no essay scholarships class of 2025

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!

The Best No-Essay Scholarships to Apply for in 2024

Sallie Mae No-Essay Scholarship

By: Sallie Mae

"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

Betty and Louie Dicks SCSU Scholarship

• Education Level : Undergraduate student
• School : South Carolina State University
• Gender : Male
• GPA : 2.75 or higher

St.Hilaire Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship

• Education Level : High school senior
• State : New Jersey
• Background : Community service or volunteering experience
• Involvement : Student-athlete

Courtney M. Weatherspoon Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : High school, trade school, or community college student
• State : Tennessee
• Race : Black/African American
• Financial Status : Low-income

"A Daring Path" No-Essay Scholarship

Survey Rewards No-Essay Scholarship

Best Faith-Based Colleges No-Essay Scholarship

Best Catholic Colleges No-Essay Scholarship

GIST College Sports Scholarship

Surveys and Savings No-Essay Scholarship

1000 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

Bold.org No-Essay Community Scholarship

Bold.org No-Essay Top Friend Scholarship

Christian Colleges No-Essay Scholarship

Appily No-Essay Scholarship

Catholic Colleges No-Essay Scholarship

400 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

Bold.org x Checkmate No-Essay Scholarship

Survey Junkie Brand Influencer No-Essay Scholarship

CollegeVine Dream School Scholarship

• Education Level : Must be a high school student

ScholarshipOwl No-Essay Scholarship

CapCut Meme Master Scholarship

CollegeXpress No-Essay Scholarship

200 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

300 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

CampusReel No-Essay Scholarship

Nielsen Rewards No-Essay Scholarship

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.

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.

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.

BigFuture Scholarships Official Rules Class of 2025

Official rules.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Void where prohibited by law. This Program is subject to all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.

College Board BigFuture Scholarships (“ Scholarship Program ”) begins on December 5, 2022 at 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (“ EST ”) and ends on February 28, 2025, at 11:59:59 p.m. EST for the Class of 2025. College Board (“Sponsor”)’s computer is the official timekeeping device for this Scholarship Program.

By participating, each participant (and, if a minor, their parent or legal guardian) agrees to abide by these Official Rules and decisions of Sponsor, which shall be final and binding in all respects relating to the Scholarship Program.

1. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OVERVIEW.

The Scholarship Program is open to students who is a sophomore in high school as of December 5, 2022 and who meet all eligibility requirements stated below. The Scholarship Program encourages such eligible students to complete six (6) key career and college planning steps during their sophomore, junior and senior years of high school.

Scholarship funds will be made payable not to students selected to receive scholarship funds (“ Winners ”) but to a Title IV eligible institution (“ Institution ”) indicated by Winners.

By completing each of the six career and college planning steps, students become eligible for two scholarships associated with that step. Listed below are the six steps:

• Step 1. Start Your Career List : Get started by saving three (3) or more careers on your career list on BigFuture (bigfuture.collegeboard.org). You must be logged in to BigFuture using your College Board account.
• Step 2. Build Your College List : Explore colleges that you are interested in and build and save a college list on BigFuture (bigfuture.collegeboard.org) with at least six (6) schools. You must be logged in to BigFuture using your College Board account.
• Step 3. Start Your Scholarship List : Explore scholarships and save three (3) or more on your scholarship list on BigFuture (bigfuture.collegeboard.org). You must be logged in to BigFuture using your College Board account. 
• Step 4. Strengthen Your College List : Create or edit a college list on BigFuture (bigfuture.collegeboard.org) so that it has a minimum of one (1) “safety,” two (2) “match,” and three (3) “reach” colleges. You must be logged in to BigFuture using your College Board account and you must save your college list.
• Step 5. Complete the FAFSA : With your parent or legal guardian, fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“ FAFSA” ) form, available at www.studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa, to apply for financial aid. If you are not a citizen or do not meet the residency requirements and are thus legally ineligible to complete the FAFSA, you can still earn an entry by completing your state’s financial aid form, if available. If your state does not offer a state financial aid form or if you are also legally ineligible to complete your state’s financial aid form, by so attesting, you may still earn an entry for this step. If you earn your entry by submitting the FAFSA or your state’s financial aid form and you are selected for one of these scholarships, you will be required to provide documentation of your submission. If instead you earned your entry because you are legally ineligible to complete both the FAFSA and your state’s financial aid form or you are legally ineligible to complete the FAFSA and your state does not offer a state financial aid form and you are selected for one of these scholarships, you will not be required to take any further action.
• Step 6. Apply to Colleges : Apply to at least two (2) colleges and update your status to applied for these schools on your college list on BigFuture (bigfuture.collegeboard.org). If you applied binding Early Decision to a college, you may still earn an entry for this step by indicating that you applied binding Early Decision. You will be required to provide proof of your college applications if you are selected for one of these scholarships.

2. ELIGIBILITY.

The Scholarship Program is open to any student (“ Eligible Student ” or “ Student ”) who meets all of the following eligibility requirements:

• (a) Attends a public, private, or home school, located in one of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other U.S. territories and possessions, or is a U.S. Citizen or resident and attends a U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (“ DoDEA ”) school outside of the United States and U.S. territories;
• (b) As of December 1, 2022, is sophomores in high school (i.e., student in their/his/her third year of secondary school); and
• (c) Has a College Board online account.

Children or wards of (a) employees, officers and trustees of Sponsor and its affiliates, agents, and representatives; (b) Program’s advertising and promotion agencies, if any, and (c) the household members of (a) and (b), whether or not related, are not eligible to receive Scholarships as part of this Scholarship Program.

For students who attend DoDEA schools outside of the United States and U.S. territories, Sponsor may require additional proof of any participant’s citizenship or residency status to participate. The form of such additional proof will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.

“ Lower Income Students ,” defined as students (a) eligible to receive a fee waiver from the College Board, and/or (b) attending school in a high-poverty school district (defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a school district where 75% or more of students receive free or reduced price lunch), and/or (c) having a family Adjusted Gross Income of $60,000 or less, will have a chance to enter separate and additional drawings, as described below. For students for whom (c) applies, we may, at its sole discretion, request verification of their family Adjusted Gross Income using our secure document system if they are selected for one of the separate and additional scholarships.

3. HOW TO ENTER.

Step 1: Eligible Students who wish to enter should create a College Board account or link an existing College Board account (“ Student Account ” or “ Account ”), at bigfuture.collegeboard.org (the “ Website ” or the “ Site ”).

Step 2: Eligible Students may complete one or more of the following activities to be entered into drawings. By completing each step, students will automatically earn one (1) entry for $500 Scholarships and one (1) entry for $40,000 Scholarships:

• Step 1. Start a Career List : Start a career list on BigFuture (bigfuture.collegeboard.org) with at least three (3) careers saved between December 5, 2022, and February 28, 2025. Eligibility for monthly drawings will close at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on the last day of each month from January 31, 2023 to February 28, 2025. Students will earn one (1) entry for $500 Scholarships and one (1) entry for $40,000 Scholarships in the month when they save three (3) or more careers on their career list. Unselected entries in a drawing period will automatically roll over to the next drawing period. Limit: Two (2) entries (one for $40,000 Scholarship and one for $500 Scholarship) per student total.
• Step 2. Build Your College List : Build a college list on BigFuture (bigfuture.collegeboard.org) with at least six (6) schools between December 5, 2022 and June 30, 2024. Eligibility for monthly drawings will close at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on the last day of each month from January 31, 2022 to June 30, 2024. Students will earn one (1) entry for $500 Scholarships and one (1) entry for $40,000 Scholarships in the month they create and save their college list with six (6) schools on it. Unselected entries in a drawing period will automatically roll over to the next drawing period. Limit: Two (2) entries (one for $40,000 Scholarship and one for $500 Scholarship) per student total.
• Step 3. Start Your Scholarship List : Save three or more scholarships on a scholarship list on BigFuture (bigfuture.collegeboard.org) between July 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025. Eligibility for monthly drawings will close at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on the last day of each month from July 31, 2024 to February 28, 2025. Students will earn one (1) entry for $500 Scholarships and one (1) entry for $40,000 Scholarships in the month when they complete prompts to access the list of scholarships. Unselected entries in a drawing period will automatically roll over to the next drawing period. Limit: Two (2) entries (one for $40,000 Scholarship and one for $500 Scholarship) per student total.
• Step 4. Strengthen Your College List : Create or edit a college list on BigFuture (bigfuture.collegeboard.org) so that it has a minimum of one (1) “safety,” two (2) “match,” and three (3) “reach” colleges between July 1, 2024 and October 31, 2024. Students must save their college list. Eligibility for monthly drawings will close at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on the last day of each month from July 31, 2024 to October 31, 2024. Students will earn one (1) entry for $500 Scholarships and one (1) entry for $40,000 Scholarships in the month when they create and save their college list with the minimum “safety,” “match,” and “reach” colleges specified above. Unselected entries in a drawing period will automatically roll over to the next drawing period. Limit: Two (2) entries (one for $40,000 Scholarship and one for $500 Scholarship) per student total.
• Step 5. Complete the FAFSA : With the assistance of a parent or legal guardian, as necessary, students must complete and submit the FAFSA between October 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025. Eligibility for monthly drawings will close at 11:59:59 PM EST on the last day of each month from October 31, 2024 to February 28, 2025. If the student is not a citizen or does not meet the residency requirements and is thus legally ineligible to complete the FAFSA, the student can still earn an entry by completing their state’s financial aid form, if available. If the student’s state does not offer a state financial aid form or if the student is also legally ineligible to complete their state’s financial aid form, by so attesting, the student may still earn an entry for this step. Students will earn one (1) entry for $500 Scholarships and one (1) entry for $40,000 Scholarships in the month when they confirm their submission of the FAFSA or the state financial aid form. Limit: Two (2) entries (one for $40,000 Scholarship and one for $500 Scholarship) per student total.
• Step 6. Apply to Colleges : Apply to at least two (2) colleges between October 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025. Eligibility for this drawing will close at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on February 28, 2025. Student will earns one (1) entry for $500 Scholarships and one (1) entry for $40,000 Scholarships in the month that they submit the second of their two (2) college applications. If student applied to a college through binding Early Decision, they may indicate that within the site and still earn an entry for this step. Unselected entries in a drawing period will automatically roll over to the next drawing period. Limit: Two (2) entries (one for $40,000 Scholarship and one for $500 Scholarship) per student total.

To enter without visiting the BigFuture website and completing one or more of the activities listed above, Eligible Students may call the (844) 298-3554 toll-free number to request an alternate entry form. The form will be mailed upon request to the Eligible Student. A completed form should be mailed back to the College Board, Attn: BigFuture Scholarships, 2200 NW 72nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33152-9418, with the requested information including: full name, mailing address, email address, birthdate, and the scholarship type and drawing month when mail-in entry should be applied. Limit one (1) entry per stamped outer envelope. P.O. Boxes are not permitted. Also, an individual is limited to one (1) entry per Scholarship. Entries received from any person in excess of these limitations shall be void. Automated or bulk entries or entries submitted by third parties may be disqualified. Entries must be submitted by the Eligible Student. Any attempt by any participant to obtain more than the stated number of entries by using multiple and/or different identities, forms, registrations, email addresses, logins, or any other methods will disqualify that participant’s entries, and that participant may be disqualified from the Program.

$500 Scholarships : Seventy-five (75) winners per month from January 2023 to February 2025. Additional seventy five (75) winners per month from January 2023 to February 2025 will be selected among entrants who are Lower Income Students. Students may win more than one $500 Scholarship.

$40,000 Scholarships . One (1) winner per every two (2) months from January 2023 to January 2025. Additional one (1) winner per every two (2) months from February 2023 to February 2025 will be selected among entrants who are Lower Income Students. Limit: One $40,000 Scholarship per student. The odds of winning the $40,000 Scholarships for $500 Scholarship winners shall be the same as for other student entrants.

5. SELECTION OF WINNERS.

Within 15 business days of the end of the qualifying month, Sponsor will select the name of potential winners of prizes in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. The odds of winning are based on the number of eligible entries received.

6. NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS.

The potential winners will be notified by email within 30 business days of the applicable drawing.

7. VERIFICATION OF POTENTIAL WINNERS.

ALL POTENTIAL WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSOR, WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. A PARTICIPANT IS NOT A WINNER OF ANY SCHOLARSHIP UNLESS AND UNTIL PARTICIPANT’S ELIGIBILITY HAS BEEN VERIFIED AND PARTICIPANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE.

Potential winners must submit applicable Required Documentations as described below within 60 calendar days of the notification to claim their prize.

Required Documentation:

• Affidavit of Eligibility, Waiver and Consent : Potential winners must digitally sign an affidavit of eligibility and any other applicable waivers to claim their prize. If any such student is a minor, they will also need to have their parent/legal guardian sign such affidavit of eligibility and applicable waivers to claim their prize. Potential winners (and, if minor, their parent/legal guardian) will also be asked to digitally sign a publicity release.
• Start Your Career List Potential Winners : No verification necessary.
• Build Your College List Potential Winners : No verification necessary.
• Start Your Scholarship List Potential Winners : No verification necessary.
• Strengthen Your College List Potential Winners : No verification necessary.
• Complete the FAFSA Potential Winners : If the entry was earned by submitting the FAFSA or the state financial aid form, a photo or printout of the submission confirmation email.
• Apply to Colleges Potential Winners: A photo or printout of the confirmation page of all the college applications the potential winner submitted.
• A letter from their school counselor; or
• A photo or letter showing their free/reduced lunch status; or
• A photo or other copy of a student aid report confirming income; or
• A photo or other copy of a parent’s or legal guardian’s filed federal tax form.

If a potential winner cannot be contacted as provided herein after the first attempt to contact them, if they fail to sign and return any Required Documentation by the timeline as requested by the Sponsor, or if a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, which decision shall be based on the Sponsor’s sole discretion, the potential winner forfeits the prize. In such event, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, award the applicable prize to an alternate winner selected by a random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries.

8. DISBURSEMENT.

Scholarship funds will send directly to a student selected to receive scholarship funds (“ Winner ”) in the form of one or more checks payable to a Title IV eligible institution (“ Institution ”) indicated by the Winner. Winner must indicate the Institution to Sponsor at least 60 calendar days before the beginning of their first semester at the Institution as indicated by Institution. Sponsor will never disburse scholarship funds or monies directly to Winner; it will disburse scholarship funds only to Institutions. In cases where, prior to full disbursement, a Winner (i) changes or transfers to a new Institution, (ii) defers enrollment, or (iii) ceases attending or leave the Institution for any reason, the Winner shall promptly notify Sponsor of such change in their enrollment at the Institution, which shall be no later than five (5) business days after such change has been notified to the applicable Institution. Upon receipt of notification, in case of (i), Sponsor shall disburse any remaining scholarship funds to the new Institution provided it is a Title IV eligible institution; and in case of (ii) and (iii), Winner shall have 12 months (or 36 months in the case the reason for such deferral or leave is to enroll in the military or religious service) to notify Sponsor of their enrollment at a new Title IV eligible Institution (together with a reasonable proof of such enrollment and, in the case of a military or religious-related deferral or leave, documentation of the applicable military or religious service) or the Winner will forfeit the remainder of the scholarship. Furthermore, even if a Winner enrolls in a Title IV eligible Institution earlier than their cohort, the scholarship funds will be disbursed to the applicable Institution at the same time as the rest of the cohort. The scholarship funds shall be for undergraduate studies only. All $500 Scholarships must be disbursed by October 31, 2026, except in cases of deferral due to religious or military services in which case they must be disbursed by October 31, 2028. All $40,000 Scholarships funds must be disbursed by October 31, 2031. Sponsor may use a third party vendor, such as Scholarship America, for the disbursement and associated administrative support.

9. PUBLICITY AND OTHER CONSENT.

Except where prohibited by law, participation in the Scholarship Program constitutes each entrant’s (and a minor entrant’s parents’ and legal guardians’) consent to Sponsor’s (and its designees’, successors’ and assigns’) use or distribution of entrant’s name, biography, likeness, voice, photographs, video, opinions, statements, hometown, state and country of residence, high school, school district and entry for promotional, advertising, research and other purposes (including in communicating with their school and school district regarding entry and potential or actual receipt of scholarship funds) in any manner or media (including, without limitation, online, on websites and in social media), worldwide, in perpetuity, and without further payment, consideration, notice, review or consent.

10. RELEASE OF LIABILITY.

By participating, each entrant (and, if a minor, their parent or legal guardian) agrees to release, discharge, and hold harmless Sponsor (and advertising and promotion agencies), and the respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, and representatives of the forgoing (collectively, “ Released Parties ”) from any and all injuries, liability, losses, and damages of any kind to persons, including death, or property resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from student’s participation in the Scholarship Program or any Scholarship Program-related activity or the acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any awarded prize.

Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Scholarship Program, who act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void. Should any portion of the Scholarship Program be, in Sponsor’s sole opinion, compromised by non-authorized human intervention or other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of entries, Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to suspend, modify, or terminate the Scholarship Program and, if terminated, at its discretion, award the prizes from among all non-suspect, eligible entries received up to time of such action using the judging procedure outlined above or as otherwise deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT DELIBERATELY TO DAMAGE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES) FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION .

11. DISPUTES.

Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Scholarship Program or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the United States District Court for the District of New York or the appropriate State Court located in New York; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Scholarship Program, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Scholarship Program, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

12. PRIVACY.

Information collected from entrants is subject to Sponsor’s Privacy Statement, available at www.collegeboard.org/privacy-policy/privacy-statement.

13. REQUEST FOR WINNERS’ LIST/OFFICIAL RULES.

For the names of scholarship winners or a copy of the Official Rules, available September 1, 2025, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with the request to the College Board, Attn: BigFuture Scholarships, 2200 NW 72nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33152-9418. Please include a note specifying the nature of the request, e.g., asking for a hard copy of the official rules or specifying the name of the scholarship and the particular drawing date and year. Such request must be received by the Sponsor no later than 90 days after September 1, 2025, at which time all Class of 2025 scholarship winners will have been verified and scholarship dollars are distributed.

Date: October 2022

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34 No Essay Scholarships to Save Thousands on College

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What’s Covered:

Are “no-essay” scholarships worth it, where to focus your scholarship search.

• 34 No-Essay Scholarships  

Scholarships play a large role in many students’ plans for how to pay for college, but completing the applications for some scholarships is time-consuming—especially for students who are busy taking challenging courses and involved with extracurricular activities. Luckily, some scholarships are easier to apply for than others, like the no-essay scholarships listed below. 

No-essay scholarships are easier to apply for than other, more involved scholarships, so it doesn’t cost you much in time or effort to apply. However, because they’re easy to apply for, they receive a lot of applications, which means more competition and lower odds of winning. It is also less clear how no-essay scholarship recipients are selected without an essay to set your application apart.  

If you choose to apply for no-essay scholarships, just know that they are just a part of a strategy for winning awards to college and are best-suited as a supplement to local and more niche scholarships. If you don’t like the idea of writing an essay, look for a scholarship with an equivalent task, like making a video or creating a piece of art instead. 

Outside scholarships garner a lot of attention, but colleges and universities are actually the best place to look for scholarships—schools themselves grant $175 billion in scholarship money annually! It’s also worth noting that college awards are often larger than outside awards; 80% of external scholarships are less than $2,000, which looks great on paper but will only put a small dent in the cost of most colleges. 

You have the best chance of winning a merit-based scholarship from a college or university. While super-selective schools with applicants fighting for admission often don’t offer merit-based scholarships—for example, none of the Ivy League colleges do—less selective colleges are often anxious to attract strong applicants. This makes applying to a college where your profile is particularly strong a smart strategy for getting a merit scholarship .

34 No-Essay Scholarships 

1. “be bold” no-essay scholarship.

Amount: $25,000

Deadline: December 31 

Eligibility: Students of any education level, school, field of study, and GPA considered

This scholarship is for bold students who are determined to change the world one step at a time. No essay is required to win this eye-popping award. Instead, create a bold profile highlighting your earnestness, determination, and how you’re moving toward your goals for a chance to win.

2. Scholarships360 No-Essay Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: September 30 

Eligibility: All students—including high school students, community college students, undergraduates, and graduate students

No essay is required to win this generous award. Simply sign up for Scholarship360—a scholarship newsletter—for your chance at $1,000 for college. 

3. $2,000 “No-Essay” College Scholarship

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: Monthly  

Eligibility: All high school and college students

The name says it all: no essay is required to receive this $2,000 college scholarship. Simply create an account for a chance to win this substantial award. A winner is chosen monthly and the money can be used to cover tuition, housing, books, or any other education-related expenses.

4. $2,000 Nitro Scholarship

Deadline: Monthly 

Eligibility: 

• Age 17 or older
• A parent with a child enrolled in an accredited college or university in the U.S. 
• A student enrolled in an accredited college or university in the U.S. 
• A parent with a high school senior in the U.S.
• A high school senior located with the U.S. 
• A student or a parent who has graduated from an accredited undergraduate school and is paying back debt from educational expenses

No essay is needed to win a $2,000 Nitro Scholarship. Applicants only need to complete a short application for this chance to win this award and to take a step to control the cost of college. 

5. The Student Loan Hero Smart Money Giveaway

Eligibility: Legal U.S. residents in the contiguous U.S. and Washington, D.C., 18 years of age and older

This scholarship wants you to take control of your college finances so you can focus on your future. Entry is easy—just fill out a short online application. 

6. College Board “Complete Your FAFSA” Scholarships

Amount:   $500

Deadline: October through February 

Eligibility: Current high school seniors in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories

The College Board—the organization that administers the SAT—provides scholarships to students for simply filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The College Board will give out 500 awards every month from October through December and 100 awards in both January and February.

7. College Board “Complete Your Journey” Scholarships

Amount: $40,000

Deadline: February 

Complete the College Board’s six steps of college planning for your chance at one of 25 $40,000 scholarship opportunities. The program is open to students from all financial backgrounds, however, at least half of the scholarships will go to students from families who earn less than $60,000 annually. 

8. ScholarshipPoints Scholarship Program

Amount: $10,000

Deadline: Quarterly 

Eligibility:   

• Age 13 or older
• U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident 
• Attending or planning to attend college in the U.S.

No GPA, no essay, and no hassle! To enter for an opportunity to win one of these impressive awards, simply fill out an online application. In addition to the quarterly $10,000 scholarships, ScholarshipPoints also draws three $1,000 scholarships monthly.

9. Christian Connector Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

Deadline: May 31

Eligibility:  

• Age 13 or older 
• Must enroll for the first time as a full-time student at a Christ-centered Christian college, university, or Bible college

Sign up to receive information about Christian colleges—and for a chance at winning this handsome scholarship award for college. The scholarship is only open to students planning to attend a Christ-centered Christian college, university, or Bible college. The funds are sent directly to the winner’s school of choice. 

10. No Essay ‘You Deserve It’ Scholarship

Amount: $2,222

Deadline: December 29

• Age 16 or older 
• Legal resident of the U.S. or its territories (Rhode Island and Michigan applicants are ineligible)
• Enrolled in a qualified high school, college, or university in the U.S.

Sign up for ScholarshipOwl (a scholarship service) and you’re simultaneously registered for a chance to win a $2,222 award. Your odds of winning are about 1 in 140,000—not too bad considering there is no essay required and sign up is quick. 

11. CollegeXpress $10,000 Scholarship Contest

• Legal U.S. resident 
• Must enter a CollegeXpress member college as a full-time freshman, transfer, or graduate student for the fall term 

Just create a CollegeXpress profile for a chance at $10,000 to use at a CollegeXpress member college . Winners of this no-essay scholarship are selected at random. 

12. Annual Catholic College Scholarship

Amount: $1,500

• Must enroll for the first time as a full-time student at a Catholic college

Sign up to receive information about Catholic colleges—and for a chance at winning this handsome scholarship award for college. The scholarship is only open to students planning to attend a Catholic college, university, or Bible college. The funds are sent directly to the winner’s school of choice. 

13. Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award 

Amount: $5,000

• Resident of the U.S. or its territories
• High school seniors, college students, students who’ve earned a General Education Development (GED), or parent/guardian of an aforementioned person

Sign up to receive emails that provide helpful college tips and useful resources and get entered to win one of 12 annual $5,000 awards. Complete a survey after registering for emails for an additional entry for the scholarship. 

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14. Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship  

Deadline: Semi-annually (spring and fall)

Eligibility: Attending an accredited school in the U.S. or accepted to an accredited school and set to begin within six months of application

Show off your creativity for a chance to win this no-essay scholarship. To enter, fill out a short application and either submit a web design or attach a link to a webpage. In addition to a scholarship, winners also receive a critique session with Lounge Lizard’s founder and CCO. 

15. Create-a-Greeting-Card Scholarship

Deadline: March 3

• Age 14 or older 
• Legal U.S. resident or international student with a student visa 
• High school, college, or university student 

While you don’t need an essay to win this generous scholarship, you are required to submit an original photo, artwork, or computer graphic for use on the front of a greeting card. Entries are limited to one per person, so send in your best work! 

16. Frame My Future Scholarship Contest 

Amount: $6,000

Deadline: April 1

• Legal U.S.resident
• Planning to enroll at a U.S. college or university in the fall

Show how you frame your future through photography, illustration, painting, or mixed media art for a chance at this ample award. Although no essay is required, applicants are asked to submit a brief overview of their piece (no more than 500 characters). 

17. Annual Faith-Based College Scholarship

• Must enroll for the first time as a full-time student at a faith-based college

Sign up to receive information about faith-based colleges and for a chance at winning this handsome scholarship award for college. The scholarship is only open to students planning to attend a faith-based college, university, or Bible college. The funds are sent directly to the winner’s school of choice. 

18. Sallie Mae $5,432 Sweepstakes

Amount: $5,432

Deadline: December 31

Entering for this scholarship is easy, all you need to do is complete an online registration for your chance at this $5,432 award. 

19. Ascent Scholarships 

Amount: Varies 

• Age 18 or older 
• Legal U.S. resident or DACA student
• Enrolled at least half-time in a degree program or technical skills training program 

Ascent Scholarship giveaways are designed to help students cover school-related expenses such as tuition, books, rent, groceries, parking, and transportation. No essay is required, all you need to do is register for a chance to win one of these awards. 

20. The “No Sweat” Scholarship

• Between 8th and 12th grade 

Create an account and complete a portfolio for your chance at this super scholarship which you can use for any educational purpose—from books to summer camp. The more complete your profile is, the better your odds of winning are. 

21. Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship

• U.S. residents, DACA and undocumented students, and international students currently studying in the U.S.
• Current high school, college, and graduate students

Paying for school is stressful which is why this scholarship is intentionally low pressure. Complete the online registration to enter. Follow Access Scholarships on Instagram for an extra entry. You can use the scholarship for any educational expense—including tuition, textbooks, housing, and technology. 

22. Cappex Easy Money Scholarship

Eligibility: Current high school or college student 

No need to stress about your GPA or an essay when entering this scholarship contest. Simply answer a few simple questions for your chance at one of these awards. 

23. Scholarships4Moms 

Deadline: December 15

• Age 18 or older
• U.S. legal resident
• Mother or expectant mother 
• Enrolled in a college or university in the U.S. or will enroll in one within three months 

The Scholarships4Moms award is designed to help mothers meet their educational goals. Founded by a group of moms, who understand how busy moms are, signing up is quick and easy. All you need to do is complete a short entry form. 

24. College Survey Scholarship

Eligibility: College undergraduate or graduate student and undergraduate or graduate alumni who graduated within the last four years

All it takes to enter this running for this scholarship is to fill out a college survey on Niche, a ranking, and review website. Your responses are anonymous and are displayed on Niche to help other students to find the right college for them. 

25. Easy Scholarships

• Age 25 years or younger
• Living in the U.S. or Canada (or a citizen of either country but living abroad)

No GPA requirements or essays are required to participate in this scholarship contest. For a chance to win, you simply must sign up for a campaign, complete it, and take a photo to document your participation. Campaigns are quick and completed in under five minutes!  

26. SuperCollege Scholarship

Eligibility: High school, college, or graduate student, or adult planning to go back to school

Just fill out the application and answer a few simple questions about your college plans for the opportunity to win this award. You can use the scholarship to pay for any education-related expenses. For example, tuition, books, computers, or room and board.

27. Debt.com Scholarship For Aggressive Scholarship Applicants

Amount: $500

Deadline: Every other month 

Eligibility: Actively applying for scholarships

This scholarship rewards students with the drive to earn scholarships and the willingness to fight for financial independence. In order to win, you need to send confirmations from all of the scholarships you’ve applied to. Also, while there is no essay, you are required to submit a short biographical letter.

28. MyMozaic Monthly Scholarship Contest

Deadline: Every month 

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizen or legal resident
• Enrolled in high school or college in the U.S.

Simply create a profile at MyMozaic.com and answer a few simple questions—like your graduation year, your GPA, and the major(s) you’re interested in—for the opportunity to win one of these monthly, no-essay scholarships. 

29. WayUp Dream Job No-Essay Scholarship

Deadline: Jun 1 

Eligibility: Current college student

Create a profile at WayUp—a jobsite for college students and recent college graduates—for a  chance of winning a $1,000 scholarship. The stronger your profile and the more internships and jobs you apply for, the better your odds are to receive an award.  

30. College Ave Scholarship Monthly Sweepstakes

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident 
• Enrolled in high school or a post-secondary educational institution or are the parent or legal guardian of a person enrolled in a high school or a post-secondary educational institution 

Earning this $1,000 simply requires filling out a very short entry and a little luck. Winners are chosen monthly!  

31. Give Me Liberty Easy Scholarship

• U.S. citizen 
• High school senior or enrolled in an accredited institution in the U.S.

The intention of this scholarship is to provide every student with an equal opportunity to experience freedom from the burden of tuition and loans. Recipients are selected through a lottery which gives every applicant the same chance of winning—regardless of their academic performance, extracurricular achievements, and essay writing skills. 

32. Because College is Expensive Scholarship

Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, along with current college students and anyone else looking to attend college or graduate school

If you’re planning to attend college you’ll want to look into this scholarship—all it takes is completing a short application to enter for a chance to win. Only one entry per quarter is allowed. 

33. Return 2 College Scholarship Program

Deadline: January 31

• U.S. citizen or legal resident 
• Starting a program of higher education—either undergraduate or graduate—within the next 12 months or are currently full or part-time students 

While this scholarship doesn’t require an essay it does ask you to compose three sentences answering the question why are you getting your degree? Have a lot to say? Perfect, more than one entry is allowed, but more than a dozen are discouraged. 

34. Project Yellow Light Create a Billboard Scholarship   

Deadline: March 1

• Legal U.S. residents 
• High school juniors and seniors, along with undergraduate and graduate students 

Design a billboard to promote safe driving to a broad audience and draw attention to this important topic. In addition to a scholarship, winners may see their design grace a billboard or used on the web and other digital platforms. 

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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.

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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.

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✅How affordability and stress are impacting juniors’ college search ✅Why students want more relevance, less spam, and more control over their college search ✅The impact of the FAFSA fiasco and politics in the college search ✅Why juniors are casting a wider net in their search, with a focus on campus life and experiences

• Best Scholarship Websites of 2023
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• Our Experts' Advice for Choosing the Best Scholarship Websites

Best Scholarship Websites of 2024

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Even the best student loans and other financial aid items don't always provide enough to cover all the costs of college. Scholarships are a great way to bridge the gap, with no obligation to repay the money. Finding scholarships you qualify for can be difficult. But there are several great scholarship websites that can help you do it.

Keep in mind, however, that many colleges deduct private scholarships from the amount of gift aid they provide, reducing how much "free money" you can get from the school. That would effectively negate the work you did in seeking out and applying for private scholarships. Therefore, you should consider looking at schools that offer merit-based scholarships or provide generous packages to students with financial need.

Scholarships.com

Collegeboard, scholarshipowl, compare the best scholarship websites.

We've rounded up the best scholarship websites for students looking to save on the cost of college, with an emphasis on those that provide a wide breadth of opportunities. Most of the sites are free to use. Some offer basic features at no cost, with an option to pay for additional functionality. 

Peterson's 

Our experts for the best scholarship websites.

We consulted scholarship and financial experts to give their insights into finding the best scholarship websites — and when to avoid them altogether.

• Christopher Rim, founder and CEO at Command Education
• Jennifer Ledwith, owner at Scholar Ready
• Neeta Vallab, founder at MeritMore
• Ryan Wangman, former loans reporter at Personal Finance Insider

Best Scholarship Websites FAQs

There isn't a singular website that's the best to apply for scholarships. Instead, consider scholarships.com, Fastweb, Bold.org, Peterson's, College Board, Scholly, GoingMerry, Scholarship Owl, and ProFellow.

Do your due diligence when looking to apply for scholarships you find on aggregation websites. Confirm that the scholarship's sponsor is legitimate by looking at reviews of the company, and check its Better Business Bureau grade, if available. 

Most private scholarships won't completely cover the cost of your education. You're better off looking for merit scholarships from individual colleges that cover your costs completely or filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  to see if you're eligible for a need-based full ride. 

Generally speaking, you shouldn't pay someone to search for scholarships for you, though there are exceptions to every rule. Many scholarship websites are free to use. They only "cost" the time you spend searching on them. 

The timing on when you should start filling out applications for scholarships varies depending on the specific scholarship you're applying for. Some scholarships are even available to high school students, so it's never too early to start your search.

The GPA requirement varies from scholarship to scholarship, but the lowest GPA is usually around 2.0. In general, you'll have a better chance of success with a higher GPA. 

Some of the most common scholarship types include academic scholarships, athletic scholarships, identity-based scholarships, and first-generation student scholarships.

Our Experts' Advice for Choosing the Best Scholarship Websites

What are the advantages of private scholarships versus scholarships or grants from schools.

Neeta Vallab: 

"Honestly, there are very limited advantages to using private scholarships over grants directly from schools. Unlike private scholarships, most grants from schools do not require a separate application and are renewable for four years. Additionally, many colleges will deduct the value of a private scholarship from any award they give you. This is called 'displacement.' And because this practice is so prevalent, it often leaves students with no net financial benefit, despite the effort they invested in submitting an application."

Jennifer Ledwith:

"Unlike scholarships from schools, private scholarships can be used at multiple universities. Furthermore, unlike grants from schools, private scholarships don't have to follow federal or institutional financial aid methodology. Consequently, students can receive private scholarships without regard to other financial aid awards. Furthermore, some private scholarships send the money directly to the student, allowing greater flexibility in using the funds."

Should you always consider scholarships before loans? Are there any scenarios you should pick a loan?

Christopher Rim: 

"No, you should never pick a loan over a scholarship! You always have to pay back loans. Students should bear in mind that they may have their scholarship rescinded if they don't meet the terms and conditions. They should be absolutely sure to read the terms of their scholarship thoroughly to understand the possible consequences if they fail to meet the set conditions."

Ryan Wangman:

"You'll need to repay the money you borrow from any lender, so it's never a good idea to choose a loan over a scholarship, which is money you don't have to pay back. There aren't any scenarios I can think of where it is better to pick a loan than a scholarship. 

How do you know what scholarships you're qualified for?

Rim : 

"Many websites will allow students to filter through their databases to find scholarships they are eligible for. Others ask students to create a profile and then match them based on demographic information. Once students find the scholarships on databases, they should be sure to cross check eligibility requirements on the sponsoring organization's website."

Vallab : 

"Private scholarships will usually have a qualifications section in their description. Some colleges may publish a scholarship grid showing the GPA and test scores required for certain levels of eligibility. Not all merit scholarship information is published however."

What's the best way to track what scholarships you've applied for and are waiting to hear back from?

"Students should keep a spreadsheet to track their scholarship application status."

"Like Jennifer mentioned, a spreadsheet is usually the best way to track application status. Make sure you note how far along you are in each process, as well as any awards you have received — both private and from the schools you've been accepted to.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

• Main content

Still unsure about college? It's not too late to apply for scholarships or even school.

Even with the May 1 deadline for college decisions come and gone , many students may still be undecided about which school to attend, or they may have given up after a botched FAFSA rollout and other problems securing financial aid .

But education experts want students and families to know, that it isn’t too late to get scholarships or even apply to a school to attend this fall.

Students have access to 1.7 million private scholarships and fellowships whose total value tops $7.4 billion, according to the independent nonprofit foundation Educationdata.org. Some applications for that funding require essays and academic or athletic achievement. But many don’t. Some take as few as two minutes to complete, with a chance to win as much as $25,000. Scholarships are also gifts and don’t have to be repaid.

“This is important both from an emotional standpoint and a practical, financial standpoint,” said James Lewis, president of the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), a private foundation that works as a nonprofit to honor high-achieving students. “With the FAFSA delays and confusion, millions of young people feel helpless ," he said, "But there is one area where they can take control and that’s applying for scholarships.”

FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Learn more: Best personal loans

Who can apply for scholarships?

“ Scholarships are available on a year-round basis and they’re not just for high school seniors – students of all grades and ages can apply,” Lewis said, noting college or graduate school students can also apply. “There’s literally a scholarship for everyone.”

Merit-based scholarships may require you to meet or exceed certain standards set by the scholarship giver. Others may be needs-based. Many are geared toward specific groups of people: women; graduate students; where you or your parent work; military families; athletes, minorities; community service; music; and religious organizations.

Where can I find scholarships?

Everywhere.

“We generally start by suggesting students begin at home in their local communities,” Lewis said. “There, many business organizations and corporations provide scholarships. At the local level, there are also scholarships for virtually any extracurricular activity, from sports and dance to theater and STEM clubs.”

The Department of Education and NSHSS also offer suggestions and resources. Specific sites like StudentScholarships.org , Going Merry by Earnest , Niche , and Scholly by Sallie Mae list scholarships.

Can I get a scholarship in time for school this fall?

Scholarship notifications vary widely, but most take one to three months, Lewis said.

“This should not discourage applicants,” he said. “Those who apply for scholarships will most likely have their awards by the start of the new school year if they win, and they can keep applying for scholarships even when they're in college.”

Some students are even able to pay for all of college by leveraging scholarships. The most famous one? Scholly founder Christopher Gray landed $1.3 million in scholarships and got a deal on Shark Tank for his company.

What if I haven’t even applied or gotten into a school yet?

It’s also not too late!

◾ National Association for College Admission Counseling lists schools that are still accepting applications.

◾ Niche allows students to be considered for immediate acceptance at 91 schools across 30 states through its Direct Admissions program through Aug. 1 for the 2024-25 school year.

How does Direct Admissions work?

Students create a free Niche profile and select schools they’re interested in. If the student meets a school’s criteria, that school sends an immediate acceptance that includes a breakdown of the costs of attending and any scholarship money it can offer.

Students can compare offers and accept one without having to complete a separate, full school application or FAFSA to receive the offered scholarship.

Niche has 38 fields to complete, and the student never has to pay an application fee, said Luke Skurman, Niche’s chief executive.

Half of all U.S. college-bound high school seniors create an account on Niche each year, he said. This year, more than 900,000 students have at least one Niche Direct Admissions offer, but the average is more than five offers per student with an average scholarship of $18,500 per year, he said.

Alternative path: Is it possible to avoid student debt? These career, education tracks offer a different path

Bottom line

Higher education may feel especially unattainable this year due to soaring school costs , high interest rates and difficulty getting federal aid , but don’t give up, experts say.

“The main things are to be organized and to stick with it,” Lewis said. “The rewards can be amazing!”

Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected] and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.   

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$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.

$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!

Excelsior Scholarship Program

Offered by New York State

The Excelsior Scholarship Program is open to New York residents who are or will be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college,… Show More

The Excelsior Scholarship Program is open to New York residents who are or will be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University. Applicants must have either graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test, as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department. Recipients of the scholarship will have any remaining gaps in their tuition expenses covered, after other federal and state grants and scholarships are applied, for up to $5,500. If you're a New York State resident looking to attend a SUNY or CUNY campus, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

The There’s Space For Everyone Scholarship

Offered by Extra Space Storage

The There's Space For Everyone Scholarship is offering eight $3,000 scholarships to high school, college, or graduate students who will be enrolled in an accredited… Show More

The There's Space For Everyone Scholarship is offering eight $3,000 scholarships to high school, college, or graduate students who will be enrolled in an accredited college or university for the upcoming Fall semester. To be eligible, applicants must be legal residents of the United States and at least 16 years old. If you're an incoming or current post-secondary student looking for help funding your education, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Bear in mind that the scholarship accepts applications from April 1st to May 31st of every year. Show Less

New Heights Scholarship

Offered by Bussey Law Firm, P.C.

The New Heights Scholarship is open to high school seniors on track to graduate or current college students enrolled in an accredited four-year university/college or… Show More

The New Heights Scholarship is open to high school seniors on track to graduate or current college students enrolled in an accredited four-year university/college or in a two-year college and planning to transfer to a four-year university/college upon completion. All applicants must have already earned, or will earn their high school diploma this calendar year. DACA recipients are welcome to apply. To apply, students must submit a 500 - 1,000 word essay answering the prompt: "Please map out the path that YOU see yourself taking through college to your chosen field. If you’re unsure, tell us none the less – what would you like to do, and why?" Good luck! Show Less

US Bank Student Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by U.S. Bank

The US Bank Student Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship opportunity for U.S. residents aged 17 or older who have been accepted to or are enrolled… Show More

The US Bank Student Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship opportunity for U.S. residents aged 17 or older who have been accepted to or are enrolled in a post-secondary institution to receive help funding their education. Each year, the scholarship awards up to $20,000 to multiple incoming and current undergraduate students who complete some of the U.S. Bank's "financial education lesson" modules. Each module takes approximately 1-2 minutes to complete, and the more that students complete, the more money they become eligible to earn. Applicants who complete 25+, 50+, 100+, and 200+ modules are eligible to receive $2500, $5000, $10,000, and $20,000, respectively. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details. Show Less

Patriot’s Pen Youth Essay Contest

Offered by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Are you a 6th-8th grader with an interest in American history? If so, the Patriot's Pen Youth Essay Contest may be a great opportunity for… Show More

Are you a 6th-8th grader with an interest in American history? If so, the Patriot's Pen Youth Essay Contest may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the contest awards up to $5,000 to the 6th-8th grade students who submit the best 300-400-word essays "expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief." Bear in mind that applications must be submitted to your local VFW post by October 31st to be considered for the scholarship. If this scholarship sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Stokes Scholarship Programs

Offered by Central Intelligence Agency

The Stokes Scholarship Programs are funded by the Central Intelligence Agency, a U.S. government agency that provides objective intelligence on foreign countries and global issues… Show More

The Stokes Scholarship Programs are funded by the Central Intelligence Agency, a U.S. government agency that provides objective intelligence on foreign countries and global issues to the president, the National Security Council, and other policymakers to help them make national security decisions. Every year, their Stokes Scholarship Program awards up to $25,000 to multiple postsecondary students who are willing to work one to two 90-day sessions at the CIA before graduating. In addition, scholarship recipients must commit to working at the CIA for a period of 1.5 years for each year they receive the scholarship. If you're an undergraduate or graduate student wanting to work at the Central Intelligence Agency, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Ayn Rand Institute Novel Essay Contest (Atlas Shrugged) This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Ayn Rand Institute

Are you a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student with a passion for reading, writing, and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand? If so, we may… Show More

Are you a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student with a passion for reading, writing, and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the Ayn Rand Institute Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest! Each year, the contest asks its applicants to write an 800 - 1,600 word essay in which they analyze and make an argument about an aspect or plot point of the novel Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Nine prizes of varying amounts are awarded each year, with a grand prize of $25,000! If you’re familiar with Atlas Shrugged, can make a convincing argument, and want to make some cash, we encourage you to apply! 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!

GeneTex Scholarship

Offered by GeneTex

Are you a STEM major in college or university looking for help to pay off your degree? If so, consider applying for the GeneTex Scholarship!… Show More

Are you a STEM major in college or university looking for help to pay off your degree? If so, consider applying for the GeneTex Scholarship! The scholarship is open to all STEM majors enrolled at an accredited postsecondary institution in good academic standing, including international students. Offered by GeneTex, the scholarship supports young scientists pursuing a postsecondary education to increase scientific advancement and future discoveries. GeneTex is a Texas-based life science, biotechnology company that develops and sells research reagents in the biomedical field. The GeneTex scholarship awards one student $2,000 biannually for use toward their education or other expenses. Typically, the deadlines for each year will fall in July and December or January of each year. If you are a STEM major looking for some help with tuition and fees, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

Offered by Unigo

Are you a big fan of The Walking Dead, or maybe Z Nation? Ever thought about what you would do in the case of a… Show More

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

Minecraft Scholarship

Offered by Apex Hosting

Are you a high school or college student with a love for Minecraft? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the… Show More

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

Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Ted & Holly Rollins

Are you a college-bound high school senior with big dreams? If so, consider applying for the Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship… Show More

Are you a college-bound high school senior with big dreams? If so, consider applying for the Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards $5,000 to one (1) applicant who writes an essay regarding life story, intended field of study, career and how you specifically will make an impact on the world. The scholarship is offered by Ted and Holly Rollins, entrepreneurs and philanthropists who believe in the importance of assisting hardworking youth in paying for college. If you’re an incoming college student in need of some financial help while you’re off pursuing your dreams, we encourage you to apply to the Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship! Show Less

Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest

Offered by Duck Tape

Are you a high school student with a love for innovative fashion design? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you: the Stuck… Show More

Are you a high school student with a love for innovative fashion design? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you: the Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest! Each year, the contest awards between $1,000 and $15,000 to the ten applicants who submit the most impressive prom dresses and tuxedo designs, made entirely from duct tape. The contest is offered by Duck Brand Duct Tape, a company with a long history of selling top-notch duct tape for a variety of purposes, now including making formal attire! If you’re a high school student wanting to put your fashion and creativity skills to the test, we encourage you to apply to the Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest. Don’t duck out! Show Less

Visionary Scholarship

Offered by American College Foundation

Are you a high school student with dreams of going to college one day? If so, consider applying for the Visionary Scholarship! Each application cycle,… Show More

Are you a high school student with dreams of going to college one day? If so, consider applying for the Visionary Scholarship! Each application cycle, the scholarship awards between $1,000 and $2,500 to five applicants who submit an essay (~500 words) on why college is important to them. The scholarship is biannual, and non-winners from previous cycles are welcome to reapply. The upcoming deadline for the scholarship is on June 1, 2023. The scholarship is funded by the American College Foundation, a college preparation cornerstone with all information and related strategies delivered entirely from the family’s perspective.  If you’re a high schooler passionate about receiving a postsecondary education, we encourage you to apply and prepare for your college journey early! Show Less

Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest

Offered by Regions Bank

Are you a Black, college-bound high school senior or current college student who will be enrolled in an accredited university for this upcoming academic year?… Show More

Are you a Black, college-bound high school senior or current college student who will be enrolled in an accredited university for this upcoming academic year? If so, you may be eligible for the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest! Each quarter, the contest awards $8,000 to the top four (4) applicants who submit an essay (500 words or less) or a video (3 minutes or less) about how someone they know has (1) inspired them and (2) given them the confidence to achieve their goals. The scholarship is offered four times a year, with deadlines every March, June, September, and December. Bear in mind that applicants must also reside in a state with Regions Bank full-service branches to apply. To find out whether or not your state is eligible, keep on reading. If it is, we encourage you to apply! 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.

$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.

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NCAA signs off on deal that would change landscape of college sports — paying student-athletes

A major change could be coming for college athletes — they may soon start getting paid.

A tentative agreement announced Thursday by the NCAA and the country’s five biggest conferences to a series of antitrust lawsuits could direct millions of dollars directly to athletes as soon as fall 2025.

The nearly $2.8 billion settlement, which would be paid out over the next decade to 14,000 former and current student-athletes, “is an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a joint statement Thursday night with the commissioners of the ACC, the Big 10, the Big 12, the Pac-12 and the SEC.

The federal judge overseeing the case must still sign off on the agreement, but if it is approved, it would signal a major shift in college sports in which students would play for compensation, not just scholarships, exposure and opportunities.

“This landmark settlement will bring college sports into the 21st century, with college athletes finally able to receive a fair share of the billions of dollars of revenue that they generate for their schools,” said Steve Berman, one of the lead attorneys for the plaintiffs. “Our clients are the bedrock of the NCAA’s multibillion-dollar business and finally can be compensated in an equitable and just manner for their extraordinary athletic talents.”

The NCAA and power conferences called the settlement a “road map” that would allow the uniquely American institution to provide unmatched opportunity for millions of students and write the “next chapter of college sports.”

The case, which was set to go to trial early next year, was brought by a former and a current college athlete who said the NCAA and the five wealthiest conferences improperly barred athletes from earning endorsement money. Former Arizona State swimmer Grant House and Sedona Prince, a former Oregon and current TCU basketball player, also contended in their suit that athletes were entitled to a piece of the billions of dollars the NCAA and those conferences earn from media rights agreements with television networks.

Michael McCann, a legal analyst and sports reporter at Sportico , told NBC News in an interview on Top Story with Tom Llamas the case has two components that “move away from amateurism” — one that deals with how players are paid for the past loss of earnings, including money they could have made for name, image and likeness.

“The going forward part is that colleges can opt in, conferences can opt in, as well, to pay players, to share revenue with them, to have direct pay, and that would be of course a radical from the traditions of college sports,” McCann said, adding many would say that change is warranted. “Now the athletes, at least at some schools, will get a direct stake.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though some details have emerged in the past few weeks. They signal the end of the NCAA’s bedrock amateurism model that dates to its founding in 1906. Indeed, the days of NCAA punishment for athletes driving booster-provided cars started vanishing three years ago when the organization  lifted restrictions on endorsement deals  backed by so-called name, image and likeness, or NIL, money.

Now it is not far-fetched to look ahead to seasons when a star quarterback or a top prospect on a college basketball team not only is cashing in big-money NIL deals but also has a $100,000 school payment in the bank to play.

A host of  details are still to be determined . The agreement calls for the NCAA and the conferences to pay $2.77 billion over 10 years to more than 14,000 former and current college athletes who say now-defunct rules prevented them from earning money from endorsement and sponsorship deals dating to 2016.

Some of the money would come from NCAA reserve funds and insurance, but even though the lawsuit specifically targeted five conferences that comprise 69 schools (including Notre Dame),  dozens of other NCAA member schools  would get smaller distributions from the NCAA to cover the mammoth payout.

Schools in the Big Ten, the Big 12 and the Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences would end up bearing the brunt of the settlement at a cost of about $300 million apiece over 10 years, the majority of which would be paid to athletes going forward.

The Pac-12 is also part of the settlement, with all 12 current schools sharing responsibility even though Washington State and Oregon State will be the only league members left by this fall after the 10 other schools leave.

Paying athletes

In the new compensation model, each school would be permitted but not required to set aside up to $21 million in revenue to share with athletes per year, though as revenues rose, so could the cap.

Athletes in all sports would be eligible for payments, and schools would be given the freedom to decide how the money is divvied up among sports programs. Roster restrictions would replace scholarship limits by sport.

McCann said the back pay would disproportionately go to some sports — such as football and basketball.

“The schools that I think that are certainly big football schools will probably opt in because they’re going to want to compete, they’re going to want to get the best players, because college football generates a lot of revenue,” he said. 

Whether the new compensation model is subject to the Title IX gender equity law is unknown, along with whether schools would be able to bring NIL activities in-house as they hope and squeeze out the booster-run collectives that have sprouted up in the last few years to pay athletes. Both topics could lead to more lawsuits.

“There are all sorts of areas of turbulence that could present themselves,” McCann said of roadblocks that could arise.

More sports coverage

• Four decades after Michael Jordan, Caitlin Clark is getting her own line of Wilson basketballs
• Mario Andretti: Formula 1 owner personally threatened to shut out team Andretti
• Student-athletes are inking lucrative endorsement deals, but a patchwork of laws has created chaos in college sports

Other cases

The settlement is expected to cover two  other antitrust cases  facing the NCAA and major conferences that challenge athlete compensation rules. Hubbard v. the NCAA and Carter v. the NCAA are also in front of judges in the Northern District of California.

A fourth case, Fontenot v. NCAA, creates a potential complication, as it remains in a Colorado court after a judge  denied a request  to combine it with Carter. Whether Fontenot becomes part of the settlement is unknown, and it matters because the NCAA and its conferences don’t want to be on the hook for more damages should they lose in court.

“We’re going to continue to litigate our case in Colorado and look forward to hearing about the terms of a settlement proposal once they’re actually released and put in front of a court,” said George Zelcs, a plaintiffs’ attorney in Fontenot.

Headed in that direction

The solution agreed to in the settlement is a landmark but not surprising. College sports have been trending in this direction for years, with athletes receiving more and more monetary benefits and rights they say were long overdue.

In December, Baker, the former governor of Massachusetts who has been on the job for 14 months,  proposed creating a new tier of Division I athletics  in which the schools with the most resources would be required to pay at least half their athletes $30,000 per year. That suggestion, along with many other possibilities, remains under discussion.

The settlement would not make every issue facing college sports go away. There is still a question of whether athletes should be  deemed employees  of their schools, which Baker and other college sports leaders  are fighting.

Some type of federal legislation or antitrust exemption would most likely still be needed to codify the terms of the settlement, protect the NCAA from future litigation and pre-empt state laws that attempt to neuter the organization’s authority. As it is,  the NCAA still faces lawsuits  that challenge its ability to govern itself, including setting rules limiting multiple-time transfers.

“This settlement is also a road map for college sports leaders and Congress to ensure this uniquely American institution can continue to provide unmatched opportunity for millions of students,” the joint statement said. “All of Division I made today’s progress possible, and we all have work to do to implement the terms of the agreement as the legal process continues. We look forward to working with our various student-athlete leadership groups to write the next chapter of college sports.”

Federal lawmakers have indicated they would like to get something done, but while  several bills have been introduced , none have gone anywhere.

Despite the unanswered questions, one thing is clear: Major college athletics is about to become more like professional sports than ever before.