Programs, Contests, and Scholarships

While not exhaustive, this list includes a wide array of competitive and highly ranked programs for students to consider. Programs that are less selective but popular among students are also included.

Deadlines, tuition, award amounts, eligibility requirements, and other factors are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please consult the program's website.


American Legion Boys Nation/Girls Nation

  • Representatives from each state are selected to attend a week of training in Washington, D.C., where the young leaders receive an education on the structure and function of the federal government

American Legion Boys State/Girls State

  • Students who have completed their junior year and demonstrate merit and ability are considered for American Legion State
  • Schools recommend eligible candidates to local posts, which then conduct interviews and select their representative(s) for the program

Presidential Scholars Program

  • Each January, about 4,000 seniors with near-perfect test scores on the SAT or ACT will be invited to apply
  • Of these, about 160 will be chosen for an all-expenses-paid week in Washington, D.C., where they will meet with public officials and attend cultural events

U.S. Congressional Award Program

  • Participants devote 400 hours to community service, 200 hours to personal development, and 200 hours to physical fitness, and also complete a five-day, four-night Expedition or Exploration over the span of at least two years
  • Once all requirements are met, participants are invited to Washington, D.C., and receive a gold medal before Congress
  • Open to anyone ages 14–24; no minimum grade point average requirement

Yale Young Global Scholars

  • A two-week academic summer program at Yale University
  • Open to current high school sophomores and juniors who are at least 16 years old
  • Need-based financial aid is available


Athena Summer Innovation Institute at Barnard

  • A three-week boot camp that provides young women with the practical skills and knowledge they need to develop ideas that will make a difference in the world
  • Open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school and students on a gap year

Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley: Business Academy for Youth

  • A two-week college preparatory business program that includes independent research, guest speakers, and the development and presentation of a business plan
  • Open to all high school students

Boston College Experience for High School Students (Course: Business and Leadership Institute)

  • Two-week opportunities to live and learn at Boston College, including coursework, extracurricular activities, and reflection
  • Open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors at least age 14 at the time the course begins 

Columbia University Pre-College Programs: Business, Economics, and Entrepreneurship  

  • Offers business classes, including entrepreneurship, corporate finance, business economics, and investment strategies
    • Examples include “Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics” and “Entrepreneurship: From Idea to Early Design”
  • In-person and online options are available
  • Open to domestic and international students in grades 9–12 

Economics for Leaders (EFL)

  • Selective summer program that teaches student leaders how to integrate economics into the process of decision-making in an interactive learning environment
  • Open to sophomores and juniors

Georgetown University Hoya Summer High School Sessions: Business Academy 

  • A three-week program that includes investment challenges and group presentations, lectures, and case studies
  • Open to current or rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors with evidence of good academic standing and at least a 2.0 GPA

Indiana University: Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute

  • A one-day program that introduces young women to the college experience and to business career opportunities; a virtual multi-day program is also available
  • Open to current sophomores and juniors with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
  • In-person participants cover transportation to and from Bloomington and personal expenses; all other program costs are covered

LaunchX Summer Program

  • Students interested in entrepreneurship spend three to five weeks either in person or virtually building and launching a start-up, learning from industry experts, and working with a group of peers to build real products and solve challenges
  • Open to students in grades 9–12 (or international equivalent) at the time of application

Pace University Precollege Summer Immersion Program (Course: Global Business and Economy)

  • A two-week program in which students take classes with Pace faculty and get a firsthand look at the college experience
  • Open to rising juniors and seniors

Teach Me Wall Street Virtual Online Spring and Summer Programs

  • Foundational camps with options to learn about investing and trading, budgeting, and Wall Street
  • Open to high school students in grades 9–12 

UCLA Economics Summer Institute

  • A three-week program designed to expand knowledge of critical economic issues affecting the U.S. and the world; commuter and virtual options are available
  • Open to students at least age 15 in grades 9–12 by the spring before the program begins

The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania: Future of the Business World

  • Two-week program designed to introduce students to areas of research by Wharton faculty 
  • Open to high school students currently enrolled in grades 9–12 looking to learn more about the international business landscape


All the schools listed below offer students the opportunity to challenge themselves with a dynamic, advanced high school curriculum.

Choate Rosemary Hall

  • Offers enrichment courses across all subject areas

Hotchkiss School Summer Portals

  • A four-week program: students typically enroll in two courses (one course per two-week session)
  • Open to middle and high school students

Loomis Chaffee School Summer Programs

  • Offers a four-week enrichment program, a two-week online writing academy, and four- to six-week accelerated studies in mathematics and computer science
  • Open to middle and high school students 

Northfield Mount Hermon: NMH Summer

  • Offers two-, three-, and five-week sessions to explore various subjects, participate in athletics and arts, and enjoy recreational activities
  • Open to middle and high school students; varied age requirements per program

Phillips Andover Academy Summer Session

  • Offers a five-week on-campus program for rising 7–12 graders and a two-week academic refresher for local students in grades 6–9

Phillips Exeter Academy: Exeter Summer

  • Five-week programs for academic study, athletics, and personal exploration
  • Open to middle and high school students

Suffield Academy: Summer Academy

  • Five-week sessions in arts, leadership, math, science, English, foreign languages, and computer science
  • Open to students ages 12–18

The Taft School: Summer@Taft

  • Five- and two-week courses in a variety of subject areas
  • Geared toward students 12 years and older


Kenyon College: Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops

  • Summer and winter online and summer residential writing workshops for talented high school students 
  • Open to students ages 16–18

Susquehanna University Summer Writers Workshop

  • Six-day intensive, small-group workshops led by nationally recognized authors
  • Open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors

University of Iowa: Iowa Young Writers’ Studio

  • Offers a two-week residential program and six-week online courses 
  • Open to high school students

University of Virginia Young Writers Workshop (currently on hiatus)

  • Offers sessions in short-form creative writing, poetry, songwriting, screen and playwriting, creative nonfiction, and fiction
  • Students can choose either a two- or three-week session:
    • Session I (two weeks): open to all high school students
    • Session II (three weeks): more advanced; open to rising sophomores and above


American Academy of Dramatic Arts

  • Two-, four-, or five-week intensive training programs in New York or Los Angeles
  • Open to young actors at least 16 years old
  • A two-week online program is also available

Boston University: Visual Arts Summer Institute (VASI)

  • A four-week visual arts program designed to help students build exceptional portfolios
  • Open to high school students ages 15–18
  • Students will earn three college credits and leave with work ready to be included in their portfolios

Cornell: Introduction to Architecture Summer Program

  • A six-week online class that introduces students to ideas, principles, and methods of exploring architectural problems in a studio setting; an in-person course is available for local students
  • Workshops include portfolio review, college application, and analog and digital drawing techniques
  • Open to high school students interested in a career in architecture

National Conference of Governor’s Schools

  • Programs found in many states
  • Typically free and housed on a university campus
  • Emphasis is placed on addressing complex issues and social challenges on the local, state, national, and international levels; leadership training; and creative expression through the medium of fine and performing arts

New York Film Academy Summer Camp for Teens

  • Offers online, weekend, and summer visual and performing arts programs
  • Open to students between ages 10–17
  • Locations include the U.S., France, Italy, Australia, and online

Purchase College, State University of New York: Youth and Pre-College Programs

  • Offers immersion programs in visual arts, performing arts, voice, photography, filmmaking, interior design, creative writing, songwriting, and digital arts
  • Youth Program is for grades 7–9; Pre-College Program is for grades 9–12
  • High school students who have completed their junior year can enroll in college courses

Rhode Island School of Design: Pre-Collegiate Programs

  • A five-week summer program with college-level curriculum, day-long studio classes, critiques, and final projects
  • Open to rising high school juniors and seniors
  • A year-round online intensive is also available for advanced students in grades 10–12

Summer at Skidmore College: Pre-College Program

  • Offers pre-college courses in liberal arts for college credit
  • Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
  • College-level classes are also available for college-age students

School of Visual Arts Pre-College Program

  • Students will explore the fundamentals of art and design at a level not readily available in high school
  • Fall and spring programs are open to high school students ages 14–18; summer programs are open to high school students entering their freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior year
  • Students will receive one college credit for the successful completion of the fall or spring program and three credits for the successful completion of the summer program

Tisch Summer High School Program

  • A four-week performing arts program with eight program tracks and a chance to earn four to six college credits
  • Open to high school sophomores and juniors

Sam Fox School Pre-College Programs at Washington University in St. Louis

  • Architecture Discovery Program
    • A two-week introduction to architecture and design offering two college credits for high school students 
    • Open to rising juniors and seniors
  • Portfolio Plus Program
    • A three-week program for students to take college-level art and design courses for credit and develop a portfolio
    • Open to rising juniors and seniors


All the schools listed below offer high school summer programs in diverse fields that include arts, liberal studies, and STEM subjects.

Alfred University Summer Institutes and Camps

  • A variety of co-ed, week-long intensive academic and sports summer camps and institutes
  • Open to students in grades K–12 

Barnard College: Experience Summer in New York City at Barnard

  • Offers NextGen Leadership Institute, Health and Society Institute, Pre-Baccalaureate Program, Athena Innovation Institute, and a Sustainable Food Institute

  • Summer programs are open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors and gap year students; the Pre-Baccalaureate Program is open to juniors, seniors, and gap year students 

Boston University: My Summer

  • Offers a variety of academic, arts, and culture programs, as well as sports and recreational camps
  • Open to middle and high school students (grade requirements vary per program)

Boston College Experience for High School Students

  • Two-week opportunities to live and learn at Boston College, including coursework, extracurricular activities, and reflection; online options are also available
  • Open to students at least 14 years old at the time the course begins 

Brown University: Summer @ Brown

  • Offers more than 300 non-credit courses, online and on-campus
  • Open to students completing grades 9–12, ages 14–18

Cornell University: Pre-College Summer Program

  • Students choose three- or six-week online undergraduate courses and can earn transferable credits 
  • Open to rising high school juniors and seniors at least 15 years old 

Duke University Pre-College Programs

  • Students can choose in-person, hybrid, or online sessions
  • Open to current students in grades 6–11

Emerson College Pre-College Programs (Suspended until further notice)

  • Offers one-, two-, and four-week summer arts and communication programs, with options for academic credit
  • Open to current high school students

Emory University Pre-College Program

  • Offers numerous two-week noncredit programs as well as six-week courses for college credit through Emory Summer College
  • Open to high school sophomores and juniors

Fordham University: Summer Session Pre-College Program

  • Students take one college-level course (part of the regular summer curriculum) and can earn transferable credit; in-person and online classes are available
  • Open to rising high school seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0

Georgetown University: Hoya Summer High School Programs

  • Offers a College Prep Program with credit for one course, an Academies program with one-, two-, and three-week non-credit sessions, College Credit Courses, and Online Programs
  • Open to rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors in good academic standing

Harvard University: Summer College Programs for High School Students

  • Offers a two-week non-credit Pre-College Program and a four- or seven-week Secondary School Program with college credit
  • The Pre-College Program is open to rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least age 16; the Secondary School Program is open to students who will graduate from high school and enter college within three years of the program and who will fit the age requirements (check website for Secondary School Program admission requirements for more details)

Johns Hopkins University: Center for Talented Youth On-Campus Summer Programs

  • Offers three-week residential and commuter sessions hosted at sites around the U.S. 
  • Open to students in grades 2–12 from around the world
  • Commuter Day Programs are for grades 2–5; Residential Programs are for grades 5–12

Miami University Summer Scholars Program

  • A week-long experiential learning opportunity intended to prepare students for college and future success
  • Open to high-achieving high school students who will be juniors or seniors the following fall

Northwestern University: Pre-College Summer Programs

  • College Bridge Students: 25 juniors from Chicago Public Schools enroll in on-campus or online courses for credit
  • College Preparation Program: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors can choose two-week seminars on campus (IN FOCUS) or two- to four-week seminars online (Pre-College Online Program) or take an undergraduate course for college credit

Oxford and Cambridge Advanced Studies Programme

  • Students receive subject-specific tuition at the first-year undergraduate level
  • Open to students ages 16–18

St. Thomas Aquinas College: High School Program

  • Offers college-level courses that other colleges and universities will accept as transfer credit

Syracuse University: Pre-College Programs

  • Students can choose from over 100 courses in one of five pre-college programs, including on-campus, online, hybrid, commuter, research immersion, and an accelerated online semester 
  • Age and grade eligibility requirements vary per program

Tufts University: Pre-College Programs

  • Offers semester-long programs, one- to three-week summer intensives in STEM, art, and accelerator seminars, courses for high schoolers, and programs for elementary and middle schoolers  
  • Age requirements vary per program

University of Connecticut: UConn Pre-College Summer

  • Offers credit and non-credit courses taught by UConn faculty and industry professionals
  • Open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors

University of Maryland: Terp Young Scholars

  • A three-week summer program offering a three-credit course, available in-person or online
  • Open to rising high school sophomores through graduating seniors

University of California, Berkeley: Berkeley’s Pre-College Scholars

  • Offers virtual, residential, and commuter programs
  • Open to both domestic and international high school students ages 16–17 at the start of the program

University of Chicago: Summer Session Pre-College Programs

  • Offers three- or five-week online courses
  • Open to current high school juniors and seniors

University of Pennsylvania: Penn Arts & Sciences High School Programs

  • Offers two-week, three-week, or six-week summer programs, coding camps, and a Young Scholars High School Program that allows local juniors and seniors to take college courses in the fall and spring semesters; online options available 
  • Age and grade eligibility requirements vary per program

University of Virginia: UVA Advance

  • A four-week summer residential program that offers an opportunity to earn six transferable undergraduate credits 
  • Open to rising high school juniors and seniors 

Wake Forest University Pre-College Programs

  • Offers a Summer Immersion program with online options and a year-round Online Immersion
  • Summer Immersion is open to students in grades 9–12; Online Immersion is open to students ages 13–19 who are not yet enrolled in college

Yale University: Summer Session

  • Offers courses for credit (two-course limit), a drama program, and university prep for international students 
  • Open to students who will have completed their junior or senior year of high school when the summer session begins


American University School of International Service: Community of Scholars Program

  • Students will be introduced to the advancing field of global affairs with a three-week, three-credit college class (two weeks on campus and one week at home)
  • Open to rising juniors and seniors

U.S. Department of State: The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute (BFTF)

  • A three- to four-week program in which students explore transatlantic relations, leadership development, critical thinking, diplomacy, community activism, and the media as a framework to unite young adults around common goals
  • Open to students ages 16–18


Asian American Journalists Association: JCamp

  • A six-day training camp that brings together culturally diverse students to learn from journalists and media executives
  • Open to current high school sophomores and juniors with a strong interest in broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, photojournalism, or online media

University of Alabama: Alabama Scholastic Press Multicultural Journalism Program

  • Ten to 15 students are selected to attend a summer intensive workshop in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
  • Open to students who will be in the 9th grade through freshman year in college in the fall following the program
  • The workshop emphasizes multimedia reporting, writing, editing, graphics, photography, production, and basic communication skills

Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism: Medill Cherubs

  • A four-week program offering hands-on experience and the opportunity to learn from accomplished instructors and professionals
  • Open to rising high school seniors

Princeton University Summer Journalism Program

  • Offers a free hybrid summer intensive and a year-long program for high school juniors who are interested in journalism
  • Open to high-achieving high school juniors from limited-income backgrounds

The School of The New York Times: NYC Summer Academy

  • Two-week courses taught by The New York Times journalists and thought leaders from different industries who bring real-world expertise into the classroom
  • Open to rising 10th–12th graders and graduating seniors; students must be 15–18 years old by the first day of their term


American Farm School: Greek Summer

  • A month-long language immersion program in Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Open to high school students who have completed grades 9–12 and are 15–17 years old

A+ World Academy

  • Offers courses in a school at sea that travels to more than 15 port cities on the world’s oldest fully-rigged sailing ship
  • Open to high school and gap-year students ages 16–19

Concordia Language Villages

  • Summer language instruction through immersion with online options available 
  • Offered for students ages 6–18

Greenheart Travel

  • Offers high school study abroad programs, gap year programs, full immersion language camps, and summer programs
  • Age and language proficiency requirements vary per destination

Middlebury College Language Schools: Summer Language Immersion Programs

  • One of the nation’s preeminent language learning programs, with courses in Abenaki, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish
  • Open to students ages 18 and older

Putney Student Travel: High School Programs

  • Offers pre-college programs, service trips, language immersion programs, and general study abroad experiences
  • The high school program is open to grades 9–12, and the middle school program is open to grades 6–8

Smithsonian Student Travel: Immersive Summer Programs

  • Offers 8- to 20-day summer travel programs that enable students to deepen their knowledge and cultural awareness 
  • Open to students completing grades 8–12 who are at least 13 years old at the time of trip departure

The Experiment in International Living

  • Offers study abroad and virtual exchange programs in diverse fields, such as sustainability, peace, and leadership
  • In general, open to students ages 14–19 who have not yet entered college; see website for specific grade requirements

U.S. Department of State: National Security Language Initiative for Youth

  • Provides overseas critical language study opportunities to American youth through merit-based scholarships with courses in Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Indonesian, Korean, Persian (Tajiki), Russian, and Turkish; a virtual option is available 
  • Open to students enrolled in grades 9–12 who are 15–18 years of age at the start of the program

Where There Be Dragons

  • Immersive summer travel programs designed to push participants out of their comfort zone to examine their assumptions, values, and world views
  • Open to students ages 15–22, with gap-year programs available for students ages 17–22; independent immersions are also available for students ages 18–25


ACLU National Advocacy Institute’s High School Program

  • Through a week-long, in-person program, students will learn directly from lawyers, lobbyists, community activists, and other experts working to defend the civil rights and civil liberties critical to a free and open society
  • Open to students who are 15–18 years old

Georgetown University Law Academy

  • A week-long program structured through lectures, guest speakers, and discussion sections
  • Open to current or rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors

Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program

  • A five-week internship that provides students with an insider’s view of the criminal justice system
  • Open to current current sophomores, juniors, and seniors living in or attending high school in Manhattan

National Student Leadership Conference’s Law and Advocacy Program

  • A nine-day program offering a law school visit, criminal trial simulation, and guest speakers 
  • The High School Program is to students ages 14–18 who have completed at least one year of high school; the Middle School Program is open to students at least age 11 who are currently enrolled in grades 6–8
  • Dates are dependent on the location of choice: Washington, D.C., New Haven, CT, or Ann Arbor, MI


Bank of America Student Leaders

  • An eight-week paid internship at a local nonprofit organization where students learn about the needs of the community and the critical role nonprofits play
  • For high school juniors and seniors

Envision by WorldStrides National Youth Leadership Forum

  • Offers a variety of programs for students of all ages at varying price points

Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA)

  • Empowers a community of exceptional young leaders from under-resourced backgrounds by supporting their higher education and professional success
  • Applicants must be juniors attending a public high school in the U.S., hold U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or DACA status, and have an annual household income under $90,000 and a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5 or above
  • Tuition is free for admitted students

Sadie Nash Summer Institute

  • A six-week summer program where participants explore their leadership skills and build a strong community
  • Open to young women and gender-expansive youth currently attending high school in NYC and Newark, NJ
  • Students are eligible to receive a stipend at the end of the summer based on their participation

Senate Page School

  • A summer, semester, or year at the U.S. Capitol delivering messages to members of Congress
  • Appointed and sponsored by a senator, students must be rising high school juniors or seniors between ages 16–17

Senate Youth Scholarship Program

  • Two students from each state are selected by state-level education officials to attend a week-long program in Washington, D.C., and receive a $10,000 scholarship
  • Open to rising high school juniors and seniors


Carleton Liberal Arts Experience (CLAE)

  • A one-week, all-expenses-paid program that supports 52 students with an interest in African American culture
  • Open to high school rising seniors; students from the African diaspora are encouraged to apply in their junior year

Telluride Association Summer Programs

  • One of the nation’s most prestigious summer programs; nominations for students are not required but welcome
  • Sponsors two free six-week summer programs in the humanities
  • Open to rising juniors and seniors between 15–18
  • TASS-CBS: Critical Black Studies: Students explore the histories, politics, literature, and art of people of African descent
  • TASS-AOS: Anti-Oppressive Studies: Students explore the histories, politics, literature, art, and other areas within the humanities and social sciences through anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks


Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego: Summer Medical Academy

  • An educational summer program for high school students with an interest in a career in healthcare
  • For students who will be 15–19 years old in June of the program year and who have completed 9th grade; students are eligible up through the summer after 12th grade

Stanford Anesthesia Summer Institute: Stanford Clinical Science, Technology and Medicine Summer Internships

  • SASI Foundations 
    • A two-week on-campus program offers a comprehensive introduction to clinical medicine, science, and technology; Stanford faculty guide students through hands-on experiences, interactive simulations, and a real-world capstone project
    • For high school and undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in medicine, medical research and development, or health care design with a specific focus on Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine
  • SASI Clinical Skills
    • A one-week intensive program allows students to practice advanced airway techniques, enhance understanding of patient-centered care, and navigate complex scenarios with faculty guidance
    • For high school and undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in medicine, medical research and development, or health care design with a specific focus on Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine

Tufts Mini-Med School

  • A two-week summer intensive at Tufts University School of Medicine; on-campus and virtual
  • Offers lectures and medical case studies coupled with hands-on training, field trips to the Tufts Medical campus, visits to the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, and hands-on activities in the anatomy lab
  • Applicants must be 16 by the program start date, have taken one year of biology, and be entering grades 11–12

Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute

  • Summer program in which students tour medical facilities, attend lectures, and practice performing basic medical exams such as taking blood pressure
  • For students currently in grades 9–12


American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras

  • Consists of seven separate orchestras: Debut Orchestra, String Ensemble, Prelude Strings, Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra, Sinfonietta, and Philharmonic
  • Each orchestra has different entry requirements

Aspen Music School: Passes and Lessons Scholarship (PALS) Program

  • An eight-week program that includes private lessons, chamber music, music education activities, and exclusive access to the Aspen Music Festival and School’s summer season
  • Open to music students grades 1–12 who are full-time or summer residents of the Roaring Fork Valley area

Boston University Tanglewood Institute

  • Six-week summer programs in composition, harp, percussion, piano, strings and guitar, winds and brass, and voice
  • Auditions are open to high school students ages 14–19 who have not yet begun full-time college or conservatory study

Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Arts Camp

  • Offers programs in music, theater, visual arts, creative writing, film and new media, dance, and interdisciplinary arts
  • Dates vary; program lengths range from one to six weeks
  • Open to students in grades 3–12 with varying portfolio or audition requirements per program

Juilliard Pre-College

  • A comprehensive, conservatory-style music program 
  • Open to students 8–18 years old
  • Meets on Saturdays from September–May; the school does not offer a summer music program

Marymount Manhattan College: Musical Theatre Summer Intensive

  • A two-week program giving students the tools to analyze a script and song, make informed acting choices, use music to propel the story, and understand the techniques required to create a digital pre-screen
  • Open to rising high school juniors and seniors who are 16 by the program's start date

National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America

  • Following a comprehensive audition process and a multi-week training residency, students tour some of the great music capitals of the world while serving as dynamic music ambassadors 
  • Open to students between the ages of 16–19
  • Free for all participants

New England Conservatory Preparatory School

  • A variety of music programs are available for students in elementary school, middle school, and high school
  • Program dates and tuition vary per program

New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA)

  • Experience begins with a music educator, their student, and an accompanist preparing a NYSSMA Level VI solo; in late August, all selected students and alternates are notified by mail and asked to return acceptance forms
  • Applicants must be sophomores or juniors at the time of audition

New York Youth Symphony Orchestra

  • Offers programs in orchestra, jazz, chamber music, conducting, composition, and musical theater songwriting 
  • Open to gifted musicians ages 12–22 in the New York metropolitan area
  • Program dates vary


Amigos de las Américas

  • Offers volunteer programs in Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, or Nicaragua; students can earn 30+ service hours
  • Program length, age, Spanish language requirements, and costs vary by program

Citymeals

  • Offers several volunteer opportunities in NYC to suit all types of schedules and interests
  • Open to volunteers of all ages; those under age 18 may need adult accompaniment for certain projects

GallopNYC

  • Volunteer opportunities in the NYC area for students interested in therapeutic horsemanship
  • For students 16+ years of age

Mount Sinai Summer Junior Medical Program

  • A six- to eight-week summer volunteer program with a 100-hour commitment allowing students to learn from professionals in clinical and non-clinical areas
  • Open to 15- to 17-year-old students

New York Cares

  • Students 18 years or older can create a volunteer account with New York Cares and register for projects
  • Teen Friendly projects are also available for ages 14–17; Family Friendly projects are available for ages 5–13, along with a parent or legal guardian

Riverside Teen Corps Horticulture Internship Program

  • Provides a summer experiential learning program for teenage volunteers interested in learning basic horticultural knowledge and skills
  • Open to high school teens (rising freshmen through graduating seniors) who reside in Morningside Heights, Manhattanville, or Hamilton Heights
  • Upon completion of 50 hours of service over the summer, teens receive a $1,000 stipend

Room to Grow Junior Ambassador Program

  • Junior Ambassadors are a group of active students that meet every 4–6 weeks during the school year
  • Students host fundraising events, organize collection drives, and volunteer with Room to Grow each year

VolunteerMatch.org

  • With more volunteers and more volunteer opportunities than any other service, VolunteerMatch helps students connect with causes

Volunteer New York!

  • Independent youth opportunities for students ages 13–17

U.S. Military Academies


Carnegie Mellon University: Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)

  • Allows students to develop a deeper understanding of STEM through hands-on projects and sustained engagement with world-renowned faculty and skilled staff mentors
  • Open to rising seniors of underrepresented backgrounds who apply in their junior year and who are at least 16 years old
  • There is no option to pay tuition fees, but financial documentation is required 

Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Camp

  • Offers a free two-week virtual immersion program and a free six-week self-paced program
  • Open to girls and non-binary students; the two-week program is for students in grades 9–11, and the six-week program is for students in grades 9–12

Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSIM)

  • A six-week college-level mathematics program 
  • Open to talented and highly motivated high school students

The Jackson Laboratory: Summer Student Program

  • Designed for students who want to immerse themselves in genetics and genomics research
  • Open to high school students who are at least 18 and who have completed grade 12; also open to undergraduate students who are at least 18 and who are enrolled full-time
  • Students receive a stipend of $6,500

MathILy

  • A five-week program offering opportunities to encounter new ideas, improve problem-solving skills, learn advanced mathematics, and hone overall thinking skills
  • Preference will be given to high school students ages 14–17, but others are also welcome to apply

Michigan State University: High School Honors Science, Math and Engineering Program (HSHSP)

  • A seven-week, intensive summer research program designed for students who wish to gain more experience conducting research while living on a university campus
  • Open to current high school juniors 

MIT Minority Introduction to Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Science

  • Offers a six-week MITES Summer on-campus program for rising high school seniors, a six-month hybrid MITES Semester program for rising high school seniors, and a multi-year STEM academy for 7th–12th graders in Boston, Cambridge, and Lawrence, MA, public schools
  • Open to highly motivated students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds
  • Students pay only for transportation to and from MIT

MIT Research Science Institute

  • A six-week science program held at MIT that combines on-campus coursework in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research
  • Open to rising seniors who have applied in their junior year; current high school seniors are not eligible to apply
  • RSI scholars first participate in a week of intensive STEM classes with accomplished professors; then, the heart of RSI is the five-week research internship where students conduct individual projects under the tutelage of mentors who are experienced scientists and researchers; during the final week of RSI, students prepare written and oral presentations on their research projects
  • Cost-free

MIT Women’s Technology Program

  • A four-week summer experience of hands-on classes, labs, and team-based projects
  • Open to female students who apply in grade 11
  • There is no cost to apply or attend 

Monell Center Science Apprenticeship Program

  • A seven-week paid opportunity for students, particularly women, ethnic or racial minorities, and economically disadvantaged students, to directly participate in basic research
  • Open to current high school and undergraduate students; applicants need to be from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ

North Carolina State University: Young Investigators’ Summer Program in Nuclear Engineering

  • A three-week program that explores the field of nuclear science and technology
  • Open to rising juniors and seniors and graduating seniors

Ohio State University: Ross Mathematics Program

  • A six-week program designed to encourage motivated pre-college students to explore mathematics
  • Open to ages 15–18; in rare cases, younger or older students are accepted

Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)

  • A six-week summer program held at Boston University
  • Open to high school students at least 14 years old who have completed 9th grade 
  • Students whose families make under $80,000 per year attend for free

Regeneron Science Talent Search

  • Focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the most promising young scientists; applicants must complete individual research projects to enter the competition
  • Open to high school seniors
  • Entrants can win awards of up to $250,000

Research in Science and Engineering (RISE)

  • A six-week program at Boston University where students conduct laboratory research with some of the nation’s brightest scientific minds
  • Open to U.S. high school juniors

SEA Education Association: SEA Summer High School Programs

  • Offers programs in marine biology, including a shore-based field program and an at-sea voyage 
  • Open to high school students (including graduating seniors) who have successfully completed at least one high school science course and one high school mathematics course

Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)

  • Offers a three-week online and a four-week residential program in advanced mathematics 
  •  Open to students with an exceptional interest in math who are in 10th or 11th grade at the time of application

Stony Brook University: Simons Summer Research Program

  • A six-week opportunity to engage in hands-on research in science, math, or engineering 
  • Applicants must be high school juniors at the time of applying and at least 16 years of age by the start of the program
  • Participants may elect to live on campus with other student researchers or to commute
  • Tuition is free; see the website for housing and dining costs for on-campus students
  • At the closing poster symposium, students are presented with a stipend award

Stony Brook University: Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces Summer Program

  • A seven-week program that combines formal instruction with independent research and allows students to design original research projects with guidance from Garcia Center faculty, students, and staff
  • Students can continue during the academic year in the mentor program, which allows them to plan a research schedule with a faculty mentor throughout the year
  • Open to high school students who are at least 16 years old; see website for GPA and standardized test score requirements

The Summer Science Program (SSP)

  • Working in teams, participants complete research projects, collecting and analyzing original data over 39 days
  • Open to current high school juniors who have completed the pre-requisites by summer and will be at least 15 years old
  • Program fee is scaled to what each family can afford

Texas Tech University: Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

  • A seven-week summer research program offering hands-on practical research experience 
  • Open to applicants at least 17 years old by the program start date (will be seniors before or after program participation)
  • Tuition, room, and board are free; scholars are responsible for their own transportation; a $750 tax-free stipend is paid upon successful program completion

University of Michigan: Math and Science Scholars Summer Program (MMSS)

  • Offers three two-week sessions; students are given the opportunity to attend one, two, or all three sessions
  • Open to any high school rising sophomore, junior, or senior from around the world
  • Need-based financial aid is available

University of Notre Dame: Introduction to Engineering

  • A two-week program that includes a taste of college life and an overview of engineering design and computer programming
  • Open rising seniors with strong academic standing and solid extracurricular activities

Wave Hill Forest Project Internship

  • A two-month program that gives students an opportunity to learn about ecology in an urban setting
  • Applicants must first apply to New York City’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) program lottery
  • Open to students who are 16 years old and are New York City residents eligible to work in the U.S. 
  • No tuition; benefits include $2,275 compensation and credit for one college course

Wildlife Conservation Society: Discovery Guide Program

  • Volunteer-based, unpaid opportunity to facilitate education activities for zoo visitors
  • Open to those between the ages of 14–22
  • The program commitment varies by season and WCS location

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 

  • Frontiers Program
    • A two-week residential STEM summer program for students in grades 10–12
  • Launch Program
    • A week-long commuter STEM course for students in grades 9–11

There are several highly regarded contests for students of varying grade levels. Participation in such contests will generally be noted favorably by admissions officers and can help to demonstrate a student’s interest/achievement in a particular area.

Deadlines, award amounts, eligibility requirements, and other factors are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please consult the contest's website.


Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose

  • Awarded annually to two secondary school or undergraduate students
  • Submissions may include up to five poems (maximum of 10 pages single-spaced) and/or up to three works of prose (combined word limit of 3,500 words)
  • Winners receive $200, and their work will be featured in the Adroit Journal
  • Non-specific deadline

Chemagination

  • Students are asked to imagine that they are living 25 years in the future and have been invited to write an article for ChemMatters, a magazine for high school students that focuses on the role of chemistry in everyday life; students are also asked to design the magazine cover
  • Open to students in grades 9–12
  • No cash prizes or scholarships are mentioned
  • Non-specific deadline

The New York Times Contests

  • The New York Times holds many contests (including art, editorials, personal narratives, profiles, and podcasts)
  • Open to middle and high school students ages 13–19
  • Prizes are non-monetary
  • Non-specific deadline

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

  • The nation’s longest-running recognition program for creative teens
  • Open to teens in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) for applications in 28 categories of art and writing
  • National Medalists are eligible for scholarships of up to $12,500
  • Non-specific deadline

Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

  • Provides scholarships, prizes, and recognition for the best poems submitted
  • Open to young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school
  • First place receives $350, publication in Cargoes, free tuition and housing for the Hollinsummer Creative Writing Program, and a scholarship of $20,000 (over four years) at Hollins University
  • October deadline

National YoungArts Foundation Contest and Scholarship

  • One of the nation’s most prestigious competitions for students in dance, film and video, jazz, classical music, design arts, photography, theater, visual arts, voice, and writing
  • Open to students in grades 10–12, ages 15–18, on December 1 of the year of application
  • Three levels of recognition with cash scholarships up to $10,000
  • October deadline

Bennington College Young Writers Awards

  • Students can submit works in the following categories: poetry, fiction, and nonfiction
  • Open to all high school students
  • First place in each category receives $1,000
  • Finalists who enroll at Bennington receive a $10,000 scholarship every year for four years, for a total of $40,000
  • November deadline

Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize

  • Recognizes outstanding work by student writers
  • Open to students in grade 11 in the U.S. or abroad
  • First place receives $1,500
  • November deadline

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

  • Recognizes outstanding young poets
  • Open to high school sophomores and juniors
  • Poems by the winner and runners-up will be published in The Kenyon Review; the winner receives a full scholarship to the Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
  • November deadline

Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Contest

  • An opportunity to explore nature’s wonder with an intergenerational team of two or more individuals
  • Each team must choose one of two themes: “Sense of Wonder” or “Sense of Wonder/Sense of The Wild”
  • Each team must choose one of two writing categories: poem or essay
  • Winners receive a certificate with a portion or all of their entry posted on the Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance website
  • November deadline

Rattle Young Poets Anthology

  • Poems may be submitted by the poet, a parent/legal guardian, or a teacher; teachers may select at most five students per year and submit on their behalf
  • Students must be 15 or younger at the time the poems are written and must be 18 or younger when the poems are submitted
  • All contributors receive 10 complimentary copies of the print anthology
  • November deadline

The Princeton 10-Minute Play Contest

  • Applicants may submit only one play with a maximum of 10 pages
  • Open to U.S. high school students in the 11th grade or international equivalent
  • First place receives $500
  • March deadline

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

  • A platform for young people to learn about environmental issues through art-making and creative communication in the following categories: handcrafted visual art, digital visual art, poetry and spoken word, creative writing, film, music and dance, and interactive and multimedia
  • Open to students ages 11–18 
  • The gold award winner from each age division receives $1,000
  • June deadline


The Concord Review’s The Emerson Prize

  • A history essay contest
  • Open to students published in The Concord Review during the previous academic year who have shown outstanding promise in history at the high school level
  • Winners receive $1,000
  • Non-specific deadline

The New York Times Contests

  • The New York Times holds many contests (including art, editorials, personal narratives, profiles, and podcasts)
  • Open to middle and high school students ages 13–19
  • Prizes are non-monetary
  • Non-specific deadline

Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

  • Essay contest on Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged
  • Open to all high school, college, and graduate students worldwide
  • Students compete in entry rounds held every three months; the first-place essay from each season is eligible to apply in September for the annual first-place title and the opportunity for the $25,000 grand prize
  • September deadline

Ayn Rand Fountainhead Essay Contest

  • Essay contest on Ayn Rand’s novel Fountainhead
  • Open to all middle and high school students worldwide, ages 13 and older
  • Students compete in entry rounds held every three months; the first-place essay from each season is eligible to apply in September for the annual first-place title and the opportunity for the $25,000 grand prize
  • September deadline

Bennington College Young Writers Awards

  • Students can submit works in the following categories: poetry, fiction, and nonfiction
  • Open to all high school students
  • First place in each category receives $1,000
  • Finalists who enroll at Bennington receive a $10,000 scholarship every year for four years, for a total of $40,000
  • November deadline

Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Contest

  • An opportunity to explore nature’s wonder with an intergenerational team of two or more individuals
  • Each team must choose one of two themes: “Sense of Wonder” or “Sense of Wonder/Sense of The Wild”
  • Each team must choose one of two writing categories: poem or essay
  • Winners receive a certificate with a portion or all of their entry posted on the Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance website
  • November deadline

Americanism Essay Contest

  • Students are invited to submit a 350-word essay on Americanism and patriotism
  • Open to all students grades 7–12, including those who are homeschooled
  • The grand national winner receives $1,500
  • December deadline

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

  • Students describe and analyze an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917
  • Open to U.S. students in grades 9–12
  • First place receives $10,000
  • January deadline

George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest

  • Submit an original 800- to 1,200-word essay associated with the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or framing of the U.S. Constitution
  • Open to students in grades 9–12
  • The contest is conducted in three phases: the local chapter, state-level society, and national phases, and must be entered through a Sons of the American Revolution chapter near the student’s residence
  • First place receives $6,000
  • February deadline

Optimist International Essay Contest

  • Students must write an essay between 700 and 800 words on that year’s topic
  • Open to students under the age of 19 (as of October of the year of application) who are not enrolled as a degree-seeking student of a post-secondary institution in the U.S., Canada, or the Caribbean
  • Interested students must first contact their local Optimist Club and submit an essay on the pre-assigned topic
  • Winners receive a one-time scholarship of $2,500
  • February deadline

SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest

  • Essay contest held by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association on an annual topic related to journalism
  • Open to students enrolled in grades 9–12 in U.S. public, private, and homeschools within the United States
  • The essay should be 300–500 words; entries may be typed or handwritten but must be double-spaced
  • First place receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • February deadline

American Society of Human Genetics Annual DNA Day Essay Contest

  • Asks students to examine, question, and reflect on important concepts in genetics
  • Open to students in grades 9–12 worldwide
  • First place receives $1,000 for the student, along with a $1,000 genetics materials grant
  • March deadline

A Voice for Animals Contest

  • Entrants may submit an essay, video, or essay with photos addressing topics such as the mistreatment of animals, the preservation of endangered species, and solutions for the elimination of animal suffering
  • Open to high school students younger than 19 years of age on the date the contest opened for entries (requirements for each contest may vary from year to year) 
  • Prizes range from $200 to $500
  • March deadline

American Foreign Service Association Essay Contest

  • A 1,000- to 1,500-word essay contest that addresses that year’s topic related to the foreign service  
  • Open to students in grades 9–12 whose parents are not in the Foreign Service
  • The winner receives $2,500, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., from anywhere in the U.S., and an all-expense-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea
  • April deadline

The Orwell Youth Prize (for U.K. students only)

  • Students write an essay on an annual theme using the writing of George Orwell as an inspiration
  • Open to students in the U.K. in years 7–13 
  • Deadline for feedback is in April; final submission deadline is in May
  • Winners receive Orwell’s complete fiction and full-length non-fiction works, a selection of essays, and a cash prize of £50
  • April deadline

U.S. Institute of Peace National High School Essay Contest

  • Engages high school students in learning and writing about issues of peace and conflict, encouraging appreciation for diplomacy’s role in building partnerships that can advance peacebuilding and protect national security
  • Open to students in grades 9–12
  • The winner receives $2,500, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to meet leadership at the U.S. Department of State and USIP, and a full-tuition-paid voyage with Semester at Sea upon the student’s enrollment at an accredited university
  • April deadline

Ayn Rand Anthem Essay Contest

  • An essay contest on Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem
  • Open to all middle and high school students worldwide, ages 13 and older
  • First place receives $2,000
  • May deadline

Goi Peace Foundation International Essay Contest for Young People

  • An essay contest based on a chosen theme
  • Open to anyone in the world up to age 25 
  • Essays must be 700 words or fewer in English or French or 1,600 characters or fewer in Japanese
  • Each first-prize winner will receive a gift and a certificate of commendation from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan
  • June deadline

Jane Austen Society Essay Contest

  • An annual student essay contest intended to foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen’s works
  • Open to students worldwide in high school, undergraduate, and graduate divisions 
  • Essays must be six to eight pages long
  • First place in each division receives a $1,000 scholarship and free registration and two nights lodging for JASNA’s upcoming Annual General Meeting
  • June deadline


The New York Times Contests

  • The New York Times holds many contests (including art, editorials, personal narratives, profiles, and podcasts)
  • Open to middle and high school students ages 13–19
  • Prizes are non-monetary
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

  • The nation’s longest-running recognition program for creative teens
  • Open to teens in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) for applications in 28 categories of art and writing
  • National Medalists are eligible for scholarships of up to $12,500
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Art Competition

  • A nationwide high school visual art competition
  • Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries
  • Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., with the winning works displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

National YoungArts Foundation Contest and Scholarship

  • One of the nation’s most prestigious competitions for students in dance, film and video, jazz, classical music, design arts, photography, theater, visual arts, voice, and writing
  • Open to students in grades 10–12, ages 15–18, on December 1 of the year of application
  • Three levels of recognition with cash scholarships up to $10,000
  • October deadline

Marine Band Concerto Competition for High School Musicians

  • The 2024–2025 competition is only for musicians of woodwind, brass, and percussion, while the 2025–2026 competition is only for string, piano, and harp players
  • Open to high school musicians in grades 9–12
  • First place appears as a guest soloist and receives a $2,500 scholarship
  • November deadline

Natural History Museum Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year

  • A wildlife photography competition hosted by the Natural History Museum in London
  • Open to photographers up to age 17 in the following categories: 10 years and under, 11–14 years, and 15–17 years
  • Contestants can submit a maximum of 10 images in their age category
  • Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year receives £1,500, a trophy, a personalized certificate, and a two-day masterclass with a professional photographer

  • December deadline

A Voice for Animals Contest

  • Entrants may submit an essay, video, or essay with photos addressing topics such as the mistreatment of animals, the preservation of endangered species, and solutions for the elimination of animal suffering
  • Open to high school students younger than 19 years of age on the date the contest opened for entries (requirements for each contest may vary from year to year) 
  • Prizes range from $200 to $500
  • March deadline

Doodle for Google

  • Students are invited to create their own Google Doodle for the chance to have it featured on Google.com, as well as win scholarships and tech packages for their schools
  • Open to students in grades K–12
  • Grand prize receives a $55,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 tech package for the student’s school/non-profit organization, and the student’s artwork is displayed for a day on Google.com
  • March deadline

The Gallery Collection Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest

  • Students submit an original photo, artwork, or computer graphics for the front of a greeting card
  • Open to all high school, college, and university students at least 14 years old who are enrolled during the time period of the contest in an academic program designed to conclude with the awarding of a diploma or a degree
  • The winner receives a $10,000 scholarship
  • March deadlines

Jostens Photo Contest

  • A chance to be featured as one of the best student photographers in the nation
  • Open to current students ages 13 years or older who are legal residents of the 50 states, D.C., or legal residents of the provinces or territories of Canada (excluding Quebec)
  • Overall grand prize will receive $1,000 and an Interchangeable Lens Camera
  • March deadlines

The Paradigm Challenge

  • Competition that invites students to use kindness, creativity, and collaboration to help solve real-life problems
  • Open to students ages 4–18 worldwide
  • Entries can include posters, videos, inventions, public messages, community events, websites, mobile apps, or anything else that will help address one or more of the paradigm challenge projects
  • The top 100 entries can win up to $100,000
  • April deadline

Quill and Scroll: The George and Ophelia Gallup Award, the Edward J. Nell Scholarship, and the Richard P. Johns Scholarship

  • Offers three awards based on student contributions to media at their school, academic achievements, and a commitment to fairness and diversity in reporting
  • Open to Quill and Scroll members and national winners of the Yearbook Excellence Contest; the International Writing, Photography and Multimedia Contest; and the Eye on Ivy Editorial Writing Contest 
  • Recipients must seek to major in journalism or a related area of communications
  • Scholarships have ranged from $500 to $1,500
  • May deadline

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

  • A platform for young people to learn about environmental issues through art-making and creative communication in the following categories: handcrafted visual art, digital visual art, poetry and spoken word, creative writing, film, music and dance, and interactive and multimedia
  • Open to students ages 11–18 
  • The gold award winner from each age division receives $1,000
  • June deadline

ConnectHER Film Festival

  • Students submit original short films focused on critical women’s issues such as girls’ education, ending violence against women, poverty and economic independence, and authentic beauty/body image
  • Open to filmmakers who are 13–25 years old at the submission date
  • The Judges' Choice Award receives $5,000
  • June deadline

Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest

  • A design contest of promwear using Duck® Brand Duct Tape and/or Duck® Brand Crafting Tape 
  • Open to high school students ages 14 or older in the U.S. (excluding MD, CO, VT, NE, ND) and Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec)
  • The grand prize winner receives $15,000 as a cash scholarship
  • June deadline


American Invitational Math Exam (AIME)

  • A competition offered for those who excelled on the AMC 10 and/or AMC 12
  • Invitations are issued to at least the top 2.5% of all scorers; for AMC 12, invitations are issued to at least the top 5% of all scorers
  • No cash prizes or scholarships
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

Chemagination

  • Students are asked to imagine that they are living 25 years in the future and have been invited to write an article for ChemMatters, a magazine for high school students that focuses on the role of chemistry in everyday life; students are also asked to design the magazine cover
  • Open to students in grades 9–12
  • No cash prizes or scholarships are mentioned
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

Meta Hacker Cup

  • Annual programming competition for problem-solving and algorithmic coding skills
  • Open to participants around the world
  • The 25 finalists will receive prizes; first place receives $20,000
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

Science Olympiad

  • Three divisions available: grades K–6, 6–9, and 9–12
  • Athletic-style medals are given for each event, trophies are awarded to the Division B and C school teams, and there are some scholarship prizes available
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair

  • The world’s largest pre-college global science competition
  • Students in grades 9–12 must compete in a Regeneron ISEF-affiliated science fair and win the right to attend Regeneron ISEF
  • Each affiliated fair may send a predetermined number of projects to ISEF to compete in 21 different categories
  • Regeneron ISEF finalists compete for nearly $9 million in awards, prizes, and scholarships
  • First place receives $75,000
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Contest

  • An opportunity to explore nature’s wonder with an intergenerational team of two or more individuals
  • Each team must choose one of two themes: “Sense of Wonder” or “Sense of Wonder/Sense of The Wild”
  • Each team must choose one of two writing categories: poem or essay
  • Winners receive a certificate with a portion or all of their entry posted on the Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance website
  • November deadline

Rubincam Youth Writing Competition

  • The awards may be given annually to a student in either the junior category (grades 6–8) or senior category (grades 9–12) for an appropriately prepared genealogy
  • The senior category award winner receives a $500 cash prize, a plaque, and a one-year National Genealogical Society membership
  • The junior category award winner receives a $250 cash prize, a plaque, and a one-year National Genealogical Society membership
  • December deadline

Toshiba/National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision Awards

  • Students work in teams to design “technology of the future” 
  • Open to full-time students in grades K–12, currently enrolled and attending a public, private, or homeschool, who are United States or Canadian citizens and living within the United States, U.S. Territories, or Canada
  • Savings bond worth $10,000 at maturity for each first-place team member; winners also receive an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June for the ExploraVision Awards
  • January deadline

MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge

  • A free online contest that spotlights applied mathematics as a powerful problem-solving tool 
  • Open to high school juniors and seniors in the U.S. and sixth form students (ages 16–19) in England and Wales
  • Schools may enter up to two teams of three to five students with one coach per team 
  • Champion team receives $20,000 scholarship; various other awards are also presented
  • February deadline

American Society of Human Genetics Annual DNA Day Essay Contest

  • Asks students to examine, question, and reflect on important concepts in genetics
  • Open to students in grades 9–12 worldwide
  • First place receives $1,000 for the student, along with a $1,000 genetics materials grant
  • March deadline

Science Buddies Engineering Challenge

  • An engineering challenge that invites students to use problem-solving skills to design, build, and test contraptions
  • Open to all K–12 students
  • The winner's school receives a $1,000 prize
  • March deadline

TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students

  • Students are invited to submit a 3-minute video that addresses a societal, systematic problem
  • Open to any current high school student interested in psychology
  • Up to three winners will receive $300 scholarships
  • March deadline

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize

  • The world’s most prestigious award presented to a high school student for a water-research project
  • Open to students ages 15–20 who are attending secondary high school or its equivalent
  • Projects can be carried out by an individual student or a group of students
  • The competition consists of four levels: regional, state, national, and international
  • The national winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden (limited to one or two team members), to compete for the $15,000 prize in the international competition at the end of August
  • April deadline

The Advantage Testing Foundation/Jane Street Math Prize for Girls

  • The largest math prize for girls in the world involving nearly 250 mathematicians 
  • Open to female students in grades 9–11
  • Students must have taken an official administration of the AMC 10 or AMC 12 exam in November of the year before application
  • Applications due May 31; contest takes place in the fall
  • First prize receives $50,000
  • May deadline


Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

  • A platform for young people to learn about environmental issues through art-making and creative communication in the following categories: handcrafted visual art, digital visual art, poetry and spoken word, creative writing, film, music and dance, and interactive and multimedia
  • Open to students ages 11–18 
  • The gold award winner from each age division receives $1,000
  • June deadline

Breakthrough Junior Challenge

  • Create a short video (no more than two minutes) to communicate a theory, concept, or principle in physics, life sciences, or mathematics in an engaging, illuminating, and imaginative way
  • Open to students ages 13–18
  • The winner receives a $250,000 post-secondary scholarship
  • June deadline


American Legion’s National High School Oratorical Contest

  • A speech contest to develop deeper knowledge of the U.S. Constitution 
  • Open to high school students in grades 9–12 under age 20 
  • Contest begins at the state level
  • First place receives a $25,000 scholarship
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

The Concord Review’s The Emerson Prize

  • A history essay contest
  • Open to students published in The Concord Review during the previous academic year who have shown outstanding promise in history at the high school level
  • Winners receive $1,000
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

National History Day Contest

  • Encourages more than half a million students around the world to conduct historical research 
  • Students in grades 6–12 are eligible
  • Students enter at the local and affiliate levels, with top students advancing to the National Contest 
  • State contests are generally held in March (check with your local affiliate), with a national contest in June
  • Non-monetary awards are presented to the top entries in each category and division
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

Rumbaugh Oration Contest

  • Contestants submit a five- to six-minute oration related to the American Revolution
  • Open to students in grades 9–12
  • Preliminary rounds begin at the local chapter level, with an opportunity to advance to the state or national level
  • First place receives $8,000
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

U.S. Senate Youth Program

  • Qualified high school juniors or seniors must show demonstrated leadership by serving in elected or appointed positions in which they represent a constituency in organizations related to student government, education, public affairs, and community service
  • Offers two winners per state a week-long trip to Washington, D.C., and a one-time scholarship of $10,000
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship

  • Requires a three- to five-minute audiotape of a recorded essay with a democratic and patriotic theme
  • Open to students in grades 9–12
  • The national first-place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s U.S. university, college, or vocational/technical school
  • October deadline

Americanism Essay Contest

  • Students are invited to submit a 350-word essay on Americanism and patriotism
  • Open to all students grades 7–12, including those who are homeschooled
  • The grand national winner receives $1,500
  • December deadline

Rubincam Youth Writing Competition

  • The awards may be given annually to a student in either the junior category (grades 6–8) or senior category (grades 9–12) for an appropriately prepared genealogy
  • The senior category award winner receives a $500 cash prize, a plaque, and a one-year National Genealogical Society membership
  • The junior category award winner receives a $250 cash prize, a plaque, and a one-year National Genealogical Society membership
  • December deadline

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

  • Students describe and analyze an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917
  • Open to U.S. students in grades 9–12
  • First place receives $10,000
  • January deadline

George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest

  • Submit an original 800- to 1,200-word essay associated with the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or framing of the U.S. Constitution
  • Open to students in grades 9–12
  • The contest is conducted in three phases: the local chapter, state-level society, and national phases, and must be entered through a Sons of the American Revolution chapter near the student’s residence
  • First place receives $6,000
  • February deadline

American Foreign Service Association Essay Contest

  • A 1,000- to 1,500-word essay contest that addresses that year’s topic related to the foreign service  
  • Open to students in grades 9–12 whose parents are not in the Foreign Service
  • The winner receives $2,500, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., from anywhere in the U.S., and an all-expense-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea
  • April deadline

U.S. Institute of Peace National High School Essay Contest

  • Engages high school students in learning and writing about issues of peace and conflict, encouraging appreciation for diplomacy’s role in building partnerships that can advance peacebuilding and protect national security
  • Open to students in grades 9–12
  • The winner receives $2,500, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to meet leadership at the U.S. Department of State and USIP, and a full-tuition-paid voyage with Semester at Sea upon the student’s enrollment at an accredited university
  • April deadline

Goi Peace Foundation International Essay Contest for Young People

  • An essay contest based on a chosen theme
  • Open to anyone in the world up to age 25 
  • Essays must be 700 words or fewer in English or French or 1,600 characters or fewer in Japanese
  • Each first-prize winner will receive a gift and a certificate of commendation from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan
  • June deadline


American Legion’s National High School Oratorical Contest

  • A speech contest to develop deeper knowledge of the U.S. Constitution 
  • Open to high school students in grades 9–12 under age 20 
  • Contest begins at the state level
  • First place receives a $25,000 scholarship
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

The New York Times Contests

  • The New York Times holds many contests (including art, editorials, personal narratives, profiles, and podcasts)
  • Open to middle and high school students ages 13–19
  • Prizes are non-monetary
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

Rumbaugh Oration Contest

  • Contestants submit a five- to six-minute oration related to the American Revolution
  • Open to students in grades 9–12
  • Preliminary rounds begin at the local chapter level, with an opportunity to advance to the state or national level
  • First place receives $8,000
  • Nonspecific or multiple deadlines

National YoungArts Foundation Contest and Scholarship

  • One of the nation’s most prestigious competitions for students in dance, film and video, jazz, classical music, design arts, photography, theater, visual arts, voice, and writing
  • Open to students in grades 10–12, ages 15–18, on December 1 of the year of application
  • Three levels of recognition with cash scholarships up to $10,000
  • October deadline

VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship

  • Requires a three- to five-minute audiotape of a recorded essay with a democratic and patriotic theme
  • Open to students in grades 9–12
  • The national first-place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s U.S. university, college, or vocational/technical school
  • October deadline

A Voice for Animals Contest

  • Entrants may submit an essay, video, or essay with photos addressing topics such as the mistreatment of animals, the preservation of endangered species, and solutions for the elimination of animal suffering
  • Open to high school students younger than 19 years of age on the date the contest opened for entries (requirements for each contest may vary from year to year) 
  • Prizes range from $200 to $500
  • March deadline

TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students

  • Students are invited to submit a 3-minute video that addresses a societal, systematic problem
  • Open to any current high school student interested in psychology
  • Up to three winners will receive $300 scholarships
  • March deadline

The Paradigm Challenge

  • Competition that invites students to use kindness, creativity, and collaboration to help solve real-life problems
  • Open to students ages 4–18 worldwide
  • Entries can include posters, videos, inventions, public messages, community events, websites, mobile apps, or anything else that will help address one or more of the paradigm challenge projects
  • The top 100 entries can win up to $100,000
  • April deadline

Quill and Scroll: The George and Ophelia Gallup Award, the Edward J. Nell Scholarship, and the Richard P. Johns Scholarship

  • Offers three awards based on student contributions to media at their school, academic achievements, and a commitment to fairness and diversity in reporting
  • Open to Quill and Scroll members and national winners of the Yearbook Excellence Contest; the International Writing, Photography and Multimedia Contest; and the Eye on Ivy Editorial Writing Contest 
  • Recipients must seek to major in journalism or a related area of communications
  • Scholarships have ranged from $500 to $1,500
  • May deadline

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

  • A platform for young people to learn about environmental issues through art-making and creative communication in the following categories: handcrafted visual art, digital visual art, poetry and spoken word, creative writing, film, music and dance, and interactive and multimedia
  • Open to students ages 11–18 
  • The gold award winner from each age division receives $1,000
  • June deadline

Breakthrough Junior Challenge

  • Create a short video (no more than two minutes) to communicate a theory, concept, or principle in physics, life sciences, or mathematics in an engaging, illuminating, and imaginative way
  • Open to students ages 13–18
  • The winner receives a $250,000 post-secondary scholarship
  • June deadline

ConnectHER Film Festival

  • Students submit original short films focused on critical women’s issues such as girls’ education, ending violence against women, poverty and economic independence, and authentic beauty/body image
  • Open to filmmakers who are 13–25 years old at the submission date
  • The Judges' Choice Award receives $5,000
  • June deadline


U.S. Senate Youth Program

  • Qualified high school juniors or seniors must show demonstrated leadership by serving in elected or appointed positions in which they represent a constituency in organizations related to student government, education, public affairs, and community service
  • Offers two winners per state a week-long trip to Washington, D.C., and a one-time scholarship of $10,000
  • Nonspecific or Multiple deadlines

Prudential Emerging Visionaries

  • For young people ages 14–18 with innovative solutions to financial and societal challenges in their communities
  • Participants with eligible entries submitted by the early deadline will be considered for the Early Entry Awards
  • Winners may qualify to receive up to $15,000 in awards and an all-expenses-paid trip to Prudential’s headquarters with a parent or guardian, as well as ongoing coaching
  • November deadline

TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students

  • Students are invited to submit a 3-minute video that addresses a societal, systematic problem
  • Open to any current high school student interested in psychology
  • Up to three winners will receive $300 scholarships
  • March deadline

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

  • Celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America
  • Open to students ages 8–18 who are permanent residents of and currently residing in the U.S. or Canada, currently working on a service project or have done so within the past 12 months, and working as an individual to lead their service work
  • Winners each receive $10,000 for higher education or their service project
  • April deadline

The Paradigm Challenge

  • Competition that invites students to use kindness, creativity, and collaboration to help solve real-life problems
  • Open to students ages 4–18 worldwide
  • Entries can include posters, videos, inventions, public messages, community events, websites, mobile apps, or anything else that will help address one or more of the paradigm challenge projects
  • The top 100 entries can win up to $100,000
  • April deadline

U.S. Institute of Peace National High School Essay Contest

  • Engages high school students in learning and writing about issues of peace and conflict, encouraging appreciation for diplomacy’s role in building partnerships that can advance peacebuilding and protect national security
  • Open to students in grades 9–12
  • The winner receives $2,500, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to meet leadership at the U.S. Department of State and USIP, and a full-tuition-paid voyage with Semester at Sea upon the student’s enrollment at an accredited university
  • April deadline

ConnectHER Film Festival

  • Students submit original short films focused on critical women’s issues such as girls’ education, ending violence against women, poverty and economic independence, and authentic beauty/body image
  • Open to filmmakers who are 13–25 years old at the submission date
  • The Judges' Choice Award receives $5,000
  • June deadline

Note that some of the scholarships listed below require a school nomination. Students should not wait and hope for their schools to nominate them; rather, they should solicit a nomination by notifying their school’s college counselor of their interest.

Deadlines, award amounts, eligibility requirements, and other factors are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please consult the scholarship program's website.

  • Most colleges and universities offer their own merit-based scholarships
  • Students should research the scholarship opportunities available at all of the schools to which they are planning to apply


BigFuture Scholarships

  • Applicants must build a college list with six or more colleges on the BigFuture website
  • Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
  • Applicants earn entries in monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 scholarships
  • Available monthly

Niche Scholarships

  • Applicants can apply once each month with a new winner selected every month (no essay required)
  • Open to high school and college students and anyone who will attend college or graduate school in the next year; limited to students with US citizenship or a valid US visa.
  • A monthly $2,000 scholarship winner is determined by random drawing
  • Available monthly

Nitro Scholarships

  • A monthly sweepstakes scholarship with the winner selected by random drawing
  • Open to high school seniors and college students who are U.S. legal residents who are 17 or older at the time of entry
  • The winner receives a $2,000 scholarship
  • Available monthly

American College Foundation Visionary Scholarship

  • Applicants submit an application, their most recent unofficial high school transcript, and a 500-word essay 
  • Open to all high school students
  • A biannual award; check website for deadline dates
  • Five awards ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 are given with each biannual deadline, with a total of 10 scholarships awarded for each school year
  • Non-specific or varied deadlines

$25K Be Bold Scholarship

  • Applicants must create a profile on the Be Bold website (rolling monthly deadline; students who apply earlier are favored) 
  • Open to students of any education level, school, field of study, and GPA 
  • The winner receives a $25,000 scholarship
  • Non-specific or varied deadlines

Coca-Cola Scholars Competition

  • Open to high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA and a record of academic achievement and extracurricular activities, including commitment to community service
  • Each scholar receives $20,000
  • September deadline

The Gates Scholarship

  • Highly selective scholarship for minority high school seniors from low-income households
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident with at least one of the following ethnicities: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
  • Must be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) 
  • Must plan to enroll full-time, in a four-year degree program, at a U.S. accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university
  • Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution
  • September deadline

National Merit Scholarship

  • High school students who meet published requirements enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT at the specified time in the high school program, usually as juniors
  • October deadline
  • Merit Scholarship awards are of three types: 
    • National Merit® $2,500 Scholarships
    • Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship (amount varies)
    • College-sponsored Merit Scholarships, which are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study at the sponsor institution and provide stipends between $500 and $2,000 per year

BigFuture New York Scholarships

  • Students take the College Board career quiz to enter into the scholarship drawing and receive information about their professional interests
  • Open to high school sophomores and juniors in New York 
  • Twelve winners each receive $10,000
  • November deadline

Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship

  • Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need
  • Open to current high school seniors, or the equivalent, who are U.S. citizens
  • Offers 500 renewable awards ranging from $1,000 per year to $7,500 per year to students pursuing a four-year degree on a full-time basis at a U.S. college or university
  • November deadline

National Honor Society Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors who are active members of an NHS chapter and who are planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. college or university
  • The national finalist receives a $25,000 scholarship
  • November deadline

Odenza Marketing Group Scholarship

  • Open to students between ages 16–25 who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with a GPA of at least 2.5
  • The winner receives a $500 scholarship
  • November deadline

Burger King Scholars

  • Applicants must be high school seniors in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • A range of scholarships is available, including three scholarships of $60,000 granted to the most highly qualified students demonstrating leadership, substantial work experience, and financial need
  • December deadline

Equitable Excellence Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors with at least a 2.5 GPA who plan to enroll full time in an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the U.S. for the entire upcoming academic year
  • Students have the opportunity to receive a $5,000 annual scholarship that will be renewed each academic year for a total of $20,000
  • December deadline

Ron Brown Scholarship

  • Open to low-income Black and African American high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
  • Upon acceptance, scholars are each awarded $40,000 ($10,000 per year for four years) toward educational expenses that may be used at the college or university of their choice
  • December deadline

The Coolidge Scholarship

  • Open to high school juniors
  • Annually awarded, full-ride presidential scholarship will cover a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study
  • January deadline

Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships

  • Offers various multi-year scholarships, typically renewable up to four years
  • Open to applicants who attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university in the U.S.; other eligibility requirements vary by scholarship
  • Awards are based on academic excellence, commitment to the field of study, financial need, or other restrictions
  • January deadline

National Beta Club Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors who are members of Beta Club (emphasis on service and leadership)
  • The top winner receives a $20,000 scholarship
  • January deadline

1,000 Dreams Scholarship Fund

  • Applicants must include two letters of recommendation and write an essay explaining how the grant would be used
  • Open to female high school, college, and grad school students who demonstrate financial need
  • Each winner receives up to a $1,000 scholarship
  • March deadline

American Foreign Service Association Scholarship

  • Open to the children of Foreign Service employees whose parents are members of the American Foreign Service Association; applicants must be high school seniors or college first-years, sophomores, or juniors with a minimum GPA of 2.75
  • On average, AFSA awards aid to approximately 100 Foreign Service children totaling close to $370,000 a year
  • March deadline

Engebretson Foundation Scholarship

  • Applicants must demonstrate financial need, have a 3.75 GPA or above, and have achieved at least a 28 composite score on the ACT or at least a 1240 on the SAT
  • Open to graduating high school seniors
  • The winner receives a one-year scholarship of $10,000 per semester
  • March deadline

Horatio Alger Scholarship Program

  • Offers over 70 scholarship programs for students in various stages of their academic careers
  • In general, open to high school juniors and seniors and college first-years with a 2.0 GPA; each scholarship has its own specific requirements
  • Scholarships range from $10,000 to $60,000
  • March deadline

The Husband and Wife Law Team Scholarship

  • Applicants must submit a 250- to 350-word essay
  • Open to high school seniors and college students with a 3.0 or higher GPA
  • Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded: one to an Arizona student and the other to a student anywhere in the U.S.
  • April deadline

First Infantry Division Foundation Huebner Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors who are the children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of soldiers who have served in the First Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, as well as children of active-duty soldiers of the division
  • The winner receives $15,000, payable to the school in four annual installments of not more than $3,750 per year
  • May deadlines

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

  • Winners are chosen by a committee that bases its decision primarily on the submitted personal statement
  • Open to high school, college, or graduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • July deadline


Pulse of Perseverance

  • Students must read the book Pulse of Perseverance: Three Black Doctors on Their Journey to Success and submit a 250-word essay focusing on how they are currently making a difference in their community
  • Applicants also submit a video on why they possess the “pulse of perseverance” and what the scholarship will mean to them
  • Open to high school and college students 
  • Awards $1,000 every month to a student who demonstrates the desire to defy stereotypes and to succeed
  • Monthly deadlines

American College Foundation Visionary Scholarship

  • Applicants submit an application, their most recent unofficial high school transcript, and a 500-word essay 
  • Open to all high school students
  • A biannual award; check website for deadline dates
  • Five awards ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 are given with each biannual deadline, with a total of 10 scholarships awarded for each school year
  • Nonspecific or varied deadlines

Americans United Student Essay Contest

  • Applicants must submit an essay or video on the importance of religious freedom and the separation of religion and government; essay and video deadlines vary
  • Open to high school students and undergraduates in the U.S., the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories.
  • First place receives $1,500 
  • Nonspecific or varied deadlines

Claes Nobel Good Earth Sustainability Scholarship

  • Applicants must write a 500–800 word essay in response to a given prompt and submit photos or other media showing leadership in action 
  • Open to high school and college students with a dedicated passion for sustainability and environmental policy
  • Five winners each receive $2,000
  • August deadline

Make Me Laugh Scholarship

  • Applicants must write an essay of 250 words or fewer on a given prompt 
  • Open to U.S. students 14 years of age or older at time of application
  • The winner receives a $1,500 scholarship
  • August deadline

Coca-Cola Scholars Competition

  • Open to high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA and a record of academic achievement and extracurricular activities, including commitment to community service
  • Each scholar receives $20,000

Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship

  • Applicants draft a 140-character message about texting while driving; the top 10 applicants will be selected as finalists who will be asked to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay
  • Open to all high school, college, and graduate school students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • September deadline

The Justice Solutions Group “Future Mentors” Scholarship

  • Applicants must submit a 800- to 1,500-word essay on mentorship 
  • Open to students who are or will be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university for the semester they are applying for the scholarship
  • The winner receives a $2,500 scholarship
  • September deadline

Apprentice Ecologist Initiative

  • Applicants must conduct an environmental stewardship project, write an essay, and take a photo of the project in action
  • Open to students between ages 13–21
  • Three scholarships are awarded annually, totaling $1,750
  • December deadline

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

  • Applicants must showcase their leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship in a series of essays 
  • Open to U.S. high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Each winner receives a $10,000 scholarship, renewable for up to an additional three years (up to $40,000 total per recipient)
  • January deadline

Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship

  • Applicants draft a 140-character message about technology addiction; the top 10 applications will be selected as finalists who will be asked to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay about technology addiction
  • Open to high school, college, and graduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • January deadline

P.L.A.Y.’s Annual Scholars Helping Collars Scholarship

  • Applicants must describe the impact they made in the life of a rescue animal or the animal welfare cause in general
  • Open to graduating high school seniors in the U.S. 
  • The winner receives a $1,500 scholarship
  • February deadline

1,000 Dreams Scholarship Fund

  • Applicants must include two letters of recommendation and write an essay explaining how the grant would be used
  • Open to female high school, college, and grad school students who demonstrate financial need
  • Each winner receives up to a $1,000 scholarship
  • March deadline

Garage Gurus Scholarship

  • Applicants must submit a typed essay or a video introducing themselves and why they want to be a top technician, along with a letter of recommendation
  • Open to high school and college students in the automotive service industry
  • A specific scholarship amount is not mentioned, but the program has provided 108 students with over $270,000 in scholarships since 2015
  • March deadline

UNIGO Superpower Scholarship

  • Applicants submit a 250-word essay answering the question: Which superhero or villain would you want to change places with for a day and why?
  • Open to legal U.S. residents who are at least 14 years old
  • The winner receives a $2,500 scholarship
  • March deadline

E-Waste Scholarship

  • Applicants draft a 140-character message about e-waste; the top 10 applications will be selected as finalists who will be asked to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay about e-waste
  • Open to high school, college, and graduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • April deadline

The Husband and Wife Law Team Scholarship

  • Applicants must submit a 250- to 350-word essay
  • Open to high school seniors and college students with a 3.0 or higher GPA
  • Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded: one to an Arizona student and the other to a student anywhere in the U.S.
  • April deadline

Ivey Engineering $1,000 Annual Scholarship Essay Contest

  • Applicants submit an 800- to 1000-word essay on one of three topics
  • Open to current high school seniors, students transitioning to college, or current undergraduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 tuition scholarship, mailed directly to their college
  • May deadline

Digital Privacy Scholarship

  • Applicants draft a 140-character message about digital privacy; the top 10 applications will be selected as finalists who will be asked to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay about digital privacy
  • Open to U.S. high school, college, and graduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • June deadline

GoFoodservice Scholarship

  • Requires an essay on your interest in the culinary arts
  • Open to high school seniors who plan to enroll in college at the start of the next school year or currently enrolled college students in a culinary arts or hospitality management program
  • The winner receives a $500 scholarship
  • June deadline

Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Program

  • Applicants must write an essay about their experience with martial arts
  • Open to students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and plan to enroll full-time as an undergraduate at an accredited U.S. four-year college or university for the entire academic year
  • Applicants must have studied one or more of the Chinese martial arts (Kung Fu, Wu Shu, or Tai Chi) for a minimum of five years
  • Applicants should have a “B” average grade or better
  • Each winner receives $3,000
  • June deadline

Virginia W. Smith Scholarship

  • Applicants submit a transcript, essay, and letters of recommendation
  • Open to New York students in grade 12 with satisfactory grades and a desire to further their interest in horticulture, conservation, or environmental issues through college-level study
  • The winner receives a $2,500 scholarship
  • June deadline

ABC Humane Wildlife Women In STEM Academic Scholarship

  • Applicants must respond to an essay prompt about their passion for STEM 
  • Open to students who identify as women who are currently enrolled at an accredited college or university 
  • The top winner receives $1,000
  • July deadline

Apex Minecraft Scholarship

  • Applicants write an essay on Minecraft and how it can be a positive influence on education and career development
  • Open to students currently enrolled in high school or college with a 3.0 or higher GPA
  • The winner receives a $2,000 scholarship
  • July deadline

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

  • Winners are chosen by a committee that bases its decision primarily on the submitted personal statement
  • Open to high school, college, or graduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • July deadline

Hach & Rose Annual College Scholarship

  • Applicants submit an essay discussing how an accident caused by someone else’s negligence has impacted them
  • Open to graduating high school seniors, college students, and graduate students 
  • The winner receives a $5,000 scholarship
  • July deadline

Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship

  • Applicants must submit a personal statement and an essay 
  • Open to current high school seniors and college first-years, sophomores, and juniors (ages 27 and younger) who demonstrate an active commitment to making a difference on issues of HIV/AIDS, public health, human rights, and other social justice issues
  • Each winner receives a $5,000 scholarship
  • July deadline


The Jewish Community Federation’s College Scholarships

  • Program includes 15 different scholarships, each with its own eligibility criteria and requirements
  • Most (but not all) scholarships are for Jewish students from the California counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma to attend an undergraduate program based on a combination of need and merit
  • For full-time students only, enrolled in 12-plus units per quarter/semester
  • Nonspecific or varied deadlines

LPGA Foundation Scholarships

  • Offers scholarships for young women who enjoy the game of golf and plan to attend college in the fall
  • Open to female students; qualifications include strong academic programs, community service, and recommendations
  • Awards range from $250 to $5,000, including several renewable scholarships for four years of study
  • Nonspecific or varied deadlines

Society of Women Engineers Scholarship

  • Provides financial assistance to those who identify as women and are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in preparation for careers in engineering, engineering technology, and computer science
  • Hundreds of scholarships are available; applicants complete one application and are considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible
  • Nonspecific or varied deadlines

Young Women in Public Affairs Award

  • Students must demonstrate an active commitment to volunteerism
  • Open to female students between ages 16–19 at the time of application
  • Exact application deadlines depend on the Zonta club district nearest the applicant; however, all applications are due sometime prior to April 1
  • Thirty-two winners of district and regional awards each receive $5,000
  • Nonspecific or varied deadlines

The Gates Scholarship

  • Highly selective scholarship for minority high school seniors from low-income households
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident with at least one of the following ethnicities: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
  • Must be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) 
  • Must plan to enroll full-time, in a four-year degree program, at a U.S. accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university
  • Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution
  • September deadline

Ron Brown Scholarship

  • Open to low-income Black and African American high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
  • Upon acceptance, scholars are each awarded $40,000 ($10,000 per year for four years) toward educational expenses that may be used at the college or university of their choice
  • December deadline

Diller Teen Awards

  • Candidates must self-identify as Jewish, be between ages 13–19, and be U.S. residents serving in a leadership role on a project aimed at repairing the world
  • Each winner receives a $36,000 scholarship
  • January deadline

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

  • Open to outstanding minority high school seniors who plan to attend college
  • Each winner receives a scholarship of up to $35,000 over four years to attend their chosen undergraduate school; they will also enroll in JRF’s celebrated “42 Strategies for Success Curriculum,” a four-year program that guides scholars to effectively navigate their college environments, explore career options, develop leadership skills, and embrace a commitment to service
  • January deadline

American Foreign Service Association Scholarship

  • Open to the children of Foreign Service employees whose parents are members of the American Foreign Service Association; applicants must be high school seniors or college first-years, sophomores, or juniors with a minimum GPA of 2.75
  • On average, AFSA awards aid to approximately 100 Foreign Service children totaling close to $370,000 a year
  • March deadline

Davidson Fellows Scholarship

  • A scholarship for students who have completed a significant piece of work in one of the submission categories
  • Open to students 18 years old or under who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. residing in the U.S. or stationed overseas due to active U.S. military duty
  • Students should be able to attend the awards reception in Washington, D.C., with at least one parent or guardian
  • The winners will be named Davidson Fellows and are eligible to receive a $50,000 scholarship
  • March deadline

Also-Known-As Adoptee Excellence Scholarship

  • Open to adoptees who were adopted internationally and brought to the U.S. and who will be enrolled in college during the coming school year
  • The winner receives a one-time $1,500 scholarship to support full-time study at an accredited U.S. college, university, or vocational-technical school
  • April deadline

LEAGUE Foundation LGBTQ Scholarships

  • Open to self-identified LGBTQ+ graduating high school seniors
  • The LEAGUE Foundation offers several awards for varying amounts; each student application is automatically reviewed for each
  • April deadline

First Infantry Division Foundation Huebner Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors who are the children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of soldiers who have served in the First Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, as well as children of active-duty soldiers of the division
  • The winner receives $15,000, payable to the school in four annual installments of not more than $3,750 per year
  • May deadline

Jack Scura Fund

  • Open to incoming or current students of an undergraduate program of a New Jersey college or university who have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability and a 3.2 or higher GPA
  • The winner receives a $10,000 scholarship, paid in two installments of $5,000 for the fall  and spring semesters
  • July deadline


LPGA Foundation Scholarships

  • Offers scholarships for young women who enjoy the game of golf and plan to attend college in the fall
  • Open to female students; qualifications include strong academic programs, community service, and recommendations
  • Awards range from $250 to $5,000, including several renewable scholarships for four years of study
  • Nonspecific or varied deadline

National Beta Club Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors who are members of Beta Club (emphasis on service and leadership)
  • The top winner receives a $20,000 scholarship
  • January deadline

P.L.A.Y.’s Annual Scholars Helping Collars Scholarship

  • Applicants must describe the impact they made in the life of a rescue animal or the animal welfare cause in general
  • Open to graduating high school seniors in the U.S. 
  • The winner receives a $1,500 scholarship
  • February deadline

Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

  • Applicants will be judged on their compassion, courage, and commitment to a vegetarian diet/lifestyle
  • Open to graduating U.S. high school students 
  • The top winner receives a $10,000 scholarship, paid directly to the student’s college
  • February deadline

Music Forward Foundation Scholarships

  • Eligibility requirements vary by scholarship
  • Open to outstanding college students pursuing careers in the music industry
  • Each winner receives a $10,000 scholarship
  • March deadline

4-H Youth in Action

  • Open to ages 14–19
  • March deadline
  • Four 4-H members will be selected to receive:
    • A $5,000 scholarship for higher education, to be paid directly to the student’s institution, including two-year and four-year colleges, trade schools, or other advanced learning opportunities
    • An all-expenses-paid trip for the winner and a chaperone to Washington, D.C., for an award ceremony

Pretty Lightroom Presets Annual Scholarship

  • Applicants submit an Adobe Lightroom tutorial of at least 800 words with screenshots and photos
  • Open to high school seniors and current college students
  • The winner receives a $500 scholarship, mailed to their college or university
  • April deadline

AGL Over the Rainbow Blooming Artist Award

  • Applicants submit a three-minute video or sample of their highlighted performances or artwork; a resume of their musical, theatre, art, or chorus background; letters of reference; and college acceptance letter or a listing of your applications with plans to attend
  • Open to high school fine arts students who plan to attend college
  • Each winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • May deadline

Beans for Brains Scholarship Program

  • Open to high school seniors and college and graduate students with a 3.0 or higher GPA  who know how to knit and/or crochet; must be attending or planning to attend an accredited institution of higher education in the U.S.
  • Each winner receives a $2,500 scholarship
  • May deadline

My Crossword Maker Scholarship

  • Applicants must create and submit one 15×15 newspaper-style crossword puzzle
  • Open to all current or incoming undergraduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 tuition scholarship and a free lifetime subscription to My Crossword Maker
  • May deadline

National Spanish and Portuguese Exams Senior Scholarships

  • Open to graduating seniors; exams, scores, placements, and pre-requisite course requirements may change from year to year; check the website for specifics
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • May deadline

GoFoodservice Scholarship

  • Requires an essay on your interest in the culinary arts
  • Open to high school seniors who plan to enroll in college at the start of the next school year or currently enrolled college students in a culinary arts or hospitality management program
  • The winner receives a $500 scholarship
  • June deadline

Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Program

  • Applicants must write an essay about their experience with martial arts
  • Open to students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and plan to enroll full-time as an undergraduate at an accredited U.S. four-year college or university for the entire academic year
  • Applicants must have studied one or more of the Chinese martial arts (Kung Fu, Wu Shu, or Tai Chi) for a minimum of five years
  • Applicants should have a “B” average grade or better
  • Each winner receives $3,000
  • June deadline

Virginia W. Smith Scholarship

  • Applicants submit a transcript, essay, and letters of recommendation
  • Open to New York students in grade 12 with satisfactory grades and a desire to further their interest in horticulture, conservation, or environmental issues through college-level study
  • The winner receives a $2,500 scholarship
  • June deadline


AEA Educational Foundation Scholarship Program

  • Open to high school or college students planning on or already attending an accredited school in an avionics or aircraft maintenance program
  • Offers multiple scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,500
  • Nonspecific or varied deadlines

Society of Women Engineers Scholarship

  • Provides financial assistance to those who identify as women and are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in preparation for careers in engineering, engineering technology, and computer science
  • Hundreds of scholarships are available; applicants complete one application and are considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible
  • Nonspecific or varied deadlines

Regeneron Science Talent Search

  • Applicants must complete a scientific research project
  • Open to high school seniors living in the U.S. or abroad who have completed independent research projects
  • Forty finalists each receive $25,000 and spend a week in Washington, D.C., to display and present their research to thousands of visitors
  • First place receives $250,000
  • November deadline

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors of underrepresented backgrounds with a 2.3 cumulative GPA who are planning to pursue a computer science or engineering degree
  • Each winner receives a $40,000 scholarship ($10,000 per college year) plus a paid summer internship programming at Amazon
  • December deadline

Apprentice Ecologist Initiative

  • Applicants must conduct an environmental stewardship project, write an essay, and take a photo of the project in action
  • Open to students between ages 13–21
  • Three scholarships are awarded annually, totaling $1,750
  • December deadline

ISC2 Women’s Scholarships

  • Open to female applicants with at least a 3.3 GPA and who are pursuing or planning to pursue a degree with a focus on cybersecurity or information assurance
  • Offers up to 10 scholarships between $1,000 and $5,000
  • February deadline

Shred Nations and Record Nations Scholarship Program

  • Applicants will be required to submit a nomination from an i-SIGMA member
  • Open to high school seniors and graduates with a minimum 3.0 GPA and an interest in business, environmental studies, document management, or the shredding and recycling industry
  • The winner receives a $7,500 scholarship
  • February deadline

Society of Automotive Engineers Scholarship

  • Open to engineering students in college and graduate school
  • Offers scholarships between $1,000 and $5,500
  • February deadline

Garage Gurus Scholarship

  • Applicants must submit a typed essay or a video introducing themselves and why they want to be a top technician, along with a letter of recommendation
  • Open to high school and college students in the automotive service industry
  • A specific scholarship amount is not mentioned, but the program has provided 108 students with over $270,000 in scholarships since 2015
  • March deadline

U.S. Department of Agriculture 1890 Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors entering their freshman year of college and rising college sophomores and juniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum score of 21 on the ACT or 1080 on the SAT
  • Provides full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, and room and board each year for up to four years to students who choose to attend one of the 1890 Land-Grant Universities and who study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related academic disciplines
  • March deadline

E-Waste Scholarship

  • Applicants draft a 140-character message about e-waste; the top 10 applications will be selected as finalists who will be asked to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay about e-waste
  • Open to high school, college, and graduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • April deadline

STEM Stars Actuarial Scholars Program

  • An annual scholarship program to increase representation and inclusion of individuals from social, cultural, and economic backgrounds historically underrepresented in the actuarial profession
  • Open to high school students who are skilled in math and interested in the actuarial field
  • Scholars will receive $20,000 ($5,000 annually for four years)
  • April deadline

ASHRAE High School Senior Scholarships

  • Open to high school seniors with at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0 who have been accepted into an engineering, pre-engineering, or engineering technology program at a post-secondary educational institution
  • Each winner receives a $3,000 scholarship
  • May deadline

Ivey Engineering $1,000 Annual Scholarship Essay Contest

  • Applicants submit an 800- to 1000-word essay on one of three topics
  • Open to current high school seniors, students transitioning to college, or current undergraduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 tuition scholarship, mailed directly to their college
  • May deadline

ScienceSaves High School Video Scholarship

  • Applicants create a 20–30 second video answering the question “What has science done for me?” or “What has science done for somebody I know?”
  • Open to high school seniors entering college in the fall of the year of application
  • First place receives $10,000
  • May deadline

Digital Privacy Scholarship

  • Applicants draft a 140-character message about digital privacy; the top 10 applications will be selected as finalists who will be asked to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay about digital privacy
  • Open to U.S. high school, college, and graduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • June deadline

Virginia W. Smith Scholarship

  • Applicants submit a transcript, essay, and letters of recommendation
  • Open to New York students in grade 12 with satisfactory grades and a desire to further their interest in horticulture, conservation, or environmental issues through college-level study
  • The winner receives a $2,500 scholarship
  • June deadline

ABC Humane Wildlife Women In STEM Academic Scholarship

  • Applicants must respond to an essay prompt about their passion for STEM 
  • Open to students who identify as women who are currently enrolled at an accredited college or university 
  • The top winner receives $1,000
  • July deadline

Apex Minecraft Scholarship

  • Applicants write an essay on Minecraft and how it can be a positive influence on education and career development
  • Open to students currently enrolled in high school or college with a 3.0 or higher GPA
  • The winner receives a $2,000 scholarship
  • July deadline

Emergency Dentists Video Scholarship

  • Applicants must create a video (2 minutes maximum) on a given topic about dental health
  • Open to all U.S. high school and college students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • July deadline


Young Women in Public Affairs Award

  • Students must demonstrate an active commitment to volunteerism
  • Open to female students between ages 16–19 at the time of application
  • Exact application deadlines depend on the Zonta club district nearest the applicant; however, all applications are due sometime prior to April 1
  • Thirty-two winners of district and regional awards each receive $5,000
  • Nonspecific or varied deadlines

Coca-Cola Scholars Competition

  • Open to high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA and a record of academic achievement and extracurricular activities, including commitment to community service
  • Each scholar receives $20,000
  • September deadline

The Justice Solutions Group “Future Mentors” Scholarship

  • Applicants must submit a 800- to 1,500-word essay on mentorship 
  • Open to students who are or will be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university for the semester they are applying for the scholarship
  • The winner receives a $2,500 scholarship
  • September deadline

Apprentice Ecologist Initiative

  • Applicants must conduct an environmental stewardship project, write an essay, and take a photo of the project in action
  • Open to students between ages 13–21
  • Three scholarships are awarded annually, totaling $1,750
  • December deadline

Burger King Scholars

  • Applicants must be high school seniors in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • A range of scholarships is available, including three scholarships of $60,000 granted to the most highly qualified students demonstrating leadership, substantial work experience, and financial need
  • December deadline

National Beta Club Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors who are members of Beta Club (emphasis on service and leadership)
  • The top winner receives a $20,000 scholarship
  • January deadline

P.L.A.Y.’s Annual Scholars Helping Collars Scholarship

  • Applicants must describe the impact they made in the life of a rescue animal or the animal welfare cause in general
  • Open to graduating high school seniors in the U.S. 
  • The winner receives a $1,500 scholarship
  • February deadline

Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

  • Applicants will be judged on their compassion, courage, and commitment to a vegetarian diet/lifestyle
  • Open to graduating U.S. high school students 
  • The top winner receives a $10,000 scholarship, paid directly to the student’s college
  • February deadline

Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship

  • Applicants must submit a personal statement and an essay 
  • Open to current high school seniors and college first-years, sophomores, and juniors (ages 27 and younger) who demonstrate an active commitment to making a difference on issues of HIV/AIDS, public health, human rights, and other social justice issues
  • Each winner receives a $5,000 scholarship
  • July deadline


Coca-Cola Scholars Competition

  • Open to high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA and a record of academic achievement and extracurricular activities, including commitment to community service
  • Each scholar receives $20,000
  • September deadline

The Gates Scholarship

  • Highly selective scholarship for minority high school seniors from low-income households
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident with at least one of the following ethnicities: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
  • Must be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) 
  • Must plan to enroll full-time, in a four-year degree program, at a U.S. accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university
  • Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution
  • September deadline

National Merit Scholarship

  • High school students who meet published requirements enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT at the specified time in the high school program, usually as juniors
  • October deadline
  • Merit Scholarship awards are of three types: 
    • National Merit® $2,500 Scholarships
    • Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship (amount varies)
    • College-sponsored Merit Scholarships, which are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study at the sponsor institution and provide stipends between $500 and $2,000 per year

National Honor Society Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors who are active members of an NHS chapter and who are planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. college or university
  • The national finalist receives a $25,000 scholarship
  • November deadline

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors of underrepresented backgrounds with a 2.3 cumulative GPA who are planning to pursue a computer science or engineering degree
  • Each winner receives a $40,000 scholarship ($10,000 per college year) plus a paid summer internship programming at Amazon
  • December deadline

Burger King Scholars

  • Applicants must be high school seniors in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • A range of scholarships is available, including three scholarships of $60,000 granted to the most highly qualified students demonstrating leadership, substantial work experience, and financial need
  • December deadline

Equitable Excellence Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors with at least a 2.5 GPA who plan to enroll full time in an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the U.S. for the entire upcoming academic year
  • Students have the opportunity to receive a $5,000 annual scholarship that will be renewed each academic year for a total of $20,000
  • December deadline

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

  • Applicants must showcase their leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship in a series of essays 
  • Open to U.S. high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Each winner receives a $10,000 scholarship, renewable for up to an additional three years (up to $40,000 total per recipient)
  • January deadline

ISC2 Women’s Scholarships

  • Open to female applicants with at least a 3.3 GPA and who are pursuing or planning to pursue a degree with a focus on cybersecurity or information assurance
  • Offers up to 10 scholarships between $1,000 and $5,000
  • February deadline

Shred Nations and Record Nations Scholarship Program

  • Applicants will be required to submit a nomination from an i-SIGMA member
  • Open to high school seniors and graduates with a minimum 3.0 GPA and an interest in business, environmental studies, document management, or the shredding and recycling industry
  • The winner receives a $7,500 scholarship
  • February deadline

American Foreign Service Association Scholarship

  • Open to the children of Foreign Service employees whose parents are members of the American Foreign Service Association; applicants must be high school seniors or college first-years, sophomores, or juniors with a minimum GPA of 2.75
  • On average, AFSA awards aid to approximately 100 Foreign Service children totaling close to $370,000 a year
  • March deadline

Engebretson Foundation Scholarship

  • Applicants must demonstrate financial need, have a 3.75 GPA or above, and have achieved at least a 28 composite score on the ACT or at least a 1240 on the SAT
  • Open to graduating high school seniors
  • The winner receives a one-year scholarship of $10,000 per semester
  • March deadline

U.S. Department of Agriculture 1890 Scholarship

  • Open to high school seniors entering their freshman year of college and rising college sophomores and juniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum score of 21 on the ACT o1080 on the SAT
  • Provides full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, and room and board each year for up to four years to students who choose to attend one of the 1890 Land-Grant Universities and who study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related academic disciplines
  • March deadline

ASHRAE High School Senior Scholarships

  • Open to high school seniors with at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0 who have been accepted into an engineering, pre-engineering, or engineering technology program at a post-secondary educational institution
  • Each winner receives a $3,000 scholarship
  • May deadline

Jack Scura Fund

  • Open to incoming or current students of an undergraduate program of a New Jersey college or university who have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability and a 3.2 or higher GPA
  • The winner receives a $10,000 scholarship, paid in two installments of $5,000 for the fall  and spring semesters
  • July deadline


Pulse of Perseverance

  • Students must read the book Pulse of Perseverance: Three Black Doctors on Their Journey to Success and submit a 250-word essay focusing on how they are currently making a difference in their community
  • Applicants also submit a video on why they possess the “pulse of perseverance” and what the scholarship will mean to them
  • Open to high school and college students 
  • Awards $1,000 every month to a student who demonstrates the desire to defy stereotypes and to succeed
  • Monthly deadlines

GoSkills Scholarship

  • Applicants must create a business plan as part of their application
  • Two deadlines in the fall and spring
  • Open to female high school or college students who want to start their own online business
  • Two winners each receive a $2,000 scholarship
  • Nonspecific or varied deadlines

Horror Writers Association Scholarships

  • Offers seven different scholarships ranging from $250 to $2,500
  • Scholarships will be open to applications for three months of each year, usually from June to August
  • Nonspecific or varied deadlines

Make Me Laugh Scholarship

  • Applicants must write an essay of 250 words or fewer on a given prompt 
  • Open to U.S. students 14 years of age or older at time of application
  • The winner receives a $1,500 scholarship
  • August deadline

“Unboxing Your Life” Video Scholarship

  • Students are asked to create a five-minute unboxing video of their life that showcases their originality and unique personality
  • Open to U.S. high school seniors and undergraduate and graduate students
  • The winner receives a $3,000 scholarship
  • September deadline

Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship

  • Applicants submit a short video (between 30 seconds and 2 minutes in length) on their driving passion
  • Open to U.S. students between ages 16–26 who are currently enrolled in an accredited post-secondary educational program located in the U.S.
  • Offers 150 scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $25,000
  • January deadline

National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Scholarship

  • Open to students pursuing a career in any aspect of the television industry; eligibility requirements vary by scholarship
  • Offers several $10,000 scholarships
  • April deadline

Phi Delta Kappa International Scholarship

  • Open to prospective education majors enrolled in higher education for the fall semester of the application year
  • Offers 100 scholarships; one-time and renewable awards range from $500 to $4,000
  • April deadline

Project Yellow Light Hunter Garner Scholarship

  • Applicants create a video ad, radio spot, or billboard design to encourage safe driving
  • Open to high school juniors and seniors between ages 14–20 and full-time undergraduate students between ages 15–25
  • April deadline
  • First-place scholarships for high school and college winners:
    • Video: $8,000
    • Billboard: $2,000
    • Radio: $2,000

Beans for Brains Scholarship Program

  • Open to high school seniors and college and graduate students with a 3.0 or higher GPA  who know how to knit and/or crochet; must be attending or planning to attend an accredited institution of higher education in the U.S.
  • Each winner receives a $2,500 scholarship
  • May deadline

My Crossword Maker Scholarship

  • Applicants must create and submit one 15×15 newspaper-style crossword puzzle
  • Open to all current or incoming undergraduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 tuition scholarship and a free lifetime subscription to My Crossword Maker
  • May deadline

National Spanish and Portuguese Exams Senior Scholarships

  • Open to graduating seniors; exams, scores, placements, and pre-requisite course requirements may change from year to year; check the website for specifics
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • May deadline

GoFoodservice Scholarship

  • Requires an essay on your interest in the culinary arts
  • Open to high school seniors who plan to enroll in college at the start of the next school year or currently enrolled college students in a culinary arts or hospitality management program
  • The winner receives a $500 scholarship
  • June deadline

Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Program

  • Applicants must write an essay about their experience with martial arts
  • Open to students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and plan to enroll full-time as an undergraduate at an accredited U.S. four-year college or university for the entire academic year
  • Applicants must have studied one or more of the Chinese martial arts (Kung Fu, Wu Shu, or Tai Chi) for a minimum of five years
  • Applicants should have a “B” average grade or better
  • Each winner receives $3,000
  • June deadline

National Junior Classical League

  • NJCL Scholarships
    • Ten awards of between $1,200 and $4,000 are available to NJCL members based on service to the organization, financial need, academic record, and recommendations from teachers and other adults
  • NJCL Latin Honor Society Scholarship
    • An award of $2,000 is made to a National Latin Honor Society member planning a classics major and a teaching career
  • National Latin Exam Scholarships
    • Twenty $1,000 scholarships are available to students who earn a gold medal on the National Latin Exam and are taking at least one year of Latin or classical Greek in college
  • June deadline

Apex Minecraft Scholarship

  • Applicants write an essay on Minecraft and how it can be a positive influence on education and career development
  • Open to students currently enrolled in high school or college with a 3.0 or higher GPA
  • The winner receives a $2,000 scholarship
  • July deadline

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

  • Winners are chosen by a committee that bases its decision primarily on the submitted personal statement
  • Open to high school, college, or graduate students
  • The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship
  • July deadline

Hach & Rose Annual College Scholarship

  • Applicants submit an essay discussing how an accident caused by someone else’s negligence has impacted them
  • Open to graduating high school seniors, college students, and graduate students 
  • The winner receives a $5,000 scholarship
  • July deadline

Jack Scura Fund

  • Open to incoming or current students of an undergraduate program of a New Jersey college or university who have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability and a 3.2 or higher GPA
  • The winner receives a $10,000 scholarship, paid in two installments of $5,000 for the fall  and spring semesters
  • July deadline

Advantage Testing, Inc., New York

350 East 88th Street
New York, NY 10128

Phone: 212.744.8800