Millions of U.S. college students take out student loans to pay for college. The national student loan debt totals $1.73 trillion with the average public university student borrowing $30,030 to get a bachelor’s degree, according to EducationData.org.
Before you borrow, though, it is prudent to maximize the free money available to you, such as grants and scholarships.
You can find scholarships using The University Network’s Scholarship Search Engine. TUN also works with companies to create, manage and promote paths to higher education through their own scholarships.
Here is a summary of upcoming scholarships TUN helped bring into fruition. We will update the list as new scholarships become available.
CFP Board Center for Financial Planning Fall 2025 Scholarships
CFP Board is currently accepting applications for its fall 2025 scholarship programs.
The Center will award a total of $340,000 to support over 55 awardees pursuing the educational coursework required to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ® professional.
The eligibility requirements for the 13 scholarship programs vary.
Application Deadline: September 29, 2025
Award: Up to $10,000
Eligibility: Varies
Click here to apply for the CFP Board fall 2025 scholarships.
WebXd Scholarship
WebXd is currently accepting applications for its WebXd Scholarship.
The company will award $1,000 to the winner.
To apply, students must write an essay of at least 350 words reflecting on a specific instance where a campaign, website or social media post resonated with them, inspired them or challenged them to think differently about a particular subject.
Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
Award: $1,000
Eligibility:
- Must be a high school senior or high school graduate who will be enrolled, or a current undergraduate or graduate student enrolled, full-time at an accredited U.S. college or university for the 2025-26 academic year
- Must reside in the United States
Click here to apply for the WebXd Scholarship.
Golden 1 Scholarship
Golden 1 is currently accepting applications for its Golden 1 Scholarship.
Golden 1 will award up to $1,200 annually to full-time community college students and up to $5,000 annually to four-year university students in California.
The scholarship is renewable so students attending a community college may renew for one additional year, while students in a four-year institution may renew for up to three additional years, provided that they meet the renewal criteria.
To apply, interested students must submit a completed application, which includes an essay on how receiving a Golden 1 Scholarship will make a meaningful difference for the student and/or their family.
Application Deadline: January 31 (annually)
Award:
- Up to $1,200 annually to full-time community college students
- Up to $5,000 annually to four-year university students
Eligibility:
- Must plan on attending an accredited nonprofit, two-year community college or four-year college/university in California as a full-time student for the upcoming academic year
- Must possess a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and have a minimum of 24 hours of community service or 24 hours of employment in the past 12 months
- Must be either a Golden 1 member or a dependent of a member for at least one year, or be a dependent of a Golden 1 employee who has been employed with Golden 1 for at least a year, at the time of application
Click here to apply for the Golden 1 Scholarship.
The Lariat STEM Scholar Program
The Lariat Future Innovators Foundation is accepting applications for its Lariat STEM Scholar Program.
The foundation will award up to four awards in varying amounts, depending on the education status of the applicant.
To apply, those interested must write an essay of 500 words or more on one of two prompts, answer three short questions, and meet certain conditions, as specified in the application form.
Application Deadline: June 30 (annually)
Award: A total of up to four awards will be granted, with varying amounts as follows:
- High School Senior: Up to $30,000 as follows:
- $6,000 for freshman year, renewable annually for three (3) additional years at $6,000 as a sophomore, $8,000 as a junior, and $10,000 as a senior if the student continues to meet eligibility requirements.
- College Junior: Up to $18,000 as follows:
- $8,000 for junior year, renewable for one (1) additional year at $10,000 as a senior if the student continues to meet eligibility requirements
- College Senior: $10,000
Eligibility:
- Must be a college freshman, junior, or senior at the start of the 2024/25 school year
- Must reside in a rural area (town or city with a population less than 25,000) in the United States and is an eligible zip code as listed on the scholarship application
- Must come from families with less than $55,000 in household income as shown on their FAFSA form
- Must be between the ages of 18 and 24 in the school year that their school receives the scholarship funds
- Must be pursuing a degree in any of the Eligible Stem Majors listed on the application
Click here to apply for the Lariat STEM Scholar Program.
The Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship
Hyundai is accepting applications for its Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship.
The company will award five scholarships of $10,000 each.
To apply, those interested must write an essay of 500 words or more describing a tech project or initiative you envision in your chosen STEM field that addresses a real human need. Discuss how you would integrate empathy into your research and design process, how you’d ensure inclusivity and accessibility, and the positive outcomes you foresee for individuals and communities when people remain the central focus of innovation.
Application Deadline: June 30 (annually)
Award: $10,000 each (5 awards)
Eligibility:
- Must be high school seniors and current undergraduate students in accredited U.S. colleges and universities
- Must identify as female
- Must reside in the United States
- Must wish to pursue a STEM-related field of education
Click here to apply for the Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship.
How to find scholarships
The scholarships listed above are just some of the best scholarships we’ve found for you. There are many other scholarships out there for college students.
Check with your college to see what they offer. They may offer either merit- or need-based scholarships or both. You can usually find most of the information by clicking on their “financial aid” page. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to email or call their financial aid office.
There are also outside scholarships — like the ones listed above — that are sponsored by companies, organizations, foundations and individuals as a way to give back to their communities. The awards can cover your entire tuition or a portion of it. Some scholarships have a GPA requirement or are based on financial need, while others embrace a cause or emphasize community involvement, athletic achievement, diversity, passion, and much more. For example, the Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship supports STEM education for female students.
So, how do you find outside scholarships like these?
Start your search with TUN’s Scholarship Search Engine to find scholarships that are ideal for you, or have TUN AI help you with your search. You can search by grade level, GPA, major, state of residency, scholarship name, or deadline month. You can also browse through our featured scholarships, some available only through TUN, and a collated list of scholarships for specific groups of students, including scholarships for women in STEM, female students, Black students, Black female students, Asian American students, Hispanic students, and international students.
You should also check with the financial aid office of your college to see if they have a list of scholarships. They may also be in the know about local scholarships.
Your family is yet another source of scholarships. Your parents or guardians may work for a company that offers scholarships for dependents of employees.
If you work while in college, you may also qualify for an employee scholarship. For example, Taco Bell has an exclusive scholarship program that’s available only to its restaurant employees. McDonald’s also offers scholarships to eligible employees.
When to apply for scholarships
To be considered for a scholarship, you must meet the deadline.
So, start your research for scholarships early and note down the deadlines of the scholarships you’re interested in.
Use a spreadsheet to keep track of the scholarships. Grouping them by deadline will help you focus on what’s due next.
Pay attention to what’s required of you. For example, if you need a recommendation letter, you should request one way ahead of time so you have one by the time you apply. If an essay is required, start writing weeks before so you have an essay you can be proud of before the due date.
Aim to send in your application at least a few days before the due date. This way, you avoid the risk of getting sidelined by technical glitches, tests, heavy homework load, or illness.
How to win scholarships
Scholarships, especially ones with high awards, can be very competitive. In some cases, you may be competing against thousands of students.
So, how do you increase your chances of winning a scholarship?
First, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria and submit all the information required of you, including recommendation letters, transcripts, and resume.
Second, try to distinguish yourself from the other applicants. Your essay, if that’s required, is what makes you unique so let your personality and creativity shine through. How do you do that?
You can achieve that “by showing instead of telling,” according to Sarah Chomette, an eAdviser with the College Advising Corps.
“When answering a creative prompt or inputting your personal statement, it’s important to provide the reader with a story instead of just telling them about your goals and accomplishments,” she said. “That can be kind of boring and it makes you get lost in the crowd.”
A successful essay must include four major components, Chomette explained. First, make sure that you convey your personal values. Second, be open and honest to help the reader feel a connection with you. Third, let the reader know why your story is important. Fourth, your writing must show that you put time and effort into it.
If a scholarship asks for a video or infographic instead of an essay, the same principle applies.
To summarize, always put thought and effort into your whole application and submit your best work. There should be no obvious errors or typos. And if you need to submit a recommendation letter, reflect on who knows you best and whose recommendation would help your application the most.
