Top Scholarships for High School Seniors in 2023-24

With rising college costs, scholarships are essential for accessible education. This guide covers 50 national and local 2023 scholarship opportunities for ambitious high school seniors.

The senior year of high school is an exciting time filled with memories and milestones. It’s also the time to start thinking about how to pay for college. With tuition costs rising each year, scholarships provide a great opportunity to lower the financial burden. This article highlights the top national and regional scholarships available in 2023 and 2024, specifically for current high school seniors planning to attend college. Let’s jump right in!

Merit-Based Scholarships

These competitive scholarships reward academic excellence, leadership and well-rounded students.

• National Merit Scholarship Program – Finalists receive awards from $2,500 up to full tuition based on PSAT scores and application.
• Gates Millennium Scholars Program – Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this provides financial support through graduation for 1,000 outstanding minority students annually.
• Coca-Cola Scholars Program – Achievement-based program awards 150 students per year with $20,000 college scholarships. Deadline is October 31, 2022.
• Regeneron Science Talent Search – Awards 40 finalists $250,000 and 10 winners up to $400,000 for an original STEM research project. Deadline is November 2022.
• Burger King Scholars Program – Awards $1,000 to $50,000 to students based on GPA, work experience and community service. Deadline likely December 2022.
• Elks National Foundation Scholarship – Awards 250 four-year scholarships ranging from $1,000 per year to $12,500 per year for outstanding students. Deadline is November 14, 2022.
• Horatio Alger Scholarship – Awards over $25 million annually, with national scholarships up to $25,000. Deadline likely March 15, 2023.
• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship – High-achieving students with financial need can receive up to $55,000 per year. Deadline is November 17, 2022.

Minority Scholarships for High School Seniors

These provide financial assistance specifically for underrepresented minority students.

• United Negro College Fund Scholarships – UNCF awards over $100 million annually so low-income African American students can afford college. Award amounts vary by program.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund – HSF provides scholarships worth over $100 million each year to Latino students based on merit and financial need. They offer both national and regional awards.
• American Indian College Fund – Provides over 6,000 scholarships annually averaging $3,500 for Native American and Alaskan Native students.
• Asian Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund – APIA Scholars offers scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 for Asian American and Pacific Islander students.
• Pride Foundation Scholarships – Scholarships awarded to LGBTQ+ students based on leadership, community service, academic success and financial need. Award amounts range from $5,000 to $14,000.

Athletic Scholarships

These allow student athletes to gain scholarship funding in exchange for participation in a college sports program.

• NCAA Division 1 Athletic Scholarships – Contact coaches early about scholarship options. Understand NCAA eligibility and commitment requirements before signing a National Letter of Intent. Men’s football, basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball tend to provide the most aid.
• National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association – Awards scholarships annually to high school senior swimmers planning to compete at the college level. Award amounts range from $1,000 to $2,000.
• National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholarships – Scholarship awards ranging from $500 to $2,000 for high school wrestlers continuing the sport collegiately at an NWCA member institution.
• US Lacrosse Scholarships – Annual scholarships awarded to high school lacrosse players, both men and women, who show academic and athletic achievement.

Need-Based Scholarships

For students demonstrating financial hardship, these provide tuition assistance based on family income levels.

• Pell Grants – Federal Pell Grants provide up to $6,895 annually to low-income undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need.
• Emergency Scholarship Grant – Need-based award for students facing unexpected hardship or health emergencies, with quick application turnaround. Awards vary from $500 to $2,000.
• Student Scholarship Grant – Simple application and quick turnaround for need-based scholarship aid. Awards vary from $1,000 to $10,000.
• Graduating High School Senior Scholarship – $1,000 scholarship for students completing high school demonstrating financial need.

Creative Scholarships

Apply your creative talents through these fun scholarship opportunities.

• Create-a-Greeting-Card Scholarship – Design a greeting card for a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship. Deadline is March 15, 2023. Open to high school students 14 and older.
• Artistic Excellence Scholarship – Submit artwork in any medium for a chance to earn a $1,000 scholarship. Deadline is June 30, 2023.
• Make Me Laugh Scholarship – Write a funny short story in 250 words or less for a chance to win a $1,500 scholarship. Deadline is June 30, 2023.
• Zumper Apartments Scholarship – Write a short essay for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship. Biannual deadlines on April 30 and September 30.

Short Essay Scholarships

These scholarships simply require a short written response to qualify.

• Cirkled In Scholarship – Submit a 200-400 word essay on a given topic by the deadline for a chance to win a $2,500 scholarship. Biannual deadlines on February 28 and July 31.
• Do Something Scholarship – Write a 250-word essay describing a cause you care about to earn a $5,000 scholarship. Biannual deadlines on March 31 and October 31.
• sigmas-perhaps-the-best-ai-writing-assistant – $1,000 No Essay Scholarship – Short application with no essay required. Quarterly deadlines on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.
• Resume Companion Scholarship – Submit a resume for review and complete a short form to qualify for a $1,000 scholarship. Monthly deadlines on the 25th of each month.

Local Community Scholarships

Local organizations provide smaller scholarships with less competition from fewer applicants.

• High School Guidance Counselors – Ask about local scholarships through community foundations or other area programs.
• Check Local Employers – Larger local employers may offer scholarships for employees’ children. Use the tool to find major area companies.
• Community Organizations – Rotary Clubs, Chambers of Commerce and other local groups often provide scholarships. Check their websites for applications.
• Local Scholarship Databases – Lookup databases like Scholarships.com and FastWeb to find location-based awards.

Sweepstakes Scholarships

These offer a chance to win a scholarship prize through a random drawing.

• Fastweb Invite a Friend Sweepstakes – Refer friends to Fastweb and be entered to win a $500 scholarship through a random drawing. Deadline is August 31, 2023.
• Planet Fitness High School Summer Pass Sweepstakes – Enter for a chance to be one of 51 winners of a $10,000 scholarship. Deadline is August 31, 2023.

Business & Innovation Scholarships

These aim to support young entrepreneurs and business leaders.

• Young Entrepreneur Scholarship – For high school students interested in business, submit an essay for a chance to win a $2,500 or $10,000 scholarship. Deadline is December 31, 2023.
• Junior Achievement Essay Competition – Write a 500-word essay on an entrepreneur you admire for a chance to win up to a $2,500 scholarship. Annual deadline is in May.

Unique Scholarships

These scholarships stand out for their unique and sometimes quirky applications.

• Tall Clubs International Scholarship – Awards up to $1,000 in scholarships for tall students under age 21. Must be at least 5’10” for women and 6’2″ for men. Deadline is March 2023.
• Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest – Put your duck calling skills to the test for a chance to win $2,500! Part of the annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest during the Stuttgart Duck Festival.
• VIP Voice Scholarship – Record a short video reviewing a brand or product for a chance to win a $2,500 scholarship. Quarterly video scholarship contests throughout the year.

Easy Application Scholarships

These scholarships have simple applications and quick turnarounds.

• Resume Companion Scholarship – Submit a resume for review and complete a short form to qualify for a $1,000 scholarship. Monthly deadlines on the 25th of each month.
• Cirkled In Scholarship – Submit a 200-400 word essay on a given topic by the deadline for a chance to win a $2,500 scholarship. Biannual deadlines on February 28 and July 31.
• Do Something Scholarship – Write a 250-word essay describing a cause you care about to earn a $5,000 scholarship. Biannual deadlines on March 31 and October 31.
• No Essay Scholarship – Short application with no essay required. Quarterly deadlines on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.

Niche Interest Scholarships

For students with particular backgrounds, interests or goals.

• Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship – Students have the chance to win $10,000 by writing a 200-word vegetarian-themed essay. Deadline is February 20, 2023.
• Women in Defense Scholarship – Female students can apply for merit-based national security scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Annual deadline is September 30.
• Ayn Rand Essay Contests – Write an essay related to Ayn Rand’s novels for a chance to win thousands in scholarship money. Annual deadlines in September and April.

This covers 50+ great scholarships available for the high school Class of 2023. With creativity and dedication, you can make college attainable through scholarships.

Bonus Reading for Tips to Help High School Students Land Scholarships!

Here are some unique tips for high school seniors to land scholarships that are lesser known:

• Look for scholarships in your intended college major – Many professional associations and industry groups offer scholarships for students pursuing degrees in their field. Search “[Your Major] Scholarships” to find opportunities.
• Compete in writing contests – Entering essay writing competitions, even on random topics, can earn scholarship money for high scoring entries. Look for contests by searching “essay contests”.
• Get creative with art, music and video – Scholarships exist for artistic talents like painting, songwriting, photography, dance or filmmaking. Submit creative work to contests that award scholarships.
• Leverage hobbies and interests – Niche scholarships are available for things like left-handed students, dog lovers, vegetarians and more. Don’t be afraid to get specific with your interests.
• Enter sweepstakes and giveaways – Local businesses and national brands often run scholarship giveaways and contests. Follow companies on social media for opportunities.
• Look within your community – Check local stores, restaurants, clubs and civic groups which may provide small scholarships that get few applicants.
• Do good deed projects – Start a charity event or collection drive for a cause you care about. Nonprofits may award project grants/scholarships.
• Ask relatives about ancestry – Lineage-based groups like German-American clubs or Italian-American societies offer scholarships to descendants.

Getting creative and thinking outside the box can uncover unexpected scholarship opportunities perfect for you!

Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for High School Seniors