It's the end of your senior year, and you're about to embark on a new adventure. That's college for you! As a senior in high school, you still have access to hundreds of scholarship opportunities. So, when you're deciding which college to attend and what major to pursue, don't forget to add "applying for scholarships" to your college to-do list.
What kinds of scholarships are available for high school seniors to apply for?
Many high school seniors receive college scholarships based on financial need or merit. You can apply as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. Being a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, and intending to attend an accredited four-year college in the United States are some of the requirements.
Need-based scholarships are available to students in high school who have an unmet financial need. Academic accomplishments are taken into account when applying for merit scholarships for high school seniors. As a result, most qualifying candidates must have a high GPA, test scores, and community service.
Bear in mind the following two forms of scholarship awards. You may also expand your scholarship search by using your major, minority status, gender, place, or talent. For example, consider the UNCF STEM Scholars Program. It's for African American high school seniors with a 3.0 GPA who want to pursue a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
Use it to find scholarship programs to apply for if you participate in any extracurricular sports (e.g., Eagle Scout). Sports and essay scholarships for high school seniors may be available at any time during the year.
A short essay on a prompted question is required for these essay scholarships. The Ayn Rand Fountainhead Essay Scholarship awards $500 to $5,000 to students in grades 11 and 12. Each of the three essay prompts based on Ayn Rand's novel must be formulated and addressed in your essays.
Along with an essay service we've assembled a list of scholarship opportunities for high school seniors. Make sure you apply by the deadline and that you meet all of the eligibility criteria.
- American University National Achievement and National Merit Scholarship
- 5 Strong Scholarship
- Dell Scholars Program
- Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards
- Fleet Reserve Association Essay Contest
- Elks National Foundation Legacy Awards
- Education Dynamics $10K Minority First Generation Scholarship Contest
- PFLAG Flag Football Scholarship
- AXA Achievement Scholarship
- AVA Care Medical Scholarship
How Do You Find Scholarships for Seniors in High School?
You may want to look at local, state, and national sources for high school senior scholarships. Seniors may be eligible for grants from the military, private companies, and charities.
Local
If you want to start your quest locally, ask your high school advisor or check to see if any student organizations provide scholarships for graduating seniors. Scholarships can be offered to qualifying residents through your place of worship, community center, or local businesses.
Schools
You're probably looking for and applying to your ideal college during your senior year. You may want to contact the financial aid offices of these potential schools while you're looking. Once you've been accepted, many organizations can offer scholarships to college students. Both are related to academic performance and grade point average.
Military
Do you come from a military family or want to pursue a career in the military? ROTC programs are partnered with a wide variety of universities. ARMY ROTC scholarships, for example, are for high school students who want to enroll in a four-year college program. You can also join the Army on a full-time basis. Any military awards can be given to the children of active-duty military personnel or veterans.
Scholarships Organization
Do you have any special interests or are you a member of a minority group? Many professional groups, such as The Elks, offer high school students scholarships. Usually, you must be a premium user. Scholarships are often funded by many minority groups, such as UNCF, to make higher education more accessible.
Businesses and Non-profit
Annual scholarships are available from a variety of companies and non-profit organizations. These opportunities could be available to high school seniors planning to obtain a bachelor's degree. You may also demonstrate leadership skills and fight for a good cause. If your parents work for a large corporation, they can give scholarships to employees' dependents as a reward.
Is getting a scholarship difficult?
It depends on the scholarship and whether or not you meet the eligibility criteria. Some scholarships for seniors have particular criteria, such as financial need or merit. Other scholarships can attract a large number of applicants, increasing competition. Scholarships may also be available by chance draws.
Every year, many colleges in the United States grant academic scholarships to qualifying college freshmen. These are usually included in your college admissions letter. If you maintain good academic standing and get good grades, you might be eligible for renewable awards each year.
The larger the pool of applicants for other scholarship funds, the more competition you will face. However, don't give up! Apply for simple and no-essay scholarships for high school seniors to take a break from longer applications. You will join for a chance to win or a random drawing for several of these. Scholarships that don't need an essay usually don't ask for a GPA, test grades, or family income.
