Scholarships for High School Students
Apply for these 2024 and 2025 scholarships for high school students, including freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.
Last updated on November 17, 2024 by College Financial Aid Advice.
Santa Clara University, California
If you are a high school student looking for scholarships for college, check out these scholarship ideas. Some are fun and easy, while others require a significant community service project or talent in a particular area, such as music, art, writing or math. And see some advice about steps for scholarship search.
Are you a talented athlete? The process is slightly different. Athletes should check out the information on athletic scholarships.
Are you a parent helping your high school student? See advice for parents re. scholarships.
Scholarships for High School Sophomores
Scholarships for High School Students 2024 and 2025
Scholarships for High School Freshmen
Scholarships for High School Sophomores
Scholarships January Application Deadline
World Photography Association Awards - Awards range from digital imaging equipment up to $25,000 award for professional series of photographs. Special youth category available for youth under age 19. Some categories allow submissions each month. Themes may vary each year.
High School Student Profile in Courage Essay Contest - Up to $10,000 award for high school students in grades 9 - 12 for a great essay on political courage based upon the book Profiles in Courage. Why not enter each year?
Davidson Fellows Awards - Due January – March. If you are gifted or talented, you might win one of these scholarships for high school students. Up to $50,000 prize for outstanding students in many categories including music, mathematics and science.
Peace Scholarship Submit an outstanding essay on peace and win this national scholarship essay contest.
Design a Greeting Card Contest - Are you good at art? Design the front artwork of a greeting card and win $10,000 for college, and an additional $1,000 award for your school. These are fun scholarships for high school freshmen and sophomores if you can talk your teacher into making this an extra credit assignment. Ages 14 and up.
Scholarships for High School Students February Application Deadline
Optimist Contest - The Optimist Club offers two categories of contests for those who are under age 19 and have not completed high school. One contest is the Optimist International Essay Contest. The other contest is the Optimist Oratorical Contest.
Doodle for Google Scholarship - Annual art contest open to students in grades K-12. Students may create a Doodle using any medium or materials, but judging will be based upon 2D. 1 national winner receives $30,000 college scholarship, additional awards given too.
Common Knowledge Competition - This unique competition tests your knowledge on common various subjects from books and movies to academic topics. Check them out - they offer different competitions throughout the year. The person with the most points wins.
Courageous Persuaders Award - Use your video camera and make a short video commercial (30 seconds or less) about the dangers of alcohol for teens.
One Person Can Make a Difference Poster Contest - Enter your idea for making a difference in the Christophers’ art poster contest.
Alternatives to College - Not sure if going to college right after high school is right for you, or even going to college at all? Learn about alternatives to college, and see what other students have said about their choices.
Online Video Contests - Do you have a knack for film making or creating YouTube videos? Give you career a boost by entering some online video contests. Some have very nice cash prizes.
Free College Tuition Scholarship Sweepstakes - Enter scholarship sweepstakes and win up to $10,000 toward your future college education.
Best Buy @15 Scholarship - This scholarship program is no longer offered.
Scholarships March Application Deadline
Superpower Scholarships - Are you a super hero with superpower? Or are you a super villain? Create a short essay using your imagination and superpowers to see if you will win.
Trade Apprenticeship - Not sure if college is right for you? There is a high demand for the skilled trade profession. Why not choose a high-paying trade instead, like an electrician. You start out as a paid apprentice and over 4 years work your way up to journeyman in a skilled trade, without the need for scholarships or loans.
The Humanist Essay Scholarship - $1000 scholarships for high school students in grades 9 - 12 for a winning essay suitable for publishing in The Humanist magazine.
Kohls Scholarship - This scholarship is no longer offered by Kohl's corporation. Employee scholarships are still available.
April Deadline Scholarships for High School Freshmen and Sophomores
Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity - $5000 awards for high school students with the best innovation and creativity in solving a problem that may range from technical to community issues.
May Scholarships Deadline
Scholarship Contests - Check out some more easy online scholarship contests and sweepstakes.
Scholarships with June Application Deadline
Duct Tape Contest - Deadline March – June. Create your original high school prom outfits for you and your date using duct tape, and win $5000 each plus $5000 for your high school. Single contest also an option if you are going solo.
Trade Apprenticeship - Not sure if college is right for you? Why not choose to enter a high-paying trade instead, like an electrician. No scholarships or loans required. Check out this site for information about becoming an electrician apprentice. The same principles apply to other trades like plumbing.
Summer Scholarship Application Deadline
Make Me Laugh Competition - It's summer, so who wants to do a serious scholarship application. But enter this competition and maybe you'll win. At least have some good laughs.
Flavor of the Month Scholarship - What ice cream flavor would you like to be? Write an interesting short essay and win the Ice Cream Flavor of the Month Scholarship contest. If you can't decide, try a few flavors to get your imagination going.
Alternatives to College - Not sure if going to college right after high school is right for you, or even going to college at all? Learn about alternatives to college, including high-paying jobs, and see what other students have said about their choices.
Fun Scholarship Contests - Bored this summer? Consider entering some easy and fun scholarship contests and win $5,000 or more.
Scholarships October Application Deadline
Prudential Spirit of Community Award - These scholarships for high school students and middle school students (grades 5 – 12) reward those who excel in community service. National winners receive $5000 award and $5000 for a charity of their choice.
Zombies Scholarship - Do you think some kids at your school are Zombies? What if everyone was a Zombie except you, what would you do? Enter your imaginative essay in this fun scholarship contest.
Fun Scholarship Contests - Need an easy scholarship? Consider entering some easy and fun scholarship contests and win $5,000 or more.
Voice of Democracy - Win up to $30,000 college scholarship an outstanding essay. Topic changes each year.
Halloween Duct Tape Scholarships - For some Halloween fun and a not too serious scholarship for high school students, enter a photo of your pumpkin decorated with duct tape and you could win $1000 to start or add to your college savings fund. Ages 14 and up.
Scholarships for High School Students November Deadline
Trade Apprenticeship - Not sure if college is right for you There is a high demand for the skilled trade profession. Why not choose a high-paying trade instead, like an electrician. You start out as a paid apprentice and over 4 years work your way up to journeyman in a skilled trade, without the need for scholarships or loans.
Moose Youth Awareness Program -These scholarships for high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors are for giving talks in your community about safety and health issues to younger children. Up to $12,000 scholarships are available.
NRA Civil Rights Scholarship - Write an essay about your American right to keep and bear arms, and submit in this scholarship competition.
Americanism Scholarship - The US Military Fleet Reserve Association offers a $10,000 scholarship award as a US savings bond for a great essay on Americanism for the United States. Open to students in grades 7-12.
High School Student Scholarships December Application Deadline
Art and Writing Awards - Up to $10,000 for the best creative works in a broad range of the arts and writing, including video games, ceramics, fashion, writing, art, film, sculpture, photography and more. Some submissions are due in December, some in January, and novels are due in February. Open to students in grades 7 – 12.
Advice from Other Students
Advice from Lyla of Iowa
Yep, you’re an adult now. You couldn’t wait. Yay! Welcome to the real world! Now get your butt in gear and get your finances in order.
A. Do not expect anyone to do this for you. This
is the rest of your life. Don’t expect your parents to find and fill out scholarship
opportunities. Don’t
expect your guidance counselor to thrust applications into your grubby little
paws. They are not “do it for you” counselors.
B. Do look at any and all available financial
aid, beginning your freshman year . Many, many, many
offers are NOT contingent upon your FAFSA! Waiting for your
FAFSA before starting the process equals throwing away “free money”.
C. Speaking of ‘free money’, student loans offered as part of
your financial aid package are definitely not free money. Loans look relatively
small and hey, everyone else has a lot of student loans. Believe me, you do not
want to start life with loans, burgeoning with mounting interest, hanging over
your head. Guido & his knuckleheads won’t like that.
D. On the other hand, low interest loans are a
viable option to no money. Getting your degree means the difference between low
paying jobs and potential ‘the world is your oyster’ jobs. Student loans and/or
independent bank loans are definitely preferable to the aforementioned Guido.
E. Again, don’t expect your parents to take
charge. Odds are they do want you to have it all; they just don’t have the
means. It’s not fair for them to take on debt, unless that’s the only choice.
That’s why taking control and grabbing any ‘free money’ is so vitally
important. C’mon, we’ve already established that you’re an adult now, right?
F. Start polishing up your best darn self
A.S.A.P. Scholarships are not ‘whee it’s raining money’! They are ‘more bang
for the buck’. Benefactors are looking for candidates with the best odds. They
want people who are going to succeed! That means good grades, extra curriculum,
volunteering, doing good deeds…, showing great character! Why waste precious
resources on someone who doesn’t fairly shine with wanting to make it happen?
Other candidates want it too, so shine baby shine!
G. It’s not too late to shine now. Show
improvement wherever you can. If you’ve brought your grades up, show it. If
you’ve joined activities, show it. If you’ve turned your life around, show it!
If you’ve had some bad breaks but recovered, definitely show it! Letters of
reference can help explain changes in behavior and character, illustrating your
willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed. Whatever the circumstances, do
not give up. You may not land any scholarship monies but your future is still
your own. Get your degree and make a positive difference in your life.
Yep, you’re an adult now. This is not a
pass/fail quiz. Any and all answers are valid because, ready or not, you’ve
just entered the ‘real’ world and it really is up to you.
More Scholarships for High School Students
There are many more scholarships available for high school students, especially if you are a junior or senior. Check out these possibilities:
Scholarships for High School Seniors
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Welcome to College Financial Aid Advice, a website full of information on scholarships and grants, student loans, and other ways to save money at college.
Important Things to Do
Scholarships for 2025 - 2026 - It is never too early or too late to work on your scholarship searches. If you are part of the high school class of 2025, you should work on your scholarship and college search now. See our list of Scholarships for High School Seniors
FAFSA - The official 2024 - 2025 FAFSA is available now. The 2025 - 2026 FAFSA will be available on or before December 1. FAFSA.
College Financial Aid Tips
Scholarship Lists An overview of the different types of Scholarship Money for College.
Grants Learn more about grants, the other free money for college.
Need Tuition Help? Reduce the cost of tuition with these college Tuition Assistance Programs.
Tax Credit Claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit.
College Savings Plans Save money for college with these College Savings Plans.
Need a Student Loan? Yes, you qualify for these college Student Loans.
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