65+ Scholarships For College Students: Your Guide To Free Money For College

Scholarships for college students are more like a lifesaver to many. Yes! Nearly 1.8 million scholarships are being offered from private sources annually to award them to the students.  

Many students deeply rely on loans to pay for college or university degrees. However, as we all know that these student loans cripple later in your life. The loans further become a burden for the students. This is exactly where the scholarships come to the rescue.

Scholarships can provide financial support and help you relieve the financial burden. So, you can say that the importance of scholarships goes beyond financial assistance.

The scholarships provide you with better networking opportunities, various job prospects, and pathways to improve your college experience. As a result, you become able to become more focused on reaching your academic goals.   

In this blog, I will provide you with a list of scholarships for college students so that you can choose the ideal one that aligns with your goals.  

Different Types Of Scholarships For College Students

Okay, now it is time to break down different types of scholarships. This can help you narrow down all your research and increase your chance of getting the finance you need for your education.

In the following, I will provide you with the categories to help guide you in scholarship research.

Merit-based Scholarships

First comes the merit-based scholarships. These scholarships are specially awarded to you based on your academic achievements. You can even think of them as your reward for hard work.

There are certain requirements that you have to fulfill. You need a good GPA, strong test scores, and impressive extracurricular activities. Now, if you have all of these, you can easily qualify for the scholarship.

Need-based Scholarships

The Second type is Need-based scholarships. These need-based scholarships are specially given to students who demonstrate poor financial backgrounds. This specifically means that your family income and expenses will be considered.

Let’s say you are struggling to afford your dream college even though you have the merits to get into that one. In such a case, you can apply for the scholarship. Trust me! It is going to be a lifesaver for you.

Athletic Scholarships

Athletic scholarships, also known as sports scholarships, are financial awards for students who actively participate in sports. This scholarship can help you pursue your sports career without compromising your education.

Besides, many colleges and universities utilize such scholarships to recruit top athletes to their sports teams.  

Moreover, in the United States, athletic scholarships are awarded to football and basketball players. However, you may find a few schools and universities that award this scholarship to other individual sports teams, such as tennis, swimming, and track.  

Subject-specific Scholarships

The subject-specific scholarships are a type of financial award given to students based on their field of study or major. These scholarships are awarded to students who want to excel in specific subjects such as science, engineering, maths, or art. So, you must look for the one that aligns with your interests.

Minority Scholarships

The minority scholarships are specifically designed for students who belong to underrepresented groups. These students can be based on race, gender, ethnicity, or other factors. So, if you belong to any minor group, you must check this out!

International Student Scholarships

Now comes the scholarships for international students. There are various scholarship options that you can choose from if you are an international student. Schools, universities, the government, and private organizations mainly offer these scholarships.

You must always remember that the best way to find a suitable scholarship is through thorough research. So, start your research today, contact your high school/college/university counselor, and look for the online scholarship databases. Other than that, various other organizations offer scholarships; you can check them out!

Top 50 Scholarships For College Students

In this section, I will provide you with a list of 75 scholarships. Check out the list and find the one that aligns with your needs. Read on…

Niche $50,000 Monthly Scholarship

Total payable amount: $50,000

Deadline: Rolling monthly

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to all college students, regardless of their educational background.

ScholarshipOwl No Essay $1,000 Scholarship

Total payable amount: $1,000 (there will be four awards each month)

Deadline: Ends on the 28th or 29th of each month

Eligibility: This specific scholarship is a monthly no-essay-based scholarship. This is open to all high school and college students. The age limit is 16 and older who are US residents.

ScholarshipPoints No Essay $2,500 Monthly Scholarship

Total payable amount: $2,500

Deadline: Ends on the last day of every month

Eligibility: Like the ScholarshipOwl No Essay $1,000 Scholarship, This specific scholarship is also a monthly no-essay-based scholarship. This is open to all high school and college students. The age limit is 16 and older who are US residents.

CollegExpress Monthly Scholarship

Total payable amount: $2,000

Deadline: On the last day of every month

Eligibility: This is open to legal residents from the US who are 13 years old and older.

Sallie Mae College Scholarship

Total payable amount: $1800 to $2100

Deadline:  On the last day of every month

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to high school seniors and all undergraduate students.

Lammot Belin Arts Scholarship

Total payable amount: $10,000

Deadline: 31^st January every year.

Eligibility: The scholarship is open for are students who belong from Northeastern Pennslyvania.

Bold $25,000 Scholarship

Total payable amount: $25,000

Deadline: There is no deadline for this scholarship

Eligibility: These specific scholarships for college students are open to all students. Moreover, this is a no-essay scholarship. The Bold $25,000 Scholarship will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile.

Too Cool To Pay For School Scholarship

Total payable amount: Ranges from $800 to $1100

Deadline: On these respective dates:

• September 30,
• December 31,
• March 31,
• June 30

Eligibility: This specific scholarship is open to high school, college, and graduate students. For this specific scholarship, you need to be a US citizen or a permanent resident. Other than that, as a student, you need to have a DACA status.

Employment Boost College Scholarships

Total payable amount: $1,000

Deadline: On these respective dates:

• January 1,
• April 1,
• July 1,
• October 1

Eligibility: The candidate must have a minimum of 3.6 GPA. While you are applying for the scholarship, you must be an enrolled student from a US high school or college. One such scholarship is specific for STEM students, and the other one is open to all students from all majors.

Touchmark Foundation Nursing Scholarship

Total payable amount: There is no specific amount determined for this scholarship.

Deadline: The last day to submit the form on June 30 and December 30

Eligibility: These scholarships are for college students currently pursuing nursing degrees.

Secondly, the students must be the resident of these estates:

• Arizona,
• Idaho,
• Minnesota,
• Montana,
• North Dakota,
• Oklahoma,
• Oregon,
• South Dakota,
• Washington,
•  Wisconsin

GeneTex Scholarship Program

Total payable amount: $1,000

Deadline: The form closes on July 16 and December 17

Eligibility: If you are planning to apply for this scholarship, then you must have a good academic record and be currently a student in an accredited college or university. The scholarship is specifically designed for STEM major students.

The scholarship is open to all international students.  

Semper Solaris Scholarship For College Students

Total payable amount: It ranges from $1000 to $3000

Deadline: The last day is on July 30

Eligibility: The scholarship is open for students with a minimum of 3 GPA. It is currently open for students who are attending a military academy.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholarship

Total payable amount: $500 – $5,000

Deadline: February 14

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to students from high school seniors to undergraduate, transfer, and graduate students. The students must be forming the Hispanic heritage. Other than that, they also must be US citizens or permanent legal residents while holding DACA status.

As for the academic achievements, the students must have:

• Minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent). This is applicable to high school students
• Minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent). This is applicable to college and graduate students

Other Notable Scholarships For College Students

Here are the rest of the scholarships for college students that you can check out. This includes STEM scholarships, art scholarships, first-generation college student scholarships, and many others.  

1. Sharen and Mila Kohute scholarship
2. Diller Teen Scholarship Awards
3. Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship
4. Print It Scholarship for Aspiring Content Creators
5. Boren Scholarship for Undergraduate Students
6. 1 for 2 Education Foundation Scholarship
7. Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
8. Never Drink and Drive Scholarship
9. Frame my Future Scholarship
10. Houzz Women in Architecture Scholarship
11. OppU Achievers Scholarship
12. Zumper Scholarship
13. Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship Program
14. RealtyHop Scholarship
15. Study.com Scholarship for First-Generation Students
16. WIFLE Scholarship
17. Trotter Project Scholarships
18. Novus Biologicals Scholarship Program
19. MPower Global Citizen Scholarship
20. Trinity Thomas’ Uplifting Others Scholarship
21. Grademiners Essay Scholarship
22. Gates Millennium Scholarship
23. Coca-Cola Scholars Program
24. Be the Boss Scholarship
25. We, the Future Scholarship Contest
26. Optimal Community College Scholarship
27. National Merit Scholarship
28. Hope Scholarship
29. Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship  
30. McKay Scholarship
31. Burger King Scholarship
32. Dell Scholarship
33. Orange soft Scholarship for Women in Technology
34. LasikPlus “My Vision” Essay Scholarship
35. CC Bank’s Young Scholars Award
36. Caring.com Student-Caregiver Scholarship
37. Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship
38. Asian Pacific Fund Scholarship Program
39. Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship
40. Rhodes Scholarship
41. Horatio Alger Scholarship
42. T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship
43. West Point Preparatory Scholarship
44. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship
45. Tennessee Hope Scholarship
46. Army ROTC Scholarships
47. Zell Miller Scholarship
48. Jackie Robinson Scholarship
49. United Negro College Fund
50. Walmart Scholarship
51. UNCF Scholarships
52. Scholarship for Social Impact

Applying For Scholarships: A Quick Guide

We know that applying for scholarships can really be a daunting task. However, if you know the right approach, it is possible to increase your chances of securing financial aid for your education. Here are some of the steps to get started with the process:  

Preparing necessary documents (transcripts, essays, recommendation letters)

Firstly, you must start gathering all the necessary documents, such as transcripts, essays, and recommendation letters. You must ensure that you have your papers ready, which will strongly highlight your academic performance.

Secondly, you must craft some compelling stories that can strongly highlight all your achievements and goals. Along with the story, you are also required to submit a recommendation letter from the teachers and mentors who can vouch for you.  

Filling out applications  

The next step that comes after preparing the necessary documents is filling out the applications of the scholarships for college students. Moreover, you must always ensure that you are reading the instructions when you are free. You must go through the specific requirements.

If possible, you can create a checklist. That would help you track all the deadlines and required documents. Lastly, when you are done filling out the form, you must go through the form again to check if there is any error.

Tips for writing compelling scholarship essays

Now, when you are writing your essays, you have to keep one thing in mind: authenticity. Yes! This is exactly what your story needs.

You must use vivid language, which can help you to paint a picture of all your accomplishments. After that, write a strong story that can stand out among all the other applications.

Importance of deadlines and organization

Lastly, don’t forget to set reminders. You can use scanners or calendars that can help you to stay on track. This way, you will also be able to avoid last-minute stress or any additional technical issues.

Tips For Winning Scholarships

If you are willing to win scholarships for college students, you can highlight your academic as well as your extracurricular achievements, show active community involvement, and demonstrate leadership.  

While you are writing your letter, you must talk about your academic and extracurricular achievements. Talk about what you have achieved in your academics and where you have participated in your academic career.

If you have participated in community services, you can even talk about it in your letter and emphasize what you have done. This will help you to highlight the things that you have learned or your experiences.

Additional Readings:

• Don’t Miss Out On These Facts About First-Generation College Student Scholarships
• Colleges in New York: Which College You Want To Join?
• Balancing Study And Social Life In Student Communities