While many people agree that earning a college education is worth the time, effort, and money, becoming a college student and earning a degree has become increasingly difficult. With how expensive college is and the rising price of tuition, students are finding it more burdensome than ever to fund their education.
Whether you are a high school senior preparing for the financial stress of college or a current college student actively looking for financial aid, there are opportunities for you to fund your education and related expenses. High school students nearing the end of their K-12 education will find it helpful to look ahead to the costs associated with college so they can begin to find scholarships that will make it easier for them to attend college. At the same time, undergraduate students and graduate students can find scholarship opportunities that provide financial aid for their current education.
College scholarships can help to significantly reduce the out-of-pocket costs students pay for college, allowing them to focus on their schooling rather than worrying about how to pay for school. In order to help incoming college students and existing college or graduate school students, this list gives college students a good starting point for finding scholarships.
What Is a Scholarship?
Students new to the scholarship process often have questions about what scholarships entail and how they work, but the first question truly is: what is a scholarship? Scholarships are a type of financial aid that helps students fund their education. They are given primarily to students pursuing higher education, whether that’s through college or career school. A scholarship is akin to ‘free money’ in that students do not have to pay the scholarship money back. They aren’t loans – the scholarship money students win is theirs to keep.
But isn’t there a catch? Don’t scholarships sound almost too good to be true? There’s no catch; students rightfully earn scholarships through their essay submissions, quality applications, and engagement. Online resources, such as those on londondayschool.com, are designed to help students in high school, trade school, and college find free money, like a personal financial aid office.
Whether you are in college or career school, pursuing an education is expensive, which is why scholarships exist. Scholarships vary in how they are presented. Some are given to the student in the form of a check, while others are sent directly to the student’s institution. Depending on the scholarship, the money might be reserved specifically for tuition or, conversely, be available for students to use on all college expenses.
If you have questions about how specific scholarships work, reach out to guidance counselors and advisors at your school or talk to your financial aid office. Since college scholarships aren’t all the same, pay attention to the details and ask questions when you have them.
Undergraduate Student Scholarships
Undergraduate students have many opportunities when it comes to financial aid since they are right in the midst of their education and have current costs that need covering. A quick search on the internet for college scholarships can be helpful, but it can also be overwhelming as it yields thousands of results, many of which are not credible.
Fortunately, londondayschool.com has many credible college scholarships and is easy to navigate. To find an even more extensive list, take a look at londondayschool.com‘s list of scholarships for undergraduate students. Additionally, use the “Education” filter on the scholarship search page to find exclusive college scholarships and new opportunities every week.
“Equal Opportunity” Scholarship
The “Equal Opportunity” Scholarship through londondayschool.com is a yearly scholarship that aims to create an equal playing field, giving any student of any education level and any background an equal chance to apply.
Open to every student, this scholarship is perfect for undergraduates of any major, background, grade level, etc., because there are no additional requirements. This makes it a great scholarship, especially for students new to the scholarship application process.
- Selection Criteria: Current student of any education level, no essay required
- Deadline: Rolling deadlines
- Award Amount: $1,000
Charles Cheesman’s Student Debt Reduction Scholarship
Charles Cheesman’s Student Debt Reduction Scholarship recognizes the long-term effects that student debt can have on borrowers’ lives even decades after graduation. The eligibility requirements of this scholarship also recognize the systemic financial struggles that African American and Hispanic/Latino students face in particular.
This program seeks to fuel students’ love of learning by rewarding four hard-working students who have gone into debt in pursuit of their education.
- Selection Criteria: First-generation African American or Hispanic undergraduates, graduate students, or college graduates who have student debt
- Award Amount: $23,000
Ray W Bausick Green Industry Memorial Scholarship
The Ray W Bausick Green Industry Memorial Scholarship honors the memory of Ray, a beloved friend and colleague who was passionate about the green industry and protecting the world.
This scholarship will support three winners with $5,000 each to pursue their education. Applicants must write a short essay about their passion for the green industry and how they will make a difference in the field.
- Selection Criteria: High school seniors or undergraduate students pursuing the green industry with GPAs of 2.7 or higher
- Award Amount: $15,000 total, $5,000 each
Sunshine Legall Scholarship
The Sunshine Legall Scholarship recognizes the opportunities that come from higher education and the potential for a college degree to create lasting change for students and their families.
This is an excellent opportunity for undergraduates because the pool of eligible applicants is smaller than some of the other scholarships mentioned, as only BIPOC students are eligible to apply.
- Selection Criteria: BIPOC high school seniors or undergraduate students who have GPAs of 1.5 or higher
- Award Amount: $10,565 total, $2,113 each
Dr. Magidson Memorial Theater Scholarship
londondayschool.com offers scholarships every month that celebrate students’ positive attributes, highlighting their success and perseverance. The Dr. Magidson Memorial Theater Scholarship focuses on students pursuing the theater arts, asking students to submit samples of their work in theater. This is a good scholarship for undergraduate students to apply for and is exclusive to FGLI (first-generation and low-income) applicants.
- Selection Criteria: High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student, FGLI, and pursuing theater arts
- Award Amount: $5,000
Lyndsey Scott Coding+ Scholarship
The Lyndsey Scott Coding+ Scholarship seeks to support minorities who are pursuing careers in computer science. The scholarship will award $5,000 to one recipient and will provide $1,000 each to five runner-ups.
This scholarship is great for undergraduates because it is awarded to multiple students and gives them a chance to write about their goals.
- Selection Criteria: High school seniors and undergraduates who are studying computer science and are women, BIPOC, and/or LGBTQIA+
- Award Amount: $10,000 total
GTF Book Scholarship
The GTF Book Scholarship is a great scholarship that helps Black college students afford expenses at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This scholarship is specifically for college students, narrowing the applicant pool since only undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. This makes it a great scholarship for undergraduates since the eligibility isn’t too broad but also isn’t too narrow.