Types of Scholarships

• Endowed scholarships are special gifts from donors that schools give to students for things like good grades, leadership, or financial need.

• Athletic scholarships reward students who are strong in sports, while academic scholarships go to students with high grades and test scores.

• Unique scholarships are fun and different, often based on talents, hobbies, or even funny contests.

• Private scholarships are given by companies or foundations and can help cover extra costs like books or housing. State scholarships are offered by your state to help people who live there afford college. By looking for all these types of scholarships, you can find more ways to lower the cost of college and make reaching your dreams a little easier.

Here are a scholarships to help get you started!

Academic Scholarships (Merit Based)

• National Merit ScholarshipMany colleges, like the University of Southern California (USC), offer special scholarships to students who are National Merit Finalists based on their PSAT scores.

• Regents' Scholarship at the University of CaliforniaUC schools like UCLA and UC Berkeley award Regents' Scholarships to top academic students based on GPA, test scores, and other achievements.

• Presidential Scholarship at Boston UniversityThis scholarship is given to outstanding students with strong academic records and leadership skills. It covers a large part of tuition costs.

• Hunt Leadership Scholarship at Southern Methodist University (SMU)SMU offers this scholarship to students who have excellent grades and show strong leadership. It’s one of the school's top academic awards.

• Jefferson Scholarship at the University of VirginiaThis is a prestigious academic scholarship covering full tuition, fees, and more, awarded to students with extraordinary achievement and leadership potential.

Unique Scholarships

• Duck Brand Duct Tape Scholarship ("Stuck at Prom")Students can win scholarships by making prom outfits entirely out of duct tape and submitting photos of their creations.

• Vegetarian Resource Group ScholarshipThis scholarship awards students who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and communities.

• Tall Clubs International ScholarshipIf you're a tall student (at least 5'10" for women and 6'2" for men) and entering your first year of college, you can apply for this award.

• National Marbles Tournament ScholarshipStudents who excel at playing marbles competitively can earn scholarship money by winning national tournaments.

• Zombie Apocalypse ScholarshipOffered by Unigo, this fun scholarship asks students to write an essay about how they would survive a zombie apocalypse at their school.
  

Private Scholarships

• Coca-Cola Scholars Program
  This scholarship gives $20,000 to high school seniors who show strong leadership skills, academic excellence, and community service.

• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship
  This is for high-achieving students with financial need, helping cover tuition, living expenses, books, and other fees.

• Dell Scholars Program
  Dell awards scholarships to students who have overcome challenges and are determined to earn a college degree, offering financial support and mentorship.

• Gates Scholarship
  Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this scholarship covers the full cost of college for outstanding minority high school seniors.

• Burger King Scholars Program
  Burger King awards scholarships to employees, employees' children, and high school seniors based on academic achievement and community involvement.