Scholarships your teen can (ahem, should) apply to

Your teen has worked so hard — on his grades, his extracurriculars, his community service — so he’ll look good on college applications. Well guess what: all of your teen’s achievements look good to the organizations and competitions that are giving away thousands of dollars in scholarships, too. So while it may feel like you’re piling on to ask your teen to fill out a few more applications and complete a few more short essays, that effort could really pay off. Check out this list of vetted scholarships for teens. (Read more about how to avoid scholarship scams.)

1. Horatio Alger Association Scholarships

   Amount(s): 106 national scholarships at $25,000 each; state scholarships at $6,000 to $10,500 each; and 1,020 scholarships for $2,500 each.
   Prerequisite(s): Overcome adversity; U.S. citizen; family income of $55K or less; minimum 2.0 GPA; involved in extracurricular or community service activities
   Effort involved: Application; essay; adult to verify hardship
   Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to enter a two-year or four-year nonprofit public or private college in the fall

2. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program

   Amount(s): Up to 40 winners will receive up to $40,000 per year for four years
   Prerequisite(s): 3.5 GPA; 1200 SAT score or 26 ACT composite score; family income up to $95K
   Effort involved: Application; two letters of recommendation; short answers; essay
   Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to enter an accredited four-year college

3. GE Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

   Amount(s): Many winners will receive $10,000 and can renew for up to three years
   Prerequisite(s): Demonstrate leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship; 3.0 GPA; U.S. citizen
   Effort involved: Application; nomination from a community leader
   Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to enroll in four-year college

4. Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships

   Amount(s) available: Two winners will receive $5,000 and can renew for up to four years
   Prerequisite(s): Must be of African descent; 3.3 GPA; financial need; leadership at school or in the community; plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or select business programs (such as finance, business administration, or marketing)
   Effort involved: Application; two essays; two letters of recommendation; transcript; resume; picture of yourself
   Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend 4-year college

5. Generation Google Scholarship

   Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive $10,000
   Prerequisite(s): Intend to study computer science or a closely related field; from an underrepresented group in computer science (e.g. African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Filipino/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, female, a person with a disability); strong academic record; exemplify leadership; demonstrate a passion for computer science and technology
   Effort involved: Application; resume; transcript; letter of recommendation from a STEM teacher; multiple short answers
   Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend four-year college

6. Wendy’s High School Heisman Award

   Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive $1,000 to $10,000
   Prerequisite(s): Proven leader or role model; participant in a school sport; 3.0 GPA
   Effort involved: Application; essays; high school official to review your application
   Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend four-year college

Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology

Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive $1,000 to $100,000
Prerequisite(s): Individual and team research projects that foster student understanding of the value of scientific study
Effort involved: Participate in the competition; report limited to 18 pages, not including abstract and references
Who’s eligible: 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders

7. Golden Door Scholars

   Amount(s): Covers up to full tuition, room, and board for a four-year degree at Golden Door partner schools
   Prerequisite(s): Undocumented and DACA students; preference given to students from states that require undocumented students to pay out-of-state tuition; high GPA; challenging high school classes; leadership positions
   Effort involved: Application
   Who’s eligible: 12th graders and recent high school graduates planning to attend college

8. Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Scholarships

   Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive $500 to $8,700
   Prerequisite(s): African-American student; leadership; academic talent; community service; financial need; 2.5 GPA; extracurricular activities
   Effort involved: Application; letter of recommendation; transcript
   Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to go attend two- or four-year college

9. The Bonner Program

   Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive funds that cover the student’s documented need for tuition, room, and board
   Prerequisite(s): Low-income, under-represented, or first-generation college student; if you win, you must perform 10 hours each week of meaningful community service (and 280 hours during the summer)
   Effort involved: Application with the college and the Bonner Program; requirements vary
   Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend associated four-year colleges

10. GOGO Charters National Scholarship for Immigrants and Refugees

    Amount(s): $10,000
    Prerequisite(s): First-generation U.S. citizens (born outside the U.S.), refugees, or immigrants (legal documentation is not required); 3.4 GPA
    Effort involved: Application; short essay; letter of recommendation; transcript
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college in the fall

11. Sixt Scholars Program

    Amount(s): Five $5,000 scholarships
    Prerequisite(s): 3.7 GPA; financial need; extracurricular activities
    Effort involved: Application; transcript; application appraisal form; copy of 1040 tax form
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college in the fall

12. United States Tennis Association (USTA) Scholarships

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive between $2500 and $15,000
    Prerequisite(s): Requirements vary; high school tennis players; sportsmanship; academic record
    Effort involved: Applications vary
    Who’s eligible: 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders planning to attend college

13. USA Waterskiing and Wake Sports Foundation

    Amount(s): Seven winners will receive between $1,500 and $10,000
    Prerequisite(s): USA Water Ski member; academic record; financial need; work, school, and community involvement; contributions to water sports
    Effort involved: Application; 500-word essay; two letters of recommendation
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders entering college

14. Ford Family Foundation Ford Scholars Program

    Amount(s): 120 winners will receive up to $25,000 per year
    Prerequisite(s): Must be a residents of Oregon or Siskiyou County, CA; 3.0 GPA; demonstrated financial need; leadership potential; good character; volunteer work or helping your family; strong work ethic; strong writing and speaking skills; the ability to succeed academically
    Effort involved: FAFSA; application
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college in the fall

15. Glenn Miller Scholarship Competition

    Amount(s): Vocalists and instrumentalists will be awarded a $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 scholarship
    Prerequisite(s): Promising talent in any field of applied music
    Effort involved: Application; audition CD; essay
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college in the fall

16. Nitro College Scholarship

    Amount(s): $5,000
    Effort involved: Survey questions; three short answers; participate in social media activity
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college in the fall

17. Generation Hope

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive up to $2,400 per year in tuition assistance and one-on-one mentoring until graduation
    Prerequisite(s): 2.5 GPA
    Effort involved: Application; transcript; Student Aid Report or FAFSA; meeting with program staff
    Who’s eligible: Teen parents (up to age 25) who live in the Washington, DC area who are planning to attend college

18. Navy and Marine Corps ROTC Scholarships

    Amount(s): Full tuition and fees, stipends for books and living expenses, but comes with commitment to active duty Navy or Marine Corps service after graduation
    Prerequisite(s): 1200 SAT (Navy); 1000 SAT (Marines); physical fitness test
    Effort involved: Application
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders and recent high school graduates between the ages of 17 and 23 planning to attend college

19. Spirit of Anne Frank Awards

    Amount(s): $10,000
    Prerequisite(s): Proven commitment to social justice
    Effort involved: Application; essay; two letters of recommendation; supporting materials
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders who have been accepted into a four-year college

20. Life Lessons Scholarship Program

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive between $5,000 and $15,000
    Prerequisite(s): Applicants must have experienced the death of a parent or legal guardian
    Effort involved: Application; essay or three-minute video
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

21. Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

    Amount(s): Two winners will receive $5,000; one winner will receive $10,000
    Prerequisite(s): Students who have promoted vegetarianism in their school and/or community
    Effort involved: Application; short essays; report cards; three letters of recommendation; documentation of vegetarian activity
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

22. New York Times College Scholarship Program

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive $15,000 annually for up to three years, mentoring, and a summer internship at The New York Times
    Prerequisite(s): Must live in the five boroughs of New York City; high-achieving academic record; financial need
    Effort involved: Application; transcript; test scores; essay; list of activities and achievements; family information
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

23. National Eagle Scout Association Scholarships

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive between $2,000 and $50,000
    Prerequisite(s): Must be an Eagle Scout; minimum 1290 SAT or 28 ACT score; community service (for merit scholarships)
    Effort involved: Application; reference letter
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college or vocational school (but not military academies)

24. Helen Gee Chin Scholarship

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive between $1,000 and $3,000
    Prerequisite(s): At least five years study of Chinese martial arts; 3.0 GPA; U.S. citizenship; academic achievement; participation and leadership in school and community activities
    Effort involved: Application; essay
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

25. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes

    Amount(s): 20 winners will receive $20,000 each
    Prerequisite(s): Student athlete involved in a team sport, intramurals, martial arts, etc.; 3.0 GPA; sportsmanship; good character; academic excellence; from a diverse background
    Effort involved: Application; interview
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

26. Air Force ROTC Scholarships

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive tuition, most lab fees, annual textbook allowance, $500/month stipend
    Prerequisite(s): 1240 SAT or 26 ACT score; 3.0 GPA
    Effort involved: Application; winners must enroll in Air Force ROTC and serve four years active duty
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

27. AMVET Scholarships

    Amount(s): Six winners will receive $4,000 ($1,000 per year for four years); one JROTC winner will receive $1,000
    Prerequisite(s): Must be the child or grandchild of a veteran, active duty, guard/reserve who has served honorably; financial need; show academic promise and merit
    Effort involved: Application; proof of family member’s honorable service
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

28. Anchor Scholarship Foundation

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive annual scholarships ranging from $2,250 to $5,000
    Prerequisite(s): Child of Navy sailors; financial need; character; academic record; extracurricular activities. Some scholarships have specific requirements (e.g. pursue a STEM degree)
    Effort involved: Application; specified checklist and proof of family member’s service; essays; three letters of recommendation; transcript; registering and then waiting up to 10 days for an applicant ID number
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

29. Apartment List Scholarship

    Amount(s): $500
    Effort involved: Application; 300-word essay; short answer
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

30. Six Star Scholarship

    Amount(s): Two winners will receive $15,000
    Effort involved: An essay and photo or a short video (creativity highly recommended)
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college or trade school

31. Military Family Support Trust Scholarships

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive between $2,000 and $12,000
    Prerequisite(s): Descendant of a military officer or Purple Heart recipient; 21 ACT or 1,000 SAT score; 3.0 GPA; leadership skills
    Effort involved: Application; one (up to three) letters of recommendation from a high school official; at least one letter of endorsement; 400- to 600-word essay; 300-word notarized parent financial statement
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

32. Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarships

    Amount(s): 500 winners will receive between $4,000 and $50,000
    Effort involved: Application; SAT or ACT scores; FAFSA; participation in a leadership weekend; interview
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

33. Army ROTC Scholarships

    Amount(s): Full tuition for four years at 600 colleges; recipients commit to eight years of Army service — four years active duty and four years in the reserve
    Prerequisite(s): 2.5 GPA; 1000 SAT or 19 ACT; GED or high school diploma; meet physical standards
    Effort involved: Application
    Who’s eligible: Kids ages 17 and up who are planning to attend college

34. AXA Achievement Scholarships

    Amount(s): 52 winners will receive $10,000; 10 of these winners will receive an additional $15,000; 300 winners will receive $2,500
    Prerequisite(s): Achievement in school, community, or work
    Effort involved: Application; essays; transcript
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college next year

35. Burger King Scholars

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive between $1,000 and $50,000
    Prerequisite(s): 2.5 GPA; passionate about serving the community; be a high school senior or a Burger King employee or the child or spouse or partner of an employee
    Effort involved: Application; work, school, or community involvement; transcript; copy of parents’ most recent tax form
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

36. Children of Warriors National Presidents’ Scholarship (American Legion Auxiliary)

    Amount(s): 15 winners will receive $5,000
    Prerequisite(s): Must be the daughter, son, grandson, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, or great-grandson of veterans who served in the Armed Forces; 50 hours of volunteer service; leadership and character; financial need; academic achievement
    Effort involved: Application; 1,000-word essay; four short answers; four letters of recommendation; proof of volunteer service hours; transcript; ACT or SAT score report; FAFSA; statement of relative’s military service or copy of discharge papers
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

37. Central Intelligence Agency’s Undergraduate Scholarship Program

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive up to $18,000 for tuition, fees, and books each year; plus a daily allowance for meals and incidentals during summer sessions working at the CIA in Washington, DC; recipients are required to work of the CIA for 1.5 times the amount of time that they received college aid, during that time they’ll earn an annual salary, health benefits, etc.
    Prerequisite(s): 3.0 GPA; 1000 SAT or 21 ACT score; financial need; U.S. citizen
    Effort involved: Application; cover sheet; test score report; copy of family W2 or FAFSA; transcript; two letters of recommendation; essay, short answers; medical exam; psychological exam; polygraph interview; background check
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders ages 18 and up who are planning to attend college

38. Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

    Amount(s): 150 winners will receive $20,000
    Prerequisite(s): 3.0 GPA; financial need
    Effort involved: Application; school information; transcript
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

39. Daughters of the Cincinnati Scholarship

    Amount(s): Multiple winners will receive between $16,000 and $20,000
    Prerequisite(s): Must be the daughter of military officers; academic merit; financial need
    Effort involved: Application; essay; transcript; letter of recommendation; Student Aid Report
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

40. American Indian College Fund

    Amount(s): Varies
    Prerequisite(s): Must be Native American/Alaska Native; 2.0 GPA
    Effort involved: Application; digital photo; tribal affiliation; transcript; financial needs analysis form; essay
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college

41. Dell Scholars Program

    Amount(s): 400 winners will receive $20,000, laptop and textbook credits, ongoing support and assistance
    Prerequisite(s): Overcome significant obstacles to pursue educations; participated in a Michael & Susan Dell Foundation-approved college-readiness program in 11th and 12th grades; 2.4 GPA; financial need
    Effort involved: Application; transcript; test scores; short answers; Student Aid Report (SAR) or FAFSA; letter of recommendation
    Who’s eligible: 11th and 12th graders planning to attend college

42. Scholarship Detective Scholarship

    Amount(s): Two winners will receive $1,000
    Prerequisite(s): None
    Effort involved: Application; 140-character statement
    Who’s eligible: 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders

43. QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program

    Amount(s): Hundreds of College Prep Scholars will receive full tuition, room, and board for four years
    Prerequisite(s): Academically outstanding applicants; 26 ACT or 1270 SAT score; high GPA in a rigorous course load; financial need and/or extenuating personal or family circumstances
    Effort involved: Application; essays; short answers; letter of recommendation; transcript; test score reports
    Who’s eligible: 11th graders planning to attend college

44. Signet Essay Contest

    Amount(s): Five winners will receive $1,000
    Prerequisite(s): None
    Effort involved: Typed, two- to three-page essay on one of five topics about this year’s competition book; must be submitted by an English teacher on behalf of the student; cover letter must accompany essay
    Who’s eligible: 11th and 12th graders

45. MoolahSpot Scholarship

    Amount(s): $1,000
    Prerequisite(s): None
    Effort involved: Application; 400-word essay
    Who’s eligible: Students ages 16 and older planning to attend college

46. The Coolidge Scholarship

    Amount(s): Two or three winners will receive a full-ride scholarship covering four years of tuition, room, board, and expenses. Ten finalists are eligible for a one-time scholarship.
    Prerequisite(s): Academic excellence, interest in public policy, and appreciation for Calvin Coolidge’s values of humility and service
    Effort involved: Application; two letters of reference; essay questions (one requires applicants to read The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge); transcript; interview
    Who’s eligible: 11th graders planning to attend college

47. Global Citizen Scholarship

    Amount(s): Winners go on a July 2018 journey to Berlin to explore the topic of the Influence of Technology on Society
    Effort involved: Short (three-minute) video that highlights one way that technology can improve the lives of those around you
    Who’s eligible: 9th, 10th, and 11th graders

48. Jumpstart Scholarship

    Amount(s): $1,000
    Prerequisite(s): Strong academic record; goals for higher education
    Effort involved: Application; short essay
    Who’s eligible: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders planning to attend college

49. Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest

    Amount(s):$1,000 to $10,000
    Effort involved: Contestants must attend high school prom wearing clothes made of duct tape and mail color photographs with photographer release form
    Who’s eligible: 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders

50. Dirk Derrick Car & Truck Accident Injury Scholarship

    Amount(s):$1,000
    Effort involved: Essay
    Who’s eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college and current undergraduates