Scholarships for High School Students

Discover scholarships available to high school students based on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and community service.

Scholarship Types

  • Merit-based academic scholarships
  • Need-based financial aid programs
  • STEM and science scholarships
  • Arts and creative achievement awards
  • Community service and volunteer scholarships
  • Athletic and sports scholarships

Current scholarship listings

196 matching programs are listed in the directory right now. The most recently added:

  • National Japan Bowl — Japan-America Society of Washington DC: Compete in the National Japan Bowl to showcase your Japanese language and cultural knowledge. Build key skills, earn scholarships, and enhance your co
  • EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship — Experimental Aircraft Association: Earn up to $12,000 for flight training toward a Private Pilot Certificate. Perfect for high school students seeking hands-on STEM experience and colle
  • QuestBridge National College Match — QuestBridge: National college-prep program connecting talented high school seniors with full scholarships to top universities. Boost college applications and secur
  • Cum Laude Society — The Cum Laude Society: Join a prestigious academic honor society for high school juniors and seniors. Boost college applications, earn scholarships, and showcase your academ
  • United States Senate Youth Program — Hearst Foundations: Explore leadership and civic skills in this prestigious high school program. Includes a week in Washington, D.C. and a $10,000 scholarship to boost co
  • Robertson Scholars Leadership Program — Duke University / UNC Chapel Hill: Full-ride leadership program for high school seniors combining hands-on experience, college application boosts, and access to Duke & UNC resources. Ap
  • Morehead-Cain Scholarship — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Earn a full-ride scholarship while developing leadership skills through the hybrid Morehead-Cain program. Perfect for college-bound high school senior
  • Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship — Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: Secure up to $55k/year with this elite, need-based scholarship for high-achieving seniors. Boost college applications and unlock opportunities for aca
  • Stamps Leadership Scholars — Stamps Foundation: Earn a full-ride scholarship plus enrichment funds at top colleges while building leadership skills. Perfect for high school seniors aiming to stand o
  • Ron Brown Scholar Program — Ron Brown Scholar Fund: Elite scholarship for Black high school seniors excelling in academics and leadership. Earn $40k to fund college while building leadership skills for
  • Boettcher Scholarship — Boettcher Foundation: Earn a full-ride scholarship to any Colorado college! This prestigious opportunity helps high school seniors stand out on college applications and bui
  • Posse Foundation Scholarship — Posse Foundation: Earn a full-tuition scholarship to top colleges through this virtual leadership program. Build skills, join a supportive cohort, and strengthen your c
  • Flinn Scholarship — Flinn Foundation: Elite full-ride scholarship for Arizona seniors to ASU, UArizona, or NAU. Boost leadership skills, gain recognition, and secure your college future at
  • Clark Scholars Program — Texas Tech: Elite summer research program for high school juniors and seniors. Gain hands-on STEM experience, earn a $750 stipend, and boost your college applicat
  • Davidson Fellows — Davidson Institute: Win $50k, $25k, or $10k scholarships in this elite STEM competition for high-achieving high school students. Boost college applications with hands-on
  • Cameron Impact Scholarship — Bryan Cameron Education Foundation: Earn a full-ride scholarship for college by showcasing leadership and community impact. Perfect for high school seniors building standout college appl
  • Rhodes Scholarship — Rhodes Trust: Unlock the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for international graduate study at Oxford. Boost your college applications and academic skills in a virtual
  • AFS Intercultural Programs — AFS Intercultural Programs: One of the world's oldest and most respected international exchange organizations. Spend a summer, semester, or year studying abroad in 50+ countries
  • NFL Foundation Inspire Change Scholarship — NFL Foundation: Scholarship for high school seniors who demonstrate commitment to social justice, criminal justice reform, police-community relations, and economic ad
  • USBC Star of Tomorrow Scholarship — United States Bowling Congress: USBC awards two $6,000 Star of Tomorrow scholarships annually to exceptional young male and female bowlers who demonstrate outstanding athletic achiev
  • American Foundation for the Blind Scholarship — American Council of the Blind / American Foundation for the Blind: AFB/ACB Scholarships support legally blind and visually impaired students pursuing higher education. Awards range from $1,000 to $3,500, helping blind
  • Raise.me Micro-Scholarship Platform — Raise.me: Raise.me is a free platform where high school students earn micro-scholarships from 300+ colleges for everyday achievements: good grades, AP courses,
  • Texas Educational Opportunity Grant — Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: Texas TEOG provides need-based grants of up to $5,000 per year to financially disadvantaged Texas students attending public two-year colleges. One of
  • Zell Miller Scholarship — Georgia Student Finance Commission: The Zell Miller Scholarship covers full tuition at Georgia public colleges and universities for Georgia students with a 3.7+ GPA and strong SAT/ACT sc

View all scholarships in the directory

Frequently Asked Questions

What GPA do you need to get a scholarship?

GPA requirements vary widely by scholarship. The most selective national scholarships (National Merit, Coca-Cola Scholars, Davidson Fellows) typically require a 3.8+ unweighted GPA. Mid-tier merit scholarships usually require 3.0–3.5. Many need-based and identity-based scholarships (UNCF, Horatio Alger, HSF) have lower GPA floors — as low as 2.0–2.5 — because they prioritize financial need, resilience, and community involvement over academic metrics. Importantly, some scholarships like the Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship have no GPA requirement at all, focusing purely on passion and vision.

When should I start applying for scholarships in high school?

Start as early as 9th grade for programs like Raise.me, which awards micro-scholarships for ongoing high school achievements including GPA, AP courses, and extracurriculars. QuestBridge College Prep Scholars targets juniors specifically. Most major scholarship applications — National Merit, Coca-Cola, Elks, GE-Reagan, food company scholarships — open in the fall of senior year with deadlines between October and March. A realistic scholarship timeline: 9th-10th grade (build achievements, join Raise.me), 11th grade (take PSAT for National Merit, apply to QuestBridge College Prep Scholars), 12th grade fall (submit applications for 10–20 scholarships by their respective deadlines).

What are the most prestigious scholarships for high school students?

The most prestigious national scholarships include: National Merit Scholarship (top PSAT scorers), Coca-Cola Scholars (150 winners, $20,000), Gates Scholarship (full scholarship for low-income minority students), QuestBridge National College Match (full scholarships at 45+ elite colleges), Davidson Fellows ($10,000–$50,000 for extraordinary STEM/humanities achievement), Cameron Impact Scholarship (full scholarship for servant-leader seniors), and Posse Foundation (full-tuition at top universities). Prestige is tied to selectivity, award size, and the caliber of colleges attended by past recipients.

Are there scholarships specifically for minority students?

Yes — there are hundreds. For African American students: UNCF, NAACP Scholarships, Jack and Jill of America Foundation, National Achievement Scholarship, NSBE Pre-College, Alpha Kappa Alpha EAF. For Hispanic/Latino students: Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), McDonald's HACER, SHPE ScholarSHPE, Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards. For Native American students: AISES Scholarship, Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA). For LGBTQ+ students: Point Foundation Scholarship. For women in STEM: Buick Achievers, Society of Women Engineers. The Generation Google Scholarship and ACS Scholars specifically target underrepresented groups in tech and chemistry.

How many scholarships should I apply for?

Most scholarship advisors recommend applying for 10–20 scholarships per application season. Quality beats quantity — a tailored, compelling application to 15 well-matched scholarships will outperform 50 rushed generic applications. Prioritize scholarships where you're a strong fit based on your profile (GPA, background, interests, organization memberships). Local and regional scholarships often have less competition than national awards. Use platforms like Raise.me and Scholarship America to find additional opportunities beyond well-known national scholarships.

What is the difference between a scholarship and a grant?

Both scholarships and grants are financial aid that don't need to be repaid, but they differ in source and basis. Scholarships are typically awarded by private organizations, corporations, or foundations based on merit, talent, identity, or a combination of merit and need — examples include the National Merit Scholarship or Chick-fil-A Scholars. Grants are usually government-funded and based primarily on financial need — examples include the Federal Pell Grant, Cal Grant (California), and Texas TEOG. When applying for college financial aid, you'll encounter both: complete the FAFSA to unlock need-based grants, and apply separately for external scholarships.