50+ Scholarships for College in 2021

If your grades were always a bit mediocre, you might feel as though you won't have a chance in finding scholarships for college. But the truth is, not all scholarships have grades as their main criteria. If you're a strong sportsperson, you might be eligible for an athletic scholarship!

Colleges often offer athletic scholarships to students with the intention that the student will play on the college’s sports team. You can find athletic scholarships from various colleges and universities as well as other private institutes like sports companies or organizations. Athletic scholarships can either be full-ride scholarships or partial scholarships.

Athletics scholarships offered by colleges are often seen as controversial, as critics believe that awarding scholarship money for athletics rather than academic or intellectual purposes is not in an institution's best interest. However, many athletic scholarships require students to not only maintain performance in a specific sport, but also to maintain a minimum academic standard. 

List of Athletic Scholarships 2021

Here are some athletic scholarships offered in 2021:

• National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation (NSCAF) Scholarships
• Challenge Scholarship
• High School Scholarship
• Jerry Martin Memorial Scholarship
• Minority Scholarship
• Women’s Scholarship
• Sports Unlimited Scholarship
• Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program
• Positive Coaching Alliance Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarships
• BigSun Athletic Scholarship
• Wear Action Scholarship
• Iron Company Fitness and Education Scholarships

Many colleges and universities have funds for scholarships to assist students who are suddenly faced with a serious illness. There are also college scholarships specifically for students who have been affected by cancer. 

Childhood cancer survivors are more likely to have difficulty finding employment compared to people who never had cancer. Cancer scholarships aim to bridge that gap. 

List of Cancer Scholarships 2021

• Cancer Survivors Fund
• Frank Seleny Scholarship
• Michael A. Hunter Memorial Scholarship
• Stephen T. Marchello Scholarship Foundation
• National Collegiate Cancer Foundation Scholarship
• The SAMFund: Surviving and Moving Forward

There are also scholarships for students with parents that have or had cancer:

• MaryEllen Locher Scholarship Fund
• PinkRose Foundation Scholarship

Sometimes, big retail companies and corporations offer scholarships. For example, McDonald’s Hacer Scholarship offers financial aid to Hispanic students. And, Foot Locker offers a $20,000 scholarship to student athletes. 

If you're working a part-time job at a retail store or chain, make sure you check the company website for any scholarships.

• Microsoft Tuition Scholarship
• Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway
• College Monk No-Essay Scholarship
• Generation Google Scholarship
• AISES Google Scholarship
• Coca Cola Scholars Program
• Foot Locker Scholar Athletes
• McDonald’s Hacer Scholarship
• Unigo Scholarship

Some organizations and universities offer creative contest scholarships. These are also known as project scholarships, which students apply for with a creative submission.

List of Creative Contest Scholarships 2021

• Sports Unlimited Scholarship 
• Generation Google Scholarship
• National Make It Yourself with Wool Competition
• David Letterman Telecommunications Scholarship

Are you a prospective graduate student barely making your student loan payments from your undergraduate education? Unfortunately, those costs don't end with graduate school. Universities sometimes charge much more money for graduate program tuition each year than undergraduate tuition. 

Luckily, there are tons of scholarships available to graduate students worldwide. However, if you're looking for less competitive scholarships, you'll have better luck as an undergraduate student. Graduate scholarships are harder to score, since they are more specialized and less abundant. 

List of Graduate Scholarships 2021

• Ralph Johnson Bunche Distinguished Graduate Award
• U.S. Fulbright Student Program
• NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships
• SAIC Graduate Scholarships

High school scholarships are available to students in either their junior or senior year of high school. High school scholarships vary in type, sometimes offered based on a student’s extracurricular activities, interests, ethnic background, or field of study. Other types of high school scholarships include:

• For students with military parents
• State high school scholarships
• For high ACT/SAT scores

List of High School Scholarships 2021

Horatio Alger Association Scholarships

Scholarships for Students with Illnesses or Disabilities

Students with disabilities face unique challenges when they attend college. And, disabilities are quite common. In 2015, 19% of undergraduate students reported having at least one disability. Some examples of disabilities include learning disabilities, visual impairment, speech disorder, autism, and more. 

List of Scholarships for Students with Illnesses or Disabilities

• Mobility Disability Scholarship
• Mouse Hole Scholarship
• James "Rhio" O'Connor Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Alabama Scholarships for Dependents of Blind Parents
• Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship Foundation (CFSF) Scholarships
• Biomatrix Mark Coats Memorial Scholarship
• Little People of America Scholarship

• Paula Nieto Twin Scholarship
• Matthews & Swift Scholarship

Still Confused? You can use our College Scholarship finder tool - Scholarships Match

Last-dollar scholarships are provided by private and government-based institutions, and cover leftover fees that a student is faced with after considering any other grants they received. Usually, students can’t access last-dollar scholarships until after they receive a letter offering financial aid. 

This kind of scholarship might require details regarding a student’s bank accounts, taxes, income, loans, and sources of financial support.

Did you know there are scholarships for people studying specific majors? It turns out For example, if you've always dreamt of studying Russian language and literature, there's a scholarship for that! The William and Mary University offers the Dobro Slovo Scholarship fund for students that wish to spend a semester in St. Petersburg.

That's just one example though—there are scholarships out there for every major, even really specific ones. Additionally, many scholarships by major cross over with scholarships by career. That’s because certain careers require you to major in a specific field. You’ll find some 2021 scholarships by major in the career scholarships section. 

Career Specific Scholarships

Career-based scholarships are mainly focused on a student's career ambitions.

These are the scholarships a college or university will award to students who plan to pursue a specific field of study in order to achieve their dream career.

For example, many schools and hospitals offer generous nursing scholarships to students that wish to become nurses, and practicing health care professionals that would like to receive nursing credentials.

List of Career-Specific Scholarships 2021

• The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program
• Jerry Martin Memorial Scholarship 
• JP Morgan Chase & Co. - Thomas G. Labrecque Smart Start Program
• USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
• Royce Osborn Minority Student Scholarship
• Diversity Advancement Program Scholarship
• AISES Google Scholarship
• Benjamin A. Gilman International Students Scholarship Program 
• American Welding Society Scholarships
• AACT National Candy Technologists Scholarships
• NSCAF High School Scholarship
• Dobro Slovo Scholarship

Most scholarships in general are merit scholarships. They are the most common type of scholarship, and often cross-over with other types of scholarships. Your academic performance qualifies you for a merit scholarship. Colleges look at  academic background, past rankings, exam scores, transcripts, and your overall academic track record when considering candidates for a merit scholarship. 

While most merit scholarships focus on academic performance, others use a candidate's extra curriculars, community service, professional or business experience, artistic skills, or leadership skills as criteria for consideration. You’ll notice that many of the scholarships within this article, including minority scholarships, have academic requirements. 

List of Merit (Academic) Scholarships 2021

• Army ROTC Scholarship
• Truman Scholarship

List of Full-Ride and Full-Tuition Merit Scholarships 2021

• Center for Women In Technology (CWIT) Scholars Program at UMBC
• Chicago Police and Fire Scholarship - UChicago (for children of police officers and firefighters)
• Colorado Garden Foundation Scholarships
• JWU Presidential Academic Scholarship 
• JWU Campus Award Scholarship
• JWU Wildcat Award Scholarship
• Sister Mary Ildephonse Holland Scholarship
• The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program
• West Virginia PROMISE Scholarships
• Jerome C. Byrne, John E. Veneklasen, R. Paul Nelson Scholarships- Aquinas College
• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
• Evans Caddie Scholarship
• JP Morgan Chase & Co. - Thomas G. Labrecque Smart Start Program
• Microsoft Tuition Scholarship
• Regeneron STS Scholarship
• Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway
• USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
• Air Force ROTC Scholarships
• SMART - Science, Mathematics & Research for Transformation
• Flinn Scholars Program Scholarship

List of Community Service Merit Scholarships 2021

• Alliant Energy Community Service Scholarship
• Angie Houtz Memorial Scholarship Fund
• AXA Achievement Community Scholarship Program
• Comcast Foundation Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program 
• DAV Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship
• Washington Hospital Service League Volunteer Scholarship
• Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarships

Students of minority groups typically face more challenges than white students. For example, Americans growing up in poverty are more likely to be Black or Hispanic than white. Some organizations and colleges account for these inequities and celebrate diversity by offering scholarships to minority groups. 

List of Minority Scholarships (LGBTQ focused) 2021

• IES Need-Based David Porter Diversity Scholarship
• Russ Ty Gay and Lesbian Scholarship
• National LGBT Bar Association and Foundation Scholarships 
• Harry E. Jackson Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Scholarship

List of Minority Scholarships (African American Students focused)

• Royce Osborn Minority Student Scholarship
• George Washington Carver Scholarship
• Diversity Advancement Program Scholarship
• Ralph Johnson Bunche Distinguished Graduate Award
• Goldman Sachs Scholarship for Excellence

List of Minority Scholarships (Hispanic Students) 2021

• Hispanic Heritage Youth Award
• Colorado State Fair Fiesta Scholarship
• Smithsonian Latino Studies Fellowship
• Goldman Sachs Scholarship for Excellence
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
• FUNED Scholarship for Mexican Nationals
• Vaughn Scholarship for Students of Color
• Hispanic Dental Foundation (HDF) Scholarship

Students from low-income backgrounds are eligible for need-based scholarships. Many universities as well as private organizations offer need-based scholarships. These grants often require extensive documentation about a student’s and their family’s financial scenario, as well as the EFC result from the FAFSA.  It’s also not uncommon for need-based scholarships to also entail certain academic requirements as well. You can check your desired college’s financial aid section to learn more about individual need-based scholarships.

Some scholarships require extensive documentation and work on your part, including long essays. Luckily, some scholarship providers know that essays aren’t always a student’s favourite thing to do. That’s why there are plenty of no-essay scholarships available!

List of No-Essay Scholarships 2021

College Monk No-Essay Scholarship

Student Loan Hero Scholarship

Be Bold No-Essay Scholarship

Nitro College No-Essay Scholarship

ScholarshipOwl “You Deserve It” No-Essay Scholarship

Niche No-Essay Scholarship

1000 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship

Share Mental Health and Road Safety Checklist Scholarship

Course Hero Share Study Doc Scholarship

Niche Short Survey Scholarship

Share ‘What’s Missing’ Guide Scholarship

In society, how do you identify yourself?

Are you a single mom or dad? Are you part of some important legacies? Are you a veteran? Are you part of the LGBTQ community? Are you a victim of effects caused by the 9/11 incident? Do you have any unusual interests and talents?

There are many organizations that offer scholarships for people facing specific life circumstances. You’ll notice a few scholarship categories within this article that are for specific life circumstances, like for students with illness and disability, or for LGBTQ students. 

Some scholarships for college are location-based. No matter how good your grades are, some organizations won't consider you for some scholarships unless you reside in a specific state.

These scholarships may be offered by state schools, community-based organizations, and state-based career initiatives, among others. Check individual websites from colleges to find out more about state scholarships.

In a society, how do you identify yourself?

Are you a single mom or dad? Are you part of some important legacies? Are you a left-hander? Are you a victim of different effects caused by the 9/11 incident? Do you have any unusual interests and talents?

There are many organizations that are offering scholarships for you to support your education without any burden.

Check the scholarships and apply online.

Prospective undergraduate students have access to the most scholarships, including the Pell Scholarship. In fact, 86% of first-time, full-time undergraduate students were awarded financial aid in 2017-2018 for 4-year degree-granting institutions. A similar percentage of undergraduate students (78%) received financial aid for programs at 2-year degree-granting institutions. Most scholarships found within other categories in this article, with the exception of the graduate scholarships, are undergraduate scholarships. Some organizations and colleges have entire sections of their websites with undergraduate scholarships, like the  American Navy Undergraduate Scholarships, and the SAIC Undergraduate Scholarships.