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Scholarships
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Top merit-based scholarships for you
Find merit-based scholarships that can help you pay for college.
Here’s a scholarship you can apply for in minutes.
What are merit-based scholarships?
Merit-based scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for students who demonstrate exceptional achievements, talents, or skills. Merit-based scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for merit-based scholarships
Before you apply for merit-based scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements. Some common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!
Are merit-based scholarships worth my time?
Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning.
Pro tip: Don’t skip over merit-based scholarships with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find merit-based scholarships?
There are many resources to help you find merit-based scholarships.
Scholarship resources
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free scholarship search engine tools like Scholly Scholarships
- Local libraries, businesses, or associations
Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”
Scholly Scholarships
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Find scholarships that are right for you
Easily search through thousands of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.
Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
Merit-based scholarships
Featured
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ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship
Due:
No essay
$50,000
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Featured
Apply now
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"Be Bold" No Essay Scholarship
Due:
No essay
$25,000
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The Scholarships360 $10,000 "No Essay" Scholarship
Due:
No essay
$10,000
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Atto Gardner Memorial Scholarship
Due: 5/31/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Atto Gardner Memorial Scholarship is open to students who are Nursing majors. A freshman award recipient must have a 3.0 GPA or better. A second-year student must have a 2.8 GPA at VU or better. The student's scholastic record is a primary consideration and financial need is a significant consideration. Students must file their FAFSA each year by the state deadline.
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Deborah Griffin Family Memorial Scholarship
Due: 5/31/25
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Deborah Griffin Family Memorial Scholarship is available to students interested in pursuing a career in music, theatre, dance, and the fine Art History. Applicants must have attended a Providence public school and demonstrate a high level of talent. Students may contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for more information and inquiries about the application.
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Zarrow Foundation Scholarship
Due: 5/31/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Zarrow Foundation Scholarship is open to current full-time students who are Oklahoma residents only that are enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours on the Langston Campus or six credit hours at an urban campus (LU-OKC or LU-Tulsa). Applicants must be in good standing with the University. They must reapply for this scholarship annually. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information and inquiries about the application.
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New Mexico Scholars Scholarship
Due: 5/31/25
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The New Mexico Scholars Scholarship encourages New Mexico high school graduates to enroll in college before their 21st birthday in an undergraduate program. Students must have graduated from a New Mexico high school in the top 5 percent of their class or obtain a score of 25 on the ACT or 1140 on the SAT. They must have a combined family income that may not exceed $60,000 per year. The scholarship may be renewed annually until the award recipient has received four annual scholarship awards or until the student graduates from a four-year institution, whichever is earlier. Students shall contact their institution's financial aid office for the deadline information, information on how to apply, and information on where or how to submit their application. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Financial Aid Division of the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education for more information.
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Charles N. & Frances Millican Scholarship
Due: 5/31/25
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Charles N. & Frances Millican Scholarship provides award(s) to UCF student(s) with senior class standing in the fall. This scholarship was established by the FTU 25-year reunion class of 1973. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding service to the university through leadership positions in Student Government, honor organizations, campus organizations and offices, etc. They must exemplify leadership skills with exceptional work experience. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
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Adelphi University High School Achievement, Deans and Presidential Awards
Due: 5/31/25
$33,000
The Adelphi University High School Achievement, Deans and Presidential Awards are awarded to new entering full-time first-year students with exceptional academic achievement. Eligibility depends upon demonstrating notable academic potential through high school performance and standardized testing (if submitted). Please visit the scholarship's website or contact Adelphi University's One-Stop Student Services Center for more information.
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Sage Merit Scholarships for Transfer Students
Due: 5/31/25
No min. GPA Required
Varies
The Sage Merit Scholarships for Transfer Students is available to students registered for a minimum of 12 required credits per term (fall and spring semesters). This scholarship is available for a maximum of 6 terms of full-time study (fall and spring semesters). Completion of 15 credits per term or 30 credits per year is recommended. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
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Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Distinguished Scholars Award
Due: 5/31/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Distinguished Scholars Award is open to high school graduates with a recalculated grade point average of 4.00 or better. Students must earn a standard US high school diploma or its equivalent (unless the student completes a home education program or earns a high school diploma from a non-US high school while living with a parent who is on military or public service assignment away from the US). Students must earn a minimum score of 76 on the ALEKS. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information and contact the Office of Financial Aid for inquiries about the application.
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Western New England University Merit Scholarships Program
Due: 5/31/25
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
Varies
The Western New England University Merit Scholarships Program is awarded to full-time freshmen students based on high school academic achievement. The Merit Scholarships Program is comprised of Presidential Scholars Awards, Provost's Scholar Awards, and Trustee's Scholar Awards. Awards are based on the Grade Point Average (GPA), which may be recalculated if a student has Honors or AP courses. Grades that are not calculated into the GPA include those for music, art, religion, non-programming computer courses, and technical courses, to name a few. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
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What types of scholarships are available for students?
Need-based scholarships
These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to be eligible.
Career-specific grants or scholarships
These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”
Community or nonprofit scholarships
Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.
Tips for successful scholarship applications
- Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
- You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
- If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
- Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
- Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
- Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
- Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
- Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.
Here are more tips that can help you understand all there is to know about scholarships and up your chances of winning.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for merit-based scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
Need more money for college?
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More resources to explore
Tips for writing scholarship essays
Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.
Find scholarship resources
Explore our scholarship resources, articles, and guide to get all the tips and tricks to help pay for college.
Fill out the FAFSA®
Learn when and how to apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your chances of getting federal student financial aid. Get tips now.
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