easy no essay college scholarships

Top 20 No Essay Scholarships to Apply for in 2024

Introduction: no essay scholarships.

Let's talk about no-essay scholarships. Whether you've been applying to scholarships for a while or you're completely new to the scholarship process, chances are, at some point you've felt tired, frustrated, or even fully on fed-up with writing all of those essays. Finding financial aid can be a lot of work - I feel you!

A smart strategy when applying for scholarships is to mix up the types of scholarships you're applying for. But what does this actually mean?

Well, if you're familiar with the world of scholarships, you've probably discovered that there are scholarships out there of all sorts, shapes, and sizes.

Some scholarships are for small amounts (think: anywhere from $100 to a few thousand dollars) while others go for larger amounts (sometimes even full-tuition!). Some scholarships have long lists of application requirements, while others only ask you to write a sentence, upload your transcript, or fill out a form.

So, when I say "mix up the types of scholarships you're applying for", I'm saying that it's important to consider things such as scholarship type (is there an essay required?), amount (generally, scholarships with  bigger awards  are harder to earn), and category (how specific does the scholarship get in terms of matching your unique profile?).

This post covers one specific type of scholarship that I'm sure you'll enjoy incorporating into your scholarship strategy: a no-essay scholarship!

Most of these no essay scholarships are open to high school , college , and  graduate  school students, be sure to get those easy applications in, and keep your toes crossed while you get to work on some of those other more labor-intensive opportunities.

*Pro-tip - While some of these no essay scholarships currently have specific deadlines, keep them bookmarked because they often renew monthly, quarterly, or yearly!

20 No essay scholarships to apply for ASAP!

Too cool to pay for school no essay scholarship.

Award Amount:  $1,000

Scholarship Deadline:  Quarterly (last day of the month in September, December, March, and June)

PS - this is one of no essay scholarships awarded by Access Scholarships (that's us!). It's open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students studying in the United States, and is an easy way to win $1,000. 

Niche $10,000 No Essay Scholarship

Award Amount:  $10,000

Scholarship Deadline:  Rolling

ScholarshipPoints No Essay $2,500 Monthly Scholarship

Amount : $2,500 

Deadline : Expires on the last day of each month

Eligibility: The ScholarshipPoints Scholarship is a monthly no essay scholarship open to all high school and college students ages 16 and older, who are US residents!

Smart Owl No Essay $1,000 Scholarship

Amount : $1,000 (4 awards per month!)

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

Eligibility: The Smart Owl Scholarship is a monthly no essay scholarship open to all high school and college students ages 16 and older, who are US residents!

Sallie Mae College Scholarship

Award Amount : $2,000

Scholarship Deadline : Monthly

Eligibility- Open to high school juniors & seniors and all college students

CollegeVine No Essay $2,000 Scholarship

Award Amount:  $2,000

Scholarship Deadline:  December 31

Open to high school students of all years (must be a US resident).

Bold $25,000 Scholarship

Amount:  $25,000

Deadline:  Continuous

CollegExpress Monthly Scholarship

Award Amount:  $2,500

Scholarship Deadline:  Last day of each month

Niche No Essay Scholarship

Scholarships360 $10,000 scholarship.

Scholarship Deadline:  Rolling 

Open to high school sophomores and juniors in the US. 

Appily Easy Money Scholarship

Around the corner from college scholarship.

Award Amount : $1,000

Scholarship Deadline : December 31, June 30

Open to all high school students, including students with DACA status and international students who are planning on attending a higher education institution in the US! 

Be Bold No-Essay Scholarship

Award Amount:  $25,000

Scholarship Deadline: Rolling

Christian Connector Scholarship

Eligibility:  Open to high school juniors and high school seniors who are interested in or planning to enroll in a Christian college or university.

Direct Textbook Photo Essay Scholarship

Award Amount:  $500

Discover Student Loans Scholarship Contest

Scholarship Deadline:  January 4

Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  February 27 and October 10

Create A Greeting Card Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  March 9

Frame My Future Scholarship

Award Amount:  $2,000 each (5 awards)

Scholarship Deadline: March 15

ULoop Dorm Survey Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  June 30

Frequently asked questions about no essay scholarships

Are no essay scholarships legit.

No essay scholarships are 100% legit!

No essay scholarships are created to be more like contests or sweepstakes. Generally, all you have to do to be considered is enter some information on an application page and you're good to go. This is in contrast with other more labor-intensive scholarships, that require a greater amount of work and time commitment (think: essays, letters of recommendation, videos, interviews).

The fact that no essay scholarships don't require a whole lot of effort (they're definitely the easiest opportunities out there!) doesn't mean that they aren't just as real as other scholarships that do have more detailed eligibility and application requirements to apply. In fact, no essay scholarships can sometimes be just as competitive as full-ride scholarships , given the fact that so many students apply for these opportunities.

At the end of the day, each and every scholarship we feature in our database and in our blog posts aims to guide students in the direction of legitimate opportunities to help you navigate the journey of paying for college.

What are some common qualities of a no essay scholarship?

The most identifiable quality of a no essay scholarship is the fact that it doesn't require an essay! Rather than asking students to upload an essay on the application page, these scholarships generally will ask for the completion of a form, or for students to upload a photo, video, or other unique type of submission. The fact that these scholarships can often be completed much more quickly and easily than other scholarships is what makes them so great.

You'll also find that the majority of no essay scholarships are open to a wide variety of students, and they usually won't have any specific eligibility requirements such as only being open to students in certain majors or with a certain minimum GPA.

Who is eligible to apply for no essay scholarships?

When it comes to eligiblity, as I mentioned just above, no essay scholarships are usually open to a wide range of students. For example, a no essay scholarship might be open to students ages 13 and older in the US, or maybe it's open to all high school students in the US. These eligibility criteria are very generous and intended to give all (or nearly all) students who want to apply an opportunity to do so.

How difficult is it to win a no essay scholarship?

Because no essay scholarships are usually open to so many different types of students, along with the fact that they often require very little effort on the part of the student (and run more like sweepstakes than real in-depth scholarships), means that they are difficult to win, and the process is unpredictable.

Luckily, because these scholarships require so little time commitment to apply, not winning one of these types of scholarships doesn't necessarily indicate that you've wasted your time applying, since it likely didn't take that much time in the first place!

How can I increase my chances of winning no essay scholarships?

No essay scholarships are open to such a wide variety of students in terms of eligible areas of study, state residency, and year in school. This, in combination with the fact that the winners for these scholarships are generally always selected at random, means that increasing your chances of winning one of these scholarships is very, very difficult.

In the spirit of full-transparency: the only way that you can actually increase your chances of winning no essay scholarships is by applying for all of them and not missing any deadlines.

For example, take Tallo's monthly no essay scholarships . They pick at least 12 winners each year, usually at the end of each month. If you want to maximize your chances of winning one of Tallo's no essay scholarships, you should set a reminder to make sure that you apply for them every month, so that you don't miss out on an opportunity to win.

Most of the no essay scholarships I've come across are for small amounts, such as $1,000. Why is this the case?

Most no-essay scholarships are for small amounts (think: $500 - $2,000) because, in comparison to other scholarships that have lots of application requirements, no-essay scholarships tend to run more like contests.

Organizations love to give back to students in any and all ways possible, and they also like to try to make student's lives easier by offering easy scholarship opportunities.

However, from the perspective of private organizations, many of them would rather save their scholarships of higher amounts to be distributed through competitive opportunities where they can select students on the basis of merit, leadership, and other qualities. That's why you'll probably never come across a full-ride scholarship that doesn't require an essay or extra submission of some sort!

Where can I find more scholarships to apply for?

There are tons of resources and places out there that you can use to find "harder" scholarships to apply for to pair with your efforts in applying to the easy ones.

The first place I recommend you go is over to the Access Scholarship Search Engine or Blog, where you can find all types of scholarships based on criteria such as home state, area of study, ethnicity, and more.

After that, I recommend you also do some surfing of the web, as well as outreach to your guidance counselor or financial aid office to help you find local scholarships and even more nuanced opportunities.

Important tips and things to keep in mind with no essay scholarships

Tip #1: apply often..

Many of these scholarships run continuously on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Set a reminder for yourself to revisit these scholarships each month and reapply to give yourself the best chance at winning one!

Tip #2: Find ways to get a leg up.

Scholarships with no essays that have any sort of additional component (like an art or video submission) will tend to give you a "leg up" because they involve more than some luck.

Take full advantage of scholarships like these by putting your best foot forward with that extra submission!

Tip #3: Make no essay scholarships one piece of the puzzle.

Scholarships with no essays should be a key component of your scholarship application strategy because of how easy they are to apply for.

However, it's important to remember they should be balanced with other scholarships that have more specific and stringent requirements.

When you apply for essay-based scholarships, you're given the opportunity to tell the committee about you, who you are and why you should be selected for the opportunity. The winners for these scholarships, unlike their no-essay counterparts, are not chosen at random, so if you choose these scholarships carefully, apply for ones that are specific to your qualities, and write strong essays, you'll have the best chances of winning at the end of the day!

General tips for applying for all kinds of scholarships

Navigating the world of scholarships can be stressful and confusing to say the least. Follow these tips to make sure you’re covering all of your bases and giving yourself the greatest possible chance at success!

#1: Get yourself organized before you dive right in.

Just like with any other part of the college / financial aid process, organization is crucial to success when it comes to searching and applying for scholarships.

My top organization-related recommendation for students is to start by creating a readily-accessible folder on your computer where you can then create subfolders for your scholarship essays, transcripts, and other application materials. This is also the place where you’ll want to house your scholarship tracker , which will help you keep track of scholarships you find, upcoming deadlines, and your overall progress.

#2: Do your brainstorming.

You likely wouldn’t start an essay on the American Revolution without doing some initial brainstorming and planning first. The same rule should apply for when it’s time to search for scholarships.

Sit down with a pen and paper or a blank word document open, and start to bullet out a list of traits and things that you feel make up who you are as a person. These things should be both academic and personal. To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, here’s a sneak peek into what my own personal list might look like:

-I am from New Jersey

-I am a business student with an interest in marketing

-I like to play sports (tennis, basketball, etc)

-I hold leadership positions in my extracurriculars

-I identify as female

-I am a twin

-I am left-handed

-I enjoy doing crossword puzzles

-I go to college in Wisconsin

I could go on and on with this list, but I won’t bore you! What I’m trying to get at though is that creating a list like this to track your hobbies, academic pursuits, and other things that make up who you are can be incredibly helpful in allowing you to find scholarships that are highly specific to you.

PS - For some students, this may also fall under the initial organization step of the process, but ultimately it doesn’t matter when you do it as long as it gets done.

#3: Know where to look.

Knowing what types of scholarships you want to search for doesn’t really matter if you don’t know where to actually search for them! Here are a few ideas on where you can get started in searching for scholarships:

- Scholarship search engines like AccessScholarships.com, which allow you to search through thousands of scholarship opportunities all in one place

- Normal search engines , such as Google (the more specific you can be here, the better)

-Your school’s college prep, guidance, or financial aid page/website

- Social media (you can follow scholarship accounts and hashtags that might be relevant to help you discover local scholarships)

- Family, friends, teachers, coaches, and other people in your community who might know of local or community-based scholarships that you’re eligible for

#4: If a scholarship has an essay or additional type of submission, make sure you put your absolute best foot forward.

This is, in my opinion, the biggest key to help students see success in actually winning scholarships.

You can have a 4.0 GPA and solid letters of recommendation, but if you don’t also take the time to carefully craft, edit, and perfect the essay (or other additional submission), you’re missing out on giving the scholarship committee the opportunity to learn more about who you are as a person and why you’re a great fit to win the award.

#5: Keep those grades up.

Although this eligibility requirement can definitely vary, many scholarships require students to have at least a 2.5 or 3.0 GPA. Sometimes, the minimum requirement can be even higher, such as a 3.75/4.0.

While grades certainly aren’t the end-all-be-all, keeping your GPA up (as high as you possibly can!) will make sure that you are opening yourself up to as many opportunities as possible.

#6: Apply often.

Unfortunately, applying for scholarships is not a “one and done” process. To give yourself the highest chance at seeing success, you should apply for scholarships as often as you can, or whenever you come across an opportunity that you think is worth applying for.

Many students find it helpful to set specific goals in this area, like to apply for 3 scholarships each month. Ultimately, the goal you set should be one that is specific and realistic, based on all of the other things that you’re juggling!

#7: Ask for feedback along the way.

If you don't ever take the time to assess your weak spots, how can you possibly improve?

Asking for feedback throughout the scholarship process, whether it be from a committee, a teacher, or someone who is helping you along the way, is crucial to helping you grow and becoming a stronger applicant. 

Getting feedback is especially important when it comes to the scholarship essay piece of the puzzle. When we write and edit, we tend to overlook our own mistakes because we're so used to making them. Sometimes it takes an extra set of eyes on an essay to help lead you in the direction of success.

No-essay scholarships: To conclude...

To summarize, no-essay scholarships can be a great addition to any overall scholarship strategy for high school, college, and graduate students.

Since no-essay scholarships often operate on a monthly or quarterly basis, you can give yourself a better chance at winning these scholarships if you enter in every application period that you're eligible for.

Although no-essay scholarships usually aren't for large amounts, the process of entering to win is usually an easy one, so there's no harm in applying for these scholarships to round out your strategy and yes, give you a break from all those essays!

27 Easy, No Essay College Scholarships

Scholarships are important for most college students; even partial scholarships can significantly reduce the financial burden of higher education. Many partial scholarships don’t have restrictions on how many you can qualify for, so it’s wise to apply for as many as possible.

While some scholarships have an intense application process, there are plenty of options that are far more accessible. We’ve compiled a list of no-essay scholarships that don’t take more than a few minutes to apply for. Some of these easy scholarships are intended for students at any education level, including any high school student, undergraduate, or graduate student.

Every opportunity on this list has a short application with no essay questions. These scholarships don’t have minimum GPA requirements, and most are open to students at every level: high schoolers, undergrads, and graduate students. Take a few minutes to browse the options and apply for the ones you qualify for. You could end up with a much lower tuition payment and a happier bank account!

The Best Easy Scholarships to Apply for in 2022

Here are a few examples of easy scholarships that students can apply to. Some of these scholarships are open to students at any academic level, including one loan forgiveness award for anyone with student debt. 

“Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

As students join the Bold.org platform, they get the opportunity to showcase their goals, achievements, and drive to scholarship panels via their student profile. The $25,000 “Be Bold” award is a no-essay award that will be given to the applicant with the boldest profile. For bold.org, the boldest does not mean “best” or “most accomplished.” Instead, bold.org believes that the boldest means to be earnest, determined, and moving. This award will be given to the student whose profile closely matches these characteristics. 

• Deadline: The application deadline is June 1, 2022.
• Award Amount: $25,050
• Time to Apply: 2 minutes
• Winner Announced: November 30, 2022

Nitro Pay For College No-Essay Scholarship

Nitro is a leading financial aid and loan resource platform, guiding students on everything from FAFSA to best practices for federal and private loans. By applying, students will be automatically registered for Nitro. This sets students up for success in funding their education in the most effective way. This award will be given to the applicants who get the most out of the Nitro platform.

• Award Amount: $10,000
• Winner Announced: December 1, 2022

Forget Your Student Debt No-Essay Grant

The Forget Your Student Debt Grant is open to anyone with student debt. Adults who have started their careers and are no longer in school are fully eligible. The only criteria is that you have student debt payments to make. 

• Deadline: The application deadline is June 1, 2022

Informed Consumer Scholarship

The Informed Consumer Scholarship will be awarded to one student in any field of study who is interested in making the smartest financial decisions possible as they fund their education. To apply, students will be introduced to a favorite money-saving tool. Applicants who display excellent habits as informed consumers will have a better chance of winning this award. 

• Award Amount: $1,000
• Winner Announced: February 1, 2023

Verto Semester Abroad Scholarship

With Verto, students can start their college experience abroad in an epic destination while staying on track to graduate in four years. Students can also use their Verto app to gain admission to Verto’s 70+ partner colleges, where course credits will transfer seamlessly. For this award, all high school seniors who have a GPA of 2.5 or higher and a strong interest in studying abroad are eligible to apply. 

• Winner Announced: July 1, 2022

Lifelong Learners No-Essay Scholarship

The Bold Lifelong Learners No-Essay Scholarship exists to support lifelong learners that want to acquire a new skill that will be transformative in their lives, whether it be learning to code, digital marketing, writing, or whatever will have a lasting impact on their lives. All students who have a passion for learning are eligible to apply for this scholarship opportunity. 

• Deadline: The application deadline is May 29, 2022.
• Award Amount: $500
• Winner Announced: June 29, 2022

Pay it Forward No-Essay Scholarship

One of the many ways people give back is by paying it forward; giving an act of kindness to someone in hopes that they will carry the torch onward to someone else. To promote kindness and to encourage students to continue paying it forward, the Bold Pay it Forward No-Essay Scholarship will be awarded to one student from any field of study who is committed to pay it forward. 

• Deadline: The application deadline is May 28, 2022.
• Winner Announced: June 28, 2022

Women’s History Scholarship

In order to offset the wage gap and help women break into male-dominated fields, such as engineering, government, and tech, it’s critical that women have the necessary resources to follow through on their goals. This award seeks to support female students so they can complete their degrees and go on to promising careers. Any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who identifies as female may apply for this award.

• Deadline: The application deadline is August 31, 2022.
• Winner Announced: September 7, 2022

CollegeVine Dream School Scholarship

This award aims to simplify the college application process and help high school students get accepted to their dream colleges. To apply, students will need to sign up with CollegeVine to calculate their chances of getting into their dream school! Students will need to factor their extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more, then they’ll get custom recommendations for how to improve their odds-all for free. By signing up for CollegeVine, students get access to tools that help them discover schools, understand their chances, and get personalized guidance for every step of the admissions process.

• Winner Announced: October 6, 2022

WiseGeek Community Service No-Essay Scholarship

When students find ways to support their community, they contribute to the virtuous cycle of giving that helps individuals and the entire community grow stronger. The WiseGeek No-Essay Community Service Scholarship exists to help current students who go above and beyond to support their school and broader community. This award is open to all students in any field of study.

• Deadline: The application deadline is August 16, 2022.
• Winner Announced: September 16, 2022

The Asian American/Pacific Islander Scholarship

Asian American and Pacific Islanders students are one of the most diverse and vibrant group of students at U.S. colleges and universities, representing families with roots in more than 50 countries and regions and every socio-economic status. While representation on U.S. campuses continues to grow, many AAPI students need help pursuing a college degree. The  bi-annual Asian American/Pacific Islander Scholarship  was created to support those dreams and increase diversity at colleges and universities across the U.S.

• Deadline:  The application deadline is April 16, 2022.
• Award Amount:  $750
• Time To Apply:  2 minutes
• Winners Announced:  May 16, 2022

The Hispanic Empowerment No-Essay Scholarship

Students from Spanish or Latin American backgrounds are attending college in greater numbers than ever before, making up more than one-fifth of American college students. Many are among the first in their families to pursue a college degree and more than 60% of the students who identify as Hispanic need some level of financial aid to complete their studies. The  Hispanic Empowerment No-Essay Scholarship  is meant to encourage students from Hispanic families to attend and stay in college by helping them pay tuition or repay student loans.

The First-Generation College Students Scholarship

Being the first in their families to attend college makes first-generation students among the most motivated and dedicated at their schools. Academically prepared and highly talented, they often serve as role models for younger family members. To help prevent financial challenges from dashing the dreams of their parents and grandparents, the  First-Generation College Students Scholarship  is dedicated to supporting current or aspiring students who are the first in their family to attend college or university.

• Deadline:  The application deadline is Feburary 1, 2022.
• Award Amount:  $500

The Psychology No-Essay Scholarship

A degree in psychology can lead to a wide variety of careers in mental health and other kinds of counseling, social work, and teaching – careers that impact all of society. So it’s important that the diversity of students who major in psychology reflects the diversity of the communities they will serve.  The Psychology No-Essay Scholarship  is meant to support and encourage diversity in the profession of psychology. It is open to current or aspiring psychology majors from all backgrounds.

Entrepreneurship Matters Scholarship

Entrepreneurs challenge the status quo, come up with creative solutions to hard problems, and push advances in every field. And while being a successful entrepreneur can lead to being your own boss and having a career you’re passionate about, it can take a lot of hard work to get there. The  Entrepreneurship Matters Scholarship  is open to bold innovators who want to change the world.

LGBTQ+ Awareness Scholarship

For decades, members of the LGBTQ+ community have been denied the rights and opportunities that others enjoy. While there have been advancements in equality, there are still members of the LGBTQ+ community who face prejudice and other challenges. Designed to combat discrimination, the  LGBTQ+ Awareness Scholarship  is open to all students who identify as members of this community.

WiseGeek Disability Scholarship

In many cases, those with mental and physical disabilities are limited not by their conditions, but by discrimination and lack of opportunities. It’s vital to ensure that every individual has equal rights and access to the same academic and professional options. Students of all grade levels and fields of study are eligible to apply for the  WiseGeek Disability Scholarship .

Recent Immigrants Scholarship

Immigrants built the United States and have been responsible for some of the country’s most profound accomplishments. Unfortunately, many immigrants still face discrimination and stigmatization, making it harder for them to access the same academic and professional opportunities as those born in the county. The  Recent Immigrants Scholarship  is intended to support and encourage immigrants to reach their career goals.

WiseGeek Nurse Appreciation Scholarship

Nurses are essential to the healthcare system, both in the United States and abroad. Despite good job stability and open positions throughout the country, there is a significant shortage of nurses. The  WiseGeek Nurse Appreciation Scholarship  is designed to encourage students to consider this career by providing financial support to nursing students.

The Diversity in Law Scholarship

Lawyers form the backbone of freedom and justice in the U.S., and we believe that diversity in the legal sector is the key to protecting the rights of all Americans. Unfortunately, the legal industry is one of the least diverse professional areas in the U.S. We want to support and encourage minority students who are pursuing legal careers.  The Diversity in Law Scholarship  provides financial assistance to law school students of a racial minority.

”Fight for Equality” Women in STEM Scholarship

Women are significantly underrepresented in the STEM workforce, and we want to help change that. Diversity in any career field is important, and it’s especially vital in STEM industries where different experiences and perspectives can lead to innovative problem-solving. WiseGeek wants to encourage women to pursue degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math with our  ”Fight for Equality” Women in STEM Scholarship .

Mental Health Well-Being Scholarship

While awareness of mental health issues continues to grow in the U.S., it can still be hard for students to find the support they need to deal with emotional challenges, academic pressure, and new responsibilities. It can be especially hard to dedicate time and resources to mental health treatment during college, when schedules and finances are tight. The  Mental Health Well-Being Scholarship  is designed to help students who have faced these issues.

Military Appreciation Scholarship

As Americans, we rely on the men and women in the U.S. military to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. However, it can be easy to forget that serving in the military is a tough job. Service members often have to put their personal goals and educational plans on hold during training and deployments. The  Military Appreciation Scholarship  is intended to honor, support, and thank those who have chosen to serve. It’s open to current, former, and future members of all U.S. military branches.

WiseGeek Nursing No-Essay Scholarship

Nurses have never been more essential. They care for patients at every stage of life, delivering our babies, easing our pain and getting us back on our feet after illness and injury, and comforting our families in the darkest of times. It is one of the toughest – and most fulfilling – careers anyone can choose. To encourage high school students to pursue a nursing career and help while in school, the  WiseGeek Nursing No-Essay Scholarship  helps current and aspiring nurses pay for tuition or repay their student loans.

• Deadline: The application deadline is April 16, 2022.

Community service strengthens our society by improving lives, building connections, and tearing down barriers. The volunteers who give so much back to their communities deserve all the support we can give them, including help paying for a college education. The  WiseGeek Community Service No-Essay Scholarship  recognizes the invaluable contributions of high school and college students who commit their time and energy to lift up their neighbors and neighborhoods.

WiseGeek Cosmetology No-Essay Scholarship

All of us want to look our best for our big events and in our everyday personal and professional lives. The hairstylists, barbers, and estheticians who help us keep our look on point put in thousands of hours of hard work to learn and perfect their craft and to earn the cosmetology licenses they need to work in the beauty industry. Each year the  WiseGeek Cosmetology No-Essay Scholarship  helps a dedicated beauty professional offset some of the costs of that intensive training.

WiseGeek Law No-Essay Scholarship

Earning a law degree requires top-notch organizational, analytical, and communications skills – and a lot of help. Most new lawyers come out of school with a significant amount of debt, which can make it harder to launch their hard-earned careers. The  Wisegeek Law No-Essay Scholarship  is awarded each year to new or aspiring lawyers to help offset some of the costs of pursuing a Juris Doctor degree.

This list is just a sample of some of the free scholarships you can find. As you’re making plans to start or continue your college education, take a few minutes to apply for scholarships. Minimizing the financial stress of college can ensure a better educational experience and give you the foundation you need to achieve your goals.

What qualifies as an easy scholarship?

Generally, easy scholarships have no specific criteria for winning, and they only require minimal effort to apply for. The online application process is quick and simple. Some of these awards can be worth hundreds of dollars, which is a substantial payout for a few minutes of your time. These awards can help students planning to pursue an undergraduate degree in the future, current undergraduate students, and current graduate students looking for ways to pay for college.

No requirement to do anything new

One key aspect of an easy scholarship contest is that it doesn’t require you to do anything new to apply. For awards with no essay, you don’t need to spend hours crafting a paper or a personal statement.

As a high school senior, you may have past work that qualifies for some programs, so you don’t have to do anything else. For example, if you already have 50 hours of community service documented, applying for a scholarship with that criteria doesn’t require you to make any further effort.

A minimal application process

A minimal application form is one of the hallmarks of an easy scholarship – you shouldn’t need to provide a lot of paperwork or other materials. Most of these awards just ask you for basic information, such as your name. Sometimes can be automatically entered by creating a free profile on the organization’s website.

Some quick and easy scholarships cater to specific groups, such as bachelor’s degree students or those pursuing a culinary career. For these applications, you may need to provide transcripts or other evidence that you meet the eligibility requirements.

The award is available for what you’re already doing

Some scholarship applications that don’t include essays may require you to submit other materials, such as a poem, video, or report about a historical figure. But you may already have something to submit thanks to your current interests and hobbies.

Did you spend your time as a high school freshman writing songs or doing science experiments? You might have everything you need for the application. Look for programs related to your hobbies, and submit your application for the chance to get paid for what you enjoy doing.

A small pool of applicants

Other scholarships give you a better chance of winning through sheer probability. For example, there are over 1.5 million high school students hoping for a shot at the National Merit Scholarship, but many students with spectacular grades and test scores will not end up winning the money.

However, many awards have less competition, even those open to all college students. By applying for these, you have a good shot at winning just based on the fact that you are competing with fewer people.

How to apply to easy scholarships

In most cases, applying is very straightforward:

Get organized

Make a list of all the awards you want to apply for along with their due dates. It’s never too early to plan for college – even high school freshmen can start thinking about scholarship applications.

Make a plan

Because there are so many scholarships, it’s essential to plan your time so you can meet the deadlines of all the programs you want to apply for. By casting a wide net, you have the best chance of getting a lot of your tuition covered.

Use your time wisely

Most awards don’t take long to apply for, so you can get a lot of them done at once. Essay-required programs will probably take more time. It’s best to start with the time-consuming applications first and leave the easy ones for later when your brain is ready for a break.

By the time you’re a grad student, you’ll have a very efficient process for applying for scholarships.

Tips for winning easy scholarships

Here are some top tips for getting money to cover your education-related expenses.

1. Pay attention to deadlines.

Deadlines for scholarships can vary wildly, though spring is generally considered the “high season.” Keep track of deadlines, so you don’t miss out on any money due to a late application.

2. Read the entire application.

Even if the award you want has a minimal application form, it’s always good to make sure you understand the entire process. You don’t want to waste time applying for scholarships you aren’t eligible for, and you don’t want your application to get rejected because you missed a step when you were filling it out.

3. Keep checking for new opportunities.

Scholarship opportunities pop up all the time, so it’s a good idea to search for new awards every month on the  best scholarship websites . Even after you’ve filled out your fall and spring applications, keep an eye open for some “late” awards with deadlines in the summer. Check your school’s scholarship winners page for information on additional opportunities.

4. Apply to as many as possible.

There is no limit to the number of awards you can apply for or get, so it’s good to apply for as many scholarships as possible. This is especially true for easy no essay scholarships with applications that don’t usually take more than a few minutes to complete.

5. Work with a private tutor.

Are  private tutors  really worth the money? Is it better to study by yourself than take private lessons? What are private tutors doing that you can’t do on your own? These are questions many students ask themselves, especially when they see how expensive private tutoring is. But do not be fooled – private lessons are definitely worth it. They will teach you the skills you need to succeed at GCSE and A-level exams, as well as help you learn more effectively, which is why private lessons are one of the best ways to boost your grades to increase your chances of winning scholarships.

How to avoid scholarship scams

There are plenty of legitimate opportunities available, but there are also some fraudulent sites. Here are some tips for avoiding scholarship scams.

1. Watch for phishing.

Most easy scholarships require you to provide basic personal information: name, contact info, and date of birth. Be wary of sites that ask for a lot of sensitive details, such as old addresses, parental information, and bank account data. These types of questions are usually designed to facilitate identity theft.

2. Don’t pay to submit your application.

Scholarship programs are all about giving money away, not taking it. If you have to pay a fee to submit your application, chances are it’s not a legit scholarship opportunity.

3. Keep your Social Security number private.

While it may seem like you have to write your SSN on a lot of different forms, you shouldn’t need to give it to most scholarship providers. If the application does ask for your Social Security number, be wary.

4. Avoid companies that offer to “find” opportunities for you.

Along with fake awards, there are also fraudulent companies that make money by selling unnecessary scholarship “services.” There are no legitimate organizations that have access to programs you can’t find on your own. Don’t pay a fee to any company that says it can find and apply for “secret” scholarships that you can’t access yourself.

Frequently asked questions about easy scholarships

Find answers to some of the most common questions about easy college scholarships.

How many scholarships should I apply for?

There is no limit to the number of awards you can apply for, so it’s wise to submit as many applications as possible. Maybe set aside time for a monthly scholarship application session.

How can I improve my chances of winning easy scholarships?

The best way to improve your chances of winning scholarships is to apply! There are countless prizes out there for eligible students. The more you can apply for, the better your chances of winning some of them.

Are no essay scholarships legit?

Yes. There are plenty of legitimate scholarships without essays. Some awards are as simple as a random drawing.

Are there any drawbacks to applying for easy scholarships?

One potential downside to applying for a no essay scholarship is that you may not end up winning it. However, if the application is simple, you don’t have to worry about wasting time, even if you don’t end up winning.

In many cases, easy scholarships award less money than programs with detailed application requirements. If you have a limited amount of time, use it to apply for a wide range of opportunities.

What is the best strategy for applying for easy scholarships?

Organization and efficiency are two critical strategies for applying for scholarships. Once you have an idea of all the easy scholarships you want to apply for, make a list of the due dates so you can prioritize which ones to go for first.

Websites make it easy to use your time efficiently – with just a few clicks, you can apply for a lot of no essay scholarship awards quickly. Sometimes, you can create a free account to apply for scholarships automatically.

How easy is it to get a scholarship?

It depends on the scholarship contest. To get a full-ride athletic or academic scholarship, you need to be at the top of your game or your class. However, scholarships without essays are easier to get because you don’t have to ace standardized tests or break state football records.

How to find easy scholarships?

The internet is the best source of information on free money for college. Along with the awards you can find through an online search, it’s worth looking at a few other potential sources:

• Your employer
• Your parents’ employers
• Your church or religious community, especially if you plan to attend a Bible college
• Your chamber of commerce
• Local charities or community organizations

You can also contact your university directly to see if they have any  scholarships for high school seniors , current college students, or graduate students. Use the library to get information on local scholarship winners, like high school athletes or musicians.

Are scholarships taxable income?

In most cases, scholarship money is tax-free. According to the IRS, there are only a few circumstances when you need to include scholarship funds in your gross income:

When you use the money for incidental expenses, such as travel and equipment If you pay for room and board with the money If the money comes from teaching, research, or other services that you must perform to keep the scholarship

Generally, scholarship funds are tax-free if you use them to pay tuition at an accredited college or university.

What’s the difference between a grant and a scholarship?

Both grants and scholarships are “gift” types of financial aid, which means that you don’t have to pay them back (unlike student loans). However, while scholarships are usually based on merit, most grants are awarded based on financial need.

When to apply for scholarships?

There are three application “seasons”: fall, spring, and summer. Most programs with fall deadlines are for the following school year. For example, a scholarship with a deadline of October 31, 2021, would most likely provide money for the 2022-2023 school year. High school seniors planning to attend college next year should start looking at scholarships in the fall.

Spring is the most crucial time for high school students to look for scholarships – most of these awards have a deadline of May 31. The money applies to the school year starting in the fall.

Additionally, there are some scholarship programs with deadlines over the summer. While these can provide money “immediately” (for the upcoming school year), the application process can feel rushed, especially for students getting ready for their freshman year.

In general, it’s best to apply for scholarships as soon as possible. High school juniors can use the spring and summer before their senior year to start researching the available programs. Current college students can continue to apply for new awards each year.

How many scholarships can I get?

There’s no limit to the number of scholarships you can get. The more gift money you receive, the less student debt you need to take on. However, if you are planning to use financial aid to pay for school, getting a lot of scholarship money can impact the amount of aid you qualify for. If this happens, it shouldn’t affect how much you have to pay for school – it just means that the financial aid money is replaced by the scholarship funds.

Are scholarships just for high school seniors?

No, there are many scholarships for students at any education level, including undergraduate and graduate students. There are also many easy scholarships for high school students that are juniors, sophomores, and freshmen.

The Best No-Essay Scholarships to Apply for in 2024

"Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship

Powering The Future - Whiddon Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility criteria:.

• Field of Study : STEM
• Education Level : High school, undergraduate, or graduate student
• Background : Financial need

Anthony McPherson Memorial Automotive Scholarship

• Field of Interest : Automotive
• Education Level : High school or undergraduate student

Cody Cochlin Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : Undergraduate student
• Financial Status : Low-income
• Athletics : Rollerblading, rollerskating, snowboarding and/or skateboarding

Betty and Louie Dicks SCSU Scholarship

• School : South Carolina State University
• Gender : Male
• GPA : 2.75 or higher

Hispanic Achievement Scholarship

• Education Level : High school senior
• GPA : 3.0 or higher
• State : New York
• Identity : Hispanic
• Background : First-generation college student
• Citizenship Status : U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA recipient

St.Hilaire Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship

• State : New Jersey
• Background : Community service or volunteering experience
• Involvement : Student-athlete

Joan Free Thompson Scholarship

• Education Level : High school
• School : Star City High School, Dumas High School, or McGehee High School
• Race/Ethnicity : BIPOC
• State : Arkansas

Grady Reese Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : High school student
• School : Lakeville North High School (MN)

Across Cultures "Expand Your Horizons" Scholarship

Finance Your Education No-Essay Scholarship

Marcus Stroman Scholarship

• Location : The Bronx
• GPA : 3.0 or above

Mamie Marie Clay Matthews Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : High school juniors and seniors
• Ethnicity : African American
• Desired Career Field : Education, Theology, Horticulture or Engineering

The GIST Women’s Sports Business Scholarship

WayUp Dream Job No-Essay Scholarship

• Graduation Year : Between 2020 and 2026

Appily No-Essay Scholarship

Nielsen Rewards No-Essay Scholarship

Survey Junkie Brand Influencer No-Essay Scholarship

Best Catholic Colleges No-Essay Scholarship

CollegeVine Dream School Scholarship

• Education Level : Must be a high school student

Niche College No-Essay Scholarship

Survey Rewards No-Essay Scholarship

ScholarshipOwl No-Essay Scholarship

CapCut Meme Master Scholarship

Bold.org x Checkmate No-Essay Scholarship

100 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

300 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

200 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

400 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

Bold.org No-Essay Top Friend Scholarship

About no-essay scholarships.

As an increasing num ber of students enroll in college, student loan debt is reaching unprecedented levels, nearing $1.6 trillion in the United States. Cumulative student debt is now greater than the amount of credit card debt that Americans have, and it is expected to continue growing. 

By the end of 2021, total student loan debt is expected to grow b y $2 trillion as rising college costs continue to outpace inflation. In 2018, tuition at four- year public colleges was twice the amount that it had been in 1988, and financial aid isn't enough for most students.

To make matters worse, federal grants no longer go as far as they used to, with Pell Grants now covering just 29% of the tuition, room, and board costs of a four-year public college, as compared to 79% in 19 75.

For many undergraduate and graduate students, the high price of tuition combined with housing, books, and other college expenses make it impossible to complete their college education without taking out loans. 69% of students who graduated college in 2018 had to take out loans, with the average graduate owing nearly $30,000. 

Scholarships are a great way for high school, college, or graduate school students to reduce their need for student loans. Even though college scholarships are helpful, the process of searching and applying for the right scholarship opportunities can be stressful, especially when students have other responsibilities such as homework, extracurricular activities, and professional work to worry about. 

No-essay, easy scholarships are incredibly useful opportunities for college students who are searching for easy and fast applications and for high school students planning ahead for their college expenses. While you should also consider applying to scholarships with essay requirements to increase your chances of winning, no-essay scholarships on bold.org are a great, quick way to begin your scholarship search, all while still putting your best foot forward.

To help you on your scholarship journey, we’ve created this list of our top no-essay scholarships available for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students on bold.org. You can apply by clicking on any of the scholarships above!

This list is a great place to start your scholarship search, but you can find even more exclusive scholarships on bold.org .

Sign up here and apply to your first scholarship right now.

Why no-essay scholarships?

There is a wide variety of no-essay scholarships available to students across all levels of education. Some no-essay scholarships require creative application materials, however, applying for many no-essay scholarships is as easy as making a few clicks.

No-essay scholarships are easy scholarships that busy students can take advantage of. Since no-essay scholarships are easy scholarships to apply to and not as time-consuming as essay scholarships, you can apply to many no-essay scholarships, making it more likely that you will win some free money towards your mounting college expenses.

What are no-essay scholarships?

No-essay scholarships are any scholarships that don't require an essay to apply! Some no-essay scholarships require alternative application materials, such as a video, picture, or other creative project, while others have no application requirements at all.

What qualifies as a no-essay scholarship?

On Bold.org, you can find a wide variety of scholarship opportunities to help reduce your college costs. No-essay scholarships are particularly easy to apply for and are determined by the following qualifications.

No essay needed

As you can probably guess, no-essay scholarships stand out due to not requiring an essay in order to apply. These simple scholarships seek to make the application process as easy as possible so high school and college students can pursue higher education.

Open eligibility

Many no-essay scholarships have broad eligibility requirements, such as being open to all students, regardless of your field of study. Other scholarships are open to all high school students or all college students, so you should be able to find plenty of scholarships that you're eligible for.

Quick and simple application

No-essay scholarships are also known for being some of the easiest to apply for since you don't need to spend the time and effort necessary to write an essay. Since no-essay scholarships are so effortless to apply for, you can apply for many scholarships with ease!

You can check out more easy to apply for scholarships here.

Types of no-essay scholarships available

Many no-essay scholarships require just a few clicks to apply, with no application materials needed. Other no-essay scholarships include creative scholarships that ask for videos, photographs, or other forms of media to apply.

How to find no-essay scholarships to apply for

You can start finding no-essay scholarships by creating your free account on Bold.org, a scholarship provider dedicated to making college accessible for all students. Bold.org will match scholarships directly to you, and you can even search by category to find scholarships related to your interests, characteristics, and field of study. 

Additionally, you can filter scholarships by your level of education, allowing you to find scholarship opportunities whether you’re in high school, college, or even graduate school. 

When to start applying for no-essay scholarships

You can start applying for scholarships at any point in high school, but many students start the scholarship search as high school juniors or seniors. If you're already in college and just starting to look for scholarships, don't worry! There are plenty of scholarships that don't require essays available for undergraduate and graduate students. Start applying now so you can win as many scholarships as possible.

What to consider when applying for scholarships

Getting an easy scholarship with no essay required is a great way to fund your tuition. However, keep in mind that no-essay scholarships often don't allow for the personal touch of a written essay, so winning scholarships can feel like a random drawing. Luckily, there are several things you can do to increase your chances of winning a scholarship award. Keep reading for our tips on winning no-essay scholarships.

How to apply for no-essay scholarships

Once you've created your Bold.org account, go to the scholarship page to find hundreds of scholarships exclusively available on Bold.org. Then, you can either browse through all of the scholarship opportunities or you can filter the scholarship list by education level or by category to find the best-fitting scholarships for you. You can even choose to only display no-essay scholarships to find our top easy scholarships.

Each scholarship will have eligibility requirements, deadlines, and the award date included in the description. Some no-essay scholarships will require you to submit a link or complete a task, but for many no-essay scholarships, applying is often as easy as just clicking apply!

Who can apply for no-essay scholarships

No matter what level of education you're in, Bold.org has no-essay scholarship opportunities for you. Many scholarships are even open to high school students, so don't wait to apply!

High school students

You can start applying for scholarships on Bold.org as early as your freshman year of high school. Some scholarships are open to high school students of all grades, but there are some exclusively for high school seniors.

College students

Many no-essay scholarships seek to help college students complete their degrees by easing the burden of tuition. Whether you're a current or incoming student, a graduate student, or even a trade school student, there are no-essay, easy scholarships for you on Bold.org.

Tips for winning no-essay scholarships

Seek out more restrictive scholarships.

Scholarships with less broad eligibility will have fewer applicants as a result, increasing your chances of winning one. On Bold.org, you can even filter by category to find scholarships relating to your field of study, hobbies, or identity.

Apply early and often

An additional way to increase your chances of winning a no-essay scholarship is to apply as early as possible. You can check your notifications to find out about the newest scholarships added to the site. Applying for multiple scholarships can also make you more likely to win, so apply for as many as possible to maximize your chances.

Make your profile unique

Since no-essay scholarships don't give you the chance to show off your personality with creative writing, making your Bold.org profile as complete and unique as possible can help you stand out and make the most of your one entry. You can demonstrate your personality by adding personal information to your profile, such as your passions and goals for the future.

Frequently asked questions about no-essay scholarships

Are no-essay scholarships legit.

Due to the ease of no-essay scholarships, they can seem too good to be true and you may worry about scholarship scams. Luckily, no-essay scholarships on Bold.org are all legit! Just make your free account and start funding your college tuition.

How can I improve my chances of winning no-essay scholarships?

Although no-essay scholarships can be some of the easiest scholarships to apply for, it can feel impossible to make yourself stand out from the other students. To increase your chance of winning more scholarships, try applying for scholarships with limited eligibility, such as scholarships for high school juniors or scholarships with minimum GPA requirements.

How many no-essay scholarships can you get?

There is no limit to the number of scholarships you can win on Bold.org. Since no-essay scholarships typically take just a few minutes to apply for, you can apply for many so you can win as much money as possible.

Are no-essay scholarships taxable income?

No-essay scholarships aren't just easy to apply for, they're easy to use too since scholarship money from Bold.org does not count as taxable income. If you win a scholarship, you will be contacted directly and the money will be sent to your current or future college.

How many people apply to no-essay scholarships?

Due to the ease of no-essay scholarship applications, many students apply. So, be sure to apply for as many as possible so you can maximize your chances of winning one. Also, make sure to utilize our no-essay application tips so you can stand out from other applicants and boost your odds of winning.

Are there GPA requirements for no-essay scholarships?

While every scholarship has specific eligibility requirements, most no-essay scholarships do not have GPA requirements.

For example, all of the above scholarships are open to students regardless of GPA, and you can find even more scholarships without GPA requirements on Bold.org.

Can only college students apply for scholarships?

Some scholarships are only available to undergraduate or graduate students, but many are also open to high school students. Some scholarships on Bold.org, such as the College Xpress No-Essay Scholarship , are exclusively open to high school students.

High school is a great time to get ahead on finding scholarships for your college education, but don’t worry if you’re just starting your search in college - there are plenty of scholarships to apply to!

Why has student loan debt increased?

The student loan crisis has spiked in recent years, i ncreasing by 107% since 2008. A factor that has contributed to this increase is the rising tuition rates that wages have not kept up with. The average cost of a Bachelor’s degree has increased by 25% since the 2008 recession.

 In decades prior, it was feasible for students to pay their tuition simply by working, reducing the need for loans. Today, around 70% of full-time college students work, yet 69% of first-year college students in 2019 took out student loans, showing that working doesn't provide enough income for most students to pay for college out of pocket.

On average, people with loans owe nearly $33,000 each, and most owe between $20,000 to $40,000. However, many borrowers owe significantly more than this, with over 3 million people owing more than $100,000, including 800,000 borrowers who owe over $200,000.

Is student loan debt equally distributed?

Average student loans across demographics reflect both racial and gender-based gaps. The average white borrower owes roughly $30,000 as compared to Black borrowers who owe around $34,000 on average. White borrowers also repay loans at more than twice the rate than that of Black borrowers. This difference in the amount of loan debt perpetuates the racial wealth gap, making it easier for white students to repay loans and begin saving post-graduation.

In addition to the racial gap in student loans, there is a prominent gender gap that disadvantages women. While there are currently more women enrolled in colleges than men, making up around 56% of college students, women hold a disproportionate amount of student debt.

As a group, women hold about two-thirds of the national student loans, which equals nearly $929 billion. Since women also tend to make less money than men after graduation, this unequal amount of debt is even harder to pay off.

Due to the discrepancies in student debt distribution, there are many scholarships available exclusively for students from disadvantaged groups. The list above includes scholarships for racial minorities, first-generation students, women, and other underserved groups, and you can find even more scholarships on Bold.org.

• Best Colleges
• Application Advice

• Scholarships

The 10 Best No Essay Scholarships

So many students have been there before. 

They filled out their application to the best of their abilities, they applied to every internal scholarship imaginable at their hopeful college, and they calculated their odds of winning certain awards ad nauseum. 

And then the acceptance letter comes in, and it’s cause for such a wonderful celebration. Getting into university is incredibly difficult, and you’ve done it. 

But then there’s the second letter—the financial aid award letter. And for so many students, that award just isn’t enough to keep a student from navigating debt for many years to come. 

Even for those students who can utilize internal, university-wide funding to mitigate their tuition costs, having external funding sources will always make a big difference in one’s attempts to finance their education. 

But there are a lot of scholarships out there. And many of them will provide wonderful opportunities, but in order to make the most of one’s scholarship hunt to ensure they will receive enough external aid to impact their tuition costs, they’ll need to apply for a lot of scholarships. 

School, work, and attempts to make the most of one’s teenage/early 20s can make the prospect of writing dozens of scholarship essays and answering a plethora of scholarship questions daunting. 

But there are scholarships out there that provide actual money, which one can apply to in mere minutes. And although the odds of winning such scholarships can be slim, it never hurts to cast as wide of a net as possible. 

And no-essay scholarships are a simple addition to one’s list of scholarship applications that increase one’s chances of receiving funding without increasing the number of hours one spends on the scholarship hunt. 

As such, this article will break down 10 of the best no-essay scholarships out there. 

In making this list, attention was given to the legitimacy of the scholarship organization, the amount of funding each scholarship provided, and the range of students who would be eligible to apply for the scholarship. 

In no particular order, here are the ten best no-essay scholarships that will make easy additions to your scholarship list. 

Big Future’s $40,000 Scholarship

Big Future is an organization that helps students with the step-by-step process of applying for college. 

Big Future is a service offered by the larger College Board website, a non-profit organization that seeks to aid students in their quest to both attend college and succeed while there. 

In order to apply for the $40,000 scholarship , students must make an account on the Big Future section of the College Board website and subsequently begin steps to plan for college. 

Completing steps to prepare for college on Big Future include making a list of potential colleges, preparing for a standardized test, applying for colleges, and more. 

Each year, roughly 25 winners are selected to receive the $40,000 scholarship. Winners’ profiles can be found here . 

“Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

Bold.org is a scholarship website that hosts a wide array of no-essay scholarships. Many of the no-essay scholarships on Bold.org are not available elsewhere and are centered around various themes (i.e. international travel, the arts, etc.). 

One of the largest of Bold.org’s many exclusive no-essay scholarships is their Be Bold , $25,050 scholarship. 

This scholarship is awarded annually to a Bold.org user, and previous winners can be found at the bottom of the scholarship’s page. 

In order to increase one’s likelihood of winning this scholarship, students attain “bold points,” which can be gained by watching advertisements, providing feedback to the website, or otherwise. 

Niche No-Essay Scholarship

Niche is a trusted source for all things college.

They provide rankings for the world’s best universities in a wide array of subject matter, they collect data on acceptance rates, and they are a hub of information for anything a student may need to know regarding their school of choice. 

And alongside this, they also aid students on their scholarship hunt. 

As part of this, they provide a $2,000 no-essay scholarship which is given to students on a monthly basis. 

In order to apply, students need only create an account on Niche.com via the scholarship application. 

Previous winners of the no-essay scholarship can be found on Niche’s website . 

Nitro College No-Essay Scholarship

Nitro has a remarkably easy no-essay scholarship.

In order to apply, students do not even need to make an account on Nitro’s website, but instead merely have to provide the school they hope to attend and their contact information, and they are set to apply. 

Each month, Nitro selects a winner of the $2,000 no-essay scholarship. Previous scholarship winners can be found at the bottom of the scholarship application page. 

Nitro is a website dedicated to helping students understand all things financial regarding the college experience. This includes information on scholarships, loans, and tools to help calculate one’s cost of college. 

CollegeXpress $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship

CollegeXpress hosts an annual no-essay scholarship competition , where one winner will receive a generous scholarship worth $10,000. 

By making an account on the CollegeXpress website via the no-essay scholarship portal, students are automatically enrolled for the chance to win the $10,000 scholarship. 

CollegeXpress is another organization that does not merely offer one no-essay scholarship but several. 

For example, after applying for the $10,000 no-essay scholarship, students can apply for the $2,000, “Favorite Color” scholarshi p—where students only need to answer what their favorite color is in order to apply. 

College Covered $5,000 No-Essay Scholarship

College Covered is an organization owned by Discover that seeks to aid students in financing their education while simultaneously promoting Discover’s student loans. 

Because College Covered seeks to aid students in all things financial, it is no wonder that they also host a variety of scholarship competitions. 

One of the largest of these scholarship competitions is the $5,000 no-essay Discover student loans no-essay scholarship. 

In order to apply, all a student needs to do is provide their basic contact information. 

$1,000 Dorm Survey Scholarship

ULoop is a hub for all odds and ends associated with college preparation. 

Whether it be finding a roommate, a tutor, or finding a place to live, ULoop strives to be a marketplace for all of one’s miscellaneous college needs. 

To best achieve this goal, ULoop naturally needs to harvest a fair amount of data regarding a wide array of colleges to provide accurate and up-to-date information. 

This is where the $1,000 Dorm Survey Scholarship comes in. 

To apply for this scholarship, students fill out a brief questionnaire regarding their experiences living in dorms at their particular university. 

Alongside the dorm survey, students can also enter the off-campus apartment survey scholarship contest, which has an award of $1,000. 

Winners of both scholarships are announced annually, and previous winners can be found on ULoop’s website . 

Tallo $1,000 Scholarship

Tallo is an app where students can update schools, scholarship competitions, and employers regarding their various academic or professional achievements. 

Through this platform, professionals and students connect to develop meaningful relationships. 

By joining the Tallo app, students join a network of over 1 million students and professionals and have access to a scholarship database that includes over $20 billion in scholarships.

When a student joins Tallo, they are automatically enrolled in the $1,000, no-essay scholarship contest. 

Joining Tallo and completing a profile is considered the application for this scholarship. 

Scholarship Owl $7,000 Scholarship

Scholarship Owl is a scholarship database that both seeks to connect students with scholarship opportunities and to provide education to students regarding how scholarships work during the process. 

Their $7,000 scholarship does not require an essay and merely requires that students create a profile on the Scholarship Owl website. 

Although only 1 in 140,000 students win, approximately every applicant is considered equal during the scholarship drawing. 

As such, no one student has a significantly greater chance of winning the no-essay scholarship compared to another. 

ScholarshipPoints $10,000 Scholarship

ScholarshipPoints hosts a variety of no-essay scholarship contests, with the largest of these having a $10,000 value .

ScholarshipPoints operates by having students gain “scholarship points” by doing things like surveys, watching ads, or engaging with website sponsors. 

Then, students spend these points to enter scholarship sweepstakes. 

One point spent is the equivalent of 1 entry in the random drawing of scholarship winners. 

The more points one spends in entering a scholarship, the more likely it is that a student will win the said scholarship. 

As such, not only do Scholarship points offer the large, $10,000 no-essay scholarship, but several no-essay scholarships in which spending scholarship points takes the place of writing a formal scholarship application. 

Even if the chances of winning can be slim for some of these scholarships, it is real money that real winners have received in the past.

Related Posts

An education in the STEM field is a valuable asset. STEM, referring to science, technology,…

If you ask any artist what they need to succeed, you’ll probably get some exciting…

Some of the best and most rewarding scholarships require applicants to write a personal essay,…

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

10 Colleges With Amazing Financial Aid

25 Top Colleges with Full Tuition Scholarships

The 10 Best STEM Scholarships for High School Students

The 10 Best Law School Scholarships

The 10 Best MBA Program Scholarships

The 10 Best Dental School Scholarships

POPULAR POSTS

The 10 Best Marine Biology Colleges in the US

Here Are the 10 Best Optometry Schools in the US

Here Are the 10 Best Dental Schools in the US

Popular category.

• Acceptance Rates 253
• Hidden Gem Colleges 81
• Medical Schools 76
• Ivy League Schools 62
• Law Schools 49
• Performing Arts 45
• Art Schools 42
• Health Sciences 40
• Summer Programs 39
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

30 NO-ESSAY Scholarships for the Class of 2023

With so many application deadlines and SAT test dates piling up, applying for scholarships can quickly become overwhelming. Especially when those scholarships make you jump through hoops by writing essays and submitting transcripts. The stress of writing a scholarship essay on top of keeping up with school can deter students from taking advantage of free money . That’s not the case with these no essay scholarships. From surveys to sweepstakes these easy scholarship applications are a breeze. These programs want to help busy students like you pay for school, without adding extra stress to your life. Calling Class of 2023, these scholarships are looking for you! 

Applying to these scholarships is a no-brainer. Want more opportunities to score free money? 

Check out our other scholarship lists! 

Our Top Scholarship Pick

The $25,000 “be bold” no essay scholarship.

Rolling monthly application deadlines. Next deadline: June 1, 2023

Award: Awards $25,000

Overview: The $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. No-Essay Scholarship in just a few clicks! Fund your education with verified new scholarships, available only on Bold.org. New scholarships are added daily, and membership is 100% free for students.

$2,000 Nitro Scholarship

Deadline: March 3, 2022 

Award Amount: $23,410 20 winners, $1,170 each

Overview: The Skin Grip Diabetes Scholarship will be awarded to 20 individuals who live fearlessly and fight to make the world a better place despite their diagnosis.

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a high school senior or any undergraduate in a 2- or 4-year degree program who has diabetes. To apply, please upload a short video (can be filmed via cell phone, Zoom, etc) two minutes max, answering this question:

How do you live fearlessly with diabetes?

$1,000 Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship

Deadline: December 31, 2023

Award Amount: $2,000

Overview: Apply to Nitro’s monthly No-Essay Scholarship in seconds for a chance to win $2,000!

2022 HireAHelper Skilled Trade & Technology Scholarships

Deadline:  July 17, 2023.

Award: $2,000

Overview: Growing demand and lack of qualified workers in skilled trades like the moving industry means it’s a great time to go back to school and enter these lucrative and fast-growing industries. To help keep up with demand and assist the next generation of professionals, HireAHelper will award a $2,000 scholarship four times a year to eligible students.

Kahoot Live Scholarship

Deadline: May 26, 2023

Award Amount: $500

Overview: Do we have any Swifties in the house? If so, this Kahoot scholarship is just for you! We will quiz you on all things Taylor Swift to test out just how much of a Swiftie you really are.

Hop on our Instagram live on Thursday, May 25 at 9 PM Eastern to join us as we give away another $500 scholarship to the winner of this Swifie-fied Kahoot game!

As always, we must have at least 1,000 viewers on the live stream and 1,000+ players in the Kahoot game to award the scholarship, and you must be a current or future college student with a Bold.org profile to participate.

ScholarshipPoints Scholarships

Deadline: See Website

Award Amount: Up to $10,000

Overview: Complete the form to be automatically entered into our $10,000 scholarship!

Scholly No-Essay Scholarship

Deadline: June 1, 2023

Overview: Are you looking to secure funding for college or graduate school?

We’ve partnered with Scholly to create this exclusive scholarship for high school students, transfer students, college students, and current or prospective graduate students.

CampusReel No-Essay Scholarship

Award Amount:$500

Overview: Are you on the hunt for financial aid for college?

We’ve partnered with CampusReel to create this exclusive scholarship for high school students, transfer students, college students, and current or prospective graduate students.

AFSA High School Senior Contest

Deadline: January 1, 2024.

Overview:  The High School Senior College Scholarship Contest is open to high school seniors who are citizens or aliens legally residing in the USA. Scholarship funds are payable to the winner’s college/university or certified trade school in the United States; winner must enroll for classes beginning no later than Fall 2022 session. Winner selection is NOT based on financial need, GPA or demographic criteria. Home-schooled students may apply as long as course of study is equivalent to that of a senior in high school.

GoSkills Scholarship

Deadline: Fall Deadline: Sept. 15 (11:59PM PST) Fall Award Date: Oct. 15 Spring Deadline: March 15 (11:59PM PST) Spring Award Date: April 15

Overview: Okay, Female high school and college students, here is your time to debut your online business ambitions. There are open-ended questions on the application, but it’s more like a friendly conversation. The questions ask you about your concerns and your role models. Besides the application, you need to provide a link to your business plan (GoSkills provides instructions for your business plan right above the area for the link). If you don’t get excited about writing an essay, try your hand at mapping a business plan

Nitro Pay For College No-Essay Scholarship

Award Amount: $10,000

Overview: We’ve partnered with Nitro to create this exclusive no-essay scholarship for anyone thinking through how to pay for college.

Nitro is a leading financial aid and loan resource platform, guiding you on everything from the FAFSA to best practices for federal and private loans.

By applying, you’ll automatically get registered for Nitro, setting you up for success in funding your education in the most effective way. The scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of the Nitro platform.

Bold.org No-Essay Community Scholarship

Award Amount: $5,000

Overview: This scholarship is for students who recognize the value of a strong community, and are always on the lookout for ways to help their friends and strengthen their community. It will be awarded to a student who has invited many friends to join Bold.org.

To invite a friend, visit your Invite Friends page on the Bold.org dashboard to copy your unique invite code and text it to your friends. For each friend who creates a profile, your chances of winning the Community Scholarship go up.

AFSA $2,000 College Scholarship

Deadline: January 1, 2024

Overview: The Second Chance College Scholarships Contest is open to citizens and aliens legally residing in the USA with High School Diploma, GED or equivalent. Scholarship funds are payable to the winner’s college/university or certified trade school in the United States; winner must enroll or already be enrolled for Spring 2022 session. Winner selection is NOT based on financial need, GPA or demographic criteria.

Expand Your Horizons Scholarship

Deadline: April 28, 2024

Overview: Getting the most out of life requires both the courage to explore the world, and the kindness and openness to welcome and accept all those you meet along the way.

One student whose profile demonstrates an openness to learning about other cultures and sharing their own will receive $2,000 to help them continue on their path to travel and learn.

This may include studying new languages, traveling to study in a new place, teaching or learning art styles or cooking methods from a new culture, or anything else that demonstrates openness to new cultures in your school, work, or hobbies.

Launchy Web3 Scholarship

Deadline: April 30, 2024

Award Amount: $1,000

Overview: Chain Catalyst by Launchy is a free newsletter for web3 builders and investors.

We’ve partnered with Chain Catalyst by Launchy to create this exclusive scholarship. By applying, you’ll automatically be subscribed to the Chain Catalyst by Launchy newsletter, getting web3 tips, news, and insights delivered directly to your inbox.

The scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of Chain Catalyst by Launchy.

Scholarships4Moms

Deadline: June 15, 2023

Overview: Over $1.2 million in scholarships given away. You could be the next winner!

CARiD.com Scholarship

Deadline: May 31, 2023

Overview: CARiD is giving away $1,000 to offset your educational expenses for college! Just getting the essentials can add up quickly and CARiD wants to help – books, food, backpacks, some sweet spinners for your commuter vehicle, or whatever else you need to get ready for school! Most importantly – CARiD believes in higher education and wants to help you achieve your goals!

Barbara Lotze Scholarship

Deadline: December 1, 2023

Overview: Undergraduate students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in physics teacher preparation curricula and high school seniors entering such programs are eligible. Successful applicants receive a stipend of up to $2,000 and a complimentary AAPT Student Membership for one year. The scholarship may be granted to an individual for each of four years.

Richard “88 Fingers” Turner, Jr. Music Scholarship

Deadline: August 1, 2023

Overview: Richard “88 Fingers” Turner, Jr. is a beloved husband and talented pianist.

Known for his dexterity and musical talent, Richard has inspired the next generation of aspiring African American musicians. In order to truly thrive in the industry, it’s critical for musicians to have a strong educational foundation, which can often be inaccessible due to the high cost of college.

This scholarship seeks to honor Richard Turner, Jr. by supporting African American musicians in their pursuit of education.

Any African American two or four-year undergraduate student who is pursuing a music degree and career may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, submit a 2-3 minute video of yourself performing.

“A Bold Mind” Psychology No-Essay Scholarship

Overview: Psychology is a great career field for students with a deep sense of curiosity about human behavior and the mind.

This scholarship seeks to support students who are passionate about psychology so they can afford to pursue their education.

Any student who is pursuing psychology may apply for this exclusive no-essay scholarship!

“Science for Life” Biology and Health Sciences No-Essay Scholarship

Overview: Biology and health sciences can require significant education which can be difficult for the average student to afford without becoming buried in debt.

This scholarship aims to support students who are pursuing biology and the health sciences so that they can complete their degrees no matter their financial status.

Any student who is interested in studying biology or the health sciences may apply for this no-essay scholarship opportunity!

Milk Road Crypto and Web3 No-Essay Scholarship

Deadline: August 16, 2022

Packed with insights, analysis, and entertainment, The Milk Road helps you get smarter about crypto without ever feeling dumb, regardless of how much you already know.

We’ve partnered with The Milk Road to create this exclusive scholarship. By applying, you’ll automatically be subscribed to The Milk Road, giving you essential crypto insights straight to your inbox.

This scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of The Milk Road. You will be a strong applicant if you:

• Read The Milk Road every day
• Share The Milk Road with your friends
• Apply what you learn to accelerate your education and career

CollegeXpress No-Essay Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,200

Overview: Are you a high schooler preparing to navigate through your college experience?

We’ve partnered with CollegeXpress to create this exclusive scholarship for high school students who are interested in college resources, an opportunity related to our 30 other no-essay scholarship awards.

This scholarship is also unique in that it will favor students who apply earlier—who are bold and seize the day without procrastinating.

The Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award Sweepstakes

Overview: Sign up for emails to get helpful college tips and resources, and enter for the chance to win a scholarship! Throughout the year, 12 eligible students or parents will be randomly selected to win a $5,000 Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award to help cover college expenses.

Huntington’s College Scholarship Sweepstakes

Deadline: June 30, 2023

Award Amount: $4,000

Overview: Scholarship contest for college-bound students. Simply submit this Official Entry form by the deadline posted in the Official Rules and you could win a $4000 College Scholarship!

Italian Catholic Federation Scholarships

Deadline: See Website 

Award Amount: Up to $1,000

Overview:  Since 1964, the Italian Catholic Federation has awarded over $2,000,000.00 in scholarships to more than 6,000 high school students, of the Catholic faith, attending college. Each spring, the Italian Catholic Federation receives nearly 400 applications for its yearly scholarship awards. Applications are received from students in public as well as Catholic high schools in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Illinois.

No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship

Deadline: May 29, 2023

Award Amount: $7,000

Overview:  Apply Me, Inc. (“ScholarshipOwl”) is pleased to offer this scholarship sweepstakes (“Scholarship Sweepstakes”) in which you can apply for a chance to win a scholarship to be paid by ScholarshipOwl directly to your qualified high school, college or university.

For What It’s Worth Scholarship

Overview: We’ve partnered with For What It’s Worth to create this exclusive scholarship. By applying, you’ll automatically be subscribed to the For What It’s Worth newsletter, getting tips and news delivered directly to your inbox so you can invest in the world that you want.

The scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of For What It’s Worth. You will be a strong applicant if you:

• Read For What It’s Worth every week
• Share For What It’s Worth with your friends
• Engage with For What It’s Worth’s content

Stuck At Prom Scholarship Contest

Deadline: June 7, 2023 

Overview: We’re giving away $20,000 in cash scholarships to high school students who make the best prom attire out of Duck® Brand Duct Tape! New this year? You can document your journey to prom perfection in a short video or written essay. Plus, once the voting period starts, a live voting counter lets you see the results in real time.

“A Bold Life” No-Essay Scholarship

Deadline: July 31, 2023

Overview: Regardless of where you find yourself today, remember that you only have one life to live, and it’s up to you to make it count. Embracing the world with boldness can help you do that.

To encourage people to create an adventurous and exciting life as they define it, the “A Bold Life” No-Essay scholarship exists to support a student who will do what it takes to live life to the fullest.

The scholarship is open to all students and non-students from any field of study. The only requirement is that you’re committed to overcoming fear and relentlessly pursuing a life that will leave you fulfilled.

More Helpful Guides:

How to Find—and Win—Scholarships: Your Complete Guide

How I Landed My Dream Internship

Make a List, Check It Twice: A College Applications Guide

Three Difficult Conversations to Have About Affording College

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links to products and services. We may receive commissions for purchases made through these links.

The 30 Hardest Colleges to Get Into by Acceptance Rate

Your Guide to Required Documents for College Applications

What is a Target School?

Do you want scholarships and financial aid advice?

Unlock the path to your academic dreams – sign up now for NEW scholarships and timely financial aid advice and stay ahead in the pursuit of higher education!

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

28 Super Easy Scholarships to Apply for in 2023

What’s covered:, 28 easy scholarships to apply for, strategies for applying to easy scholarships.

Applying for scholarships is an important part of preparing for college. Given how expensive higher education is, these awards can relieve lots of anxiety and provide students with unique opportunities. Unlike loans, scholarships do not have to be paid back.

That said, after a grueling college application process, the thought of completing more applications can feel overwhelming to many students. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy scholarships you can apply for in under an hour. Some don’t even require essays. We’ve rounded up X super-quick scholarships with applications you’ll complete in no time at all.

1. CollegeVine Scholarships

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: Quarterly

Eligibility: High school student and US resident

Application Requirements: Create a free CollegeVine account or fill out your chancing profile if you already have an account

CollegeVine provides a quarterly, no-essay scholarship of $2,000. All you have to do is sign up for a free account, which allows you to see your chances of acceptance at 1,600+ schools, get your essays reviewed by a peer, ask questions in our community forum, and more. If you already have an account, just make sure your chancing profile is filled out.

Awards will be paid out directly to students to help them cover any educational costs. Learn more about the CollegeVine scholarships .

2. Because College Is Expensive Scholarship

Amount: $500

Deadline: End of each quarter at 11:59 pm EST

Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, college students, and graduate students

Application Requirements: Simple online form

Cedar Education Lending gives out the aptly-named Because College Is Expensive Scholarship once per quarter. All you need to do to apply is complete a simple form, and you’ll be entered into a $500 random drawing.

3. I Have a Dream Scholarship  

Amount: $1,500

Deadline: January 31, 2024

Eligibility: Must be a legal U.S. resident; must be at least 14 years old at the time of application

Application Requirements: Short answer question

For this scholarship, applicants will submit an online written response to the following prompt in 250 words or fewer:

“We want to know… what do you dream about? Whether it’s some bizarre dream you had last week, or your hopes for the future, share your dreams with us for a chance to win $1,500 for college.”

4. SmarterCollege Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

Deadline: Recurring (next deadline is June 30, 2023)

Eligibility: Must be at least 17 years old; must be a US resident

All you have to do to apply for this scholarship is complete a 5 question application! You can apply each month.

5. Cappex Easy Money Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: The end of each month

Eligibility: Must be a registered Cappex user; must be at least 13 years old; must be a US resident; must be planning to enroll in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher learning within 4 years

In order to enter this scholarship contest, sponsored by Cappex, all you need to do is complete the online registration form. Perhaps that’s why it’s called “Easy Money!”

6. “No Essay” College Scholarship

Deadline: Monthly (next deadline is May 31, 2023)

Eligibility: High school students, college students, and others planning to attend college or graduate school within the next year ( additional eligibility requirements )

As noted in the name, this scholarship requires no essay to enter. The recipient is selected by a random drawing, and you can enter once per month. If you win, you can use the award for education-related expenses, such as tuition, housing, and books.

7. No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship

Deadline: May 29, 2023

Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. resident in any state, territory, or the District of Columbia, except for Rhode Island and Michigan; must be enrolled in a U.S. high school, college, or university

When you create an account on Scholarship Owl on or after April 30th, 2023, you’ll automatically be entered to win the scholarship. You can then enter again once every seven days during the Sweepstakes Period. 

8. Make Me Laugh

Deadline: August 31, 2023

Here’s one for the comedians out there. This is not only an opportunity to win $1,500 in scholarship money but also a chance to showcase your comedy set. In 250 words or fewer, respond to this prompt:

“OMG… finding and applying for scholarships is serious business, but it’s time to lighten things up a little. We don’t want to know why you deserve $1,500 or how great your grades are, we simply want to LOL. Describe an incident in your life, funny or embarrassing (fact or fiction), and make us laugh!”

9. ScholarshipPoints Scholarship

Deadline: Monthly

Eligibility: Legal residents of the U.S. who are at least 13 years old; must sign up as a member of ScholarshipPoints.com

This simple online form secures $2,500 scholarships for randomly selected students each month. Completing the form means you will be automatically entered.

10. Flavor of the Month Scholarship

Deadline: July 31, 2023

I don’t know about you, but I love ice cream. The premise of this scholarship is simple: you just need to talk about your favorite flavor of the (objectively) best dessert out there. In 250 words or fewer, respond to this prompt:

“Summer and ice cream go hand-in-hand. In fact, July is National Ice Cream Month, and that’s the inspiration behind this award. We think people are very similar to ice cream; some are nutty, others a little exotic, while some are very comforting. If you were an ice cream flavor, which would you be and why?”

11. Courage to Grow Scholarship

Eligibility: Must be a high school junior or senior or a college student with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a U.S. citizen

This scholarship is awarded once per month. To enter, you just need to describe in 250 words or fewer why you believe you should receive the scholarship.

12. College Is Power Scholarship

Deadline: May 31, 2023

Eligibility: Must be at least 17 years old and plan to start college within the next 12 months or already be enrolled; must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Full- or part-time students may apply for this easy scholarship. Judging is mainly based on your response to the following prompt, which you should address in 150 words or fewer:

“What is your primary goal for going to school?”

13. Nitro Scholarship

Eligibility: Must be at least 17 years old and a high school senior or college student, parent of a high school senior or college student, or loan-paying college graduate or parent of a graduate; must be a legal U.S. resident

This scholarship, open to both students and their parents, is offered once per month. All you need to do is complete a short form to enter the competition.

14. SuperCollege Scholarship

Deadline: May 31, 2023 

Eligibility: High school seniors, college or graduate students, or adults planning to enroll in college or university; must be a permanent U.S. resident; Employees, officers, and directors (and their relatives) of SuperCollege and its affiliates are not eligible

To enter the SuperCollege Scholarship drawing, you just need to complete this form . Winners are chosen at random and may apply the award to education-related expenses.

15. Tallo + Niche Scholarship

Eligibility: Must be 13 years of age

Application Requirements: Create a profile and short answer questions

You don’t need to write an essay for this scholarship—you just need to create a profile on the sponsoring site, click “Opportunities,” and enter “Niche” in the keyword field. From there, you can apply by answering very brief questions:

“What’s your next step after school? Is there a company you have your eye on? Tell us! Just answer a few questions—no essays, we promise—and you’ll be entered to win!”

16. $40,000 BigFuture Scholarships

Eligibility: High school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students

Application Requirements: Make account and complete simple steps

The College Board offers scholarships with easy requirements—advance your college application process. You get entries into their drawing for things like building your college list, practicing for the SAT, exploring scholarships, strengthening your college list, completing the FAFSA, and applying to colleges.

17. Book Recommendation Scholarship

Amount: $1,300

Eligibility: N/A

Application Requirements: Simple online form and short answer question

All you have to do to get entered to win this scholarship is register and answer the following question in one sentence:

“What is a good book you’d recommend to a friend for the summer?”

18. $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Eligibility: Must request Christian college, university, and/or Bible college information; must be enrolling for the first time as a full-time student at a Christ-centered Christian college, university, or Bible college

Students planning to attend a Christian college can fill out a simple online form to submit for this online drawing, which will surely draw fewer students than others on the list. 

19. $2,000 CampusReel Virtual Tour Scholarship

Deadline: June 30, 2023

Eligibility: Open to all high school, college, community and graduate students

Application Requirements: Watch a video

Students can easily get their name entered into this lucrative drawing by watching a student-led virtual tour!

20. Annual Catholic College Scholarship

Eligibility: Must be at least 13 years old

To submit to this drawing, students must complete a form to receive information from Catholic colleges and universities.

21. Community Champions Scholarship

Eligibility: Must have applied to or be enrolled in a degree program; or the parent or legal guardian of a person who has applied to or who is enrolled in a degree program; Must be legal resident of the US; Must be age 18 or older

Application Requirements: Social media engagement and a simple online form

To be entered in this drawing, students must follow @AscentFunding on Instagram,“like” a specific post, tag two friends in a post with a specific hashtag, save the post, and complete a contact form.

22. Shining Stars Scholarship

To be entered in this drawing, students must follow @AscentFunding on Instagram,“like” a specific post, leave a comment about mental health with a specific hashtag, save the post, and complete a contact form.

23. Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

Deadline: October 31, 2023

Eligibility: Students age 14 or older; Must be planning to enroll in a postsecondary institution sometime before the Fall of 2027

This application asks you to respond to a specific prompt in 250 words or less:

“ Describe your escape plan if there were a zombie outbreak at your school.”

24. Education Matters Scholarship

Deadline: November 30, 2023

Eligibility: Must be U.S. student; Must be 14 years of age or older; Must be a legal U.S. resident

To submit to this competition, students must respond to the following prompt in 250 words or less:

“What would you say to someone who thinks education doesn’t matter, or that college is a waste of time and money?”

25. Top Ten List Scholarship

Deadline: December 31, 2023

“Create a Top Ten List of the top ten reasons you should get this scholarship.”

26. Unigo $10k Scholarship

Amount: $10,000

“Would you rather be smart, funny or rich? Why?”

27. Too Cool to Pay for School No Essay Scholarship

Deadline: Quarterly (next deadline is June 30, 2023)

Eligibility: Must be high school, college, or graduate school student; Must be currently enrolled full time (in high school or at an accredited university) or planning on enrolling within 24 months

This easy online form submits you for a drawing that will happen four times this year.

28. Around the Corner from College Scholarship

Deadline: June 30th, 2023

Eligibility: Open to current high school students (freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors)

This drawing requires filling out a quick and simple online form.

1. Apply to as many easy scholarships as possible. 

Given that many of these scholarships are lottery-based, it’s easy to apply. Even those that have short essays require minimal time to complete the application process, so they won’t eat up too much of your day. You can maximize your chances of winning one by applying to as many as possible.

Additionally, many of these scholarships you can apply to every month. Make a schedule and fill out the simple online forms for each drawing.

2. Balance easy scholarships out with more specific ones.

You shouldn’t focus solely on “easy” scholarships since your odds of winning are much lower. Because applying to these scholarships takes minimal effort, they draw a high number of entrants. This means your odds of winning are lower than they are for scholarships with a more rigorous application process. 

If you apply to scholarships that are tailored to your profile and require more of a time commitment to enter, you will increase your award potential. That might mean entering scholarship contests for people who share your background or demographics or for students intending to study a certain discipline. Find more opportunities on the scholarship section of our blog .

3. Apply to schools with generous merit scholarships.

Most scholarship money comes from schools themselves and not external providers. Many schools consider students for merit scholarships just based on their application, so it’s no extra work; in fact, many schools have automatic scholarships based on SAT/ACT scores . Applying to schools where you’re in the top 75th percentile or above in terms of grades and test scores can maximize your chances of getting merit scholarships.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 10 easiest scholarships to apply for.

Financial Aid

Scholarships are awesome resources if you're checking out different ways to pay for college. It's free money after all—what's not to love?

As it turns out, most scholarship programs have application processes that aren't exactly lovable. Students generally have to submit a lot of information about themselves: transcripts, GPAs, test scores, resumes, community service activities, and so on. There might even be a few essays and grade requirements thrown in as well. You don't want to complain—because, again, free money—but these applications sure are tedious when you're working on college apps, high school courses, and financial aid applications all at the same time.

The following easy scholarships have application processes that are a bit more manageable. Some ask you to write short essays, while others don't require any essays at all! The awards might not be as large as some other scholarships out there, but when the application process is so easy, you really don't have much to lose. I'll start off with some words of warning before getting into the good stuff: essay and no-essay scholarships that are so easy to apply for, you might end up applying to all of them!

Caveat: If a Scholarship Seems Too Good to Be True ...

Unfortunately, there aren't too many legitimate "easy" scholarships out there. If a scholarship application sounds too good to be true, be cautious—you don't want to fall victim to a scholarship scam!

Here are some things to look out for:

• A scholarship application that asks for personal information that isn't relevant to the award: Many top scholarship programs ask for personal information (transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, and even financial information for need-based scholarships); however, this info is all relevant to candidate evaluation. If you're ever uncomfortable providing personal info for a scholarship program, dig deeper. Can you verify that the program is legitimate? Does it have its own website, or can you only find info about it through a third party? Try Googling "[award name] scam" to see whether anything suspicious pops up.
• A scholarship that asks you to make payments to enter or win: Scholarship programs are in the business of giving money to students, not taking it. A scholarship program is likely just a scam if the application asks you to make a payment—especially if it asks you to enter credit card information.

Now that we've got that out of the way, it's time to get to the good stuff: all the best easy essay and non-essay scholarships and how to win them!

Essay Scholarships

The scholarships in this section ask students to submit short essays with their applications. Even though you'll have to write an essay, the rest of the application (and the essay itself) should be easy and manageable for all these awards. In fact, most of these applications shouldn't take more than one to two hours to complete.

Bachus & Schanker, LLC Scholarship

This scholarship program is a bit different from most of the other awards included in this post—it's funded by a private law firm in Colorado. Students compete for a $2,000 award by writing an essay (at least 800 words) about the 7th Amendment and how it affects their lives. Scholarships are awarded twice a year, to be paid toward tuition for the upcoming semester.

• Eligibility: High school seniors who have been accepted to a four-year university and university students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Deadline:  July 30 (to win a scholarship for the fall semester) and November 30 (to win a scholarship for the spring semester)

Courage to Grow Scholarship

This $500 award is given out to one lucky student every month. To compete for the award, applicants must explain in 250 words why they think they deserve the scholarship, intended to support students who found “courage to forge ahead when sometimes it would be easier to give up.” Past recipients’ essays have discussed overcoming obstacles from bullying to breast cancer.

• Eligibility: US high school juniors and seniors and college students with a minimum 2.5 GPA
• Deadline: Last day of every month 

Odenza Marketing Group Scholarship

Odenza Marketing Group gives away two $500 scholarships each year, once in the spring and again in the fall. To compete for this award, applicants must like the Odenza Facebook page and write two short essays of about 500 words each. Each scholarship must have a clear thesis statement, offer supporting evidence in paragraph format, and be grammatically correct. In other words, these essays should follow the argumentative essay format you've learned in English class.

• Eligibility: Current high school students (US or Canadian citizens) aged 16-25 or students who have at least one year of college remaining. Applicants must also have a minimum 2.5 GPA.
• Deadline March 30 for spring, November 15 for fall

Some of these applications won't take you longer than a few minutes.

No-Essay Scholarships

When it comes to easy applications, you can't get much easier than the following scholarship programs. You'll still have to submit some information about yourself (and, in some instances, complete some brief activities or tasks), but you won't have to write any essays to qualify.

AFSA High School Scholarship

For this scholarship, all you need to do is complete an entry form and answer an eight-question quiz. Five $1 ,000 awards are given out each year. Winners are randomly selected by a computer-generated drawing. Your odds of winning are based on the total number of entries received. Essentially, it’s a scholarship raffle, and you get one ticket per “draw.”

• Eligibility: Current high school seniors (US citizens or legal residents)
• Deadline: June 30, 2023

Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship

This scholarship has one of the easiest applications out there: just fill out a few questions, and you're done! A $1,000 scholarship is awarded every three months. Winners are selected randomly.

• Eligibility: Current high school, college, and graduate students studying in the US
• Deadline: The last day of every March, June, September, and December

The Annual Haiku Society of America Haiku Award in honor of Harold G. Henderson

This scholarship program gives out three prizes of $200, $150, and $100 , but the application process is fun and easy. Students qualify by simply writing and submitting up to five original haikus. If you win, your haiku also gets published in an anthology and on the HSA website! Note: There is a small fee to apply, but the site is indeed reputable.

• Eligibility: All students in grades 7-12
• Deadline: Open June 1 - July 31

"No Essay" College Scholarship

This $2,000 award is given out monthly. To apply for this scholarship, submit an application that includes basic identifying information, your GPA, and your SAT/ACT scores. Winners are randomly selected, and you can submit a new application every month.

• Eligibility: High school students, adults heading back to school, current college students, and anyone else looking to attend college or graduate school within the next year

Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest

Do you have a creative side and an eye for fashion? Students can compete for the grand prize of $10,000 (one each for the dress and tux categories) by designing and wearing prom outfits made out of duct tape. Check out the website for fun pictures of past winners!

Eight $500 prizes are given to runners-up (four for dresses and four for tuxes).  Applicants can enter as individuals or as part of a couple. Submissions that get the most votes win prizes, so be sure to recruit your friends to vote for you!

• Eligibility: High school students in the US and Canada (excluding certain states and territories—refer to the official rules for details)
• Deadline: The submission window is generally open from March through June, and winners are announced in July. Check the website for exact dates. 

U.S. Bank Student Union Scholarship

Multiple awards are available through this scholarship. To qualify, you'll need to create an account and complete learning modules about financial education. The more modules you complete, the more money you're eligible to earn. 

One first prize winner and one second prize winner are randomly selected during each of two entry periods. Winners can receive up to $20,000 , depending on how many learning modules they complete 

• Eligibility: Current US undergraduate students
• Deadline: Spring and fall of each year. Check website for more details.

Because College is Expensive Scholarship

This $500 scholarship is awarded to one student four times a year (March, June, September, and December) .If you want to enter, all you have to do is fill out the form on the Cedar Lending website.

• Eligibility : High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; current college students; anyone else looking to attend college or grad school
• Deadline : March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st. One winner is selected by the 15th of each month. 

3 Tips for Winning Easy Scholarships

Just because a scholarship is easy to apply for, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy to win. Since these scholarship applications are so simple to complete, you'll probably have a lot of competition. Here are some strategies to help you submit your best applications possible:

#1: If you have to write an essay, you'll have a better shot at success if your views align with those of the organization awarding the scholarship. To prepare, do some research about the company or charity's mission statement. For instance, don't write an essay about how much you love fossil fuels if the scholarship is offered by an environmental organization! 

#2: Make sure your application is polished. You won't have the opportunity to make more than a first impression (remember, these apps are short and sweet!), so double-check for any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors.

#3: Last but not least, be sure that your application is complete and on time!

What's Next?

These scholarships are excellent options if you want to churn out as many applications as possible. As you might've noticed, though, the award amounts are a bit underwhelming (though keep in mind that several smaller awards can be just as helpful as one big award!). Larger scholarships and grants are often available through colleges directly and applying for financial aid using the FAFSA .

You'll have to spend more time on your applications if you're gunning for a top scholarship, but the payoff can be more than worth it. To learn more about some of the best scholarships out there, check out our guides to the top scholarships for high school juniors and seniors .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Francesca graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and scored in the 99th percentile on the SATs. She's worked with many students on SAT prep and college counseling, and loves helping students capitalize on their strengths.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Scholarshipsowl

Top no-essay scholarships for easy application: unlock free college funding.

In an era where student loan debt is soaring to unprecedented levels, the quest for scholarships has become more critical than ever. One avenue that has gained popularity is the realm of “ no essay scholarships ” — a lifeline for students seeking quick and straightforward ways to fund their education without the hassle of lengthy essay submissions. This article explores the landscape of no-essay scholarships in 2023, shedding light on their significance, application process, and the impact they can have on alleviating the burden of rising college costs.

Table of Contents

Maximizing Success in No-Essay Scholarship Applications: A Strategic Approach

In the pursuit of no-essay scholarships, students often find themselves drawn to the allure of a streamlined application process, free from the burdensome task of essay writing. However, as the popularity of these scholarships grows, so does the competition. To navigate this landscape effectively and increase your chances of success, consider adopting a strategic approach outlined in the following key points:

1. Seek Competitions Over Randomized Drawings:

While the simplicity of no-essay scholarships is enticing, many operate as scholarship sweepstakes, offering a low probability of winning. To boost your chances, target opportunities that assess additional materials, such as videos, portfolios, or photographs submitted by applicants. This not only distinguishes you from the competition but also enhances your overall application.

2. Exercise Caution Against Scholarship Scams:

The convenience of no-essay scholarships makes them a hotspot for scammers. Before applying, ensure you’re not divulging personal information that could compromise your identity. Never agree to pay a fee for entering a scholarship competition. To navigate potential scams effectively, familiarize yourself with the red flags outlined in our guide on how to spot scholarship scams.

3. Persistence Pays Off:

Many no-essay scholarships, particularly those conducted through random drawings, announce monthly winners and reopen applications. To maximize your chances of securing a scholarship, make it a habit to revisit these opportunities each month and reapply. Persistence can be a key factor in turning the odds in your favor.

4. Explore Similar Scholarship Categories:

For those seeking to minimize essay-related commitments, exploring alternative scholarship categories is a wise strategy. Video scholarships and easy scholarships, although potentially requiring short essays, generally demand less time and effort than traditional applications. Diversifying your application portfolio across various categories broadens your opportunities.

5. Balance Your Scholarship Strategy:

While no-essay scholarships offer a convenient way to seek educational funding, it’s crucial not to over-rely on them. Diversify your scholarship strategy by exploring local scholarships facilitated by community organizations and high school counselors. A balanced approach increases your chances of securing funds from various sources.

6. Don’t Overlook Financial Aid Opportunities:

If you have demonstrated financial need, federal financial aid, including the Pell Grant, stands as an accessible and straightforward source of funds for your higher education journey. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on time is pivotal in gaining eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Don’t underestimate the power of financial aid as a significant contributor to your educational funding.

In adopting these strategic measures, students can approach no-essay scholarship applications with a well-rounded and informed perspective. By navigating the terrain intelligently, you position yourself for success in securing the financial assistance needed to pursue your academic aspirations.

The Student Loan Crisis

To appreciate the relevance of no-essay scholarships, it’s essential to understand the backdrop against which they operate. Student loan debt in the United States has reached staggering heights, approaching $1.6 trillion. This figure surpasses the nation’s credit card debt, making it a formidable financial challenge for students and graduates alike. By delving into the dynamics of the student loan crisis, we can better comprehend the urgency of alternative funding solutions such as no-essay scholarships.

The spiraling student loan debt has reached unprecedented levels, inching close to a daunting $1.6 trillion in the United States. This figure, surpassing even the colossal credit card debt, poses a formidable financial challenge for both current students and graduates. In the following sections, we will dissect the intricate layers of the student loan crisis, exploring its origins, current status, and the profound impact it has on individuals and society as a whole.

The Rising Costs of Education

The escalating costs of education, outpacing inflation, present a significant hurdle for aspiring students. Tuition at four-year public colleges has doubled since 1988, and federal grants, once a reliable source of support, now cover only 29% of the expenses at public colleges. The financial strain on students has led to a reliance on loans, with 69% of 2018 graduates shouldering an average debt of nearly $30,000. No-essay scholarships emerge as a beacon of hope in mitigating this financial burden.

As the costs of education continue to skyrocket, the financial burden on students has become more acute. Four-year public colleges, in particular, have witnessed a doubling of tuition since 1988, creating a considerable gap in funding. Federal grants, once considered a robust support system, now cover a mere 29% of the expenses associated with public college attendance. This dire financial landscape has forced 69% of the graduating class of 2018 to resort to loans, with the average graduate accumulating a staggering debt of almost $30,000.

Understanding No-Essay Scholarships

No-essay scholarships, as the name suggests, do not require applicants to submit lengthy essays. Instead, they often feature alternative application materials such as videos, pictures, or creative projects. Some scholarships, however, have no application requirements at all. This diversity makes them accessible to a wide range of students across different educational levels.

In the realm of scholarship applications, no-essay scholarships stand out as a unique and accessible option for students. Unlike their traditional counterparts, these scholarships do not demand lengthy essays. Instead, they embrace alternative methods of application, allowing students to showcase their skills and talents through videos, pictures, or creative projects. Moreover, some of these scholarships come with no application requirements whatsoever, simplifying the process even further and broadening their appeal across various educational levels.

Qualifications for No-Essay Scholarships

No-essay scholarships stand out for their simplicity and accessibility. Key qualifications include the absence of an essay requirement, open eligibility to various students, and a quick and straightforward application process. The broad eligibility criteria make these scholarships appealing to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, providing a versatile funding option for diverse educational pursuits.

The allure of no-essay scholarships lies in their simplicity and accessibility. These scholarships typically share common qualifications: the absence of an essay requirement, open eligibility to a wide range of students, and a streamlined application process. This makes them an attractive funding option for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students alike, offering a versatile solution to the financial challenges associated with pursuing diverse educational paths.

Why Choose No-Essay Scholarships?

The appeal of no-essay scholarships lies in their ease of application. With minimal time and effort required, busy students can apply to multiple scholarships, increasing their chances of securing much-needed financial assistance. While recognizing the value of traditional essay-based scholarships, the article emphasizes the practicality and efficiency of no-essay scholarships for students juggling academic responsibilities, extracurricular activities, and professional commitments.

Amidst the myriad of scholarship options, the attractiveness of no-essay scholarships is underscored by their straightforward application process. The minimal time and effort required make them a practical choice for busy students who are balancing academic commitments, extracurricular activities, and professional responsibilities. While acknowledging the merit of traditional essay-based scholarships, this article highlights the efficiency and accessibility of the no-essay alternative, positioning it as a pragmatic solution for those navigating the complexities of higher education.

Types of No-Essay Scholarships Available

A comprehensive overview of the various types of no-essay scholarships reveals the breadth of opportunities available to students. From scholarships that require just a few clicks to apply to those with creative elements like videos or photographs, the options cater to different preferences and skill sets. This section showcases the diversity within the realm of no-essay scholarships.

The world of no-essay scholarships is diverse, offering a spectrum of opportunities for students with varying interests and talents. Some scholarships require no more than a few clicks to apply, while others encourage creativity through videos, photographs, or other artistic expressions. This section aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the types of no-essay scholarships available, emphasizing their flexibility and inclusivity.

Finding No-Essay Scholarships: The Bold.org Platform

Navigating the landscape of no-essay scholarships becomes more accessible with platforms like Bold.org. This section provides insights into how students can utilize Bold.org to create a profile, match with relevant scholarships, and filter opportunities based on interests, characteristics, and educational levels. The platform’s role in simplifying the scholarship search is highlighted, empowering students to discover tailored funding options.

In the digital age, platforms like Bold.org have emerged as valuable tools for navigating the landscape of no-essay scholarships. This section delves into the functionalities of Bold.org, offering insights on how students can leverage the platform to their advantage. From creating a personalized profile to matching with relevant scholarships and filtering opportunities based on individual characteristics, interests, and educational levels, Bold.org is pivotal in simplifying the scholarship search. By empowering students with tailored funding options, these platforms contribute to a more efficient and effective scholarship application process.

When to Start Applying for No-Essay Scholarships

Timing is crucial when it comes to scholarship applications. While students can start applying at any point in high school, the article encourages early engagement, particularly for high school juniors and seniors. Insightful tips guide readers on when and how to initiate their scholarship journey, emphasizing the importance of starting early to maximize opportunities.

The optimal timing for initiating the application process for no-essay scholarships is a key consideration. While the flexibility exists for students to begin their application journey at any point during high school, this section encourages early engagement. Insightful tips are provided, guiding readers on when and how to embark on their scholarship journey. Emphasis is placed on the importance of starting early to maximize opportunities, ensuring that students are well-positioned to navigate the competitive landscape of scholarships.

Tips for Winning No-Essay Scholarships

While no-essay scholarships offer a streamlined application process, standing out among applicants remains essential. This section provides actionable tips for increasing the likelihood of winning scholarships, including seeking out more restrictive scholarships, applying early and frequently, and making one’s profile unique to leave a lasting impression.

The streamlined nature of no-essay scholarships doesn’t diminish the importance of standing out among applicants. In this section, readers will find actionable tips to enhance their chances of securing these scholarships. Strategies such as seeking out more restrictive scholarships, applying early and frequently, and crafting a unique profile to leave a lasting impression are explored. By providing practical advice, this section equips students with the tools needed to navigate the competitive landscape and emerge successful in their pursuit of no-essay scholarships.

Frequently Asked Questions about No-Essay Scholarships

Addressing common concerns and inquiries, this section provides clarity on the legitimacy of no-essay scholarships, strategies for improving the chances of winning, the number of scholarships one can attain, tax implications, application numbers, and the existence of GPA requirements. By dispelling doubts and providing comprehensive answers, the article aims to empower readers with the knowledge needed to navigate the world of no-essay scholarships confidently.

As students explore the landscape of no-essay scholarships, they inevitably encounter questions and concerns. This section serves as a comprehensive guide, addressing common inquiries and dispelling doubts. Topics covered include the legitimacy of no-essay scholarships, strategies for optimizing success, the potential number of scholarships one can attain, tax implications, application numbers, and the presence (or absence) of GPA requirements. By providing thorough and accurate information, this section empowers readers to navigate the world of no-essay scholarships with confidence and clarity.

Understanding the Landscape of Student Loan Debt

Delving deeper into the overarching issue, the article explores the factors contributing to the surge in student loan debt. Rising tuition rates, outpacing wage growth, and the changing dynamics of financing education are examined. By understanding the root causes, readers gain a more profound insight into the urgency of seeking alternative funding avenues.

The pervasive issue of student loan debt demands a closer examination of its contributing factors. In this section, readers are guided through an exploration of the dynamics that have fueled the surge in student loan debt. The escalating tuition rates, which have outpaced wage growth, coupled with the evolving dynamics of financing education, are dissected to provide a comprehensive understanding. By unraveling the root causes, readers gain a more profound insight into the urgency of exploring alternative funding avenues.

Disparities in Student Loan Distribution

Student loan debt is not distributed evenly across demographics, giving rise to racial and gender-based gaps. The average debt differs between white and Black borrowers, and women, despite constituting a majority of college students, bear a disproportionate amount of student debt. This section explores the implications of these disparities and highlights the importance of scholarships tailored to disadvantaged groups.

The burden of student loan debt is not borne evenly across demographics, leading to pronounced racial and gender-based disparities. This section delves into the disparities in average debt between white and Black borrowers. It also addresses the disproportionate amount of student debt carried by women, who, despite constituting a majority of college students, face unique challenges. The implications of these disparities are examined, underscoring the importance of scholarships specifically tailored to address the financial challenges faced by disadvantaged groups.

Connecting the Dots: Scholarships for Underrepresented Groups

Bringing the narrative full circle, this section reinforces the significance of scholarships designed for racial minorities, first-generation students, women, and other underserved groups. By showcasing the scholarships available on Bold.org and similar platforms, the article underscores the role of targeted financial support in addressing disparities in student loan debt.

In the final section, the article brings the narrative full circle, emphasizing the pivotal role of scholarships tailored for underrepresented groups. Racial minorities, first-generation students, women, and other underserved demographics are highlighted, and the article showcases specific scholarships available on Bold.org and similar platforms. By illuminating the existence of targeted financial support, the article underscores the potential for scholarships to address and mitigate the disparities in student loan debt faced by marginalized and underrepresented groups. Embark on your scholarship journey with confidence!

Explore a plethora of opportunities at Scholarshipsowl.com, where educational dreams come to life. Maximize your chances of success by applying strategic tips and discovering a diverse range of scholarships tailored to your unique strengths. Don’t let financial barriers hinder your path to education—visit http://scholarshipsowl.com/ today and seize the opportunity to shape your academic destiny! Your future begins with the right scholarship, and Scholarshipsowl.com is here to guide you every step of the way. Start your scholarship adventure now!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Login or sign up to be automatically entered into our next $10,000 scholarship giveaway

Get Searching

• College Search
• College Search Map
• Graduate Programs
• Featured Colleges
• Scholarship Search
• Lists & Rankings

Articles & Advice

• Ask the Experts
• Campus Visits
• Catholic Colleges and Universities
• Christian Colleges and Universities
• College Admission
• College Athletics
• College Diversity
• Counselors and Consultants
• Education and Teaching
• Financial Aid
• Graduate School
• Health and Medicine
• International Students
• Internships and Careers
• Majors and Academics
• Performing and Visual Arts
• Public Colleges and Universities
• Science and Engineering
• Student Life
• Transfer Students
• Why CollegeXpress
• $10,000 Scholarship
• CollegeXpress Store
• Corporate Website
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• CA and EU Privacy Policy

Articles & Advice > Financial Aid > Blog

Easy No-Essay Scholarships You Need to Know About Right Now

Essay requirements may prevent you from applying for a lot of scholarships. But these no-essay options can help you win some easy money for college!

by Kelli Dolan Senior Assistant Editor, CollegeXpress

Last Updated: Feb 12, 2024

Originally Posted: Feb 4, 2020

Many scholarships feature long-winded essay questions, and it’s often hard to know where to start. And maybe you just aren’t an essay writer. That doesn’t mean you should lose out on great opportunities for college scholarships. With a little digging around online, you can find great no-essay scholarships that are not only easy to apply for but often fun to do too. These quick and easy contests will have bigger applicant pools and may be harder to win, but somebody has to—and you can’t win if you don’t apply!

Check out the ones below to start and continue to do your own research to find even more no-essay scholarships that could be hiding in all corners of the internet. Before applying to anything, make sure you read all the rules and policies for each scholarship using the links provided!

Register for a website

All of these scholarships just require you to register for a website, and most of them are popular college search sites, so you can get some extra college research done while you’re there.

CollegeXpress $10,00 Scholarship Contest and Monthly Refer-a-Friend Scholarship

If you’re reading this blog, there’s a good chance you already have a CollegeXpress account. Did you know that means you’re automatically entered to win our annual $10,000 scholarship? If you’re not registered, sign up now! It only takes a few minutes and it’s totally free. Once you’re done registering, be sure to tell some friends to do the same. We’ll give you a unique code to share, and for every person who uses your code to create a CollegeXpress account, you’ll gain an entry to win our $250 Refer-a-Friend monthly drawing! If you don’t win this month, there’s always another chance next month. (And you can win this one multiple times!)

Amount: $10,000; $250 Awarded: Annually; monthly Deadline: May 1; last day of each month Check out our  $10,000 Scholarship  and  Refer-a-Friend Scholarship .

Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship

Monthly $1,000 scholarships? Sign us up! No, literally—just sign up and you’re entered for Cappex’s monthly giveaway. In a few short minutes, you’ll be on to your next scholarship.

Amount:  $1,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the  Easy College Money Scholarship .

Encourage for Students Sweepstakes

Like everyone else, My College Options and myOptions Encourage offer a monthly scholarship that only requires registering on their website to apply. The winner will be selected randomly, and there's no minimum GPA requirement—although they do still ask you to report it. 

Amount: $500 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the Encourage for Students Sweepstakes .

No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship

With Scholarship Owl, creating an account helps you apply to a lot of scholarships all with a single form. So create an account for the No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship and you won’t need to do a bunch of extra work to apply for more! 

Amount: $1,000 each to four winners (six winners in December) Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship .

NextStepU Free College Tuition Giveaway

Register. Register. Register. Just make sure you check the eligibility period and select the opt-in option that says “Win Free Tuition” for the sweepstakes. No essay, no minimum GPA—it's the easiest scholarship you'll apply for!

Amount:  $2,500 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: End of February Check out the NextStepU Free College Tuition Giveaway .

No Essay College Scholarship™

This scholarship from Niche has “no essay” right in the name! Admittedly, this one requires a smidge more work than just registering. But logging in monthly for a chance to win every month is a small task for the cash.

Amount:  $2,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the No Essay College Scholarship™ .

Christian College EDGE Scholarship & Christian College Scholarship Drawing

If you’re interested in Christian colleges and universities , do a quick registration on this website for a chance to win $1,000 and learn about great colleges that share your faith. If you end up deciding on a Christian college, for a chance to win even more money, fill out their “Christian College Connector” registration to be entered in their $5,000 giveaway.

Amount: $1,000; $5,000 Awarded:  Annually (both) Deadline: May 31 (both) Check out the EDGE Scholarship and  Christian College Scholarship Drawing .

Ascent Shining Stars Scholarship

Register on Ascent’s website to make an account, follow them on any one of their social media platforms, tag them in a comment with #AscentSponsored, and you’re done. This is a breeze because you’re probably already scrolling through social media anyway.

Amount: $1,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline: First of the month  Check out the  Ascent Scholarship Sweepstakes .

Sallie Mae ®  $1,000 Plan for College Sweepstakes

You’re already throwing out registrations left and right. What’s one more? This one could even lead you to more scholarships because to be entered, you have to register for the Sallie Mae scholarship search tool.

Amount:  $1,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the  Plan for College Sweepstakes .

Barbizon’s $100,000 College Tuition Scholarship

Barbizon Modeling and Acting awards $100,000 to one lucky winner to make their college dreams a reality. Applicants have a full two years to get entries every time the new scholarship cycle opens. The most recent cycle opened in January of 2023 and will be closing in December of 2024, with winners announced sometime the following year. All students have to do to enter is complete the application, and the winner will be chosen by random drawing. 

Amount:  $100,000 Awarded:  Once every four years Deadline:  December 31, 2024 Check out the College Tuition Scholarship .

CampusReel Student-Led Virtual Tours Scholarship

CampusReel is all about encouraging students to get to know schools through campus tours, even if they can't make it to campus in person. Applicants just have to make a free account on CampusReel's website and watch one student-led virtual tour to enter. This easy opportunity is a win-win! 

Amount:  $2,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline:  December 31 Check out the CampusReel Student-Led Virtual Tours Scholarship .

keep going forward No-Essay Scholarships

The organization keepgoingforward.org offers three scholarships throughout the year with no set requirements for grade level or academic field. In fact, one of the scholarships doesn't even require applicants to be current students, as long as they are applying for the money with the intent to move forward with something new in life. And they partner with Bold.org—so if you already have an account, you're one step ahead on applying!

Amount:  $1,500 Awarded:  Annually Deadline:  April 28, August 31, October 30 Check out the keep going forward No-Essay Scholarships .

Use your words (but very few)

We said no essays; we never said no words. But have no fear, because these scholarships require very few words and quick answers to easy questions.

CollegeXpress Monthly Mini Scholarships

We're giving away free scholarship money every month! These scholarship contests are super easy to enter—just create a free CollegeXpress account and answer our featured question in one word or sentence. (We're talking stuff like “What’s your favorite color?” with no wrong answer!) Both new and current users are eligible—all you have to do is log back in with the specified link to enter as a returning user.

Amount: Varies Awarded: Monthly Deadline: Last day of the month Check out our latest  monthly scholarship opportunity .

CollegeXpress Scholarship for Students of Color

If you're a POC student who's planning to enroll in college in the fall, you're eligible for this scholarship. To apply, all you have to do is have a CX account and submit your answer to this question in just one sentence: What is your dream career to pursue after high school? Winners are chosen randomly every quarter of the year, and you get to choose a charity to benefit as well!

Amount: $1,500, plus $500 donated to a charity of your choice Awarded: Quarterly Deadline:  March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31 Check out the  CollegeXpress Scholarship for Students of Color .

10 Words or Less Scholarship

You can swing 10 words. All you have to do is tell them why you think you deserve the scholarship in 10 words or fewer. It’s as easy as posting a Facebook comment (which is exactly how you enter). Leave a comment, give them a like on their Facebook page, and you’re in!

Amount: $1,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: April 15 Check out the  10 Words or Less Scholarship .

School Survey Sweepstakes

Another one that requires a bit of writing, but it’s certainly no essay. You can be entered into Niche’s monthly $1,000 giveaway just by leaving them a review about your high school.

Amount:  $1,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the  School Survey Sweepstakes .

HeadSetPlus.com College Scholarship

This scholarship is great because instead of writing an essay, you just get to talk about yourself. Record a short five-minute video talking about yourself, your achievements, why college is important to you, and what motivates you. As long as you’re authentic, you could be a shoo-in for this one.

Amount:  $1,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: December 31 Check out the HeadSetPlus.com College Scholarship .

Use your creativity

Are you better with visuals than you are with words? Well, these scholarships are looking for that creative energy!

Doodle for Google

This is Google we’re talking about, so you know they’ve got big bucks. Not only is this an opportunity to win $55,000 for school, but the winning doodle will be featured on Google for a day and they will donate $50,000 to your school or a charity in your honor! And even if you don’t win the big money, you still have a chance at one of the $5,000 runner-up scholarships.

Amount: Up to $55,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: March 14, 2024 (Always early-to-mid March) Check out the  Doodle for Google contest .

Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest

If doodling for Google didn’t expend all your creative juices, you can also create a greeting card. Take photographs for it. Design it with artwork. The creative medium is up to you, and the general public votes on the winner in the early rounds, so rally your friends and family to help you with this one.

Amount:  $10,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: March 1, 2024 (Always beginning of March) Check out the  Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest .

DoSomething.org Easy Scholarships

DoSomething doesn’t have just one easy scholarship—they have a ton! Most of them are creative and require you to make some sort of impact on others, whether big or small. Get your task, complete it, and send in a picture for proof for a chance to be their randomly chosen winner! Then rinse and repeat for their other tasks with coordinating scholarships.

Amount:  Up to $22,000 Awarded:  Varies Deadline:  Varies Check out all of  DoSomething.org's easy scholarships .

Answer some questions

Sometimes websites just want people to fill out their surveys, and they’ll give you money for school just to do it. Or maybe the organization wants you to learn about something that they do. Either way, these scholarships just require answering a few questions to enter.

The $1,000 SuperCollege Scholarship

What’s easier than answering questions about yourself? Fill out an application and tell SuperCollege what you’re going to school for and other academic-related questions, hit submit, and you’re done.

Amount:  $1,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the  $1,000 SuperCollege Scholarship .

Nitro Monthly Scholarship

Nitro is another college search website that gives away annual scholarships to students monthly. Just complete a short entry form with info including which college you’ll be attending and when you anticipate graduating. This application even allows parents to enter for their children. As long as you're 17 years old, you should apply to this one now! 

Amount:  $2,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out Nitro's Monthly Scholarship .

Student-View Scholarship

This one skips the application process and gets right to the questions. Fill out their survey to get entered into their random drawing. The big winner gets $10,000, and if that’s not you, you could still be one of two $1,000 winners or one of five $500 winners.

Amount: Up to $10,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: April 23, 2024 Check out the  Student-View Scholarship .

ScholarshipPoints Scholarship Giveaways

As you complete surveys, play games, and read emails from ScholarshipPoints, you’ll gain points. Use the points to enter their scholarship drawings; the more you have, the better your chances of winning. In addition to the points, you could potentially win their monthly and quarterly random winner giveaways just for being a registered user.

Amount: $10,000; $2,500 Awarded:  Quarterly; monthly Deadline:  June; last day of each month Check out the  $10,000 and $2,500 scholarships .

While this may be a long list of easy no-essay scholarships, there could be even more on the internet that we didn’t find, so keep doing your research (and let us know if we missed any on Twitter @CollegeXpress ). You can also check out our  Ultimate List of Easy Scholarships .

Thirsty for more? Use our Scholarship Search tool  to find other scholarships you’re qualified for!

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Tags: college scholarships easy scholarships money for college no essay scholarships paying for college scholarship opportunities scholarships

← Previous Post

Next Post →

About Kelli Dolan

Kelli Dolan is the Senior Assistant Editor & Counselor Communications Coordinator for CollegeXpress. Her day-to-day includes editing and writing CollegeXpress articles, running the CollegeXpress Counselors social media platforms, and basically just doing all things CollegeXpress. When she’s not editing other people’s work, she's writing for fun, favoring fiction stories and poetry. You could also potentially find her reading, playing video games, or hanging out with her dog, Athena; cat, Apollo; and red bearded dragon, Freya.

Join our community of over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Student, Campbell University; CollegeXpress Student Writer

I discovered CollegeXpress while embarking on my college search journey as an excited—but scared and way confused—high schooler without a counselor or college-bound sibling to give me advice. Let me tell you, I’m so glad that I stumbled on this community! CollegeXpress helped me find potential colleges and keep application deadlines straight. It gave me a great list of scholarships, and the blogs and emails made me feel like I wasn’t going it alone. Almost three years later and with freshman year of college down, I still love the CollegeXpress vibe so much that I’m writing for them. I’d recommend this site to anyone!

Abhishek Kumar

High School Class of 2022

As a high schooler, I know how hard it is to plan for college. You have to consider a lot of factors: SAT/ACT scores, college searches, scholarships, and more. CollegeXpress has been a helpful resource that solves all these problems. One can easily create a free account and search away. They help you search for scholarships and colleges, they have graduate program search, they have lists and rankings, and so much more. CX also has a lot of articles and advice to read—whether it’s financial aid, test prep, campus visits, internships/careers, or anything. Not only that, CX gives out free scholarship money to students who sign up and create a free CX account. I love CX and will continue to use it! Thank you CollegeXpress for making my college journey easier!

Maurice Whan

$2,000 Spring Scholarship Contest Winner, 2021

This year has been tough for my family and myself, so receiving this scholarship has been a blessing in disguise! CollegeXpress has been an excellent resource in helping me prepare financially for college. Thank you again for this amazing opportunity!

High School Class of 2023

Being a sophomore in high school, I never really worried about college. I thought it wasn't important to worry about until senior year. Through this program opportunity I came across, I realized how important it is to start looking at colleges early and start planning ahead. CollegeXpress has opened my eyes to what colleges require, what colleges are near me, and what they offer. The daily emails I get from CollegeXpress really help me look at the different options I have and what colleges I fit into. Without this website, I would not be taking the time out of my day to worry about what my future will be nor what opportunities I have. I could not be more grateful for such an amazing and useful website. It's thanks to CollegeXpress that not only me but my family now know how much potential I have in to getting into these colleges/universities that we thought were out of my reach.

Alexandra Adriano

$2,000 Community Service Scholarship Winner, 2016

I've used CollegeXpress quite a bit as a senior, particularly for colleges and scholarships, so it's been a very big asset in that respect! I would recommend it to anyone looking to pursue a college education, especially seniors! This scholarship will help me achieve my goals in ways I couldn't have before, and I know that there are opportunities like that for everyone on the website and in the magazines!

Colleges You May Be Interested In

Meredith College

Raleigh, NC

Manhattanville University

Purchase, NY

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY

Alfred University

Personalize your experience on CollegeXpress.

With this information, we'll do our best to display content relevant to your interests. By subscribing, you agree to receive CollegeXpress emails and to make your information available to colleges and universities, scholarship programs, and other companies that have relevant/related offers.

Already have an account?

Log in to be directly connected to

Not a CollegeXpress user?

Don't want to register.

Provide your information below to connect with

18 Essay-Free Scholarships to Apply for in 2020-2021

Scholarships are a fantastic way to save money on your college tuition and avoid taking on too much  student debt. But, let’s face it, the process of applying for scholarships can be time-consuming and, sometimes you just want something a little easier.

The good news is that easy scholarships–in particular, scholarships without essays–do exist. Some require as little effort as simply entering your name and email address (a scholarship “sweepstakes”), while other scholarships without essays require you to submit something else (like a short video, social media post, or illustration) rather than an essay. These second group of scholarships rewards effort and creativity. 

Avoiding Scholarship Scams

5 sweepstakes-style scholarships with no essays, 3 easy scholarships with short answers, 10 creative, essay-free scholarships, ready to apply for your own scholarships without essays, it’s important to keep in mind two things about the easiest scholarships without essays:.

• Your chances of winning a scholarship award are much lower than with traditional scholarships. This is because often way more people apply for these easier scholarships. 
• You run the risk of being spammed with loads of emails. In fact, many scholarship sweepstakes are created with the sole idea of getting your email address in mind. We therefore recommend using easy scholarship sweepstakes as a secondary option for paying for college. Consider using the majority of your time applying for scholarships with essays that you find on reputable scholarship sites.

And if you’re mostly worried about saving time, consider using Going Merry to apply for scholarship bundles , which combine multiple scholarships with the same essay prompts into one application. Sign up for Going Merry today to begin applying.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some easy, no essay scholarships are actually scams.  Follow the tips below to avoid getting scammed.

Scam Tip #1: Say “No” to Upfront Fees!

A scholarship shouldn’t cost anything at all to apply for (except postage). Be wary of any company or scholarship provider who requires you to pay an upfront fee in order to apply. Chances are they have nothing to offer you!

Scam Tip #2: Do The Paperwork Yourself

Some scammers will try and lure you in by telling you that they’ll take care of all the scholarship paperwork for you, including answering all the questions. You can just sit back, relax, and wait for the money to start rolling in. It almost seems too good to be true, doesn’t it? We hate to break it to you, but that’s because it is. Doing your own applications will save you loads of trouble!

(Psst – You can, however, save on some of the paperwork and the repetitive form filling by using Going Merry , which auto-fills your scholarship forms with information from your profile. You’ll still need to answer any scholarship application-specific questions yourself though!)

Scam Tip #3: Guaranteed Scholarships Don’t Exist

If scholarships were guaranteed, student loans would be a thing of the past. Avoid any company claiming to offer you a guaranteed scholarship. It’s a guaranteed scam.

Scam Tip #4: Avoid Dodgy Offers

If you receive an email from an unknown and unprofessional-looking company claiming to offer an amazing scholarship if you enter personal information on their site, it’s best to avoid it. If you’re unsure, simply do a quick Google Search and see if others have reported it as a scam before , and talk to your guidance counselor to see if he or she has information or experience working with the company.

Scam Tip #5: Do Your Research!

Doing a quick search (on Google or snopes.com ) can save you tons of trouble in the end.  Unfortunately, easy scholarships are too good to be true a lot of the time.

Get matched to scholarships

See how much money you qualify for. Personalized matches . Click below to get started.

Match me to scholarships

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here’s our list of 27 scholarships without essays:

These are scholarships that require almost no effort.

1. Going Merry Seasonal Scholarships ( Spring, Summer )

Amount: $1000 per year (one $250 winner each season)

Provider : Going Merry

When you create a free profile on Going Merry, you’re automatically matched with thousands of scholarship opportunities, including the Going Merry No Essay Scholarship, offered four times a year in the Spring , Summer , Fall , and Winter . Simply click “Start application,” and then “Submit application” to apply. It’s that easy!

Bonus: When you first register, we’ll prompt you to apply for our bundle of four no-essay, seasonal scholarships for the next year. This way, you won’t even have to think about submitting a new application each season. It’s our way of welcoming you to our platform! Sign up today to take advantage.

2. Christian College Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

Provider: The Christian Connector Inc

If you’re planning on attending a two- or four-year Christian college, you’re eligible to enter the drawing for this $2,500 Christian College Scholarship . Simply fill out a short online survey and you’re good to go!

Loving these scholarships, but need help applying for your government financial aid? We can help you fill out your FAFSA and state aid.

3. AFSA High School Senior Contest

Amount: $2,000

Provider: AFSA Scholarships

If you’re ready for an extra $2,000, simply fill out the online entry form on the AFSA website and be registered to win one of 10 prizes. The AFSA High School Senior Contest is open to high school seniors during the school year and deadlines change on a yearly basis, so head to the scholarship website for the most up-to-date information.

4. AFSA Second Chance Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

If you didn’t have the luck of winning the AFSA High School Senior Contest, try your luck again after graduation with the AFSA Second Chance Scholarship . This $1,000 award is awarded to five high school graduates during the summer months. Deadlines change on a yearly basis, so check out the scholarship website for the most up-to-date information.

5. Scholarship4Moms

Amount: $10,000

Provider: Scholarships4Moms

The Scholarship4Moms scholarship and its organization was created by a group of mothers who wanted to help bring financial relief to moms who are seeking to further their education. Simply register with your first name, last name, and phone number, and you’ll be entered to win!

Want more scholarships? Get 20 new scholarships delivered to your inbox each week.

These are scholarships that don’t require essays (you know, those longer 500-word type ordeals), but  do  require you to answer a few questions or to write a short piece (e.g. letter, caption, tweet).

6. C.I.P. Scholarship

Provider: College is Power

While the C.I.P Scholarship technically has an essay, it’s only a short 150 words, so we’re adding it in! To apply, just fill out the super short application form and write a mini-essay about the goals you have for your university education.

7. $5,000 Course Hero Scholarships

Amount: $5,000

Provider: Course Hero

In order to win one of the $5,000 Course Hero Scholarships , simply answer a short prompt in 150 words or less, such as “How do you prepare and study to feel confident for your final exams?” If you have more than one college class you’d like to review, you can improve your chances by leaving as many reviews as you’d like!

8. The Customized Girl Annual Scholarship

Provider: Customized Girl

Amount: $500

Submit: An Instagram post

Customized Girl prints bold statements on customized shirts. Naturally, they know an eye-catching quote when they see one. To apply to the Customized Girl Annual Scholarship , post your statement as a caption on Instagram to be chosen as one of two winners, and your statement may be featured on a customized shirt! Check out past winners on the scholarship page for inspiration.

These are scholarships that require you to submit videos, drawings, business plans, etc. instead of essays. Get creative!

9. Two Ten Higher Education Footwear Design Scholarship

Provider: Two Ten Footwear Foundation

Amount: Up to $3,000

Submit: Three design drawings

Sneakerheads can show-off their inner hypebeast/hypebae for th e Two Ten Higher Education Footwear Design Scholarship ! Students studying design with a focus on footwear are encouraged to apply. Provide three design drawings from your portfolio for consideration.

10. MUD Makeup Scholarship

Provider: Beauty Changes Lives, Make-up Designory (MUD)

Submit: A video, a storyboard, or an essay

This glam scholarship allows you to avoid an essay by providing submission options! Students pursuing beauty and wellness careers can apply to win one of 5 prizes from Make-up Designory (MUD). You can ignore the essay and choose between a video or storyboard submission. For the MUD Makeup Scholarship , you need to be a student attending an accredited Cosmetology and/or esthetics school with MUD makeup in their program.

11. Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship

Provider: The Gallery Collection

Amount: $10,000 (+$1,000 prize for the school)

Submit: An original photo, art, work, or graphic design

If you have a knack for art and sentiment, apply for the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship with your original art. You can use all art forms. Just upload an example as a JPEG (.jpg) for the application. Students 14 years or older are eligible to send their ideas.

12. Axon Optic’s ‘Migraine Story’ Scholarship

Provider: Axon Optics

Submit: A video, an image, or an essay

Share your story of dealing with migraines or light sensitivity. All full-time students of accredited two- or four-year American universities may apply. Choose from a video (less than 1 minute in length) or an image (photo, drawing, etc.). To qualify for the Axon Optic’s ‘Migraine Story’ Scholarship , the submission must be posted on at least one of the following social media platforms: YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

13. #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship

Provider: U.S. Higher Education (Led by Temple University)

Amount: At least 50% of tuitio n

Submit: A video or an essay

First-year international students at participating American universities can cut down the cost of education with the #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship . The #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign gained nationwide support in creating a scholarship awarding two students per university. The video submission must express ideas of advancing intercultural learning. Check the list of participating universities on the campaign’s scholarship page .

14. “Create Real Impact” Contest

Provider: Impact Teen Drivers

Amount: $500- $1,50 0

Submit: A video, music, creative writing, or graphic design

Students between 14-22 years old may apply to the “Create Real Impact” Contest . The contest seeks original work about a solution and strategy regarding reckless and distracted driving. Choose either video, music, creative writing, or artwork. There are many submission options and contest categories, so make sure to visit the scholarship page for details!

15. GoSkills Scholarship

Provider: GoSkills

Submit: An application and business plan

Calling future girl bosses: Here is your time to debut your online business ambitions. The GoSkills Scholarship (Fall) and (Spring) is open to female high school and college students. There are open-ended questions on the application, but it’s more like a friendly conversation. The questions ask you about your concerns and your role models. Besides the application, you need to provide a link to your business plan (GoSkills provides instructions for your business plan right above the area for the link). Try your hand at mapping a business plan to be your own boss in the future.

16. GloFX Scholarship

Provider: GloFX

Submit: A 3-minute video, a PowerPoint, a PDF,  your own creative measure, or an essay

GloFX wants to hear from students like you with your own creative project. Simply answer their prompt in the format of your choice. The prompt: “Every person has failed at some point in his or her life, and dealing with the outcome is rarely an enjoyable experience. However, failure is how we learn, and it allows us to see our mistakes and make changes. Describe a time in your life you tried your best and still failed. How did this shape your thinking moving forward?” The GloFX Scholarship encourages applicants to post the project on their own social media accounts (this is optional, not required). Applicants must be a current or incoming student at a university in the United States.

17. Live Bearded Academic Scholarship

Provider: Live Bearded

Submit: A video

The Live Bearded team is focused on lending a hand to those building their future through higher education. While the company Live Bearded focuses on grooming products for men, their Live Bearded Academic Scholarship opportunity is open to males, females, high school students, college students, undergraduate, and graduate students. Send a 90-second video sharing your goals, facts about yourself, and why you deserve the scholarship. Upload your video to a social media platform, fill out your application with a link to your video, and you’re good to go!

18. HeadSetPlus.Com College Scholarship

Provider: HeadSetPlus.Com

HeadSetPlus.Com wants to help you pay for college with the HeadSetPlus.Com College Scholarship …no essay needed! Be creative and create a video with a maximum length of five minutes detailing why you deserve the scholarship and what inspired you to pursue a degree in your field.

You can find and apply for scholarships without essays right on our website. You can request letters of recommendation, upload your resume, and apply for scholarships. Sign up for free today .

• Recent Posts

• 7 Outstanding Oregon Scholarships for 2021 - November 6, 2020
• Great Scholarships for Students in Ohio for 2021 - November 4, 2020
• 38 Weird Scholarships for Unique Students in 2023 - August 2, 2020

Ready to find scholarships that are a match for you?

15 No Essay Scholarships Worth $50,000+

Scholarship Spotlight

Applying for scholarships can be time-consuming, especially when you have to write lengthy essays to enter contests for small awards. But it doesn’t have to be! These easy-to-apply scholarships do not require an essay, and many can be completed in just a few minutes.

“No Essay” College Scholarship

Niche.com, an online school ranking and review site, offers the “No Essay” College Scholarship, a $2,000 scholarship awarded on a monthly basis. 

Application Deadline: Last day of every month

Scholarship Amount: $2,000

Eligibility:

• Must be at least 18 years of age, or at least 13 years of age with a parent or guardian’s consent and supervision
• Must currently attend, or enroll within the next 12 months in, a high school or college listed on niche.com, or be the parent of a student who falls into one of those categories
• Must have a valid U.S. Social Security Number
• Must submit a complete and accurate survey (inaccurate or incomplete survey responses will result in permanent disqualification from scholarship consideration)
• One entry allowed per person/email address/household

How to Apply: Interested students may submit an application online through niche.com, or by submitting a mail-in entry.

$2,000 Nitro Scholarship

Nitro, a website that provides resources and advice relating to student finances, offers a monthly $2,000 scholarship open to current and soon-to-be college students or their parents. The scholarship is offered once per calendar month, with applications due on the final day of each month.

Eligibility: 

• Must be at least 17 years of age at the time of entry
• Must be a legal resident of the United States
• A parent who currently has a child enrolled in an accredited college or university located within the United States;
• A student who is currently enrolled in an accredited college or university located within the United States;
• A parent who currently has a child enrolled as a high school senior located within the United States;
• A student who is currently enrolled as a high school junior or senior who intends to enroll in an accredited college or university located with the United States, within a year of graduating high school (“Entrant”).

How to Apply: Interested students must submit an online application.

The Debt.com Scholarship For Aggressive Scholarship Applicants

Apply for as many other scholarships as you can, and send in the confirmation emails that you’ve applied. Then, write a short letter telling Debt.com about yourself to enter for a chance to win $500. Submit your application in the online application form.

Application Deadline: July 15

Scholarship Amount: $ 500

How to Apply: Interested students must submit an application online.

$1,000 College Survey Scholarship

Online school ranking and review site Niche.com offers the $1,000 College Survey Scholarship. This scholarship is a monthly sweepstakes scholarship, which requires current students to take a short survey on their experience at their college in order to enter the sweepstakes.

Scholarship Amount: $1,000

• Open to all current college undergraduate or graduate students, and college undergraduate or graduate alumni who graduated within the last four years.
• You must be either: (1) at least eighteen (18) years of age or older (except in the case of legal residents of certain states or commonwealths where the legal age of majority is greater than eighteen (18) years of age, then such legal age of majority) at the time of entry; or (2) at least thirteen (13) years of age at the time of entry and have a parent’s or legal guardian’s consent and supervision to use Niche.com and enter this Sweepstakes.
• Must take a survey on an existing college listed on niche.com.
• Attempts to submit incomplete or inaccurate survey responses will result in permanent disqualification from the scholarship contest and all future contests.
• One (1) entry allowed per person/email address/household. A new winner will be chosen every sweepstakes period. Entries are only valid for the sweepstakes period that they are submitted.

How to Apply: Interested students and alumni must take a survey about their college experience on Niche.com. 

Frame My Future Scholarship Contest

Church Hill Classics, a diploma framing company, runs the annual Frame My Future Scholarship Contest. Applicants may participate by submitting a video, Instagram reel, or TikTok expressing what YOU hope to achieve in your personal and professional life after college.

Application Deadline: March 15

Award Amount: $2,000

• Intend to enroll as a full-time student at a U.S. college or university in the 2024-2025 academic year.
• Be a legal resident of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, including APO/FPO addresses (excluding Puerto Rico and other U.S. Territories).
• Not be employed by Church Hill Classics. Employees of Church Hill Classics/diplomaframe.com, its parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies, advertising and promotion agencies, website providers or other parties involved in any aspect with the creation, production, operation, execution, and fulfillment of the Contest and their immediate family members (parents, siblings, children, and spouse) and/or those living in the same household (whether related or not) are not eligible to win.
• Be a success-driven student looking to achieve your dreams!

How to apply: Church Hill Classics is looking for 30-second video pitches from success-driven students who are passionate about their future pursuits. Upload your video and entry information for a chance to win.

Project Yellow Light/Hunter Garner Scholarship

The American Chemical Society (ACS) runs a scholarship program that awards more than $1,000,000 in scholarships to over 300 students each year. The ACS scholarship is a merit scholarThe Project Yellow Light/Hunter Garner Scholarship was created to commemorate the life of Hunter Garner, a teenage student who died in a car crash at age 16. The scholarship is intended to spread awareness about distracted driving. In order to apply, students must submit either a billboard design, video, radio spot, or social media post designed to discourage distracted driving.

Application Deadline: March 1 (annually for billboard), April 1 (annually for video, radio, social media)

Award Amount: Up to $8,000

• High school juniors and seniors (or the equivalent thereof) who are between 14 and 20 at the time of entry and will complete their high school graduation requirements by July 2024 or 2025 and who intend to attend a U.S. accredited college or university (or the equivalent thereof) beginning in the fall of 2024 or 2025 (the “High School Criteria”); OR
• Undergraduate college or university students (or the equivalent thereof) who are currently attending a U.S. accredited college or university and are between 15 and 25 at time of entry (the “College Criteria”). The High School Criteria and the College Criteria are collectively referred to as the “Eligibility Criteria”.

How to Apply: All submissions can be entered online at the Project Yellow Light/Hunter Garner Scholarship website.

“Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

Bold.org, a website that helps pair students with scholarship opportunities, offers a no-essay scholarship to students who have profiles on the Bold.org platform. Students of all majors may apply. Applications are judged based on the “boldness” of the student’s profile, defined as bearing the following qualities: “earnest”, “determined,” and “moving.”

Application Deadline: April 1

Award Amount: $25,0 40

• Open to students at any education level, school, and field of study
• No GPA requirement
• Must have a profile on bold.org

How to apply: Interested students can apply by creating a profile on bold.org. According to bold.org, profiles that demonstrate the following qualities are awarded: “earnest,” “determined,” and “moving.”

DoSomething Easy Scholarships

DoSomething is a global nonprofit organization that offers scholarships to students who participate in various volunteering and community service activities.

Application Deadline: First day of every month

Scholarship Amount: $1,000 or more

• Must be 25 years of age or younger
• Must live in the United States (or are a citizen of United States who is living abroad)
• Must complete all action steps and verify your participation in scholarship eligible campaigns on the DoSomething website

How to Apply: DoSomething scholarships have various requirements depending on the specific campaign. Interested students may apply by signing up for one or more of the campaigns and following the action steps for those campaigns that they participate in.

Cirkled In “No Sweat” Scholarship

Cirkled In, a portfolio platform that helps students showcase their non-academic work to colleges, offers the “No Sweat” Scholarship. This monthly scholarship is worth a total of $2,500 which may be used on any educational purposes, including books, tuition, and even summer camps.

Application Deadline: March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31

Scholarship Amount: $2,500

• Must be at least 13 years of age
• Must be a legal resident of the United States or the District of Columbia
• Must be currently enrolled in the 8th through 12th grade (home-schooled students qualify as well)
• Must have an active Cirkled In account and a Portfolio on Cirkled In

How to Apply: Interested students must create an account with Cirkled In and create a Portfolio. Winners are selected based on profile completeness and points earned (points are earned by inviting teachers and friends to join Cirkled In). Applicants whose Portfolios are over 50% completed have a greater chance of winning.

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest

Submit a funny poem consisting of 250 lines or less for a chance to win!

Scholarship Amount : Up to $2,000

Eligibility:  

• No restriction on age of author. Both unpublished and previously published work accepted.
• Authors from all countries eligible except Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus (due to US government restrictions).
• The poem you submit should be in English. Inspired gibberish is also accepted ( example ).

How to Apply: Submit your poem online to enter!

Return2College Scholarship

Return2College is an online platform designed to provide resources for adult and non-traditional students. They offer an annual scholarship open to adult students planning on entering college within 12 months of the application.

• Must be at least 17 years of age
• Must be a United States citizen or legal resident
• Must be a current full- or part-time student or starting college or graduate school within the next 12 months

How to Apply: Interested students must fill out an online application and answer the following prompt in three sentences or less: “Why are you getting your degree?”

Emergency Dentists USA Video Scholarship

Emergency Dentists USA, a directory that helps connect patients with dentists in emergency situations, offers a scholarship for college and high school students of all majors.

Application Deadline: July 1

Award Amount: $1,000

• Must not be an employee or a family member of an employee of Emergency Dentists USA
• Must be a high school or college student
• Must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States

How to Apply: Interested students must create a video on the following topic: “Tell (or enact for us) what superpower you would love to have and how you would use it to help create better dental health in all people!” Students can submit their videos by uploading them to the internet and sending a link to the sponsor or by emailing the video directly. Submissions are judged on entertainment value, innovation, value to dental health, and production quality.

Sallie Mae $1,000 Monthly Sweepstakes

Student loan servicer Sallie Mae offers a $1,000 scholarship to students who simply apply for their Scholarship Search and College Planning Calculator, a tool that connects students with scholarships and provides automated college finance planning advice. This is a monthly sweepstakes. One winner is selected on the first day of every month, drawn from all entries made in the previous month.

• Must be over the age of majority in their state of residence
• Winners must not have won any other Sponsor contest or sweepstakes in the six-month period prior to their award period

How to Apply: Interested students may apply by completing an online registration form at salliemae.com. In order to confirm entrance in the sweepstakes, applicants must check the box marked “Enter me in the Sallie Mae $1,000 monthly sweepstakes” at the bottom of the registration page.

Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Physics Teachers

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) offers the Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Physics Teachers, a scholarship designed to support students who are studying toward a career teaching physics at the high school level. In addition to the scholarship award, winning students will receive a complimentary AAPT Student Membership for one year. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years.

Application Deadline: December 1

Award Amount: Up to $3,000 (renewable for up to 4 years)

• Must be an undergraduate student enrolled in an accredited two-year college, four-year college or university, or a high school senior accepted for such enrollment
• Must be pursuing or planning to pursue a course of study leading toward a career in physics teaching in high school
• Must show promise of academic success
• Must be a citizen of the United States

How to Apply: Interested students must complete an online application through the online portal at aapt.org. Applicants will be required to submit letters of recommendation in addition to other materials.

1Dental Scholarship

1Dental, a company that helps patients save on dental treatments, offers an easy-apply scholarship that is awarded to one college student of any academic background. To apply, students must complete a short survey on the 1Dental website.

Application Deadline: May 31

Award Amount: $500

• Must be currently enrolled in high school (seniors), undergraduate school, or graduate school
• Must not be a 1Dental employee or related to a 1Dental employee
• Must be a U.S. resident

How to Apply: Interested students may apply by completing a brief online survey at 1dental.com.

For more scholarships, check TUN’s scholarship search engine .

FREE 6-month trial

Then, enjoy Amazon Prime at half the price – 50% off!

TUN AI – Your Education Assistant

I’m here to help you with scholarships, college search, online classes, financial aid, choosing majors, college admissions and study tips!

TUN Helps Students!

Resource content.

Resources for Students

School Search

Scholarships

Scholarship Search

Start a Scholarship

High School

Copyright, 2024 – TUN, Inc

Student Tools

Free Online Courses

Student Discounts

Back to School

Internships

• Search All Scholarships
• Exclusive Scholarships
• Easy Scholarships to Apply For
• No Essay Scholarships
• Scholarships for HS Juniors
• Scholarships for HS Seniors
• Scholarships for College Students
• Scholarships for Grad Students
• Scholarships for Women
• Scholarships for Black Students
• Scholarships
• Student Loans
• College Admissions
• Financial Aid
• Scholarship Winners
• Scholarship Providers

Student-centric advice and objective recommendations

Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.

Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here .

Top 379 Scholarships for Students with a Low GPA in April 2024

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

Learn about our editorial policies

Did you know there are many scholarships out there for students with a low GPA? Although it’s true that some scholarships do have high GPA requirements, many take a more holistic look at students and do not rely too heavily on GPA. Others consider financial need more than academic performance, and they understand high-need students often do not have the tools to achieve a high GPA in school.

The scholarships on this list have minimum GPAs ranging between 1.0 and 2.8. We’ve included low GPA scholarships for high school students, college students, and graduate students, and they are available for students of all academic interest. Scroll down to find low GPA scholarships that are a great fit for you!

Why choose Scholarships360

We helped over 4 million students find scholarships in 2023

We've spent over 4,000 hours reviewing 3,000 scholarship programs

13+ years of experience helping students make smart education decisions

The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

• The scholarship requires a fee to apply
• The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
• The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
• Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
• The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
• The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
• The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
• There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
• The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
• There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

Scholarships360 is recommended by

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS360 WINNERS

Danielle Emretane

Winner of the Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

Fiorella Ruiz

Winner of the "Commencing at Community College" Scholarship

Jack Furman

Winner of the “Tuition Solution” STEM Scholarship

Morgan Breitschuh

Winner of the “Follow Your Own Path” Scholarship

Connor Godoy

Winner of the “Commencing at Community College Scholarship”

Kyamani Atterbury

Winner of the “Outstanding Undergraduate” Scholarship

$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high… Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to go to college, a graduate student who’s in a master’s program, or an adult learner who wants to return to school, you are eligible for our no essay scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. Finalists for this scholarship will be interviewed about their process for funding their education. Show Less

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Sallie Mae

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…

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.

WWIN Star Scholarship

Offered by Washington Women In Need (WWIN)

Are you a female Washington resident who been admitted into or are already enrolled at a college or university approved by the Washington College Grant… Show More

Are you a female Washington resident who been admitted into or are already enrolled at a college or university approved by the Washington College Grant for the upcoming school year? Further, are/will you be working to attain a postsecondary credential up to their first Bachelor’s degree? If so, the WWIN Star Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship awards $5,000 each to multiple female Washington state residents who have been admitted into or are already enrolled at a college or university approved by the Washington College Grant (a full list of eligible schools can be found under "Eligibility Information"). The scholarships can be renewed for up to four years for a total of $20,000 over one's undergraduate career. If you're a female Washingtonian who's passionate about their postsecondary education, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$40,000 Build a College List Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by The College Board

Create a college list with six schools you're considering - no minimum GPA or essay required!

International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association Scholarship Program

Offered by International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association Foundation

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association Scholarship Program is open to current undergraduate students who have completed at least two full semesters of undergraduate… Show More

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association Scholarship Program is open to current undergraduate students who have completed at least two full semesters of undergraduate coursework at the time of application (24 credit minimum) and graduate students who are pursuing a transportation-related degree. Eligible majors include, but are not limited to, civil engineering, city and regional planning, construction management, public policy or public administration, structural engineering, finance, accounting, information technology, business management, marketing, communications, operations management, and more. Applicants must also plan to be enrolled full-time in the upcoming academic year and hold a minimum 2.5 GPA. At least one award will be allocated to a recipient attending an HBCU, depending upon qualified applicants. If you're a post-secondary student pursuing a transportation-related degree, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Niche $25,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Niche

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!

John Klusch Scholarships

Offered by AIST Foundation

Are you (a) the child of an AIST Member currently active in the AIST Northeastern Ohio Member Chapter, or (b) an AIST Student Member through… Show More

Are you (a) the child of an AIST Member currently active in the AIST Northeastern Ohio Member Chapter, or (b) an AIST Student Member through the Material Advantage Student Program who attends a university or lives within the Northeastern Ohio Member Chapter area? Further, are you enrolled full-time in an engineering or metallurgy program in North America? If so, you may be eligible for the John Klusch Scholarships! Each year, the scholarships are awarded to (a) the children of AIST Northeastern Ohio Chapter Members and (b) AIST Student Members (through the Material Advantage Student Program) who attend a university or live within the Northeastern Ohio Member Chapter area. Applicants must also be enrolled full-time at an accredited North American university or college studying engineering or metallurgy. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

ALU LIKE, Inc. Hana Lima Scholarship

Offered by ALU Like, Inc.

Are you a Hawaii resident of Native Hawiian descent enrolled full-time (12 credits min.) in a 2-year vocational degree or vocational certification program in Hawaii?… Show More

Are you a Hawaii resident of Native Hawiian descent enrolled full-time (12 credits min.) in a 2-year vocational degree or vocational certification program in Hawaii? If so, you may be eligible for the ALU LIKE, Inc. Hana Lima Scholarship! Each year, their scholarship awards $1,500 each to multiple such students who are enrolled in a 2-year vocational program at an eligible institution of higher education in Hawaii (a full list of eligible institutions can be found on the ALU Like, Inc. website). Applicants must also hold a minimum 2.0 GPA to be considered. If you're a Native Hawaiian student and resident of Hawaii who will be attending a 2-year vocational program in your home state, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

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

Give Kids a Chance Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by The Miami Foundation

Are you a college-bound high school senior graduating from a public high school in Florida? If so, the Give Kids a Chance Scholarship may be… Show More

Are you a college-bound high school senior graduating from a public high school in Florida? If so, the Give Kids a Chance Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship awards $1,250 each to multiple college-bound high school seniors from Florida public high schools who hold GPAs of 2.5 or above. In addition, applicants must have a family income that is less than 60% of the median family income of the area in which they reside. To be considered for the scholarship, interested students must submit a professional-looking headshot of themselves, a parental information form, a transcript, and two (2) letters of recommendation. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Phoenix Pride Scholarship Program

Offered by Phoenix Pride

Are you a college-bound high school senior, current college student, or adult re-entry student residing in Arizona who identifies as LGBTQ+ or an LGBTQ+ ally?… Show More

Are you a college-bound high school senior, current college student, or adult re-entry student residing in Arizona who identifies as LGBTQ+ or an LGBTQ+ ally? If so, the Phoenix Pride Scholarship Program may be a good opportunity for you! Each year, the program awards scholarships to multiple current and incoming undergraduate students from Arizona who are LGBTQ+ or allies of the community. Applicants should also have demonstrated community service experience. If you're an LGBTQ+ individual or ally from Arizona, don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to further your education! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeXpress

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship

Offered by The Pittsburgh Promise

The Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship is a “last dollar” scholarship, meaning The Promise pays for eligible expenses after all other grants and scholarships, such as Pell,… Show More

The Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship is a “last dollar” scholarship, meaning The Promise pays for eligible expenses after all other grants and scholarships, such as Pell, PHEAA, FSEOG, and institutional grants have been deducted. Every student who starts on day one of 9th grade and meets eligibility criteria will be eligible to earn up to $5,000 per year ($20,000 maximum) to be used at any accredited college, university, trade, or technical school in Pennsylvania. Eligible students must have been enrolled in Pittsburgh Public Schools, or one of its charters, continuously, since 9th grade, and graduate from one of these schools in the next four years. If you're a college-bound, Pittsburgh Public high school student, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

37th Division Veterans Association Scholarship Grant Program

Offered by 37th Division Veterans Association

Are you a current college student and member of the 37th DVA in good membership standing, or the direct lineal descendant (to the third generation)… Show More

Are you a current college student and member of the 37th DVA in good membership standing, or the direct lineal descendant (to the third generation) of a 37th DVA member? If so, the 37th Division Veterans Association Scholarship Grant Program may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the program awards scholarships to multiple 37th DVA members of their direct lineal descendants who are pursuing a post-secondary education. The purpose of the program is to provide funds from investments that will be used to assist veterans and descendants of veterans of the 37th Infantry Division (37th ID) in obtaining post-high school and advanced education by providing scholarships. If you are a current member of the 37th Division or a descendant of one who will be attending a post-secondary institution, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be… Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month. Show Less

KAB Broadcast Scholarship Program This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Kansas Association of Broadcasters

Are you a Kansas resident attending or planning to attend (next fall semester) an in-state, post-secondary institution to pursue a broadcast or related curriculum? If… Show More

Are you a Kansas resident attending or planning to attend (next fall semester) an in-state, post-secondary institution to pursue a broadcast or related curriculum? If so, you may be eligible for the KAB Broadcast Scholarship Program! Each year, the program awards up to $20,000 to multiple Kansas post-secondary students. To be eligible, applicants must be juniors or above at a four-year college, or sophomores at a two-year college. In addition, they must have maintained a minimum 2.5 GPA and be enrolled in at least 12 hours each semester the scholarship is in effect. If you're a Kansas resident passionate about and pursuing a course of study in broadcasting or a related curriculum, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

PAPA Flight Training Scholarship

Offered by Palwaukee Airport Pilots Association

Are you a Chicago Executive Pilots Association (CEPA) member looking to complete flight training? If so, the PAPA Flight Training Scholarship may be a great… Show More

Are you a Chicago Executive Pilots Association (CEPA) member looking to complete flight training? If so, the PAPA Flight Training Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship is awarded to CEPA members looking to complete flight training. To be considered, simply complete an application, and provide a copy of your current FAA medical certificate and pilot certificate, a copy of your current legal ID, the last three pages of your pilot logbook, an essay, a resume, and two letters of recommendation. If you're a CEPA member, don't miss out on this chance to further your aviation career! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Christian Connector

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian…

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian university or college.

Montana Life Members Scholarship

Offered by Montana Federation of Garden Clubs

Are you a U.S. citizen and Montana resident attending an in-state university to study Conservation, Horticulture, Parks or Forestry, Floriculture, Greenhouse Management, Land Management, or… Show More

Are you a U.S. citizen and Montana resident attending an in-state university to study Conservation, Horticulture, Parks or Forestry, Floriculture, Greenhouse Management, Land Management, or related subjects? If so, the Montana Life Members Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship awards $2,000 to a college sophomore pursuing fields related to conservation, forestry, and/or horticulture. To apply, interested students must submit a transcript, two letters of reference, and a "letter of application" including a short biography and their future plans. If you're a proud Montana resident and nature enthusiast, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

American Floral Endowment Scholarships

Offered by American Floral Endowment

Are you a post-secondary student pursuing a degree in horticulture or floriculture? If so, you may be eligible for some of the many American Floral… Show More

Are you a post-secondary student pursuing a degree in horticulture or floriculture? If so, you may be eligible for some of the many American Floral Endowment Scholarships! There are a variety of scholarships available, offering between $500 and $5,000 to winning applicants. To find out more about each scholarship’s specific requirements, we recommend checking out their individual profiles on the American Floral Endowment website. If you do fit the criteria for any of the scholarships, we encourage you to apply by filling out the AFE Scholarship Application no later than May 1st. Upon doing so, you will be considered for all 30+ of their scholarship opportunities. If you have a passion or interest in floriculture of horticulture, keep on reading to learn more! Show Less

Join for exclusive scholarships, personalized matching, and application tracking. 0% Spam, 100% Free.

3 reasons to join scholarships360

• Automatic entry to our $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship
• Personalized matching to thousands of vetted scholarships
• Quick apply for scholarships exclusive to our platform

By the way...Scholarships360 is 100% free!

Find College Scholarships

Search lists of scholarships by choosing a category or get matched to college scholarships you are eligible for.

• By Category
• Your Matches

Niche $25,000 "No Essay" Scholarship

• Deadline May 31, 2024
• Amount $25,000
• Offered By Niche
• State National
• Description Help cover the cost of college without writing a single essay! Niche is giving one student $25,000 to help pay for tuition, housing, books and other college expenses — no essay required! High school seniors will also be eligible to receive acceptances (and scholarships!) from our Direct Admissions partner colleges. Fill out your Niche Profile with key details like your GPA and the high school you attend, and you’ll automatically be considered. Apply below for your chance to win so you can focus on your education, not your finances. Good luck!
• Essay Required :  No
• Recommendations Required :  No
• Minimum GPA :  None
• Major All majors
• Type Generic

$ 2,000 Sallie Mae No Essay Scholarship

• Deadline April 30, 2024
• Amount $2,000
• Offered By Sallie Mae
• Description 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 in paying for school.
• Minimum GPA :  No

$ 25,000 "Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship

• Amount $ 25,000
• Offered By Bold.org
• State Nationwide
• Description An easy, no-essay scholarship. Students at any education level, school, field of study, and GPA are eligible to apply.
• Major Any Major

$ 50,000 ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship

• Amount $50,000
• Offered By ScholarshipOwl
• Description Apply for the scholarship that gives you a shot at a total of $50,000. At least 4 Winners will be selected each month to be awarded $1,000. No essay is required. Once you apply, you will be automatically reapplied each month for more chances to win!
• Find Student Loans

$ 2,500 ScholarshipPoints Scholarship

• Amount $2,500
• Offered By ScholarshipPoints
• Description ScholarshipPoints.com will give away over $100,000 in free college scholarships this year including a $2,500 scholarship every month! Apply now!

$1,000 Review Your College Scholarship

• Amount $1,000
• Description Open to all students and recent alumni. Simply log in or create a free account below to apply.

Review Your School $1,000 Scholarship

• Description Take a short survey about your school for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship.

Get Rewarded for Taking Surveys: Ipsos iSay

• Deadline March 31, 2024
• Amount Uncapped
• Offered By Ipsos
• Description Complete the registration form and create your account. Voice your opinion on a variety of topics to earn points. Redeem your points for your favorite rewards.

Japan American Friendship Scholars

• Deadline January 31, 2025
• Amount Variable
• Offered By Youth for Understanding
• Description The JAFS scholarship is a partial scholarship for U.S. High School students; Students are responsible for covering the remainder of the tuition balance ($3,750) for the Japan program if they are selected for the scholarship. 70 students are awarded the Winter JAFS scholarship every year!
• Essay Required :  Yes
• Recommendations Required :  Yes
• Minimum GPA :  3.0
• Major All Majors

Scholarships for Athletes

• Deadline March 31, 2025
• Amount Varies
• Offered By NCSA College Recruiting
• Description Want to play sports in college? Increase your chances of an athletic scholarship by building a free recruiting profile in the only network trusted by 35,000 college coaches!

Army ROTC Scholarship

• Deadline Varies
• Offered By US Army
• Description Whether you're a college-bound high school student or already attending a college or university, Army ROTC has scholarships available. Scholarships are awarded based on a student's merit and grades, not financial need.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

• Offered By Institute of International Education
• Description The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs. A candidate will submit a Statement of Grant Purpose defining activities to take place during one academic year in a participating country outside the U.S.

Matthews & Swift Educational Trust Scholarships

• Offered By Knights of Columbus
• Description Educational Trust Scholarships are available to children of members in good standing who, while serving in the military forces of their country in a combat zone, specifically designated as such by the Board of Directors, are killed by hostile action or wounded by hostile action resulting within two years thereof in permanent and total disability. Applications must be filed within two years of the death or determination of total and permanent disability of the member. Scholarships may also be awarded to children of members in good standing who are full-time law enforcement officers or full-time firefighters who, while in the lawful performance of their duties, died as a result of criminal violence directed at them. Applications must be filed within two years of the date of death of the member. The term "children" shall include natural or adopted children of the deceased member who were born within nine months after the member died or, in the case of adoption, were adopted by the member before he suffered the fatal injury, or in the case of a member in the military, before he suffered the permanently and totally disabling injury. Benefits for which eligible children qualify shall be limited to tuition only, up to a maximum of $25,000 per year, but not room, board, books, fees, transportation, dues, computers or supplies. Tuition shall first be reduced by the amount of any scholarships or other grants to which the child shall be entitled. All scholarships are governed by established rules of the Educational Trust Fund. The scholarship is to be used at any Catholic college of the student's choice in the country of the member's domicile at the time of death or disability. Benefits should be applied for on a timely basis and an undergraduate degree achieved in a reasonable time frame.
• Essay Required :  Unknown
• Recommendations Required :  Unknown

Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Scholarship Program

• Offered By US Navy
• Description NROTC has a limited number of scholarships available for students to attend MSI schools, which encompass Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), High Hispanic Enrollment (HHE) schools, and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSI).
• Type Minority

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

• Amount $10,000
• Offered By National Collegiate Athletic Association
• Description The NCAA awards up to 126 postgraduate scholarships annually. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are at least in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. The one-time non-renewable scholarships of $10,000 are awarded three times a year corresponding to each sport season (fall, winter and spring). Each sports season there are 21 scholarships available for men and 21 scholarships available for women for use in an accredited graduate program. All former student-athletes who earned an undergraduate degree from an NCAA member school are eligible to be nominated by that school for an NCAA graduate degree scholarship, regardless of when they received their undergraduate degree.

NROTC Marine Option Scholarship

• Description As a college student and Marine-Option Midshipman in the NROTC Program, your journey to a successful future will also lead to a life of purpose and advancement Marine Corps Officers are known for. Recipients of this scholarship will be able to fully experience everything college life offers, all while preparing for a higher purpose: leading Marines to win our Nation’s battles.

NROTC Navy Scholarship

• Description The Navy is preparing our officer corps of the future to meet the dynamic challenges in the next generation of technology and leadership. In structuring our academic programs to meet these challenges, undergraduate academic majors for NROTC Navy option midshipmen are divided into three categories or tiers: Tier 1 - engineering programs of Navy interest, Tier 2 - other engineering, math and science programs, Tier 3 - Foreign language and remaining academic programs.

NROTC Nurse Scholarship

• Description Students who apply for and gain admission to NROTC colleges offering the nursing academic program are eligible to pursue the NROTC Nurse scholarship track.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

• Offered By School of Art Institute of Chicago
• Description Admitted Phi Theta Kappa applicants will qualify to receive a $2,000 PTK Scholarship, per academic year, through the admission process once PTK status is verified.
• Major Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Art
• Type School of Art Institute of Chicago

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

• Amount $3,772
• Offered By Federal Student Aid
• Description The TEACH Grant Program provides grants of up to $3,772 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching. Recipients are required to complete a teaching service obligation as a condition for receiving the grant.
• Major Education

How to Find and Apply for Scholarships

College board scholarship search, what are scholarships .

Scholarships are a type of financial aid commonly referred to as “free money” or “gift aid.” Scholarships usually require an application and are often awarded to students based on a combination of factors including merit. Merit scholarships tend to have specific requirements and are awarded to applicants based on certain skills and accomplishments and may not be based on financial need. Scholarships may be renewable, meaning you can receive scholarships for more than one year. A new application may be required along with maintaining certain eligibility requirements, such as GPA or a certain major.

Why do I need scholarships?

Scholarships are a great type of financial aid because they do not have to be repaid. Receiving scholarships can help cover the remaining bill and indirect costs, while also minimizing the amount you need to borrow in loans while in college.

What are some common scholarship application requirements?

Many scholarships require similar application materials, which commonly include:

• The application, which can be paper or an online form. 
• Essays, often personal statements, that provide insight into your activities inside and outside the classroom. 
• Letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, community members, or other mentors. 
• Honors or awards you have received, academic or otherwise. 
• Information about your high school or college, which may include your transcript, GPA, Student Aid Report, or financial aid offer.
• A résumé that includes any employment, volunteer, or extracurricular experiences.

Specialized scholarships may require additional information and may have a priority deadline. For example, scholarships supporting the arts may require portfolios or writing samples. Be sure to read each application thoroughly for requirements so you don’t miss any.

What should I do before college to increase my chances?

Since many scholarships are merit based, maintaining good grades and increasing your involvement in school and community activities are important. Some scholarships have GPA requirements, so keeping your grades up will help open more opportunities. Additionally, many applicants with varied extracurriculars and volunteer or job experiences may stand out. The more scholarships you’re eligible for and apply for, the better the odds you have of receiving one.

What are the best ways to find and receive a scholarship?

There is no guarantee that you’ll receive a scholarship, but there are a few things you can do to increase your chances while applying. One of the most important things to remember is that the scholarship committee wants to get to know you through the applications—you want to show why your college education is worth investing in. 

There are a few things that you can do to increase your chances, including: 

• Start early and search year-round: No matter what stage in the college process you’re at, you should start looking for scholarships now. There are even scholarships that high school students can receive before senior year. Scholarship deadlines vary, so setting some time aside every few weeks to search and apply will open up more opportunities of securing a scholarship. 
• Use the right search engine: Finding scholarships to apply for can be difficult, but with the right search engine you can narrow your search and find scholarships you’re eligible for. BigFuture’s scholarship search is a great resource to use.
• Find a balance: You should apply for several scholarships—the more you apply for, the better your chances of receiving one. However, it’s important to use your time wisely. You should only apply for those you’re eligible for, based on the requirements. 
• Research local scholarships: Local scholarships tend to have fewer applicants, meaning you may be more likely to get them. Your high school counselor or college financial aid department might have insight about where to find and apply for local scholarships. Be sure to talk to others in your community, and check with local businesses and organizations like banks and churches. 

How do I know a scholarship is legit? 

While plenty of legitimate scholarships are available, some fake scholarships are set up to scam students out of money or personal information. Using reliable search engines, like BigFuture, can help avoid this. Scholarships should always be free to apply. Some may ask for your bank account information after choosing you as a recipient, but they should not ask for this information as an application requirement. If you’re unsure, contact the organization or company providing the scholarship to ensure they are legit. 

Finding and applying to scholarships sounds like a lot of work—how can I make this process easier?

Because scholarships don’t need to be repaid, they can be an important part of making college affordable. However, we know that it might not always be feasible to spend a lot of time applying. There are a few things you can do to simplify the process and save time where possible. 

• Start early: Prioritize getting two or three letters of recommendation, and write your essay/personal statement before you start searching to help save time.
• Time management: Plan to spend a day or two a month searching and submitting applications with your prepared materials to avoid last-minute applications, missed deadlines, and stress.
• Stay organized: Collecting and organizing your application materials and tracking due dates will help you stay on track and avoid missing out on opportunities. 
• Reuse essays when possible: Many scholarship essay topics are similar, so editing one of your previously written essays to fit the scholarship you’re applying for can save you time.

With these tips and resources, you’ll be better prepared for scholarship applications and increase your chances of receiving scholarships to help cover your college costs. Check out your chance to earn $500 and $40,000 scholarships in monthly drawings offered by BigFuture to students who complete the steps to plan for college .

Related Articles

25 college scholarships high school seniors can still apply for

The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.

Prices keep going up for college students. This year, attending some American colleges and universities is expected to cost students more than $90,000 a year.

Granted, that’s based on figures for tuition, room and board and other expenses from some of the country’s most elite private institutions. Even so, the Education Data Initiative reports that the average private college student living on campus actually spends about $55,840 per year, with $38,768 of it going towards tuition and fees). And students at public universities spend an average of about $26,027 per year.

That’s still quite a chunk of change, even if you’ve decided it’s worth the cost . In fact, college prices have risen by 169% since 1980, according to a report from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce . If you’re a high school senior or college student (or the parent of one) who is trying to figure out how to pay these bills, you may want to consider some of the scholarships available to defray costs.

And while the deadlines of some scholarships have passed, there are still lots of options if you act fast. Here are 25 scholarships for high school seniors.

Scholarships That Award Over $15,000

1. breakthrough junior challenge: $250,000.

Deadline to apply:  June 25, 2024

Who’s eligible : High school students

This generous scholarship is offered by the philanthropists Yuri and Julia Milner, who have a special interest in science and technology. To apply, you create a 2-minute video that explains a scientific or mathematical theory or principle.  Think creatively and incorporate elements like diagrams, simulations and physical demonstrations.

If you submit the most impressive video, you’ll receive a $250,000 scholarship to college. Your teacher will receive $50,000, and your school will receive $100,000 for a science lab. Apply here .

2. Niche ‘No Essay’ Scholarship: $25,000

Deadline to apply:  May 31, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year

Niche is a ranking and review site that runs a scholarship directory and offers many of its own scholarships. This one couldn’t be easier to apply for. Start by creating a Niche account. Then fill out the online application; the winner will be determined in a random drawing by June 15, 2024. They will contact you if you were selected. Apply here .

3. ‘Be Bold’ No-Essay Scholarship: $25,055

Deadline to apply: May 1, 2024

Who’s eligible: Any student of any age or education level

Bold.org is a scholarship search website. To apply for any of their scholarships, you’ll need to create a free profile on the site. And the site wants to challenge you to create the boldest one.

What does being bold mean to you? The folks at the “Be Bold” Scholarship define it in three words: earnest, determined and moving. If your profile does the best job of matching this description, you could win $25,055 towards your college education. The eligibility requirements don’t mention a minimum GPA. All you need to be is … bold!  Apply here ASAP, as the scholarship favors early applicants for rolling application deadlines.

4. Ayn Rand Scholarship: ‘The Fountainhead’ Essay Contest: $25,000

Deadline to apply:  June 7, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school juniors and seniors

The Ayn Rand Institute offers rolling essay contests three times a year to encourage students to engage with this prominent novelist’s works and ideas. The upcoming summer essay contest for “The Fountainhead” is currently open.

You’ll write a double-spaced essay that’s between 800 and 1,600 words, based on a prompt question (about the book) that The Ayn Rand Institute provides. If you are one of the top three entries, you’ll receive a cash prize of up to $3,000, and the first-place entry from each season will go on to compete against the other seasonal winners for an annual grand prize of $25,000. You can spend the money on college — or anything else you like. Apply here .

5. Ayn Rand Scholarship: ‘Atlas Shrugged’ Essay Contest: $25,000

Deadline to apply:  June 14, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school seniors, college students and graduate students

Another one of The Ayn Rand Institute’s rolling essay contests is based on her novel “Atlas Shrugged.” The upcoming summer essay contest for this novel is currently open.

You’ll write a double-spaced essay that’s between 800 and 1,600 words, based on a prompt question about the book that The Ayn Rand Institute provides. If you are one of the top three entries, you’ll receive a cash prize up to $3,000, and the first-place entry from each season will go on to compete against the other seasonal winners for an annual grand prize of $25,000. You can spend the money on college or anything else. Apply here .

Scholarships That Award Between $5,000 and $15,000

6. stuck at prom scholarship contest: $15,000.

Deadline to apply:  June 5, 2024

Who’s eligible: All high school students

Well, this is a fun one. To win the Stuck at Prom scholarship, you need to make your own prom outfit (a dress or a tux) completely out of Duck Brand duct tape or Duck Brand crafting tape. Then fill out the online entry form, which includes a place for you to upload at least one photo of yourself wearing this DIY prom outfit. You can submit up to five photos.

The entry form will ask you to supply some written details about your creation or to upload a video showing the requested details. The first-place winners for dress and tux will each be awarded $15,000, while four runners-up in each category will win $1,000 each. And this year they will also be handing out “Judges’ Choice” awards worth $1,000 each to three finalists. Apply here .

7. ScienceSaves High School Video Scholarship: $10,000

Deadline to apply:  May 6, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school seniors

Not a big fan of writing essays? This scholarship contest asks entrants to create a 20-30 second video, answering the question, “What has science done for me?” or “What has science done for somebody I know?”

Be creative! You can use photos, video clips and text. Add the hashtag #ScienceSaves to your video before uploading it. While the grand prize winner will receive $10,000, there will also be prizes for 2nd place ($2,000), 3rd place ($1,000), and 4th place finishers ($500). Apply here .

8. Exceptional Youth Scholarship: $10,000

Deadline to apply:  May 17, 2024

Who’s eligible:  high school seniors

This scholarship is offered through The Foundation for Global Sports Development, and it’s indeed designed for an extraordinary young person. To apply, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have devoted at least 100 hours to some form of community service, volunteerism or mentorship activities.

It’s also need-based, so you’ll be required to submit a completed FAFSA form (which is the application for federal student aid) and other financial materials. You’ll also need two letters of recommendation (one from your school and one from your community). Ten graduating seniors will each receive this $10,000 scholarship. Apply here .

9. Ted and Holly Rollins Scholarship: $5,000

Deadline to apply:  June 1, 2024

Can you write a compelling essay? For this scholarship contest, you’ll submit at least 500 words that tell your life story, describe your interest in your intended field of study, and/or explain how you plan to impact the world. If you write the winning essay, you’ll be notified by July 15, 2024. Apply here .

10. Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship: $5,000

Deadline to apply:  April 15, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school students or college undergraduates who are studying or plan to study political science, cultural anthropology, geography or history

This scholarship was set up in the memory of Ryan T. Herich, who was interested in how history, culture and politics affect our world today. To apply, incorporate these themes in a 400- to 600-word essay about how you intend to make a difference in the world. Three winners (who will each receive $5,000) will be announced on May 15, 2024. Apply here .

Scholarships That Award Between $1,000 and $3,000

11. all about education scholarship: $3,000.

Deadline to apply:  April 30, 2024

Who’s eligible:  U.S. residents ages 14 and up

This scholarship is through Unigo, a college scholarship directory and search site. To apply, you have to sign up for a free account. Then submit an essay of 250 words or less responding to the question: “How will a $3,000 scholarship for education make a difference in your life?” Apply here .

12. There’s Space For Everyone Scholarship: $3,000

Who’s eligible: High school seniors, undergraduates and graduates enrolled in school

Extra Space Storage is in the business of offering self-storage facilities, but they also offer an annual college scholarship. To apply, fill out the online application form, which includes an essay on the following topic: “How have you exhibited a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, or social justice through work, service, or other extra-curricular activities, and how will your education help you continue this commitment during college and beyond?”

The company will give out eight $3,000 scholarships. Five will go to any student attending or planning to attend a college or university in the U.S., and three are reserved for employees or immediate family members of Extra Space Storage. The winners will be announced on June 21, 2024. Apply here .

13. American College Foundation Visionary Scholarship: $2,500

Who’s eligible: High school students

This is a bi-annual award in which five recipients win each time — with a total of 10 scholarships awarded each year. Awards range from $1,000 to $2,500 each. To apply, submit a completed application along with your most recent high school transcript and a 500-word essay on “Why College is Important to Me.”

The site posts photos of past winners along with their essays, so you can see what impresses the judges. The winners are announced on July 12, 2024, and the awards are distributed on July 31, 2024. Apply here .

14. Creativity Leads to Success Scholarship: $2,500

Deadline to apply:  June 15, 2024

Who’s eligible: Students who are 18 years or older and attending college or grad school by fall 2024

The Dixie Belle paint company awards $5,000 in scholarship money every year. The first-prize winner will receive $2,500, while two runners-up will receive $1,250 each.

To apply, fill out their online application and submit an essay of no more than 500 words that answers the question: “How has creativity helped you in problem solving?” If you’re a finalist, you will be notified on or about Aug. 15, 2024. Apply here .

15. Rover Scholarship: $2,500

Deadline to apply:  May 1, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school seniors and college undergraduates

Rover.com is a pet-sitter marketplace that offers a $2,500 scholarship towards higher education. To apply, you must have a 3.0 GPA. Fill out their online form and submit an essay of 400-500 words on the following topic: “How did growing up with a pet in your life (could be a friend’s or family member’s) impact the person you are today?”

The winner will be notified by May 31, 2024. Apply here .

16. Goodwall #ScholarshipNow Challenge: $2,500

Who’s eligible: High school, college and graduate students and those planning to enroll within 12 months

This scholarship is funded by Goodwall, a skills-based social network that prepares young people for careers. To enter this scholarship contest, download the Goodwall app and create a profile. Submit a short video (between 30 seconds and three minutes long) in which you describe how this scholarship can help you reach your educational and professional goals. Make sure to add the hashtag #ScholarshipNow. Apply here .

17. RonranGlee Literary Scholarship: $2,000

Deadline to apply:  April 22, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school seniors and college undergraduate students

If you have a knack for close reading, this is the scholarship for you. The people at the RonranGlee Literary Scholarship want to see how well you can interpret the underlying meaning in texts. To apply, choose a paragraph (preferably from an ancient literature or philosophy book) and write a short essay that is between 600 and 2,000 words, explaining what’s being conveyed between the lines.

Five winners will be announced on May 22, 2024. Apply here.

18. CollegeVine No Essay Contest: $2,000

Deadline to apply:  June 30, 2024

Who’s eligible: Current high school students and college applicants

CollegeVine is a website that provides college admissions guidance. To take part in this scholarship sweepstakes, you will need to sign up for a CollegeVine account and complete your profile. A random drawing determines the winner. If it’s you, you’ll be notified with an email. Apply here .

19. Sallie Mae Scholarship Sweepstakes: $2,000

Deadline to apply: The last day of every month (the current deadline is April 30)

Who’s eligible: High school juniors, seniors and college undergraduates (and parents can apply, too)

Sallie Mae has a search database with lots of scholarship options. But this particular sweepstakes is the easiest: Fill out a form to enter, and a winner is chosen at random every month. There’s no essay and no GPA requirement — just a form that takes less than two minutes to fill out! Apply here .

20. Ayn Rand Scholarship: ‘Anthem’ Essay Contest: $2,000

Who’s eligible:  8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade students

To participate, you’ll submit an essay that’s between 600 and 1,200 words, double-spaced. For the topic, you can choose from among three prompt questions related to Ayn Rand’s novella “Anthem.”

This is significantly easier than the Ayn Rand Institute’s other two essay contests since this novella is only about 100 pages long. The top prize is $2,000, and other finalists will receive between $500 and $1,000.  Apply here .

21. Too Cool To Pay For School Sweepstakes: $1,000

Deadline to apply: Quarterly on the last day of March, June, September and December

Who’s eligible: High school juniors, seniors and college undergrads

This sweepstakes is run through Access Scholarships, an online scholarship search engine. Applying for this one couldn’t be simpler — all you need to do is fill out the online form.  Follow them on Instagram , and they’ll enter you twice. A random drawing determines the winner. You’ll get an email from them if you win. Apply here .

22. Gen & Kelly Tanabe Scholarship: $1,000

Deadline to apply:  July 31, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students

The scholarship is funded by Gen and Kelly Tanabe, the authors of “ The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2024: Billions of Dollars in Scholarships, Grants and Prizes .” Entrants submit a 250-word personal statement about why you deserve to win this scholarship or about your academic or career goals. You can also write about any topic of your choice. Apply here .

23. ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship: $1,000

Deadline to apply: The last business day of each month (next deadline is April 29, 2024)

Who’s eligible: High school and college students who will be enrolled in school within three months of the award

ScholarshipOwl is an online scholarship matching service. Each month, they hold a random drawing for this $1,000 scholarship, and four students win every time. To participate, sign up for a free account and fill out their online application form, which doesn’t require an essay. The next draw date is May 11.  Apply here .

24. Blaze Your Own Trail Scholarship: $1,000

This scholarship contest is funded by Trail Heads, a company that makes headbands, gloves, hats and other accessories for outdoor sports. To enter, you’ll need to write a 600-800 word essay about a challenge you faced. Describe how you overcame this obstacle and how it affected you going forward. Also, you have to submit your latest transcript with your GPA.

The winner will be announced on the Trail Heads website on Aug. 6, 2024. Apply here .

25. American Heart Challenge Scholarship: $1,000

Who’s eligible: High school juniors or seniors

This scholarship is for juniors and seniors who have shown leadership skills at their school’s American Heart Challenge program, which aims to educate young people about healthy lifestyle habits while raising money to help end heart disease and stroke. To apply,  fill out a short online application and upload a letter of recommendation from a teacher. Apply here .

About the Author

Jennifer has written features and essays for over a dozen magazines, including American Baby, Cosmo, Cosmo Girl, Fit Pregnancy, Good Housekeeping, Health, Marie Claire, Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Self, Teen People, TV Guide, and YM. More.

Latest Deals

You can take a dozen American Sign Language classes for free

Get a 6-piece patio furniture set for $99 at Home Depot’s spring sale

How to get free Arby’s sandwiches in April

News & Advice

16 clever toilet paper storage solutions for small bathrooms

Walmart shoppers may be eligible for $500 payment due to lawsuit

Best ways to decorate with outdoor artificial plants

More to explore

• Plan for College and Career
• Take the ACT
• School and District Assessment
• Career-Ready Solutions
• Students & Parents
• Open Search Form
• College and Career Readiness
• Succeed in High School
• Most Popular Downloads
• Testing Advice for the ACT
• High School Resources
• What to Do After High School
• Prepare for College
• Applying to College
• Choosing a College
• Paying for College
• College Life
• Career Planning
• Starting Your Career
• Recursos para estudiantes y padres
• Consejos de prueba para el ACT
• Planificación universitaria y profesional
• Aplicar a la universidad
• Vida de la escuela secundaria
• Pagar la universidad
• Vida universitaria

Other ACT Services and Products

How to Find Scholarships

How to get scholarships.

Scholarships are a type of financial aid awarded to students based on academic achievements, athletic skills, community involvement, financial need, or other considerations. Earning scholarships can help make college more accessible and affordable. Dive into our guide for an overview of how to find and apply for scholarships to ease the financial burden of college. 

Understanding Scholarships

Several types of scholarships are available, such as merit-based aid, skill-based, and need-based aid. Every scholarship comes with unique requirements to both receive and keep the funds. Be sure to carefully read the scholarship eligibility requirements, application process, and other details before applying.

Do you have to pay back scholarships? 

College scholarships are a type of financial assistance that you won't need to repay. It’s essentially free money given to help cover your educational expenses like tuition, housing, class supplies, and more. This makes them an excellent option for students looking to reduce the cost of college without worrying about student loan debt. 

How do scholarships differ from grants?

While both grants and scholarships offer financial aid for college, they differ in several important ways. Scholarships are usually merit-based, meaning they're awarded based on achievements like academic excellence, athletic skills, or involvement in community service or clubs. They're often provided by private organizations, colleges, or individuals.

On the other hand, grants are typically need-based and awarded to students who demonstrate a financial need. They are often provided by either state or federal government sources. A well-known example of a government-backed grant is the Pell Grant, which is federal aid given to undergraduate students with significant financial need.

You can visit the official Pell Grants page for more detailed information. This resource details qualifications, application processes, and how Federal Student Aid can help fund your college education. 

Why You Should Apply for Scholarships

Scholarships are an important tool for making your college education more affordable. Despite what many think, there's actually a lot of unclaimed scholarship money out there every year. According to the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA), about $100 million worth of scholarships are not awarded annually, mainly because students do not apply for them.

With so many available scholarships going unclaimed, it's important to explore your options thoroughly. Doing well on standardized tests like the ACT is one way to enhance your chances of tapping into this unclaimed scholarship pool. Actively seeking out and applying for scholarships can increase your likelihood of receiving financial support, which not only eases the financial strain of college but also supports your academic and personal growth, smoothing the path to a brighter and more secure future.

Typical application requirements for scholarships

When applying for scholarships, students must meet a variety of requirements to be considered for aid. Common requirements include:

• Academic performance: Keeping up a certain GPA or academic level.
• Extracurricular activities: Being active in clubs, sports, or community service projects.
• Standardized test scores: Some scholarships ask for scores from tests like the ACT to measure your academic readiness.
• Essays: Crafting an essay that reflects your personal achievements or aspirations.
• Letters of recommendation: Securing support from teachers or mentors who can speak to your character and achievements.
• Financial need evidence: Showing that you require financial support to pursue your education. Often this requires you to submit your FAFSA.
• Unique qualifications: Adhering to specific conditions outlined by the scholarship, like studying in a certain field or identifying with a particular demographic. 

Will all scholarships require an essay?

How to find scholarships.

While earning a scholarship isn't guaranteed, there are several steps you can take to increase your chances of securing these valuable funds. Focus on the factors within your control such as timing, research, preparation, organization, and commitment. Taking your scholarship search seriously can help you tremendously in the long run.

Start the process early

It's important to start your scholarship application process as early as possible. Studentaid.gov suggests getting a head start on your research and applications during the summer between junior and senior years of high school. Starting the process early gives you ample time to find opportunities, meet deadlines, and prepare stronger applications.

Utilize scholarship searches

Various lists and resources are available that specialize in helping you find scholarships that fit your needs. One notable option is the  ACT free scholarship list , which includes more than 80 scholarships that require an ACT score. The Department of Labor also provides information for over 9,500 scholarships on their sponsored  scholarship finder . These searches can help you discover a wide range of opportunities that align with your specific academic and extracurricular achievements.

Check local scholarships

Students should also focus on local scholarships, which often have fewer applicants and higher chances of winning compared to larger, national scholarships. Check with local businesses, community and religious organizations, clubs, and your school counselor if they offer any scholarship opportunities. Often the scholarship details and application can be found on their website. You might also consider searching for scholarships through word of mouth, community Facebook pages, or local newspapers

Apply for several scholarships

Increase your chances of receiving financial aid by applying for multiple scholarships. Each application improves your likelihood of success, broadening your range of opportunities. You can enhance your chances for securing a scholarship by applying for a range of scholarship types from many different sources. 

Look out for fake scholarships

Students and parents need to be vigilant to identify fake scholarships. Warning signs include requests for personal financial information or payments, such as application fees or processing charges, no past recipients mentioned, or saying you won a scholarship you don’t recall applying for. Legitimate scholarships will never ask for money or sensitive personal financial details as part of the application process. 

How to apply for scholarships

The process of applying for scholarships will largely depend on the type of scholarship you're pursuing, but several standard steps are involved in most applications. Understanding and following these common steps can help you collect and prepare the documents you’ll need when applying. Here are some ways in which the process may differ:

• Eligibility criteria: Some scholarships are open to all students, while others may target specific groups, such as students pursuing certain majors, belonging to certain demographic groups, or having specific talents or interests. 
• Application requirements: While some scholarships may require essays, others might request video submissions, artistic portfolios, or project proposals, depending on the criteria. 
• Submission method: Methods range from online forms to mail-in or even in-person presentations. Be sure to adapt your approach based on each scholarship’s guidelines. 
• Selection process: Each scholarship committee will assess candidates based on what was submitted. Recipients are typically students who had a well-rounded application, met all the criteria outlines, and demonstrated their readiness for college. 
• ​​ Financial need assessment: Some scholarships are merit-based and don't consider financial need, while others may require financial information and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine need-based eligibility. 
• Recommendation letters: Some scholarships might ask for multiple letters of recommendation from a teacher, mentor, or community leader.  
• Deadlines: Deadlines can vary significantly. Some scholarships offer multiple application rounds, while others may be once-a-year chances. 

​​It's important to keep track of deadlines for each scholarship and submit your applications promptly, as late submissions can disqualify you even if you’re an outstanding candidate. Try using an online calendar or planner specifically for scholarship deadlines to stay organized and ensure you never miss a submission date. You can also keep a digital folder with all your scholarship materials —essays, recommendation letters, transcripts, and any other required documents. This makes it easier to tailor each application without starting from scratch. 

Explore more resources to help pay for college

To learn more about paying for college and managing your expenses, check out some  additional resources  that offer helpful tips and advice. Starting to look for scholarships that match your interests early in high school gives you plenty of time to set your goals and plan how to achieve them. 

This action will open a new window. Do you want to proceed?

Welcome to ACT

If you are accessing this site from outside the United States, Puerto Rico, or U.S. Territories, please proceed to the non-U.S. version of our website.