Merit-Based National Scholarships

78 scholarships

AES Engineers Scholarship — $500 — Deadline: October 8
AES Engineers AXA Achievement Scholarship (Legacy) — $2,500-$25,000 (Legacy) — Deadline: Closed (Legacy Program)
AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company American Indian College Fund Full Circle Scholarships — Varies ($1,000-$5,000) — Deadline: May 31 (Fall/Spring), September 1 (Spring)
American Indian College Fund American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest — $1,500-$25,000 — Deadline: Varies by state/local post (typically December-January)
The American Legion American Meteorological Society (AMS) Scholarships — $1,000-$10,000 — Deadline: February 10
American Meteorological Society Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests — $50-$2,000 — Deadline: Varies by contest (e.g., Anthem in April, Fountainhead in April, Atlas Shrugged in September)
Ayn Rand Institute Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program — $7,500 — Deadline: Last Friday in January (institutional deadline varies)
Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation Buick Achievers Scholarship Program — $2,000-$25,000 — Deadline: February 28
General Motors (GM) Coca-Cola Scholars Program — $20,000 — Deadline: October 31
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Cool Women, Hot Careers Scholarship — $1,000-$15,000 — Deadline: Varies (typically March for freshman, May for collegiate)
Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Daniels Fund Scholarship Program — Full Cost of Attendance (minus other aid) — Deadline: October 15
Daniels Fund Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway — $2,500-$100,000 — Deadline: October (submission) / December (competition)
Dr. Pepper Equitable Excellence Scholarship — $2,500-$25,000 — Deadline: December 13
Equitable Foundation Gates Millennium Scholars Program (Legacy) — Full Cost of Attendance (Legacy) — Deadline: Closed (Legacy Program)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Heisman High School Scholarship — $1,000-$10,000 — Deadline: October 17
Heisman Trophy Trust Hispanic College Fund Scholarships (managed by various partners) — $500-$10,000 — Deadline: Varies by program
Various (formerly Hispanic College Fund) Hispanic Heritage Foundation Youth Awards — $1,000-$5,000 — Deadline: November 14
Hispanic Heritage Foundation Horatio Alger State Scholarship Program — $10,000 — Deadline: October 25
Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Live Your Dream Award — $1,000-$16,000 — Deadline: November 15
Soroptimist International of the Americas Live Your Dream Awards — $1,000-$16,000 — Deadline: November 15
Soroptimist International of the Americas Live Your Dream Awards (for Women) — $1,000-$16,000 — Deadline: November 15
Soroptimist International of the Americas National Art & Design Competition (by Scholastic Art & Writing Awards) — $1,000-$10,000 — Deadline: December 1 (varies by region)
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers National Association of Black Geoscientists (NABG) Scholarships — $500-$2,000 — Deadline: June 1
National Association of Black Geoscientists National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Scholarships — $500-$2,500 — Deadline: February 28
National Association of Women in Construction National Beta Club Scholarship Program — $1,000-$20,000 — Deadline: January 20
National Beta Club National Co-op Scholarship Program — $6,000-$30,000 — Deadline: February 15
WACE (The Cooperative Education & Internship Association) National Collegiate Scholars Program — $1,000-$5,000 — Deadline: Varies (multiple deadlines throughout the year)
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) National Honor Society (NHS) Scholarship Program — $3,200-$25,000 — Deadline: December 1
National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) National Honor Society Scholarship — $3,200-$25,000 — Deadline: December 1
National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) National Security Agency (NSA) Stokes Educational Scholarship Program — Full tuition + salary — Deadline: October 31
National Security Agency National Security Education Program (NSEP) Boren Awards — Up to $25,000 (undergraduate), up to $30,000 (graduate) — Deadline: January (undergraduate), October (graduate)
National Security Education Program National YoungArts Foundation Awards — $100-$10,000 — Deadline: October 14
National YoungArts Foundation National YoungArts Foundation Scholarship — $100-$10,000 — Deadline: October 14
National YoungArts Foundation Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation Scholarship — Varies — Deadline: Varies by partner institution
Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service Scholars — $5,000 — Deadline: January 20
The Phi Beta Kappa Society RaiseMe Micro-Scholarships — Varies ($500-$2,000 per achievement) — Deadline: Varies by college and achievement
RaiseMe Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program — Up to $42,000 annually — Deadline: September
U.S. Department of State Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) — $1,000-$75,000 — Deadline: Varies (local/regional fair deadlines)
Society for Science Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Awards — $500-$75,000 — Deadline: Varies (by affiliated fair)
Society for Science Robotics Education & Competition Foundation Scholarships — $500-$5,000 — Deadline: Varies (typically March)
Robotics Education & Competition Foundation Stamps Scholars Program — Varies (often full cost of attendance) — Deadline: Varies by institution (often December-February)
Stamps Scholars Program UNCF General Scholarship Programs — $500-$25,000 — Deadline: Varies (multiple deadlines throughout the year)
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition — $1,000-$30,000 — Deadline: October 31
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) You Deserve It Scholarship — $1,000 — Deadline: Monthly
ScholarshipOwl Youth Activism Scholarship — $5,000 — Deadline: May 1
Brower Youth Awards Youth For Understanding (YFU) Scholarships — Up to full program cost (exchange program) — Deadline: Varies by program
Youth For Understanding USA Youth of the Year (Boys & Girls Clubs of America) — $2,500-$50,000 — Deadline: Varies (local club deadlines)
Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Scholarships — Varies ($1,000-$10,000) — Deadline: Varies by scholarship
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship — Up to $42,000 annually — Deadline: September (2026 - check for 2027 updates)
U.S. Department of State Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) — $2,500-$10,000 — Deadline: January (varies)
Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund AXA Achievement Scholarship (now Equitable Excellence Scholarship) — $2,500-$25,000 — Deadline: December 13 (2026 - check for 2027 updates)
Equitable Foundation National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Scholarships — $1,000-$5,000 — Deadline: November 1
National Press Photographers Association Prudential Spirit of Community Awards — $1,000-$5,000 — Deadline: November 10 (2026 - check for 2027 updates)
Prudential Financial Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Scholarships — $500-$5,000 — Deadline: March 1
FBLA-PBL Schwarzman Scholars Program — Full funding — Deadline: September (2026 - check for 2027 updates)
Schwarzman Scholars Journalism Education Association (JEA) Scholarships — $1,000-$3,000 — Deadline: February 15 (2026 - check for 2027 updates)
Journalism Education Association National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) Scholarships — $500-$2,500 — Deadline: February 15
National Association of Black Social Workers Coolidge Junior Fellowships — Varies (program/camp costs) — Deadline: Varies
Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation Coolidge Senators Program — Full program cost — Deadline: Varies
Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation The Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in Ethics Essay Contest — $500-$5,000 — Deadline: December 1 (2026 - check for 2027 updates)
The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program — $20,000 — Deadline: December (varies) (2026 - check for 2027 updates)
Foot Locker Jack and Jill of America Foundation Scholarships — $1,500-$2,500 — Deadline: March 1
Jack and Jill of America Foundation Generation Next Scholarship (by Scholarship America) — $2,500 — Deadline: Varies (typically Spring)
Scholarship America Prudential Spirit of Community Awards (Legacy) — $1,000-$5,000 (Legacy) — Deadline: Closed (Legacy Program)
Prudential Financial in partnership with NASSP AFCEA Cyber Security Scholarship Program — $2,500-$5,000 — Deadline: October 31 (2026 - check for 2027 updates)
AFCEA Educational Foundation America's Farmers Grow Ag Leaders — $1,500-$2,500 — Deadline: January 14
Bayer Fund Stephen J. Brady Stop Thirst Scholarship — $10,000 — Deadline: April 1
Brady Education Foundation College Board National Recognition Programs — N/A (recognition) — Deadline: June
College Board Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship — $1,000-$5,000 — Deadline: Varies by council and national opportunities
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) Payne International Development Fellowship — Up to $42,000 annually — Deadline: November
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Student Leadership Scholarship — $1,000 — Deadline: December 1
National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) National Merit Special Scholarships — $1,000-$10,000 — Deadline: Varies (PSAT test date)
National Merit Scholarship Corporation National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) STEM Scholarship — $1,000-$5,000 — Deadline: December 31
National Eagle Scout Association NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award — $2,000-$15,000 — Deadline: December 16
National Federation of Independent Business The Posse Foundation Scholarship — Full-Tuition — Deadline: Varies (nomination deadline in summer/fall)
The Posse Foundation Varsity Tutors Scholarship Contest — $1,000 — Deadline: Monthly
Varsity Tutors United States Presidential Scholars Program — N/A (recognition) — Deadline: October (nomination) (2026 - check for 2027 updates)
U.S. Department of Education National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Scholarships — $1,000-$10,000 — Deadline: January 31
National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA)