Getting a college degree in the United States is an expensive endeavor. Currently, the national student loan debt is at $1.73 trillion with the average public university student borrowing $30,030 to get a bachelor’s degree, according to EducationData.org.
So, if you’re in high school and you intend to go to college, you can help yourself by looking for scholarships that you can apply to while you’re in high school. YES, there are scholarships for high school students. Check here for examples of scholarships for high school students, here for scholarships for high school seniors, and here for scholarships for Hispanic high school seniors.
You can also 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 for high school students that TUN helped create. We will update the list as new scholarships become available.
The WebXd Scholarship
WebXd is currently accepting applications for its WebXd Scholarship.
The company will award $2,500 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: April 30, 2024
Award: $2,500
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 2024-25 academic year
- Must reside in the United States
Click here to apply for the WebXd Scholarship.
Good Life’s Community Scholarship
Good LIfe Property Management is currently accepting applications for its Good Life’s Community Scholarship.
The company will award $2,500 to the winner.
To apply, students must write an essay of at least 350 words on any one of five given prompts, all of which are centered around their community. Students can write about what community means to them, the lessons they’ve learned from being part of a community, how their community helped them overcome a challenge, how they discovered community through a team or part-time job they were involved with, or how they have contributed to a community through volunteerism.
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
Award: $2,500
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 2024-25 academic year
- Must reside in the United States
Click here to apply for Good Life’s Community Scholarship.
The Lariat STEM Scholar Program
The Lariat Future Innovators Foundation is accepting applications for its 2024 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, 2024
Award: A total of three 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 on how EV tech can help create a more sustainable future.
Application Deadline: June 30, 2024
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 high school students.
If you know which colleges you’re interested in, check with them 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. The home furnishings company MacKenzie-Childs, which finds inspiration for its designs by observing nature, offers the Black Lives Matter Scholarship for Design, which requires applicants to submit an essay about where they find inspiration.
Start your search with TUN’s Scholarship Search Engine to find scholarships that are ideal for you. 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 high school students, Hispanic high school seniors, women in STEM, female students, Black students, Black female students, Asian American students, and international students.
To keep on top of new scholarships as they are offered, be sure to join the TUN Community. We will let you know about scholarships that you qualify for.
You should also check with your high school to see if they have a list of scholarships. Your guidance counselor may have the list or point you to someone who can help you. They may also be in the know about scholarships sponsored by local stores or organizations.
Your family is yet another good source of scholarships. Your parents or guardians may work for a company that offers scholarships for dependents of employees.
If you work while in high school, 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.
