Many scholarships consider a student’s grade point average (GPA) as a key deciding factor. But you don’t need a perfect GPA to qualify. While a 4.0 will likely open up scholarship opportunities, there are plenty of scholarships for students with lower GPA.
So, don’t let your GPA stand in the way of your scholarship search. And let The University Network help you with your search. Our Scholarship Search Engine makes it easy to search by GPA, major or other categories.
Have a 3.0 GPA? Here are some of the best scholarships for you.
NSCS LatinX Student of the Year: Changemaker Award
Amount: $10,000. About: The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) LatinX Student of the Year:…
SEG Scholarships
Amount: Up to $10,000. About: Each year, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) awards scholarships…
AFSCME/UNCF Union Plus Scholars Program
Amount: $500-$4,000. About: The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest…
Steven J. Finkel Service Excellence Scholarship
Amount: $10,000. About: Offered by Live Nation and the House of Blues Music Forward Foundation,…
AICPA Foundation Scholarship for Future CPAs
Amount: $5,000-$10,000. About: A part of the AICPA Foundation Legacy Scholars program, the AICPA Foundation…
CIRI Foundation Achievement Annual Scholarship
Amount: Up to $8,000. About: Offered by the CIRI Foundation, the Achievement Annual Scholarship is…
Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr., Graduate Scholarship
Amount: $10,000. About: Administered by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Foundation, the Edward…
ICSC Undergraduate Scholarship for Women
Amount: $5,000. About: The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Undergraduate Scholarship for Women is…
Golden 1 Scholarship
About Golden 1 Founded in 1933. Built to serve Californians. With a commitment to uplift…
Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
Amount: Up to $9,500 per year for 2 years. About: The Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate…
NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship
Amount: $25,000 (Top Award), $10,000 (4 Finalists). About: Each year, the National Retail Federation (NRF)…
Goldwater Scholarship
Amount: Up to $7,500 per full academic year About: Awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship…
NSCS Scholarship for Minority Students in STEM
Amount: $2,500. About: The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) Scholarship for Minority Students in…
ACB Scholarship Program
Amount: Up to $7,500. About: The American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the American…
NBRC William W. Burgin, Jr., MD and Robert M. Lawrence, MD Education Recognition Award
Amount: Up to $7,500. About: The American Respiratory Care Foundation offers the Morton B. Duggan…
Daniels Scholarship Program
Amount: Up to $25,000 (renewable for up to 4 years). About: The Daniels Scholarship Program…
Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $1,250 (renewable for 3 years). About: Delaware residents are eligible to apply for the…
Foot Locker Associate Scholarship
Amount: $5,000. About: Each year, Foot Locker, Inc. awards the Foot Locker Associate Scholarship to…
ALPA Scholarship Program
Amount:$60,000 (disbursed over 4 years), $10,000. About: TThe Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Scholarship Program…
Matsuo Bridge Company Ltd. of Japan Scholarship
Amount: $2,500. About: Offered by the American Welding Society (AWS), the Matsuo Bridge Company Ltd….
CVS Health Foundation Health Care Careers Scholarship
Amount: $10,000. About: Administered by UNCF, The CVS Health Foundation Health Care Careers Scholarship is…
Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship
Amount: $2,000. About: Named in honor of the late Agnes Jones Jackson who was a…
Minnesota Masonic Charities Signature Scholarship
Amount: $5,000. About: The Minnesota Masonic Charities Signature Scholarship is meant for current high school…
GMIS STEM Scholarships
Amount: Up to $5,000. About: Each year, Great Minds in STEM (GMIS) awards scholarships to…
Hubertus W. V. Willems Scholarship
Amount: $3,000. About: The Hubertus W. V. Willems Scholarship is one of many awards available…
ICSC Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship
Amount: $5,000 (renewable for sophomores and juniors). About: The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)…
Media Fellows Scholarship
Amount: Up to $5,000. About: The Washington Media Scholars Foundation runs the Media Fellows Scholarship…
NSCS First in the Family Award
Amount: $2,500. About: The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) First in the Family Award…
James Weldon Johnson Scholarship
Amount: $1,500. About: Named in honor of the late James Weldon Johnson, who was a…
NFSF Undergraduate Scholarship
Amount: $500-$2,500. About: The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Founders Scholarship Foundation offers…
Frank M. Coda Scholarship
Amount: $5,000. About: Offered by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE),…
Michael T. and Mary L. Cloyd Scholarship
Amount: $3,000. About: Offered by the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Michael T. and…
American Legion Auxiliary Spirit of Youth Scholarship for Junior Members
Amount: $5,000. About: The American Legion Auxiliary, an organization representing the spouses, mothers, daughters, granddaughters,…
Schurgin Family Foundation Scholarship
Amount: $10,000. About: Administered by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Foundation, the Schurgin…
Women Marines Association Scholarship Program
Amount: $1,500-$5,000. About: The Women Marines Association annually awards a range of scholarships to eligible…
ASHRAE Undergraduate Engineering Scholarships
Amount: $3,000-$10,000. About: The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) offers several…
The scholarships listed above are just some of the best scholarships we’ve found for you. There are many other scholarships out there.
Use TUN’s Scholarship Search Engine to find more scholarships for you, or have TUN AI help you with your search.
When to apply for scholarships
Each scholarship has a specific deadline. These deadlines occur throughout the year, so you can find one for any time of the year. Keep in mind, however, that some scholarship deadlines may fall months, even a year, before the start of the academic year for which you’re seeking a scholarship.
So, if you’re a high school student looking to get a scholarship for your freshman year of college, you should start the search process early. While you don’t necessarily have to apply for scholarships in your freshman or sophomore year, you will develop a sense of scholarships that are available so you can apply when you’re ready.
If you’re a current college student, you should be looking for scholarships throughout the year. That way, if you find an award that appeals to you, you’ll be ahead of the game.
And when you apply, be sure to meet the deadline for each specific scholarship.
How to apply for scholarships
Each scholarships has its its own unique requirements and qualifications. The first step to successfully applying for any scholarship is reading the details carefully. Make sure that you fit the eligibility criteria and fill out the application completely.
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 the deadline 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 deadline. This way, you avoid the risk of getting sidelined by technical glitches, tests, heavy homework load, or illness.
And don’t forget to submit everything required of you as part of your application.
For more tips on how to apply for scholarships, check here.
How to find scholarships
Colleges may offer either merit-based 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.
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. 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.
You should also check with your high school or college 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 or college, you may also qualify for an employee scholarship.
For more tips on how to find scholarships, check here.
How to get 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, be sure 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.
Are scholarships taxable?
Typically, scholarships are not taxable. However, it can depend on how the scholarship money is being used, according to federal tax laws.
Scholarship dollars are tax-exempt if they are going to a degree-seeking candidate and are being used to pay for tuition and fees required for enrollment, books, supplies, and other educational expenses.
Scholarships are not tax-exempt, and you must report them as “gross income,” if they are used to pay for room and board, travel, or optional equipment.
If you have additional questions, you should reach out to the financial aid office of your prospective or current college or university.

