open to students ages 13 and up in grades 7 through 12. Public/private school and homeschooled students in the U.S., Canada, or American schools worldwide are welcome to apply.
- Amount: $1500 to $10,000
- Deadline: Varies
Other essay scholarships
Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest
- Eligibility: High school students in grades 6-8
- Amount: $500 to $5,000
- Deadline: October 31, 2022
Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Contest
- Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
- Amount: $1,000 to $30,000
- Deadline: October 31, 2022
Antonia Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors who are prospective first-year college students who plan to continue their education as English or history majors
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: February 28, 2023
Creative writing scholarships
Are you a writer who loves fiction, poetry, and screenplays? If so, you can put those talents to use by applying for creative writing scholarships.
Creative writing scholarships are a subset of writing scholarships that support students who enjoy writing poetry, fictional stories, plays, and generally using their imagination to guide their writing.
Here are the top creative writing scholarships that you can apply for:
HelpTeaching.com Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school and college students who submit a educational short story or informational article (400-800 words) for young students
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: June 1st of every year
College-specific creative writing scholarships
Some colleges and universities may also offer specific scholarships to student with a talent in creative writing! Check with the colleges on your list for these college-specific creative writing opportunities!
Note that some of these scholarships may have requirements for winning students that stipulate that they take a certain number of creative writing classes when enrolled in the college.
Scholarship essay resources
When it comes to writing and essay scholarships, your writing skills will be put to the test. You’ll have to adapt your writing to specific styles in order to effectively and succinctly communicate your ambitions and potential. We have a host of resources to help you perform well in this arena and stand out from the crowd.
- How to start your scholarship essay (with examples)
- How to write a “why do you deserve this scholarship?” essay
- What’s the best scholarship essay format?
- How to write a 250 word essay
- How to write a 500 word essay
- How to write an essay about yourself
Frequently asked questions about writing scholarships
Do I have to major in English to earn a writing or essay scholarship?
You don’t! Each of these scholarships has different requirements, and although some might be geared towards English majors, there are many which are not. Remember, the only thing that makes a writing or essay scholarship is that it uses a piece of writing as a major deciding factor in its decision process. So, you could earn a writing or essay scholarship for physics, chemistry, computer science — really, anything.
Where can I get help proofreading my scholarship essays?
If you’re in the middle of writing scholarship essays, it’s a great idea to recruit someone to help proofread your work. Sometimes, getting an extra set of eyes on your essays can be just the ticket to make sure your writing is as effective as can be. You can try asking your high school guidance counselor. Family members, friends, and even teachers who you have close relationships with, can also be helpful.
If you qualify, you can also apply for CollegePoint, a free resource that matches you with current college students to guide you through the college application process. They will help with every factor, including college application, selection, scholarship searching, college interviews, and more. Find out all you need to know with our review of CollegePoint’s services.
How much should I write if there is no word limit on the application?
If there is no word limit on the scholarship application, you should aim to write an essay that is around 500 words — somewhere between 400 and 600. If the question is very simple, you can shoot for less words than this, and if it is very complex and multi-faceted, you can shoot for a longer one. However, as a general rule for a relatively basic question, 400 to 600 words is a good range.
Creative Writing Scholarships
Upcoming Essay Scholarships
$1,000 “Mom to Scholar” Scholarship for Mothers
- Eligibility: Mothers over the age of 35 either accepted to or a attending technical, community, or four-year college/university
- Amount: $1,000
Achievement Awards in Writing (NCTE)
- Eligibility: Juniors in the current academic school year are eligible to be nominated by their school’s English department (ask your teachers to nominate you if you qualify!)
- Amount: No cash award, but incredibly prestigious!
- Opens: November 15, 2022
“A Helping Hand” Scholarship
- Eligibility: Low-income, graduating high school seniors planning on enrolling in community college, career training programs, or four-year colleges/universities in the Fall of 2022 are all eligible. Current college and graduate students who demonstrate financial need may also apply
- Amount: $500
Altec Design Web Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students at any level who respond to the prompt: “How do you foresee the internet changing your chosen career in the next 20 years?”
- Amount: $750
“College Here I Come” Essay Scholarship for High School Seniors
- Eligibility: Graduating Class of 2022 high school seniors entering community college, career training, or four-year colleges/universities
- Amount: $500
Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors, college students, community college students, or graduate students who write an essay about cyberbullying
- Amount: $1,000
“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: All postsecondary students, regardless of the type of training/education they are pursuing
- Amount: $500
Global Perspectives Scholarship
- Eligibility: Incoming or current college students who answer the prompt: What kind of global impact project is most critical for you to focus on and why, and what is your plan to make that impact in the next year and beyond?
- Amount: $1,000
“Gutsy Graduate Student” Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: Incoming or current graduate students at every level of their educational journey. This scholarship opportunity is open to students seeking master’s and doctorate degrees as well as graduate certificates
- Amount: $500
JASNA Essay Contest (Jane Austen Society of North America)
- Eligibility: High school, undergrad, or graduate students who write an essay about their appreciation for Jane Austen’s works
- Amount: $1,000
- Opens: February 2023
Kaplun Essay Contest
- Eligibility: Students who are in grades 7 through 12 who submit an essay about their Jewish faith
- Amount: $500 to $1,800
- Opens: Late September/October ; Deadline: Early-mid March 2023
“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women
- Eligibility: Women currently attending high school, college, technical/vocational, or graduate school are eligible to apply
- Amount: $500
My Alarm Center’s Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: Students pursuing law enforcement, law, criminal justice, or a related field who write an essay about security
- Amount:$1,000
Platt Family Essay Contest
- Eligibility: Open to U.S. college students who submit an essay about how memorializing key Civil War figures has changed in the past hundred years
- Amount: $1,500 (three scholarships are awarded!)
Princeton Prize in Race Relations
- Eligibility: Open to all high school students who are involved in an activity that promotes positive race relations.
- Amount: $1,000
Richard G. Zimmerman Journalism Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors interested in journalism
- Amount: $5,000
Race Entry Student Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to college students passionate about running
- Amount: $500
- Opens: January 1, 2023
Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest
- Eligibility: High school seniors and college students
- Amount: $3,500 and $5,000
Rodeo Ticket Student Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to all college students with an interest in Rodeo
- Amount: $500
- Opens: January 1, 2023
“Scholar Dollars” Essay Scholarship for Black Students
- Eligibility: Black students in their senior year of high school to their last year of graduate school
- Amount: $500
Spirit of Giving Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors and college/graduate students who write an essay on the spirit of giving
- Amount: $1,000 (three scholarships are awarded!)
- Opens: October 1, 2022
“Tuition Solution” Scholarship for STEM Students
- Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors (including homeschooled students) planning on enrolling in community college or four-year colleges/universities to study a STEM field in the Fall of 2022 are all eligible. Current college and graduate students working towards a STEM degree are also eligible
- Amount: $500
