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Top 71 No Essay Scholarships in July 2024

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Learn about our editorial policies

One of the biggest misconceptions about scholarships is that they all require an essay. This is not true. In fact, there are many great scholarships that don’t require an essay at all. These no essay scholarships can range from quick scholarships that you can apply to in a few minutes to other scholarships that are focused on students with a specific talent.

Some no essay scholarships focus on art or other creative achievements. Still other no essay scholarships focus on students with a talent in more specific areas, such as filmmaking, physics achievement, or even duck tape prom creations! Whether you are a prospective high school, college, or graduate student, there are sure to be some “no essay” scholarships that are right up your alley!

Why choose Scholarships360

We helped over 4 million students find scholarships in 2023

We've spent over 4,000 hours reviewing 3,000 scholarship programs

13+ years of experience helping students make smart education decisions

The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

• The scholarship requires a fee to apply
• The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
• The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
• Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
• The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
• The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
• The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
• There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
• The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
• There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

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$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high… Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to go to college, a graduate student who’s in a master’s program, or an adult learner who wants to return to school, you are eligible for our no essay scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. Finalists for this scholarship will be interviewed about their process for funding their education. Show Less

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Sallie Mae

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for…

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

BigFuture $40k Essay-Free Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by The College Board

Open to US-Based high school students in the class of 2025 — no essay, minimum GPA, test score, or citizenship requirements.

Ascent’s $10,000 Summer Scholarship Giveaway This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Ascent Funding

As you soak up the summer vibes and look ahead to the next school year, it's never too early to start thinking about your internship… Show More

As you soak up the summer vibes and look ahead to the next school year, it's never too early to start thinking about your internship or job! Whether you're figuring out what interests you, checking out career resources, or picking up skills for your dream job, we want to know: Do you have what you need to enter the next phase of life, post-graduation? Ascent is committed to your long-term success and is giving away $10,000 to one lucky winner for sharing your feedback and ideas on what you need to build the skills and confidence to thrive in the workplace. To apply, complete these three easy steps below: Step 1: Visit the “Summer of Success Scholarship” to complete a quick survey and contact form. Step 2: Follow @ascentfunding on Instagram and like the post. Step 3: Tag 3 friends below that would benefit from this scholarship! Be sure to end your comment with #AscentSponsored. Disclaimer: Deadline to apply for Ascent’s $10,000 scholarship prize (1) is September 2nd at 8:59AM PT. To apply and see official rules, visit the “Summer of Success Scholarship” link here: AscentFunding.com/Scholarships. Show Less

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeXpress

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Niche $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Niche

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year!

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be… Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month. Show Less

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Christian Connector

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian…

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian university or college.

$2,000 No Essay CollegeVine Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeVine

Easy scholarship open to current high school students and college applicants. A free CollegeVine account with a completed chancing profile required to enter.

$2,000 Niche “No Essay” College Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Easy scholarship from Niche open to all high school, college, and graduate students.

ScholarshipOwl $50,000 No Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by ScholarshipOwl

Easy scholarship open to all US-based high school, college, and graduate students. Each month, 4 winners will be selected to earn $1,000 each. In December… Show More

Easy scholarship open to all US-based high school, college, and graduate students. Each month, 4 winners will be selected to earn $1,000 each. In December 2023, there will be 2 additional winners earning $1,000 each. Applicant must be a resident of any of the 50 United States, District of Columbia or US Territories except for Rhode Island and Michigan. Applicant also must be 16 years of age or older and either be enrolled now, or will be enrolled within three months of registration in the Scholarship Sweepstakes, in a qualified high school, college or university within the United States. Show Less

Edvisors $2,500 Monthly Scholarship

Offered by Edvisors

Easy $2,500 scholarship from ScholarshipPoints open to all students aged 17 and older.

Unigo $10,000 Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Unigo

This easy scholarship is open to all high school students who are at least 14 years of age. To apply, students must respond to the… Show More

This easy scholarship is open to all high school students who are at least 14 years of age. To apply, students must respond to the following essay prompt in 250 words (or less): "Would you rather be smart, funny or rich? Why?" On or about March 31, 2025, a qualified panel of judges will select one (1) potential winner based on the criteria of writing ability (25%), creativity (25%), originality (25%), and overall excellence (25%). Show Less

US Bank Student Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by U.S. Bank

The US Bank Student Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship opportunity for U.S. residents aged 17 or older who have been accepted to or are enrolled… Show More

The US Bank Student Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship opportunity for U.S. residents aged 17 or older who have been accepted to or are enrolled in a post-secondary institution to receive help funding their education. Each year, the scholarship awards up to $20,000 to multiple incoming and current undergraduate students who complete some of the U.S. Bank's "financial education lesson" modules. Each module takes approximately 1-2 minutes to complete, and the more that students complete, the more money they become eligible to earn. Applicants who complete 25+, 50+, 100+, and 200+ modules are eligible to receive $2500, $5000, $10,000, and $20,000, respectively. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details. Show Less

Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest

Offered by The Gallery Collection

Are you over 14 years of age, enrolled in high school or college, and enjoy making original artwork? If so, the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest may… Show More

Are you over 14 years of age, enrolled in high school or college, and enjoy making original artwork? If so, the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest may be the perfect opportunity for you! Each year, the contest awards $10,000 to the applicant who submits the best holiday, greeting, or all-around holiday card. While the top ten finalists will be decided by a public vote, the final winner will be decided by a panel of judges. The contest is offered by The Gallery Collection, the “leading business-to-business online and mail order publisher of premium quality personalized Christmas, Holiday, and Everyday greeting cards in the United States.” If you’re a student aged 14 or older who wants to put their card-making skills to the test, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

Joy Cappel Scholarship

Offered by Rockland Immunochemicals, Inc.

Are you a current or incoming post-secondary student pursuing a degree in the life sciences (or a related field)? If so, the Joy Cappel Scholarship… Show More

Are you a current or incoming post-secondary student pursuing a degree in the life sciences (or a related field)? If so, the Joy Cappel Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Twice a year, the scholarship awards $2,500 to one (1) current or incoming life science student who submits the best 1-5-minute videos explaining their answer to the topic "What would you consider the most surprising and impactful scientific finding in the last 5 years, and how do you believe it has the potential to transform our understanding of the natural world?" If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Bear in mind that this scholarship is offered twice a year, with deadlines falling on January 20th and July 20th of every year. Show Less

$2,000 CampusReel Virtual Tour Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CampusReel

Easy scholarship program open to all students who watch a student-led virtual college tour

CollegeXpress $2,000 Summer Olympics Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

The CollegeXpress $2,000 Summer Olympics Scholarship is an easy scholarship from CollegeXpress open to students who are 13+ and a legal resident of the 50… Show More

The CollegeXpress $2,000 Summer Olympics Scholarship is an easy scholarship from CollegeXpress open to students who are 13+ and a legal resident of the 50 U.S. or D.C. A winner will be randomly chosen from among the applicants. If you're eligible, we encourage you to apply! To enter, simply apply on CollegeXpress and answer the following question: Which event in the 2024 Summer Olympics are you most excited about? Show Less

Forté Future Leaders Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Forté Foundation

We’re on a mission to inspire and invest in the next generation of women business leaders. Because big goals come with big price tags, we’re… Show More

We’re on a mission to inspire and invest in the next generation of women business leaders. Because big goals come with big price tags, we’re excited to announce the Forté Future Leaders Scholarship. We’re awarding $10,000 in scholarships this year to help fund your education and launch your career. Apply today for a chance to receive one of ten $1,000 scholarships. Forté is for YOU. We’re your ally and biggest champion as you earn your degree, start your career, and explore options like business school and career growth opportunities. Our amazing community of supportive and successful women and allies work together to achieve our goal: equity at every level. Apply now and let your journey with Forté begin! Here’s how it works: Step 1. Complete the form below. See the official scholarship rules on Forté's website. Step 2. Stay tuned to see if you win a $1,000 scholarship! We are awarding five $1,000 scholarships after the Aug. 5, 2024 deadline, and another five $1,000 scholarships after the Dec. 13, 2024 deadline. Show Less

Top 5 no essay scholarships

Our editors hand-picked the following 10 no essay scholarships with an eye for large awards, prestigious organizations, and scholarships that are open to a wide variety of students. Apply with confidence to the following no essay scholarships:

• Coca Cola Scholarship – $20,000 scholarship for college-bound high school seniors
• Dell Scholars Program  – For Pell Grant-eligible high school seniors who participated in a college readiness program. Worth $20,000 with 500 scholarships awarded every year. Recipients also receive a free laptop, textbooks, and more
• Taco Bell Live Mas Scholarship  – Video scholarship for students between 16 and 26 with a passion for the field they are pursuing. Worth up to $25,000
• Burger King Scholars – Scholarship for high school seniors worth up to $50,000
• Doodle for Google Scholarship – Scholarship for K-12 students who submit a Doodle to be featured on Google’s homepage. Worth up to $55,000

Tips for students applying to no essay scholarships

Look for competitions rather than randomized drawings.

No essay scholarships are alluring because they do away with the pressure that comes with writing an essay for your application. Between your other academic responsibilities, extracurriculars, and other commitments, these essays can present a big roadblock for applicants.

However, you should bear in mind that you are not the only student with this idea. Many applicants are attracted to opportunities that are easy to apply to, and since many no essay scholarships are essentially scholarship sweepstakes, that means you have a very low chance of actually winning.

This is not to say that you should not apply to these opportunities, but that you should seek out scholarship opportunities that assess some materials submitted by applicants. Whether this is a video submission, a portfolio, or a photograph you took, it can help your chances greatly.

Be wary of scholarship scams

No essay scholarships are very popular with students because they typically don’t take much time to apply to. Unfortunately, this makes them all the more popular with scammers. 

Before applying to any scholarship, and especially no essay scholarships, ensure that you are not giving away any personal information that could be used to steal your identity. Additionally, you should never pay a fee to enter a scholarship competition. For more information on how to avoid scholarship scams, check out our article on how to spot them .

If at first you don’t succeed…

Many no essay scholarships, especially the random drawings, select a winner each month and then reopen. To maximize your chances of winning, make sure to check back each month to throw your hat back in the ring.

Check out similar scholarship categories

If you are looking to apply for scholarships without putting too much time into essays, check out our lists of video scholarships and easy scholarships . While some of these may include short essays, they are generally much less of a commitment than typical scholarship applications.

Don’t over-rely on no essay scholarships

No essay scholarships can be a great no-effort way of applying for educational funding, but make sure that your overall scholarship strategy makes use of all potential funding sources. Make sure especially to seek out local scholarships through community organizations and your high school counselor.

Don’t forget financial aid

If you have demonstrable financial need, there is one source of free funds for your higher education that is even easier to get than no essay scholarships. This is federal financial aid, including the Pell Grant . Make sure to fill out the FAFSA on-time and send your results to your school in order to gain eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid.

Apply to affordable schools

In addition to scholarships, it’s a good idea to ensure that you apply to some colleges that are known for offering an affordable education to their students. In-state public schools offer steep tuition discounts to their students, and tuition reciprocity agreements extend these benefits to some neighboring states as well. We also have a list of the best schools in the country for affordability . These schools are known for charging low tuition, offering generous financial aid, and offering a good value to their students.

Frequently asked questions about no essay scholarships

Are “no essay” scholarships legit, how can i increase my chances of winning a no essay scholarship.

• For scholarships with a creative or artistic element, make sure that you put all of your effort into your project! Remember, your application will be completely assessed on your creative project as there is no essay required.
• For scholarships that have minimal requirements, you should apply to them as often as possible to increase your odds. However, these types of scholarships should not be the only part of your application strategy.

Who can apply for no essay scholarships?

What qualifies as a no essay scholarship, are there gpa requirements for no essay scholarships.

Also see: How to write a scholarship resume

Explore these other scholarship categories:

• Top easy scholarships
• Scholarships for high school seniors
• Top scholarships for college students
• Top STEM scholarships
• Scholarships for women

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34 No Essay Scholarships to Save Thousands on College

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What’s Covered:

Are “no-essay” scholarships worth it, where to focus your scholarship search.

• 34 No-Essay Scholarships  

Scholarships play a large role in many students’ plans for how to pay for college, but completing the applications for some scholarships is time-consuming—especially for students who are busy taking challenging courses and involved with extracurricular activities. Luckily, some scholarships are easier to apply for than others, like the no-essay scholarships listed below. 

No-essay scholarships are easier to apply for than other, more involved scholarships, so it doesn’t cost you much in time or effort to apply. However, because they’re easy to apply for, they receive a lot of applications, which means more competition and lower odds of winning. It is also less clear how no-essay scholarship recipients are selected without an essay to set your application apart.  

If you choose to apply for no-essay scholarships, just know that they are just a part of a strategy for winning awards to college and are best-suited as a supplement to local and more niche scholarships. If you don’t like the idea of writing an essay, look for a scholarship with an equivalent task, like making a video or creating a piece of art instead. 

Outside scholarships garner a lot of attention, but colleges and universities are actually the best place to look for scholarships—schools themselves grant $175 billion in scholarship money annually! It’s also worth noting that college awards are often larger than outside awards; 80% of external scholarships are less than $2,000, which looks great on paper but will only put a small dent in the cost of most colleges. 

You have the best chance of winning a merit-based scholarship from a college or university. While super-selective schools with applicants fighting for admission often don’t offer merit-based scholarships—for example, none of the Ivy League colleges do—less selective colleges are often anxious to attract strong applicants. This makes applying to a college where your profile is particularly strong a smart strategy for getting a merit scholarship .

34 No-Essay Scholarships 

1. “be bold” no-essay scholarship.

Amount: $25,000

Deadline: December 31 

Eligibility: Students of any education level, school, field of study, and GPA considered

This scholarship is for bold students who are determined to change the world one step at a time. No essay is required to win this eye-popping award. Instead, create a bold profile highlighting your earnestness, determination, and how you’re moving toward your goals for a chance to win.

2. Scholarships360 No-Essay Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: September 30 

Eligibility: All students—including high school students, community college students, undergraduates, and graduate students

No essay is required to win this generous award. Simply sign up for Scholarship360—a scholarship newsletter—for your chance at $1,000 for college. 

3. $2,000 “No-Essay” College Scholarship

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: Monthly  

Eligibility: All high school and college students

The name says it all: no essay is required to receive this $2,000 college scholarship. Simply create an account for a chance to win this substantial award. A winner is chosen monthly and the money can be used to cover tuition, housing, books, or any other education-related expenses.

4. $2,000 Nitro Scholarship

Deadline: Monthly 

Eligibility: 

• Age 17 or older
• A parent with a child enrolled in an accredited college or university in the U.S. 
• A student enrolled in an accredited college or university in the U.S. 
• A parent with a high school senior in the U.S.
• A high school senior located with the U.S. 
• A student or a parent who has graduated from an accredited undergraduate school and is paying back debt from educational expenses

No essay is needed to win a $2,000 Nitro Scholarship. Applicants only need to complete a short application for this chance to win this award and to take a step to control the cost of college. 

5. The Student Loan Hero Smart Money Giveaway

Eligibility: Legal U.S. residents in the contiguous U.S. and Washington, D.C., 18 years of age and older

This scholarship wants you to take control of your college finances so you can focus on your future. Entry is easy—just fill out a short online application. 

6. College Board “Complete Your FAFSA” Scholarships

Amount:   $500

Deadline: October through February 

Eligibility: Current high school seniors in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories

The College Board—the organization that administers the SAT—provides scholarships to students for simply filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The College Board will give out 500 awards every month from October through December and 100 awards in both January and February.

7. College Board “Complete Your Journey” Scholarships

Amount: $40,000

Deadline: February 

Complete the College Board’s six steps of college planning for your chance at one of 25 $40,000 scholarship opportunities. The program is open to students from all financial backgrounds, however, at least half of the scholarships will go to students from families who earn less than $60,000 annually. 

8. ScholarshipPoints Scholarship Program

Amount: $10,000

Deadline: Quarterly 

Eligibility:   

• Age 13 or older
• U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident 
• Attending or planning to attend college in the U.S.

No GPA, no essay, and no hassle! To enter for an opportunity to win one of these impressive awards, simply fill out an online application. In addition to the quarterly $10,000 scholarships, ScholarshipPoints also draws three $1,000 scholarships monthly.

9. Christian Connector Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

Deadline: May 31

Eligibility:  

• Age 13 or older 
• Must enroll for the first time as a full-time student at a Christ-centered Christian college, university, or Bible college

Sign up to receive information about Christian colleges—and for a chance at winning this handsome scholarship award for college. The scholarship is only open to students planning to attend a Christ-centered Christian college, university, or Bible college. The funds are sent directly to the winner’s school of choice. 

10. No Essay ‘You Deserve It’ Scholarship

Amount: $2,222

Deadline: December 29

• Age 16 or older 
• Legal resident of the U.S. or its territories (Rhode Island and Michigan applicants are ineligible)
• Enrolled in a qualified high school, college, or university in the U.S.

Sign up for ScholarshipOwl (a scholarship service) and you’re simultaneously registered for a chance to win a $2,222 award. Your odds of winning are about 1 in 140,000—not too bad considering there is no essay required and sign up is quick. 

11. CollegeXpress $10,000 Scholarship Contest

• Legal U.S. resident 
• Must enter a CollegeXpress member college as a full-time freshman, transfer, or graduate student for the fall term 

Just create a CollegeXpress profile for a chance at $10,000 to use at a CollegeXpress member college . Winners of this no-essay scholarship are selected at random. 

12. Annual Catholic College Scholarship

Amount: $1,500

• Must enroll for the first time as a full-time student at a Catholic college

Sign up to receive information about Catholic colleges—and for a chance at winning this handsome scholarship award for college. The scholarship is only open to students planning to attend a Catholic college, university, or Bible college. The funds are sent directly to the winner’s school of choice. 

13. Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award 

Amount: $5,000

• Resident of the U.S. or its territories
• High school seniors, college students, students who’ve earned a General Education Development (GED), or parent/guardian of an aforementioned person

Sign up to receive emails that provide helpful college tips and useful resources and get entered to win one of 12 annual $5,000 awards. Complete a survey after registering for emails for an additional entry for the scholarship. 

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

14. Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship  

Deadline: Semi-annually (spring and fall)

Eligibility: Attending an accredited school in the U.S. or accepted to an accredited school and set to begin within six months of application

Show off your creativity for a chance to win this no-essay scholarship. To enter, fill out a short application and either submit a web design or attach a link to a webpage. In addition to a scholarship, winners also receive a critique session with Lounge Lizard’s founder and CCO. 

15. Create-a-Greeting-Card Scholarship

Deadline: March 3

• Age 14 or older 
• Legal U.S. resident or international student with a student visa 
• High school, college, or university student 

While you don’t need an essay to win this generous scholarship, you are required to submit an original photo, artwork, or computer graphic for use on the front of a greeting card. Entries are limited to one per person, so send in your best work! 

16. Frame My Future Scholarship Contest 

Amount: $6,000

Deadline: April 1

• Legal U.S.resident
• Planning to enroll at a U.S. college or university in the fall

Show how you frame your future through photography, illustration, painting, or mixed media art for a chance at this ample award. Although no essay is required, applicants are asked to submit a brief overview of their piece (no more than 500 characters). 

17. Annual Faith-Based College Scholarship

• Must enroll for the first time as a full-time student at a faith-based college

Sign up to receive information about faith-based colleges and for a chance at winning this handsome scholarship award for college. The scholarship is only open to students planning to attend a faith-based college, university, or Bible college. The funds are sent directly to the winner’s school of choice. 

18. Sallie Mae $5,432 Sweepstakes

Amount: $5,432

Deadline: December 31

Entering for this scholarship is easy, all you need to do is complete an online registration for your chance at this $5,432 award. 

19. Ascent Scholarships 

Amount: Varies 

• Age 18 or older 
• Legal U.S. resident or DACA student
• Enrolled at least half-time in a degree program or technical skills training program 

Ascent Scholarship giveaways are designed to help students cover school-related expenses such as tuition, books, rent, groceries, parking, and transportation. No essay is required, all you need to do is register for a chance to win one of these awards. 

20. The “No Sweat” Scholarship

• Between 8th and 12th grade 

Create an account and complete a portfolio for your chance at this super scholarship which you can use for any educational purpose—from books to summer camp. The more complete your profile is, the better your odds of winning are. 

21. Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship

• U.S. residents, DACA and undocumented students, and international students currently studying in the U.S.
• Current high school, college, and graduate students

Paying for school is stressful which is why this scholarship is intentionally low pressure. Complete the online registration to enter. Follow Access Scholarships on Instagram for an extra entry. You can use the scholarship for any educational expense—including tuition, textbooks, housing, and technology. 

22. Cappex Easy Money Scholarship

Eligibility: Current high school or college student 

No need to stress about your GPA or an essay when entering this scholarship contest. Simply answer a few simple questions for your chance at one of these awards. 

23. Scholarships4Moms 

Deadline: December 15

• Age 18 or older
• U.S. legal resident
• Mother or expectant mother 
• Enrolled in a college or university in the U.S. or will enroll in one within three months 

The Scholarships4Moms award is designed to help mothers meet their educational goals. Founded by a group of moms, who understand how busy moms are, signing up is quick and easy. All you need to do is complete a short entry form. 

24. College Survey Scholarship

Eligibility: College undergraduate or graduate student and undergraduate or graduate alumni who graduated within the last four years

All it takes to enter this running for this scholarship is to fill out a college survey on Niche, a ranking, and review website. Your responses are anonymous and are displayed on Niche to help other students to find the right college for them. 

25. Easy Scholarships

• Age 25 years or younger
• Living in the U.S. or Canada (or a citizen of either country but living abroad)

No GPA requirements or essays are required to participate in this scholarship contest. For a chance to win, you simply must sign up for a campaign, complete it, and take a photo to document your participation. Campaigns are quick and completed in under five minutes!  

26. SuperCollege Scholarship

Eligibility: High school, college, or graduate student, or adult planning to go back to school

Just fill out the application and answer a few simple questions about your college plans for the opportunity to win this award. You can use the scholarship to pay for any education-related expenses. For example, tuition, books, computers, or room and board.

27. Debt.com Scholarship For Aggressive Scholarship Applicants

Amount: $500

Deadline: Every other month 

Eligibility: Actively applying for scholarships

This scholarship rewards students with the drive to earn scholarships and the willingness to fight for financial independence. In order to win, you need to send confirmations from all of the scholarships you’ve applied to. Also, while there is no essay, you are required to submit a short biographical letter.

28. MyMozaic Monthly Scholarship Contest

Deadline: Every month 

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizen or legal resident
• Enrolled in high school or college in the U.S.

Simply create a profile at MyMozaic.com and answer a few simple questions—like your graduation year, your GPA, and the major(s) you’re interested in—for the opportunity to win one of these monthly, no-essay scholarships. 

29. WayUp Dream Job No-Essay Scholarship

Deadline: Jun 1 

Eligibility: Current college student

Create a profile at WayUp—a jobsite for college students and recent college graduates—for a  chance of winning a $1,000 scholarship. The stronger your profile and the more internships and jobs you apply for, the better your odds are to receive an award.  

30. College Ave Scholarship Monthly Sweepstakes

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident 
• Enrolled in high school or a post-secondary educational institution or are the parent or legal guardian of a person enrolled in a high school or a post-secondary educational institution 

Earning this $1,000 simply requires filling out a very short entry and a little luck. Winners are chosen monthly!  

31. Give Me Liberty Easy Scholarship

• U.S. citizen 
• High school senior or enrolled in an accredited institution in the U.S.

The intention of this scholarship is to provide every student with an equal opportunity to experience freedom from the burden of tuition and loans. Recipients are selected through a lottery which gives every applicant the same chance of winning—regardless of their academic performance, extracurricular achievements, and essay writing skills. 

32. Because College is Expensive Scholarship

Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, along with current college students and anyone else looking to attend college or graduate school

If you’re planning to attend college you’ll want to look into this scholarship—all it takes is completing a short application to enter for a chance to win. Only one entry per quarter is allowed. 

33. Return 2 College Scholarship Program

Deadline: January 31

• U.S. citizen or legal resident 
• Starting a program of higher education—either undergraduate or graduate—within the next 12 months or are currently full or part-time students 

While this scholarship doesn’t require an essay it does ask you to compose three sentences answering the question why are you getting your degree? Have a lot to say? Perfect, more than one entry is allowed, but more than a dozen are discouraged. 

34. Project Yellow Light Create a Billboard Scholarship   

Deadline: March 1

• Legal U.S. residents 
• High school juniors and seniors, along with undergraduate and graduate students 

Design a billboard to promote safe driving to a broad audience and draw attention to this important topic. In addition to a scholarship, winners may see their design grace a billboard or used on the web and other digital platforms. 

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Top 20 No Essay Scholarships to Apply for in 2024

Introduction: No essay scholarships

Let's talk about no-essay scholarships. Whether you've been applying to scholarships for a while or you're completely new to the scholarship process, chances are, at some point you've felt tired, frustrated, or even fully on fed-up with writing all of those essays. Finding financial aid can be a lot of work - I feel you!

A smart strategy when applying for scholarships is to mix up the types of scholarships you're applying for. But what does this actually mean?

Well, if you're familiar with the world of scholarships, you've probably discovered that there are scholarships out there of all sorts, shapes, and sizes.

Some scholarships are for small amounts (think: anywhere from $100 to a few thousand dollars) while others go for larger amounts (sometimes even full-tuition!). Some scholarships have long lists of application requirements, while others only ask you to write a sentence, upload your transcript, or fill out a form.

So, when I say "mix up the types of scholarships you're applying for", I'm saying that it's important to consider things such as scholarship type (is there an essay required?), amount (generally, scholarships with  bigger awards  are harder to earn), and category (how specific does the scholarship get in terms of matching your unique profile?).

This post covers one specific type of scholarship that I'm sure you'll enjoy incorporating into your scholarship strategy: a no-essay scholarship!

Most of these no essay scholarships are open to high school , college , and  graduate  school students, be sure to get those easy applications in, and keep your toes crossed while you get to work on some of those other more labor-intensive opportunities.

*Pro-tip - While some of these no essay scholarships currently have specific deadlines, keep them bookmarked because they often renew monthly, quarterly, or yearly!

20 No essay scholarships to apply for ASAP!

Too cool to pay for school no essay scholarship.

Award Amount:  $1,000

Scholarship Deadline:  Quarterly (last day of the month in September, December, March, and June)

PS - this is one of no essay scholarships awarded by Access Scholarships (that's us!). It's open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students studying in the United States, and is an easy way to win $1,000. 

Niche $10,000 No Essay Scholarship

Award Amount:  $10,000

Scholarship Deadline:  Rolling

ScholarshipPoints No Essay $2,500 Monthly Scholarship

Amount : $2,500 

Deadline : Expires on the last day of each month

Eligibility: The ScholarshipPoints Scholarship is a monthly no essay scholarship open to all high school and college students ages 16 and older, who are US residents!

Smart Owl No Essay $1,000 Scholarship

Amount : $1,000 (4 awards per month!)

Deadline : Expires on the 28th or 29th of each month

Eligibility: The Smart Owl Scholarship is a monthly no essay scholarship open to all high school and college students ages 16 and older, who are US residents!

Sallie Mae College Scholarship

Award Amount : $2,000

Scholarship Deadline : Monthly

Eligibility- Open to high school juniors & seniors and all college students

CollegeVine No Essay $2,000 Scholarship

Award Amount:  $2,000

Scholarship Deadline:  December 31

Open to high school students of all years (must be a US resident).

Bold $25,000 Scholarship

Amount:  $25,000

Deadline:  Continuous

CollegExpress Monthly Scholarship

Award Amount:  $2,500

Scholarship Deadline:  Last day of each month

Niche No Essay Scholarship

Scholarships360 $10,000 scholarship.

Scholarship Deadline:  Rolling 

Open to high school sophomores and juniors in the US. 

Appily Easy Money Scholarship

Around the corner from college scholarship.

Award Amount : $1,000

Scholarship Deadline : December 31, June 30

Open to all high school students, including students with DACA status and international students who are planning on attending a higher education institution in the US! 

Be Bold No-Essay Scholarship

Award Amount:  $25,000

Scholarship Deadline: Rolling

Christian Connector Scholarship

Eligibility:  Open to high school juniors and high school seniors who are interested in or planning to enroll in a Christian college or university.

Direct Textbook Photo Essay Scholarship

Award Amount:  $500

Discover Student Loans Scholarship Contest

Scholarship Deadline:  January 4

Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  February 27 and October 10

Create A Greeting Card Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  March 9

Frame My Future Scholarship

Award Amount:  $2,000 each (5 awards)

Scholarship Deadline: March 15

ULoop Dorm Survey Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline:  June 30

Frequently asked questions about no essay scholarships

Are no essay scholarships legit.

No essay scholarships are 100% legit!

No essay scholarships are created to be more like contests or sweepstakes. Generally, all you have to do to be considered is enter some information on an application page and you're good to go. This is in contrast with other more labor-intensive scholarships, that require a greater amount of work and time commitment (think: essays, letters of recommendation, videos, interviews).

The fact that no essay scholarships don't require a whole lot of effort (they're definitely the easiest opportunities out there!) doesn't mean that they aren't just as real as other scholarships that do have more detailed eligibility and application requirements to apply. In fact, no essay scholarships can sometimes be just as competitive as full-ride scholarships , given the fact that so many students apply for these opportunities.

At the end of the day, each and every scholarship we feature in our database and in our blog posts aims to guide students in the direction of legitimate opportunities to help you navigate the journey of paying for college.

What are some common qualities of a no essay scholarship?

The most identifiable quality of a no essay scholarship is the fact that it doesn't require an essay! Rather than asking students to upload an essay on the application page, these scholarships generally will ask for the completion of a form, or for students to upload a photo, video, or other unique type of submission. The fact that these scholarships can often be completed much more quickly and easily than other scholarships is what makes them so great.

You'll also find that the majority of no essay scholarships are open to a wide variety of students, and they usually won't have any specific eligibility requirements such as only being open to students in certain majors or with a certain minimum GPA.

Who is eligible to apply for no essay scholarships?

When it comes to eligiblity, as I mentioned just above, no essay scholarships are usually open to a wide range of students. For example, a no essay scholarship might be open to students ages 13 and older in the US, or maybe it's open to all high school students in the US. These eligibility criteria are very generous and intended to give all (or nearly all) students who want to apply an opportunity to do so.

How difficult is it to win a no essay scholarship?

Because no essay scholarships are usually open to so many different types of students, along with the fact that they often require very little effort on the part of the student (and run more like sweepstakes than real in-depth scholarships), means that they are difficult to win, and the process is unpredictable.

Luckily, because these scholarships require so little time commitment to apply, not winning one of these types of scholarships doesn't necessarily indicate that you've wasted your time applying, since it likely didn't take that much time in the first place!

How can I increase my chances of winning no essay scholarships?

No essay scholarships are open to such a wide variety of students in terms of eligible areas of study, state residency, and year in school. This, in combination with the fact that the winners for these scholarships are generally always selected at random, means that increasing your chances of winning one of these scholarships is very, very difficult.

In the spirit of full-transparency: the only way that you can actually increase your chances of winning no essay scholarships is by applying for all of them and not missing any deadlines.

For example, take Tallo's monthly no essay scholarships . They pick at least 12 winners each year, usually at the end of each month. If you want to maximize your chances of winning one of Tallo's no essay scholarships, you should set a reminder to make sure that you apply for them every month, so that you don't miss out on an opportunity to win.

Most of the no essay scholarships I've come across are for small amounts, such as $1,000. Why is this the case?

Most no-essay scholarships are for small amounts (think: $500 - $2,000) because, in comparison to other scholarships that have lots of application requirements, no-essay scholarships tend to run more like contests.

Organizations love to give back to students in any and all ways possible, and they also like to try to make student's lives easier by offering easy scholarship opportunities.

However, from the perspective of private organizations, many of them would rather save their scholarships of higher amounts to be distributed through competitive opportunities where they can select students on the basis of merit, leadership, and other qualities. That's why you'll probably never come across a full-ride scholarship that doesn't require an essay or extra submission of some sort!

Where can I find more scholarships to apply for?

There are tons of resources and places out there that you can use to find "harder" scholarships to apply for to pair with your efforts in applying to the easy ones.

The first place I recommend you go is over to the Access Scholarship Search Engine or Blog, where you can find all types of scholarships based on criteria such as home state, area of study, ethnicity, and more.

After that, I recommend you also do some surfing of the web, as well as outreach to your guidance counselor or financial aid office to help you find local scholarships and even more nuanced opportunities.

Important tips and things to keep in mind with no essay scholarships

Tip #1: apply often..

Many of these scholarships run continuously on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Set a reminder for yourself to revisit these scholarships each month and reapply to give yourself the best chance at winning one!

Tip #2: Find ways to get a leg up.

Scholarships with no essays that have any sort of additional component (like an art or video submission) will tend to give you a "leg up" because they involve more than some luck.

Take full advantage of scholarships like these by putting your best foot forward with that extra submission!

Tip #3: Make no essay scholarships one piece of the puzzle.

Scholarships with no essays should be a key component of your scholarship application strategy because of how easy they are to apply for.

However, it's important to remember they should be balanced with other scholarships that have more specific and stringent requirements.

When you apply for essay-based scholarships, you're given the opportunity to tell the committee about you, who you are and why you should be selected for the opportunity. The winners for these scholarships, unlike their no-essay counterparts, are not chosen at random, so if you choose these scholarships carefully, apply for ones that are specific to your qualities, and write strong essays, you'll have the best chances of winning at the end of the day!

General tips for applying for all kinds of scholarships

Navigating the world of scholarships can be stressful and confusing to say the least. Follow these tips to make sure you’re covering all of your bases and giving yourself the greatest possible chance at success!

#1: Get yourself organized before you dive right in.

Just like with any other part of the college / financial aid process, organization is crucial to success when it comes to searching and applying for scholarships.

My top organization-related recommendation for students is to start by creating a readily-accessible folder on your computer where you can then create subfolders for your scholarship essays, transcripts, and other application materials. This is also the place where you’ll want to house your scholarship tracker , which will help you keep track of scholarships you find, upcoming deadlines, and your overall progress.

#2: Do your brainstorming.

You likely wouldn’t start an essay on the American Revolution without doing some initial brainstorming and planning first. The same rule should apply for when it’s time to search for scholarships.

Sit down with a pen and paper or a blank word document open, and start to bullet out a list of traits and things that you feel make up who you are as a person. These things should be both academic and personal. To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, here’s a sneak peek into what my own personal list might look like:

-I am from New Jersey

-I am a business student with an interest in marketing

-I like to play sports (tennis, basketball, etc)

-I hold leadership positions in my extracurriculars

-I identify as female

-I am a twin

-I am left-handed

-I enjoy doing crossword puzzles

-I go to college in Wisconsin

I could go on and on with this list, but I won’t bore you! What I’m trying to get at though is that creating a list like this to track your hobbies, academic pursuits, and other things that make up who you are can be incredibly helpful in allowing you to find scholarships that are highly specific to you.

PS - For some students, this may also fall under the initial organization step of the process, but ultimately it doesn’t matter when you do it as long as it gets done.

#3: Know where to look.

Knowing what types of scholarships you want to search for doesn’t really matter if you don’t know where to actually search for them! Here are a few ideas on where you can get started in searching for scholarships:

- Scholarship search engines like AccessScholarships.com, which allow you to search through thousands of scholarship opportunities all in one place

- Normal search engines , such as Google (the more specific you can be here, the better)

-Your school’s college prep, guidance, or financial aid page/website

- Social media (you can follow scholarship accounts and hashtags that might be relevant to help you discover local scholarships)

- Family, friends, teachers, coaches, and other people in your community who might know of local or community-based scholarships that you’re eligible for

#4: If a scholarship has an essay or additional type of submission, make sure you put your absolute best foot forward.

This is, in my opinion, the biggest key to help students see success in actually winning scholarships.

You can have a 4.0 GPA and solid letters of recommendation, but if you don’t also take the time to carefully craft, edit, and perfect the essay (or other additional submission), you’re missing out on giving the scholarship committee the opportunity to learn more about who you are as a person and why you’re a great fit to win the award.

#5: Keep those grades up.

Although this eligibility requirement can definitely vary, many scholarships require students to have at least a 2.5 or 3.0 GPA. Sometimes, the minimum requirement can be even higher, such as a 3.75/4.0.

While grades certainly aren’t the end-all-be-all, keeping your GPA up (as high as you possibly can!) will make sure that you are opening yourself up to as many opportunities as possible.

#6: Apply often.

Unfortunately, applying for scholarships is not a “one and done” process. To give yourself the highest chance at seeing success, you should apply for scholarships as often as you can, or whenever you come across an opportunity that you think is worth applying for.

Many students find it helpful to set specific goals in this area, like to apply for 3 scholarships each month. Ultimately, the goal you set should be one that is specific and realistic, based on all of the other things that you’re juggling!

#7: Ask for feedback along the way.

If you don't ever take the time to assess your weak spots, how can you possibly improve?

Asking for feedback throughout the scholarship process, whether it be from a committee, a teacher, or someone who is helping you along the way, is crucial to helping you grow and becoming a stronger applicant. 

Getting feedback is especially important when it comes to the scholarship essay piece of the puzzle. When we write and edit, we tend to overlook our own mistakes because we're so used to making them. Sometimes it takes an extra set of eyes on an essay to help lead you in the direction of success.

No-essay scholarships: To conclude...

To summarize, no-essay scholarships can be a great addition to any overall scholarship strategy for high school, college, and graduate students.

Since no-essay scholarships often operate on a monthly or quarterly basis, you can give yourself a better chance at winning these scholarships if you enter in every application period that you're eligible for.

Although no-essay scholarships usually aren't for large amounts, the process of entering to win is usually an easy one, so there's no harm in applying for these scholarships to round out your strategy and yes, give you a break from all those essays!

The Best No-Essay Scholarships to Apply for in 2024

Apply below to No-Essay scholarships with upcoming deadlines. Exclusive Scholarships found only in Bold.org!

Sallie Mae No-Essay Scholarship

By: Sallie Mae

"Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship

Anthony mcpherson memorial automotive scholarship, eligibility criteria:.

• Field of Interest : Automotive
• Education Level : High school or undergraduate student

Conscious Consumer Scholarship

Betty and louie dicks scsu scholarship.

• Education Level : Undergraduate student
• School : South Carolina State University
• Gender : Male
• GPA : 2.75 or higher

Lexi Hidalgo Scholarship for Rescue Animals & Mental Health

• Background : Passionate about rescue animals, mental health, and volunteerism

Best Faith-Based Colleges No-Essay Scholarship

Bold.org no-essay top friend scholarship, niche college no-essay scholarship, 400 bold points no-essay scholarship, 100 bold points no-essay scholarship, 300 bold points no-essay scholarship, 200 bold points no-essay scholarship, catholic colleges no-essay scholarship, wayup dream job no-essay scholarship.

• Graduation Year : Between 2020 and 2026

Appily No-Essay Scholarship

Best catholic colleges no-essay scholarship, collegevine dream school scholarship.

• Education Level : Must be a high school student

Shape the News No-Essay Survey Scholarship

Great games no-essay scholarship, nielsen rewards no-essay scholarship, survey rewards no-essay scholarship, finance your education no-essay scholarship, survey junkie brand influencer no-essay scholarship, attend your dream school scholarship, christian colleges no-essay scholarship, collegexpress no-essay scholarship, nurturing hope scholarship for aspiring mental health professionals.

• Education Level : Undergraduate or graduate student
• Field of Study : Clinical counseling, social work, marriage and family counseling, or psychology
• Background : Experience navigating mental health struggles
• State : Washington

CapCut Meme Master Scholarship

500 bold points no-essay scholarship.

Due to the ease of no-essay scholarships, they can seem too good to be true and you may worry about scholarship scams. Luckily, no-essay scholarships on Bold.org are all legit! Just make your free account and start funding your college tuition.

Although no-essay scholarships can be some of the easiest scholarships to apply for, it can feel impossible to make yourself stand out from the other students. To increase your chance of winning more scholarships, try applying for scholarships with limited eligibility, such as scholarships for high school juniors or scholarships with minimum GPA requirements.

There is no limit to the number of scholarships you can win on Bold.org. Since no-essay scholarships typically take just a few minutes to apply for, you can apply for many so you can win as much money as possible.

$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

About the scholarship.

The $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is available to students who are seeking a postsecondary education, including returning adult learners. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are welcome to apply.

• Essay Required : No
• Need-Based : No
• Merit-Based : No
• Resident of the U.S.
• High school senior, undergraduate, graduate student, on academic break, or not currently enrolled
• Seeking a professional certification, associate, bachelor's, or graduate degree
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Country : US

• Best Colleges
• Application Advice

• Scholarships

The 10 Best No Essay Scholarships

So many students have been there before. 

They filled out their application to the best of their abilities, they applied to every internal scholarship imaginable at their hopeful college, and they calculated their odds of winning certain awards ad nauseum. 

And then the acceptance letter comes in, and it’s cause for such a wonderful celebration. Getting into university is incredibly difficult, and you’ve done it. 

But then there’s the second letter—the financial aid award letter. And for so many students, that award just isn’t enough to keep a student from navigating debt for many years to come. 

Even for those students who can utilize internal, university-wide funding to mitigate their tuition costs, having external funding sources will always make a big difference in one’s attempts to finance their education. 

But there are a lot of scholarships out there. And many of them will provide wonderful opportunities, but in order to make the most of one’s scholarship hunt to ensure they will receive enough external aid to impact their tuition costs, they’ll need to apply for a lot of scholarships. 

School, work, and attempts to make the most of one’s teenage/early 20s can make the prospect of writing dozens of scholarship essays and answering a plethora of scholarship questions daunting. 

But there are scholarships out there that provide actual money, which one can apply to in mere minutes. And although the odds of winning such scholarships can be slim, it never hurts to cast as wide of a net as possible. 

And no-essay scholarships are a simple addition to one’s list of scholarship applications that increase one’s chances of receiving funding without increasing the number of hours one spends on the scholarship hunt. 

As such, this article will break down 10 of the best no-essay scholarships out there. 

In making this list, attention was given to the legitimacy of the scholarship organization, the amount of funding each scholarship provided, and the range of students who would be eligible to apply for the scholarship. 

In no particular order, here are the ten best no-essay scholarships that will make easy additions to your scholarship list. 

Big Future’s $40,000 Scholarship

Big Future is an organization that helps students with the step-by-step process of applying for college. 

Big Future is a service offered by the larger College Board website, a non-profit organization that seeks to aid students in their quest to both attend college and succeed while there. 

In order to apply for the $40,000 scholarship , students must make an account on the Big Future section of the College Board website and subsequently begin steps to plan for college. 

Completing steps to prepare for college on Big Future include making a list of potential colleges, preparing for a standardized test, applying for colleges, and more. 

Each year, roughly 25 winners are selected to receive the $40,000 scholarship. Winners’ profiles can be found here . 

“Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

Bold.org is a scholarship website that hosts a wide array of no-essay scholarships. Many of the no-essay scholarships on Bold.org are not available elsewhere and are centered around various themes (i.e. international travel, the arts, etc.). 

One of the largest of Bold.org’s many exclusive no-essay scholarships is their Be Bold , $25,050 scholarship. 

This scholarship is awarded annually to a Bold.org user, and previous winners can be found at the bottom of the scholarship’s page. 

In order to increase one’s likelihood of winning this scholarship, students attain “bold points,” which can be gained by watching advertisements, providing feedback to the website, or otherwise. 

Niche No-Essay Scholarship

Niche is a trusted source for all things college.

They provide rankings for the world’s best universities in a wide array of subject matter, they collect data on acceptance rates, and they are a hub of information for anything a student may need to know regarding their school of choice. 

And alongside this, they also aid students on their scholarship hunt. 

As part of this, they provide a $2,000 no-essay scholarship which is given to students on a monthly basis. 

In order to apply, students need only create an account on Niche.com via the scholarship application. 

Previous winners of the no-essay scholarship can be found on Niche’s website . 

Nitro College No-Essay Scholarship

Nitro has a remarkably easy no-essay scholarship.

In order to apply, students do not even need to make an account on Nitro’s website, but instead merely have to provide the school they hope to attend and their contact information, and they are set to apply. 

Each month, Nitro selects a winner of the $2,000 no-essay scholarship. Previous scholarship winners can be found at the bottom of the scholarship application page. 

Nitro is a website dedicated to helping students understand all things financial regarding the college experience. This includes information on scholarships, loans, and tools to help calculate one’s cost of college. 

CollegeXpress $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship

CollegeXpress hosts an annual no-essay scholarship competition , where one winner will receive a generous scholarship worth $10,000. 

By making an account on the CollegeXpress website via the no-essay scholarship portal, students are automatically enrolled for the chance to win the $10,000 scholarship. 

CollegeXpress is another organization that does not merely offer one no-essay scholarship but several. 

For example, after applying for the $10,000 no-essay scholarship, students can apply for the $2,000, “Favorite Color” scholarshi p—where students only need to answer what their favorite color is in order to apply. 

College Covered $5,000 No-Essay Scholarship

College Covered is an organization owned by Discover that seeks to aid students in financing their education while simultaneously promoting Discover’s student loans. 

Because College Covered seeks to aid students in all things financial, it is no wonder that they also host a variety of scholarship competitions. 

One of the largest of these scholarship competitions is the $5,000 no-essay Discover student loans no-essay scholarship. 

In order to apply, all a student needs to do is provide their basic contact information. 

$1,000 Dorm Survey Scholarship

ULoop is a hub for all odds and ends associated with college preparation. 

Whether it be finding a roommate, a tutor, or finding a place to live, ULoop strives to be a marketplace for all of one’s miscellaneous college needs. 

To best achieve this goal, ULoop naturally needs to harvest a fair amount of data regarding a wide array of colleges to provide accurate and up-to-date information. 

This is where the $1,000 Dorm Survey Scholarship comes in. 

To apply for this scholarship, students fill out a brief questionnaire regarding their experiences living in dorms at their particular university. 

Alongside the dorm survey, students can also enter the off-campus apartment survey scholarship contest, which has an award of $1,000. 

Winners of both scholarships are announced annually, and previous winners can be found on ULoop’s website . 

Tallo $1,000 Scholarship

Tallo is an app where students can update schools, scholarship competitions, and employers regarding their various academic or professional achievements. 

Through this platform, professionals and students connect to develop meaningful relationships. 

By joining the Tallo app, students join a network of over 1 million students and professionals and have access to a scholarship database that includes over $20 billion in scholarships.

When a student joins Tallo, they are automatically enrolled in the $1,000, no-essay scholarship contest. 

Joining Tallo and completing a profile is considered the application for this scholarship. 

Scholarship Owl $7,000 Scholarship

Scholarship Owl is a scholarship database that both seeks to connect students with scholarship opportunities and to provide education to students regarding how scholarships work during the process. 

Their $7,000 scholarship does not require an essay and merely requires that students create a profile on the Scholarship Owl website. 

Although only 1 in 140,000 students win, approximately every applicant is considered equal during the scholarship drawing. 

As such, no one student has a significantly greater chance of winning the no-essay scholarship compared to another. 

ScholarshipPoints $10,000 Scholarship

ScholarshipPoints hosts a variety of no-essay scholarship contests, with the largest of these having a $10,000 value .

ScholarshipPoints operates by having students gain “scholarship points” by doing things like surveys, watching ads, or engaging with website sponsors. 

Then, students spend these points to enter scholarship sweepstakes. 

One point spent is the equivalent of 1 entry in the random drawing of scholarship winners. 

The more points one spends in entering a scholarship, the more likely it is that a student will win the said scholarship. 

As such, not only do Scholarship points offer the large, $10,000 no-essay scholarship, but several no-essay scholarships in which spending scholarship points takes the place of writing a formal scholarship application. 

Even if the chances of winning can be slim for some of these scholarships, it is real money that real winners have received in the past.

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30 NO-ESSAY Scholarships for the Class of 2023

With so many application deadlines and SAT test dates piling up, applying for scholarships can quickly become overwhelming. Especially when those scholarships make you jump through hoops by writing essays and submitting transcripts. The stress of writing a scholarship essay on top of keeping up with school can deter students from taking advantage of free money . That’s not the case with these no essay scholarships. From surveys to sweepstakes these easy scholarship applications are a breeze. These programs want to help busy students like you pay for school, without adding extra stress to your life. Calling Class of 2023, these scholarships are looking for you! 

Applying to these scholarships is a no-brainer. Want more opportunities to score free money? 

Check out our other scholarship lists! 

Our Top Scholarship Pick

The $25,000 “be bold” no essay scholarship.

Rolling monthly application deadlines. Next deadline: June 1, 2023

Award: Awards $25,000

Overview: The $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. No-Essay Scholarship in just a few clicks! Fund your education with verified new scholarships, available only on Bold.org. New scholarships are added daily, and membership is 100% free for students.

$2,000 Nitro Scholarship

Deadline: March 3, 2022 

Award Amount: $23,410 20 winners, $1,170 each

Overview: The Skin Grip Diabetes Scholarship will be awarded to 20 individuals who live fearlessly and fight to make the world a better place despite their diagnosis.

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a high school senior or any undergraduate in a 2- or 4-year degree program who has diabetes. To apply, please upload a short video (can be filmed via cell phone, Zoom, etc) two minutes max, answering this question:

How do you live fearlessly with diabetes?

$1,000 Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship

Deadline: December 31, 2023

Award Amount: $2,000

Overview: Apply to Nitro’s monthly No-Essay Scholarship in seconds for a chance to win $2,000!

2022 HireAHelper Skilled Trade & Technology Scholarships

Deadline:  July 17, 2023.

Award: $2,000

Overview: Growing demand and lack of qualified workers in skilled trades like the moving industry means it’s a great time to go back to school and enter these lucrative and fast-growing industries. To help keep up with demand and assist the next generation of professionals, HireAHelper will award a $2,000 scholarship four times a year to eligible students.

Kahoot Live Scholarship

Deadline: May 26, 2023

Award Amount: $500

Overview: Do we have any Swifties in the house? If so, this Kahoot scholarship is just for you! We will quiz you on all things Taylor Swift to test out just how much of a Swiftie you really are.

Hop on our Instagram live on Thursday, May 25 at 9 PM Eastern to join us as we give away another $500 scholarship to the winner of this Swifie-fied Kahoot game!

As always, we must have at least 1,000 viewers on the live stream and 1,000+ players in the Kahoot game to award the scholarship, and you must be a current or future college student with a Bold.org profile to participate.

ScholarshipPoints Scholarships

Deadline: See Website

Award Amount: Up to $10,000

Overview: Complete the form to be automatically entered into our $10,000 scholarship!

Scholly No-Essay Scholarship

Deadline: June 1, 2023

Overview: Are you looking to secure funding for college or graduate school?

We’ve partnered with Scholly to create this exclusive scholarship for high school students, transfer students, college students, and current or prospective graduate students.

CampusReel No-Essay Scholarship

Award Amount:$500

Overview: Are you on the hunt for financial aid for college?

We’ve partnered with CampusReel to create this exclusive scholarship for high school students, transfer students, college students, and current or prospective graduate students.

AFSA High School Senior Contest

Deadline: January 1, 2024.

Overview:  The High School Senior College Scholarship Contest is open to high school seniors who are citizens or aliens legally residing in the USA. Scholarship funds are payable to the winner’s college/university or certified trade school in the United States; winner must enroll for classes beginning no later than Fall 2022 session. Winner selection is NOT based on financial need, GPA or demographic criteria. Home-schooled students may apply as long as course of study is equivalent to that of a senior in high school.

GoSkills Scholarship

Deadline: Fall Deadline: Sept. 15 (11:59PM PST) Fall Award Date: Oct. 15 Spring Deadline: March 15 (11:59PM PST) Spring Award Date: April 15

Overview: Okay, Female high school and college students, here is your time to debut your online business ambitions. There are open-ended questions on the application, but it’s more like a friendly conversation. The questions ask you about your concerns and your role models. Besides the application, you need to provide a link to your business plan (GoSkills provides instructions for your business plan right above the area for the link). If you don’t get excited about writing an essay, try your hand at mapping a business plan

Nitro Pay For College No-Essay Scholarship

Award Amount: $10,000

Overview: We’ve partnered with Nitro to create this exclusive no-essay scholarship for anyone thinking through how to pay for college.

Nitro is a leading financial aid and loan resource platform, guiding you on everything from the FAFSA to best practices for federal and private loans.

By applying, you’ll automatically get registered for Nitro, setting you up for success in funding your education in the most effective way. The scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of the Nitro platform.

Bold.org No-Essay Community Scholarship

Award Amount: $5,000

Overview: This scholarship is for students who recognize the value of a strong community, and are always on the lookout for ways to help their friends and strengthen their community. It will be awarded to a student who has invited many friends to join Bold.org.

To invite a friend, visit your Invite Friends page on the Bold.org dashboard to copy your unique invite code and text it to your friends. For each friend who creates a profile, your chances of winning the Community Scholarship go up.

AFSA $2,000 College Scholarship

Deadline: January 1, 2024

Overview: The Second Chance College Scholarships Contest is open to citizens and aliens legally residing in the USA with High School Diploma, GED or equivalent. Scholarship funds are payable to the winner’s college/university or certified trade school in the United States; winner must enroll or already be enrolled for Spring 2022 session. Winner selection is NOT based on financial need, GPA or demographic criteria.

Expand Your Horizons Scholarship

Deadline: April 28, 2024

Overview: Getting the most out of life requires both the courage to explore the world, and the kindness and openness to welcome and accept all those you meet along the way.

One student whose profile demonstrates an openness to learning about other cultures and sharing their own will receive $2,000 to help them continue on their path to travel and learn.

This may include studying new languages, traveling to study in a new place, teaching or learning art styles or cooking methods from a new culture, or anything else that demonstrates openness to new cultures in your school, work, or hobbies.

Launchy Web3 Scholarship

Deadline: April 30, 2024

Award Amount: $1,000

Overview: Chain Catalyst by Launchy is a free newsletter for web3 builders and investors.

We’ve partnered with Chain Catalyst by Launchy to create this exclusive scholarship. By applying, you’ll automatically be subscribed to the Chain Catalyst by Launchy newsletter, getting web3 tips, news, and insights delivered directly to your inbox.

The scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of Chain Catalyst by Launchy.

Scholarships4Moms

Deadline: June 15, 2023

Overview: Over $1.2 million in scholarships given away. You could be the next winner!

CARiD.com Scholarship

Deadline: May 31, 2023

Overview: CARiD is giving away $1,000 to offset your educational expenses for college! Just getting the essentials can add up quickly and CARiD wants to help – books, food, backpacks, some sweet spinners for your commuter vehicle, or whatever else you need to get ready for school! Most importantly – CARiD believes in higher education and wants to help you achieve your goals!

Barbara Lotze Scholarship

Deadline: December 1, 2023

Overview: Undergraduate students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in physics teacher preparation curricula and high school seniors entering such programs are eligible. Successful applicants receive a stipend of up to $2,000 and a complimentary AAPT Student Membership for one year. The scholarship may be granted to an individual for each of four years.

Richard “88 Fingers” Turner, Jr. Music Scholarship

Deadline: August 1, 2023

Overview: Richard “88 Fingers” Turner, Jr. is a beloved husband and talented pianist.

Known for his dexterity and musical talent, Richard has inspired the next generation of aspiring African American musicians. In order to truly thrive in the industry, it’s critical for musicians to have a strong educational foundation, which can often be inaccessible due to the high cost of college.

This scholarship seeks to honor Richard Turner, Jr. by supporting African American musicians in their pursuit of education.

Any African American two or four-year undergraduate student who is pursuing a music degree and career may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, submit a 2-3 minute video of yourself performing.

“A Bold Mind” Psychology No-Essay Scholarship

Overview: Psychology is a great career field for students with a deep sense of curiosity about human behavior and the mind.

This scholarship seeks to support students who are passionate about psychology so they can afford to pursue their education.

Any student who is pursuing psychology may apply for this exclusive no-essay scholarship!

“Science for Life” Biology and Health Sciences No-Essay Scholarship

Overview: Biology and health sciences can require significant education which can be difficult for the average student to afford without becoming buried in debt.

This scholarship aims to support students who are pursuing biology and the health sciences so that they can complete their degrees no matter their financial status.

Any student who is interested in studying biology or the health sciences may apply for this no-essay scholarship opportunity!

Milk Road Crypto and Web3 No-Essay Scholarship

Deadline: August 16, 2022

Packed with insights, analysis, and entertainment, The Milk Road helps you get smarter about crypto without ever feeling dumb, regardless of how much you already know.

We’ve partnered with The Milk Road to create this exclusive scholarship. By applying, you’ll automatically be subscribed to The Milk Road, giving you essential crypto insights straight to your inbox.

This scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of The Milk Road. You will be a strong applicant if you:

• Read The Milk Road every day
• Share The Milk Road with your friends
• Apply what you learn to accelerate your education and career

CollegeXpress No-Essay Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,200

Overview: Are you a high schooler preparing to navigate through your college experience?

We’ve partnered with CollegeXpress to create this exclusive scholarship for high school students who are interested in college resources, an opportunity related to our 30 other no-essay scholarship awards.

This scholarship is also unique in that it will favor students who apply earlier—who are bold and seize the day without procrastinating.

The Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award Sweepstakes

Overview: Sign up for emails to get helpful college tips and resources, and enter for the chance to win a scholarship! Throughout the year, 12 eligible students or parents will be randomly selected to win a $5,000 Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award to help cover college expenses.

Huntington’s College Scholarship Sweepstakes

Deadline: June 30, 2023

Award Amount: $4,000

Overview: Scholarship contest for college-bound students. Simply submit this Official Entry form by the deadline posted in the Official Rules and you could win a $4000 College Scholarship!

Italian Catholic Federation Scholarships

Deadline: See Website 

Award Amount: Up to $1,000

Overview:  Since 1964, the Italian Catholic Federation has awarded over $2,000,000.00 in scholarships to more than 6,000 high school students, of the Catholic faith, attending college. Each spring, the Italian Catholic Federation receives nearly 400 applications for its yearly scholarship awards. Applications are received from students in public as well as Catholic high schools in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Illinois.

No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship

Deadline: May 29, 2023

Award Amount: $7,000

Overview:  Apply Me, Inc. (“ScholarshipOwl”) is pleased to offer this scholarship sweepstakes (“Scholarship Sweepstakes”) in which you can apply for a chance to win a scholarship to be paid by ScholarshipOwl directly to your qualified high school, college or university.

For What It’s Worth Scholarship

Overview: We’ve partnered with For What It’s Worth to create this exclusive scholarship. By applying, you’ll automatically be subscribed to the For What It’s Worth newsletter, getting tips and news delivered directly to your inbox so you can invest in the world that you want.

The scholarship will be awarded to applicants who get the most out of For What It’s Worth. You will be a strong applicant if you:

• Read For What It’s Worth every week
• Share For What It’s Worth with your friends
• Engage with For What It’s Worth’s content

Stuck At Prom Scholarship Contest

Deadline: June 7, 2023 

Overview: We’re giving away $20,000 in cash scholarships to high school students who make the best prom attire out of Duck® Brand Duct Tape! New this year? You can document your journey to prom perfection in a short video or written essay. Plus, once the voting period starts, a live voting counter lets you see the results in real time.

“A Bold Life” No-Essay Scholarship

Deadline: July 31, 2023

Overview: Regardless of where you find yourself today, remember that you only have one life to live, and it’s up to you to make it count. Embracing the world with boldness can help you do that.

To encourage people to create an adventurous and exciting life as they define it, the “A Bold Life” No-Essay scholarship exists to support a student who will do what it takes to live life to the fullest.

The scholarship is open to all students and non-students from any field of study. The only requirement is that you’re committed to overcoming fear and relentlessly pursuing a life that will leave you fulfilled.

More Helpful Guides:

How to Find—and Win—Scholarships: Your Complete Guide

How I Landed My Dream Internship

Make a List, Check It Twice: A College Applications Guide

Three Difficult Conversations to Have About Affording College

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links to products and services. We may receive commissions for purchases made through these links.

How to Start Your College Search

The 30 Hardest Colleges to Get Into by Acceptance Rate

Your Guide to Required Documents for College Applications

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20 No Essay Scholarships You Should Apply For

With the rising cost of higher education, it’s important to secure as much financial aid for school as possible. You may not realize it, but you probably already qualify for dozens of scholarships.  You may be a competitor for awards because of your strong GPA, academic area of interest, hobbies, or even because you graduated high school in a particular county.

While there are many scholarships that require you to submit a long list of supporting documentation, not all applications are so taxing. The list below offers information on 20 scholarships that do not require you to write a personal essay or statement of academic goals. 

These no essay scholarships save you time and energy and could result in you garnering hundreds or thousands of dollars in free money for school.

Tips When Applying To These Scholarships

Here are a couple of things to consider while compiling your no essay scholarship applications. Bear in mind that even no essay scholarships will require you to submit at least a few important documents. Be sure that you meet all of the submission requirements for each scholarship, as each one will ask for specific information. If you don’t submit all of the required documents, they may toss out your application. 

Secondly, in addition to searching for scholarship opportunities at the local level and students in your county, state, or region, do not overlook scholarships that offer smaller awards. No matter the size of the scholarship, all of the money you receive means taking on less debt through loans or paying out of pocket.

1. Richard J. Seif Technical Sales and Marketing Scholarship

This $3,000 award is reserved for learners pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business or engineering with a concentration in marketing or sales. Applicants should possess a 2.5 or higher GPA and be U.S. or Canadian citizens. This one is closed for the year but will reopen again in early 2024 so mark your calendars!

2. Honeywell Scholarship

Offered by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), this award is for students in a graduate or undergraduate program preparing for a career in computer science , engineering , or engineering technology. Awards range from $1,000-$15,000. Applicants must identify as women and be enrolled in an ABET-accredited program. Applications will be open in December and February and are due in February or May, depending on the applicant’s grade level.

3. Reisher Scholars Program

The Reisher Scholars Program offers both merit- and need-based scholarships for sophomores and transfer students in Colorado. Awards range from $4,000-$11,000, with the average being $7,984. Applicants should be full-time students at one of the seven Reisher partner universities 3.0 or higher GPA. Application due dates vary depending on the student’s institution.

4. Alwin B. Newton Scholarship

The $5,000, one-year Newton Scholarship requires applicants to possess a 3.0 or higher or be in the top 30% of their class. Applications must include three letters of recommendation and documents that demonstrate the student’s financial need. Applications are due on December 1 for awards granted the following fall semester.

5. Welder Training Scholarship

This $2,500 award is reserved for students studying welding engineering. Applicants must be at least 18 years old with a 3.0 or higher GPA and enrolled in a four-year undergraduate welding engineering technology program. Applicants must include two letters of recommendation and be submitted by November 30, 2023. 

6. Tang Scholarship

Established by Edward C. Tang, this scholarship is designed to help Asian and Pacific Islander students who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community . Up to four awards are given each year, with each award being up to $15,000. Applicants must have graduated from a high school located in one of the nine Bay Area counties with a 3.0 or higher GPA. This application is closed for the 2023-2024 academic year, but should reopen in early 2024. Applications are due in April.

7. Western Digital Scholarship Program

This award is reserved for any undergraduate student who is a biological dependent of a Western Digital employee. Applicants must be enrolled, or plan on enrolling, in a four-year college or university program as a full-time student. Competitive applicants possess a 3.0 or higher GPA. Awards range from $2,000-$5,000. The application opens in January and is usually due at the beginning of April.

8. Cathay Bank Foundation Scholarship Program

The foundation offers up to 20 scholarships of $1,000 to outstanding high school seniors each year. Applicants must reside in California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Texas, or Washington. The need-based award is for learners who plan on attending a four-year program in one of the states previously listed and possess a 3.0 or higher cumulative high school GPA. Applications are due at the beginning of April each year.

9. James R. Bullock Scholarship

Reserved for students residing in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia, the Bullock Scholarship is a one-year award for undergraduates in architectural or mechanical engineering worth up to $5,000. Applicants should possess a 3.0 or higher GPA or be in the top 30% of their class. Applications are due by December 1, 2023.

10. Project Grant

Offered by the Connecticut Space Grant Consortium, the Project Grant is worth up to $1,000. The award is designed to offset the cost of materials for students completing their senior capstone projects or undergraduate research projects. Applicants need a 3.0 or higher GPA and must be enrolled at a Consortium Member Institution. Applications are open in January for spring scholarships, and in September for fall scholarships. 

11. Coca-Cola Scholars Program

Prospective recipients must be current high school students in one of the 50 states or Puerto Rico with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Applicants must have plans to attend a degree-granting, accredited college or university in the U.S. Up to 150 scholars are chosen each year for this $20,000 award. Applications will be open from August 1-October 2, 2023 for students who will graduate during the 2023-2024 academic year.

12. ASHRAE General Scholarship

The ASHRAE General Scholarship award is worth $5,000. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate engineering or pre-engineering students with a 3.0 or higher GPA at an ABET-accredited institution. Applications must include official academic transcripts and three signed letters of recommendation. Applications are due by December 1, 2023.

13. Tennessee HOPE Scholarship

Funded by the proceeds from the Tennessee State Lottery, this award is for new college freshmen enrolling in one of 16 eligible colleges or universities in the state. The award is for $1,500-$2,250 per semester, depending on whether the student is attending a two- or four-year school. Students with a 3.0 or higher GPA planning to pursue a bachelor’s or associate degree are eligible to apply. Standardized test scores may be required. Applications are due by September 1 each year.

14. Children of Veterans Tuition Grant

Applicants must be biological or adopted 16-26-year-old children of veterans living in Michigan. Their veteran parents must have passed away or become disabled as a result of their military service. Applicants should have a 2.25 or higher GPA and be enrolled at least half-time at a participating institution in Michigan. Full-time students can receive up to $2,800 per academic year. The application deadline varies per year.

15. Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program

Applicants must be Florida residents and a U.S. or eligible citizen to apply. Prospective recipients must have graduated from a Florida high school with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Applications must include documentation of at least 75 hours of community service. Competitive ACT or SAT scores are also required. This award is worth up to $212.71 per credit hour. Applications are due by August 31 after high school graduation.

16. The Scott McClean Love Scholarship

This award is for undergraduate learners with a 2.0 or higher GPA who are children of former U.S. Army personnel. Eligible students have graduated high school, currently attending a college or university, and are 24 years old or younger. Awards range from $500-$2,000 per year. Applications open every January and close in April.

17. Robert W. White, Sr. Scholarship

The Robert W. White, Sr. Scholarship is for full-time students who are juniors or seniors in a four-year welding engineering degree program. Applicants must be at least 18 years old with a 3.2 or higher GPA. This need-based scholarship requires proof of financial need and is renewable for up to two years. The $2,500 award may be used for tuition and fees only. Applications are due by March 1 each year. 

18. Pearl Scholarship

The Pearl Scholarship is for students in Oregon who have lived or remain in foster care and want to attend a public college or university in the state . The award is for those interested in studying health sciences. Applicants should be 26 years old or younger and plan to enroll at least half-time in school. The amount awarded varies per year. Applications are open from November - March for the upcoming academic year. 

19. General Mills Internship and Scholarship

This program is open to graduate students enrolled in a food science program who want to take on a paid summer research and development internship. The scholarship portion of the award is worth $4,800 for one academic year. Prospective recipients should have a 3.0 or higher GPA and must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program for fall 2022 to be eligible. Applications are due by September 30. 

20. Scholarship America Dream Award

Applicants for the American Dream Award must be 17 years of age or older with at least one year of college completed. Prospective recipients must be currently enrolled as a full-time student in an associate or bachelor’s degree program with a 3.0 or higher GPA. These awards are need-based and worth between $5,000-$15,000. The application will reopen February 2024. 

Data Source: Peterson’s Databases copyright 2023 Peterson’s LLC All rights reserved

• How To Find Scholarships With No Essay Requirements (With Examples)
• Scholarships

When people are working through the rigors of not only higher education, but also working to fund higher education, they may simply lack the time or energy to produce meticulously-crafted, long-form essay responses to a scholarship application.

Fortunately, there are plenty of scholarships that don’t require any tedious writing responses. It’s important to note, however, that applicants should always be mindful and research the provider to avoid scams and fees. Read on for an overview of some no-essay scholarships and information on how to apply.

• Cappex Easy Money College Scholarship

Every month, the scholarship database Cappex facilitates a no-essay scholarship drawing of six $1,000 awards. The only requirements applicants need to meet is a current high school or collegiate enrollment, a quick form response about why they deserve the scholarship, and a Cappex account, which will automatically qualify them for entry before the last day of every month. To begin the application process, simply head on over to the Cappex Sign Up page to create an account.

• Cirkled In “No-Sweat” Scholarship

Cirkled In is a portfolio tool designed to give students a means of promoting their talents and academic expertise, and colleges an alternative method of evaluating applicants. The company offers a no essay, “No-Sweat” Scholarship. To qualify for a chance at winning the $2,500 award, all applicants need to do is merely create an account and complete their Cirkled In portfolio before the annual December 31 deadline. Both tasks can be done here.

• ACS Scholars Award

To be eligible for this aid, applicants must:

• Be African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, or American Indian college. 
• Be an underclassman or graduating high school senior. 
• Plan to pursue a chemistry-related science program.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

To apply for the award, students must submit two letters of recommendation, one official transcript from their respective institution, and one copy of their FAFSA Student Aid Report before the annual March 1 deadline. 

For a more thorough overview of the award’s application criteria, visit ACS’s official Scholars Program page.

• Scholly No Essay Scholarship

Coordinated by popular student success platform Scholly, this award offers one of the biggest payoffs on this list. To qualify for a shot at a potential $10,000 award, applicants need to fill out a brief contact form and promote the No Essay Scholarship on Facebook or Twitter with the @MyScholly tag. 

Enter before the annual May 31 deadline here .

• Course Hero Award Scholarship

Every month, online learning platform Course Hero doles out scholarship awards ranging from $1,000-$10,000. Students can apply in three steps: 

• Create a Course Hero account 
• Fill out the short answer application 

Awards, rules, and monthly deadlines vary with every scholarship. Evaluate each on Course Hero’s official Current Scholarships database.

• College Survey Scholarship/Niche No Essay College Scholarship

Niche offers two monthly, no essay scholarship awards. The first is a $1,000 award, eligible only to college students and alumni who have graduated within the last four years. It can be completed by taking their official survey before the deadline at the end of each month.  The second is a $2,000 award, eligible to high school and college students alike. Students can enter the drawing by simply creating an account before the end of each month. Apply here .

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A Freeway To No Essay Scholarships!

As of recent times, over 1.7 million scholarships are awarded annually. It is commonly known that only a handful of students are lucky enough to qualify for most scholarships. However, some scholarships are easier to get than others; for instance, some scholarships require no essays as a part of the application procedure. Yes, you read that right; the no essay scholarships can range from quick scholarships that you can apply to in a few minutes to some that are focused on specific aspects. Going ahead with the article, we will be exploring a range of scholarships that omit the obligation of essay writing for a perfect application. 

15+ No Essay Scholarships

Below is a comprehensive list of more than 15 no essay scholarships with their designated deadlines, award amounts, and eligibility. Skim through each scholarship and pick the right ones for you to apply before the deadline catches up to you. 

1. Sallie Mae Scholarship

Award Amount: $2,000 Deadline: June 30, 2024 Eligibility: HS Upperclassmen, College & graduate students from the US

The Sallie Mae Scholarships operate on Sweepstakes and are one of the no essay scholarships for students in the United States. This no essay scholarship requires students to fill in some basic information and aims to render college financial aid as a stepping stone to further education. Although the $2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship Sweepstakes is only open to legal residents of the 50 United States. 

2. "Be Bold" No Essay Scholarship

Award Amount: $25,000 Deadline: Jul 1, 2024 Eligibility: All Grade Levels

The Be Bold No Essay Scholarships aim to finance bold risk-takers and academically overachieving students who never fail to show up. This particular scholarship can come across as competitive since it is also merit-based. However, it is open to students from diverse backgrounds, such as level of education, field of study, and GPA. 

3. ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,000 Deadline: Jun 30, 2024 Eligibility: All Grade level students from the US

These no essay scholarships are open to students from the US (high school, college and graduate). The applicant must be a resident of any of the 50 United States, District of Columbia or US Territories except for Rhode Island and Michigan. Every month, the ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarships nominates four winners.

4. The Scholarship360- “No Essay Scholarship”

Award Amount: $10,000 Deadline: Jun 30, 2024 Eligibility: All Grade Levels

The “ No Essay Scholarship ” is one of the monthly non essay scholarships available for high school, college, and graduate students over the age of 16. Applying for scholarships on the Scholarships360 platform gives the applicant an added advantage.

5. Niche No Essay Scholarship

Award Amount: $10,000

Deadline: July 31st, 2024 Eligibility: All Grade Levels

The Niche No Essay Scholarship provides tuition, housing, books, and other college expenses money. It is for students of all ages and falls into the bracket of scholarships with no essay. The winners will be announced on Niche's e-newsletter and the official website.

6. Christian Connector Scholarship

Award Amount: $10,000 Deadline: Jun 30, 2024 Eligibility: High School Juniors and Seniors who wish to get admitted to a Christian college/university

The Christain Connector Scholarship is for students who are interested in pursuing their further education at a Christain Institute. It is one of the scholarships without essays that finance students every month. 

Along With No Essay Scholarships Also Explore Easy Student Accommodation!

Book through amber today!

7. No Essay CollegeVine Scholarship

Award Amount: $2,000 Deadline: Jun 30, 2024 Eligibility: High School Students 

The No Essay CollegeVine Scholarships are scholarships without essays open to high school and college students. The only requirement is to create an account with a complete profile. The scholarship operates on sweepstakes, which allows a maximum number of students to participate without touching any kind of eligibility.

8. Around the Corner from College Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,000 Deadline: Jun 30, 2024 Eligibility: High School Students 

Around the Corner from College Scholarships are no essay scholarships for high school students (US citizens, Permanent Residents, or with DACA Status). However, there are two definite deadlines throughout the year, and one winner is nominated for each period.

9. DirectTextbook.com Photo Essay Contest

Award Amount: Variable  Deadline: N/A Eligibility: College and University Students

DirectTextbook.com Photo Essay Contest scholarships are photo entries selected randomly from all qualifying entries. These no essay scholarships require students to have at least a GPA of 2.0 or above, be enrolled in a 2-4 year college degree program, and be legal residents of the United States. 

10. Unigo Scholarship

Award Amount: $10,000 Deadline: Dec 31st, 2024 Eligibility: High School Students

The Unigo Scholarships are no essay scholarships, although students are required to submit a 250-word or less passage on "Would you rather be smart, funny, or rich? Why?" The passage will judge the student's writing ability, creativity, originality, and overall excellence. Winners will be announced through emails and calls.

11. US Bank Student Scholarship 

Award Amount: $20,000 Deadline: Oct 31st, 2024 Eligibility: High School Seniors & College Students The US Bank Student Scholarship is one of the no essay scholarships opportunities for U.S. residents. Applicants aged 17 or older who have been accepted to or are enrolled in a post-secondary institution are eligible to receive help funding their education. 

12. CampusReel Virtual Tour Scholarship

Award Amount: $2,000 Deadline: June 30, 2024 Eligibility: All Grade Levels

The CampusReel Virtual Tour Scholarships are scholarships with no essay. There is no eligibility criterion for students; the only obligation is to watch a student-led virtual college tour. 

13. ULoop Dorm Survey Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,000 Deadline: June 30, 2024 Eligibility: Students who are admitted to a 2-year/4-year college course

The ULoop Dorm Survey Scholarship is one of the no essay scholarships where students who have lived in dormitories at some point in their college life. They have to fill out a short survey form expressing their dormitory experience and be entered for a chance to win $1,000.

14. Powering The Future - Whiddon Memorial Scholarship

Award Amount: $3,000 Deadline: Jul 20, 2024 Eligibility: A high school, undergraduate, or graduate student in STEM

The Powering The Future - Whiddon Memorial Scholarships are another no essay required scholarships for STEM students. The scholarship honours Richard and Rebecca Whiddon's memories, project engineering managers who lost their lives in a car accident. If engineering is what interests you, then you must check out engineering scholarships in the UK as an option to reduce the financial burden of paying for your engineering degree.

15. Project Yellow Light/Hunter Garner Scholarship

Award Amount: $8,000 Deadline: Varies Eligibility: HS Upperclassmen & College Students

The Project Yellow Light/Hunter Garner Scholarship was initiated for a noble cause. As one of the no essay scholarships, students are required to submit an advertisement in the form of a video, radio, or billboard to promote safe driving. It is to honour the life of Hunter Garner, a 16-year-old who died in a car crash. 

16. One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest

Award Amount: $2,000 Deadline: All Grade Levels Eligibility: June 25, 2024

One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest Scholarship is for young filmmakers who submit a video on environmentalism. There are over seven categories split by age group and video type, but each applicant’s video must relate to conservation or environmentalism. These no essay scholarships are for students who can express their love for Earth through film. 

Lastly, no essay scholarships are very alluring, but one must also know most of these are offered on sweepstakes, which means a very thin chance of winning. Students must also be aware of mindless scams and not give away personal information without reading the terms and conditions. With that being said, students can apply for as many no essay scholarships as they can; getting any kind fo financial aid for educational purposes will always come in handy. Students can also explore this comprehensive list of fully funded scholarships to fulfil their dream of studying abroad. 

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Is scholarshipowl no essay scholarships only for us students, what is the award amount bracket for no essay scholarships, how do i know if i won the scholarship i applied for, how many days does it take to shortlist scholarships, can a student get two scholarships.

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• Finding Scholarships

10 Scholarships That Do Not Require a Written Essay

David Jul 5, 2017

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Majority of scholarship providers require students to write an essay as a way to learn more about the applicant. However, writing essays can prove to be very tedious and time-consuming. Thankfully, there are some no essay scholarships out there. Still, scholarships no essay scholarships are hard to find. So that’s why we compiled this list of scholarships that do not require a written essay.

FormSwift Scholarship Program

The FormSwift $1,000 Scholarship is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as graduating high school seniors. Applicants must create a business plan infographic regarding startup, restaurant, non-profit, transportation company, or a clothing company industries. This is a quarterly scholarship. The next deadline is March 15, 2018.

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SuperCollege Scholarship

SuperCollege’s $1,000 Scholarship is a monthly scholarship. It’s open to all students — high school, college, grad or adult — who are currently in college or plan to start. Thus, winners will be randomly selected selected based on their completeness of the online application. This is a monthly recurring award, the next deadline is April 30, 2018.

Best College Reviews Scholarship

Best College Reviews $1,000 scholarship ask students to send them a video describing a teacher who had a great impact on their life. Students from USA (proof of citizenship is required) who are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in higher education may apply. The next deadline for this annual scholarship is August 15, 2018.

Find out how to maximize your scholarship application .

Fundera College Scholarship

Fundera want to help aspiring entrepreneurs with a semi-annual $2,000 scholarship. So in order to apply, students will need to ‘Like’ and follow Fundrea on social media, attach proof of enrollment, and post a 3-minute video on their chosen topic relating to small businesses & technology. Next deadline is July 1, 2018.

Albertson & Davidson, LLP Scholarship

The lawyers at Albertson & Davidson, LLP are awarding 3 scholarships to 3 students who will be attending college in Fall 2018. First-place winner will receive $1,500, and second- and third-place winners will receive $1,000 and $500, respectively. Applicants must submit a cover letter as well as an infographic that addresses the topic of victims of elder abuse. Deadline is April 26, 2018.

Thomas L. Dickson College Scholarship

The Dickson Law Group would like to award one student who is currently enrolled in college or planning to attend in Fall 2018 with a $1,000 scholarship. Additionally, students under 18 years of age will need permission from their parent/guardian to apply. Finally, applicants must create a 1-3 minute video essay. Deadline is May 15, 2018.

FLC Scholarship

Free Logo Creator created a $1,000 scholarship for visual and performing arts students. Students will need to create an original abstract shape design fit for a logo use in most industries. Also, they will need to present their most recent transcripts in order to apply for this scholarship. Deadline is May 30, 2018.

Sleep Sherpa Scholarship Program

Sleep Sherpa created a $1,000 scholarship program for future and current college students. In order to enter, students must create a short video describing how they will use their education to make the world a better place. The application deadline for this scholarship is May 31, 2018.

Law Offices of Randolph Rice Scholarship

The Law Offices of Randolph Rice are asking for infographic submissions as the basis for their $1,500 scholarship. Moreover, you will need a CV and proof of matriculation in order to apply. High school seniors that are planning on attending college in the Fall of 2018 and undergraduate students are eligible to apply. Deadline is May 1, 2018.

Christian College Scholarship

If you are a student planning to enroll full-time at any Christian or Bible college, then you are invited to apply online for Christian Connector’s $2,500 scholarship opportunity. The only additional requirement for this scholarship is a completion of a short survey. The deadline is May 31, 2018.

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David Tabachnikov is the CEO of ScholarshipOwl. Formerly at Waze and Google, David is an experienced CTO/R&D manager with over 10 years of experience of leading tech teams. David fervently believes that students should have greater access to education, and is passionate about using technology to help them achieve that goal.

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Articles & Advice > Financial Aid > Blog

Easy No-Essay Scholarships You Need to Know About Right Now

Essay requirements may prevent you from applying for a lot of scholarships. But these no-essay options can help you win some easy money for college!

by Kelli Dolan Senior Assistant Editor, CollegeXpress

Last Updated: Apr 24, 2024

Originally Posted: Feb 4, 2020

Many scholarships feature long-winded essay questions, and it’s often hard to know where to start. And maybe you just aren’t an essay writer. That doesn’t mean you should lose out on great opportunities for college scholarships. With a little digging around online, you can find great no-essay scholarships that are not only easy to apply for but often fun to do too. These quick and easy contests will have bigger applicant pools and may be harder to win, but somebody has to—and you can’t win if you don’t apply!

Check out the ones below to start and continue to do your own research to find even more no-essay scholarships that could be hiding in all corners of the internet. Before applying to anything, make sure you read all the rules and policies for each scholarship using the links provided!

Register for a website

All of these scholarships just require you to register for a website, and most of them are popular college search sites, so you can get some extra college research done while you’re there.

CollegeXpress $10,00 Scholarship Contest and Monthly Refer-a-Friend Scholarship

If you’re reading this blog, there’s a good chance you already have a CollegeXpress account. Did you know that means you’re automatically entered to win our annual $10,000 scholarship? If you’re not registered, sign up now! It only takes a few minutes and it’s totally free. Once you’re done registering, be sure to tell some friends to do the same. We’ll give you a unique code to share, and for every person who uses your code to create a CollegeXpress account, you’ll gain an entry to win our $250 Refer-a-Friend monthly drawing! If you don’t win this month, there’s always another chance next month. (And you can win this one multiple times!)

Amount: $10,000; $250 Awarded: Annually; monthly Deadline: May 1; last day of each month Check out our  $10,000 Scholarship  and  Refer-a-Friend Scholarship .

Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship

Monthly $1,000 scholarships? Sign us up! No, literally—just sign up and you’re entered for Cappex’s monthly giveaway. In a few short minutes, you’ll be on to your next scholarship.

Amount:  $1,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the  Easy College Money Scholarship .

Encourage for Students Sweepstakes

Like everyone else, My College Options and myOptions Encourage offer a monthly scholarship that only requires registering on their website to apply. The winner will be selected randomly, and there's no minimum GPA requirement—although they do still ask you to report it. 

Amount: $500 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the Encourage for Students Sweepstakes .

No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship

With Scholarship Owl, creating an account helps you apply to a lot of scholarships all with a single form. So create an account for the No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship and you won’t need to do a bunch of extra work to apply for more! 

Amount: $1,000 each to four winners (six winners in December) Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship .

NextStepU Free College Tuition Giveaway

Register. Register. Register. Just make sure you check the eligibility period and select the opt-in option that says “Win Free Tuition” for the sweepstakes. No essay, no minimum GPA—it's the easiest scholarship you'll apply for!

Amount:  $2,500 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: End of February Check out the NextStepU Free College Tuition Giveaway .

No Essay College Scholarship™

This scholarship from Niche has “no essay” right in the name! Admittedly, this one requires a smidge more work than just registering. But logging in monthly for a chance to win every month is a small task for the cash.

Amount:  $2,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the No Essay College Scholarship™ .

Christian College EDGE Scholarship & Christian College Scholarship Drawing

If you’re interested in Christian colleges and universities , do a quick registration on this website for a chance to win $1,000 and learn about great colleges that share your faith. If you end up deciding on a Christian college, for a chance to win even more money, fill out their “Christian College Connector” registration to be entered in their $5,000 giveaway.

Amount: $1,000; $5,000 Awarded:  Annually (both) Deadline: May 31 (both) Check out the EDGE Scholarship and  Christian College Scholarship Drawing .

Ascent Shining Stars Scholarship

Register on Ascent’s website to make an account, follow them on any one of their social media platforms, tag them in a comment with #AscentSponsored, and you’re done. This is a breeze because you’re probably already scrolling through social media anyway.

Amount: $1,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline: First of the month  Check out the  Ascent Scholarship Sweepstakes .

Sallie Mae $2,000 Scholarship Sweepstakes

You’re already throwing out registrations left and right—what’s one more? Both parents and students who are 17 years or older at the time of entry can enter to win this contest every month.

Amount:  $1,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the  Sallie Mae $2,000 Scholarship Sweepstakes .

Barbizon’s $100,000 College Tuition Scholarship

Barbizon Modeling and Acting awards $100,000 to one lucky winner to make their college dreams a reality. Applicants have a full two years to get entries every time the new scholarship cycle opens. The most recent cycle opened in January of 2023 and will be closing in December of 2024, with winners announced sometime the following year. All students have to do to enter is complete the application, and the winner will be chosen by random drawing. 

Amount:  $100,000 Awarded:  Once every four years Deadline:  December 31, 2024 Check out the College Tuition Scholarship .

CampusReel Student-Led Virtual Tours Scholarship

CampusReel is all about encouraging students to get to know schools through campus tours, even if they can't make it to campus in person. Applicants just have to make a free account on CampusReel's website and watch one student-led virtual tour to enter. This easy opportunity is a win-win! 

Amount:  $2,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline:  December 31 Check out the CampusReel Student-Led Virtual Tours Scholarship .

keep going forward No-Essay Scholarships

The organization keepgoingforward.org offers three scholarships throughout the year with no set requirements for grade level or academic field. In fact, one of the scholarships doesn't even require applicants to be current students, as long as they are applying for the money with the intent to move forward with something new in life. And they partner with Bold.org—so if you already have an account, you're one step ahead on applying!

Amount:  $1,500 Awarded:  Annually Deadline:  April 28, August 31, October 30 Check out the keep going forward No-Essay Scholarships .

Use your words (but very few)

We said no essays; we never said no words. But have no fear, because these scholarships require very few words and quick answers to easy questions.

CollegeXpress Monthly Mini Scholarships

We're giving away free scholarship money every month! These scholarship contests are super easy to enter—just create a free CollegeXpress account and answer our featured question in one word or sentence. (We're talking stuff like “What’s your favorite color?” with no wrong answer!) Both new and current users are eligible—all you have to do is log back in with the specified link to enter as a returning user.

Amount: Varies Awarded: Monthly Deadline: Last day of the month Check out our latest  monthly scholarship opportunity .

CollegeXpress Scholarship for Students of Color

If you're a POC student who's planning to enroll in college in the fall, you're eligible for this scholarship. To apply, all you have to do is have a CX account and submit your answer to this question in just one sentence: What is your dream career to pursue after high school? Winners are chosen randomly every quarter of the year, and you get to choose a charity to benefit as well!

Amount: $1,500, plus $500 donated to a charity of your choice Awarded: Quarterly Deadline:  March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31 Check out the  CollegeXpress Scholarship for Students of Color .

10 Words or Less Scholarship

You can swing 10 words. All you have to do is tell them why you think you deserve the scholarship in 10 words or fewer. It’s as easy as posting a Facebook comment (which is exactly how you enter). Leave a comment, give them a like on their Facebook page, and you’re in!

Amount: $1,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: April 15 Check out the  10 Words or Less Scholarship .

School Survey Sweepstakes

Another one that requires a bit of writing, but it’s certainly no essay. You can be entered into Niche’s monthly $1,000 giveaway just by leaving them a review about your high school.

Amount:  $1,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the  School Survey Sweepstakes .

HeadSetPlus.com College Scholarship

This scholarship is great because instead of writing an essay, you just get to talk about yourself. Record a short five-minute video talking about yourself, your achievements, why college is important to you, and what motivates you. As long as you’re authentic, you could be a shoo-in for this one.

Amount:  $1,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: December 31 Check out the HeadSetPlus.com College Scholarship .

Use your creativity

Are you better with visuals than you are with words? Well, these scholarships are looking for that creative energy!

Doodle for Google

This is Google we’re talking about, so you know they’ve got big bucks. Not only is this an opportunity to win $55,000 for school, but the winning doodle will be featured on Google for a day and they will donate $50,000 to your school or a charity in your honor! And even if you don’t win the big money, you still have a chance at one of the $5,000 runner-up scholarships.

Amount: Up to $55,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: March 14, 2024 (Always early-to-mid March) Check out the  Doodle for Google contest .

Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest

If doodling for Google didn’t expend all your creative juices, you can also create a greeting card. Take photographs for it. Design it with artwork. The creative medium is up to you, and the general public votes on the winner in the early rounds, so rally your friends and family to help you with this one.

Amount:  $10,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: March 1, 2024 (Always beginning of March) Check out the  Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest .

DoSomething.org Easy Scholarships

DoSomething doesn’t have just one easy scholarship—they have a ton! Most of them are creative and require you to make some sort of impact on others, whether big or small. Get your task, complete it, and send in a picture for proof for a chance to be their randomly chosen winner! Then rinse and repeat for their other tasks with coordinating scholarships.

Amount:  Up to $22,000 Awarded:  Varies Deadline:  Varies Check out all of  DoSomething.org's easy scholarships .

Answer some questions

Sometimes websites just want people to fill out their surveys, and they’ll give you money for school just to do it. Or maybe the organization wants you to learn about something that they do. Either way, these scholarships just require answering a few questions to enter.

The $1,000 SuperCollege Scholarship

What’s easier than answering questions about yourself? Fill out an application and tell SuperCollege what you’re going to school for and other academic-related questions, hit submit, and you’re done.

Amount:  $1,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out the  $1,000 SuperCollege Scholarship .

Nitro Monthly Scholarship

Nitro is another college search website that gives away annual scholarships to students monthly. Just complete a short entry form with info including which college you’ll be attending and when you anticipate graduating. This application even allows parents to enter for their children. As long as you're 17 years old, you should apply to this one now! 

Amount:  $2,000 Awarded:  Monthly Deadline:  Last day of the month Check out Nitro's Monthly Scholarship .

Student-View Scholarship

This one skips the application process and gets right to the questions. Fill out their survey to get entered into their random drawing. The big winner gets $10,000, and if that’s not you, you could still be one of two $1,000 winners or one of five $500 winners.

Amount: Up to $10,000 Awarded:  Annually Deadline: April 23, 2024 Check out the  Student-View Scholarship .

ScholarshipPoints Scholarship Giveaways

As you complete surveys, play games, and read emails from ScholarshipPoints, you’ll gain points. Use the points to enter their scholarship drawings; the more you have, the better your chances of winning. In addition to the points, you could potentially win their monthly and quarterly random winner giveaways just for being a registered user.

Amount: $10,000; $2,500 Awarded:  Quarterly; monthly Deadline:  June; last day of each month Check out the  $10,000 and $2,500 scholarships .

While this may be a long list of easy no-essay scholarships, there could be even more on the internet that we didn’t find, so keep doing your research (and let us know if we missed any on Twitter @CollegeXpress ). You can also check out our  Ultimate List of Easy Scholarships .

Thirsty for more? Use our Scholarship Search tool  to find other scholarships you’re qualified for!

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About Kelli Dolan

Kelli Dolan is the Senior Assistant Editor & Counselor Communications Coordinator for CollegeXpress. Her day-to-day includes editing and writing CollegeXpress articles, running the CollegeXpress Counselors social media platforms, and basically just doing all things CollegeXpress. When she’s not editing other people’s work, she's writing for fun, favoring fiction stories and poetry. You could also potentially find her reading, playing video games, or hanging out with her dog, Athena; cat, Apollo; and red bearded dragon, Freya.

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Farrah Macci

High School Class of 2016

CollegeXpress has helped me in many ways. For one, online searches are more organized and refined by filtering scholarships through by my personal and academic interests. Due to this, it has made searching for colleges and scholarships significantly less stressful. As a student, life can already get stressful pretty quickly. For me, it’s been helpful to utilize CollegeXpress since it keeps all of my searches and likes together, so I don’t have to branch out on multiple websites just to explore scholarship options.

Casey Kammeyer

$500 Refer-A-Friend Scholarship Winner

I love the site CollegeXpress; it has been very helpful finding colleges and getting them to send me information. It has also been very, very helpful with finding tons of scholarships. Also, I told many of my friends about it and they love it as well!

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My college search began at CollegeXpress. Due to this helpful tool, I was able to gather a lot of information to guide my college planning decisions. Through CollegeXpress, I was also able to apply to several scholarships to help pay for my tuition. I would definitely recommend this website to anyone who wants to explore colleges and get more information from admission experts, counselors, and real students.

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College Reality Check

9 Scholarship Types and 30 Scholarships Nobody Applies For

More than 1.7 million scholarship programs are awarded to eligible students a year. Since you can apply for and receive multiple scholarships at a time, it’s possible to offset a huge chunk of the cost of college or even get a degree for free.

However, you will be competing with millions of students who want to get their hands on scholarships, too.

The good news is that there are less competitive scholarships that get very little to no attention from college-bound kids. Applying for them can significantly increase your chances of winning.

Scholarship programs very few students apply for come from small local organizations, companies and businesses. Many of them also come from personal donations and employers. Non-traditional scholarships are eligible only to certain types of applicants, such as returning students and single mothers.

Most students apply for competitive scholarships because of the big awards involved, ranging anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000 or more. Some of these scholarships will cover the majority of the cost of college.

Unfortunately, your chances of winning prestigious scholarships are very rare. It doesn’t come as a surprise since many dream of getting their hands on those big bucks for college. As a general rule, the more competitive the scholarship and the more students apply for it, the lower the chances of getting it.

Let’s check out some of the hardest scholarships to get and their acceptance rates:

While there are competitive scholarship programs with big cash prizes and low acceptance rates, there are also small scholarships that not a lot of students consider applying for.

30 Most Overlooked Scholarships

If are in a hurry and just need a list, here are thirty scholarships that are often overlooked:

As you can see, some of them can be quite substantial. You can check them on Google, but I suggest you go the extra mile and use your imagination.

Following are the tips you can use to find clusters of scholarships nobody thought to apply for, and therefore you will be ahead of other competitors.

The reasons why not many people apply for them vary: some require too much work, and some are only available for certain people.

But since you are smarter than your peers , I suggest reading the entire article and finding your way of paying for college.

Scholarships Nobody Applies For

Long essay scholarships.

There are many things that students in their junior and senior year of high school have to deal with. One of the things that can consume lots and lots of their resources is applying to various colleges and universities.

It’s also the best time to apply for scholarships — there is no need to figure out which college you will go to before you decide which scholarship program you will apply for. Besides, applying early gives you plenty of time to send applications to as many scholarship-granting organizations or corporations as possible.

Because of the stressful and nerve-racking nature of the last couple of years of high school, many students steer clear of scholarship programs whose requirements can be time- and energy-consuming, such as essays.

Some scholarships require 500-word essays, while others require longer ones.

It’s for this reason why no-essay scholarships tend to attract tons of applicants. On the other hand, those requiring applicants to write long essays, sometimes about very challenging topics, act as repellents against very busy high school students. The longer the essay, the farther students stay away.

Needless to say, if you have plenty of time and also the knack for writing and you want to get your hands on a scholarship grant that not too many students fight over, then sit before your laptop, fire up your favorite word processor, and start composing a winning essay.

Under $1,000

When applying for scholarships, most students look for programs that involve cash prizes amounting to more than $1,000. The bigger the award, the easier college will be on the pocket.

However, as mentioned earlier, it’s not easy to win high-dollar scholarships. Similarly, the majority of them can be stressful to apply for. Because huge sums of money are being given away, their providers want to make sure that only the most deserving will be awarded, and it’s by having rigid eligibility requirements.

If you don’t want to waste your resources trying to win prestigious scholarship awards, then consider applying for those that involve winnings of $1,000 or less. There are a couple of reasons why this is a great idea. First, not a lot of students think about applying for them. Second, there are many providers of these smaller college scholarships.

Many of these scholarship programs award $500 that applicants may win easily. Some examples are:

• Webpop Design scholarship
• Vegetarian Video scholarship
• Nutrition and Internet scholarship
• Band Together scholarship
• Camera Runner Photography scholarship
• Home Cleaning and Organizing scholarship
• Celebrity scholarship

Based on the names of the above-mentioned scholarship programs, it’s safe to assume that having a low GPA or test score should be the least of your worries when applying.

Believe it or not, there are scholarship programs that award $100 or less. It’s rare to hear or read about these financial aid gifts as no one really talks about them — competitive scholarships are the ones that everyone focuses on.

For many students, applying to these small-money scholarships is a complete waste of time.

Since practically no one is interested in these scholarships, those who apply for them enjoy higher chances of being named winners. The cash prize may not be the biggest on the planet alright.

However, $100 is still $100 that doesn’t grow on trees. Anything that can help make going to college easier on the pocket is a big help.

It’s when you apply to an affordable college or university when you will feel the full effects of winning a $100 scholarship. And winning several different ones can cause the cash award to add up.

But just because the providers are giving away small amounts of cash only doesn’t mean that the application will be trouble-free all the time. If the under $100 scholarship involves a long application process that will take up lots of your time and energy, then it’s probably not worth applying for it, as many scholarship-seeking students feel.

Local Scholarships

Many students search far and wide just to get their hands on scholarships. Because of this, they tend to miss the ones right under their noses — local scholarships.

Local scholarships, which are some of the most overlooked scholarships, ranging from $50 to $500.

It doesn’t come as a surprise since they are usually offered by small organizations in the local community. They may have big hearts, but they have small pockets. But that’s okay because, as they say, it’s the thought that counts. Local scholarships are sometimes just enough to pay for one semester’s textbooks or miscellaneous fees.

Some of the local organizations or groups that offer scholarships include:

• Restaurants. Local restaurants and franchises are commonly run and staffed by locals, and some of them love giving back in the form of small-money scholarships.
• Volunteer clubs. It’s not that no one applies for scholarships offered by some local volunteer clubs. It’s just that they are usually awarded to volunteers. This is most especially true for long-standing ones.
• Banks. Since they are financial institutions, it’s not uncommon for local banks to offer scholarships. Many credit unions, despite being non-profit, award scholarships, too.
• Religious groups. Are you a member of a church or congregation? See if you are eligible for a scholarship. Being a member or having the willingness to convert can increase your chances of winning.

Since only small amounts of money are involved, not a lot of students apply for local scholarships, which is to the advantage of those who are on the hunt for financial aids that very few to no applicants are interested in.

Personal Donations

Various questions can pop into the mind of a student thinking about applying for scholarships offered by an individual. Are there strings attached? What if the person dies? Will the school or I get the check?

It’s because of these conundrums why many choose to steer clear of personal donation scholarships.

More often than not, scholarship money is from the pocket of someone who used to be a member of an organization or group and would like to give back to the community by helping students go through college. This is why, typically, a scholarship program is named after a philanthropic person.

Allowing a prospective donor to know that his or her money can spell a difference in your life may be done, too. You can do this by writing a scholarship donation letter. See to it that you remain polite and positive throughout your letter, and remember to make the receiver feel important and needed, too.

By the way, you can come up with a personal donation scholarship named after you. One of the steps you may take is by donating a minimum of $500 to Dollars for Scholars by Scholarship America.

Based in Minnesota, Scholarship America is an organization that awards scholarships to students.

It does so by assisting foundations, corporations, communities and individuals, such as yourself, with raising funds and managing and awarding them to eligible students. Since it was established in 1958, Scholarship America has awarded $4.2 billion to over 2.5 million US students.

Unique Scholarships

Compared to high-profile scholarships, unique scholarships are way less competitive. What’s more, not a lot of students who are serious about earning a degree for less take these financial aid packages seriously.

Due to these reasons, you have higher chances of winning a unique scholarship than a more competitive counterpart. This is most especially true if you are unique enough to be the total embodiment of what the providers of these monetary gifts for college are looking for exactly.

Cash prizes range anywhere from as small as $250 to as high as $2,000.

The program choices come aplenty.

For instance, there’s one that requires applicants to design the best prom dress using nothing but duct tape.

Then there’s another one that requires the applicants to be very tall. As a general rule, the more you can beat other applicants with your uniqueness, the higher your chances of taking home the award.

Besides being a complete standout, most unique scholarship programs also require applicants to submit the usual requirements, such as high school transcripts and school ID.

Non-Traditional Scholarships

Just about anybody who is nothing like the majority of college-bound kids can be considered as a non-traditional student.

If you are one and on the hunt for a way to make earning a college degree as cheap as chips, then consider applying for a non-traditional scholarship offered by corporations, organizations, and even colleges.

A lot of people think that non-traditional students are students enrolled online.

While this is true, a handful of others fit the non-traditional student mold, too. For instance, if you choose to postpone college after getting your high school diploma to get a job or establish a business, you are automatically a non-traditional student when you decide to get admitted into a college.

The same is true if you quit college before completing your chosen program — we will talk more about this in a few, so don’t stop reading now.

A few examples of scholarships perfect for non-traditional students include:

• The American Legion Auxiliary Non-traditional Student Scholarship. Up to $1,000 is awarded annually to non-traditional students enrolled at accredited vocational schools or two- or four-year colleges.
• The Walmart Associate Scholarship. It’s obvious that this non-traditional scholarship is offered by a well-known national retail chain. Awards given range anywhere from $500 to $1,500.
• The Osher Reentry Scholarship Program. Non-traditional students eligible for this financial aid package should be between 25 and 50 years old and have stopped going to college for at least five years.

Did you know that single moms are considered non-traditional students, too?

So, if you have to divide your money between raising a family on your own and getting a degree, you may apply for a non-traditional scholarship exclusive for single women.

Returning Student Scholarships

Unless you were once enrolled at a college or university, you are not eligible for a returning student scholarship. The name of this type of financial aid package says it all — it’s reserved for those who decide to give earning a degree one more chance. So, in other words, applicants fresh out of high school do not qualify for it.

Because only certain types of students apply to returning student scholarships, your chances of being the winner are high. This is most especially true if you meet other eligibility requirements, such as having an acute financial need.

Reasons for dropping out of college come aplenty. Some of the most common ones are:

• Dissatisfaction with the school
• Unsureness of the major
• Unpreparedness for the experience
• Encountering family issues
• Having personal emergencies
• Inability to afford to go to college
• Needing to get a full-time job

Speaking of which, since many returning students already have jobs or built-up savings, not too many of those who go back to school apply for scholarships, in particular the ones intended for returning students. Without the need to compete with a lot of applicants, being the winner is very much likely.

However, the returning student scholarships, which can range anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000, are non-renewable. So, in other words, you will enjoy it, should you win one, for a single academic year only.

Employer-Sponsored

Regardless if you quit college to become employed or are powering through college while maintaining a job, you may be eligible for an employer-sponsored scholarship.

There are a couple of very important things to get this type of financial aid package:

• You need to be employed
• Your employer wants you to finish college

Because not all people who have jobs like to go back to school and not everyone’s employer is handing out scholarships, it’s unlikely that you will have to compete with a lot of applicants just to get your hands on it. However, there is one catch: most of the time, you will have to take a program that’s related to your job or industry.

It’s also important to note that, in many instances, you will have to stay with your employer for some time after earning your degree. This waiting period usually lasts from one to two years. Failure to meet this requirement in exchange for your college could mean paying back the provider of the scholarship!

What’s so nice about employer-sponsored scholarships is that they can be awarded not only to employees. In some cases, they can also be granted to the dependents of eligible employees, such as their spouses and children.

However, to be eligible, employees should have been with the employer for a long time, at least one to three years.

Unclaimed Scholarship Money

It’s true that tons of scholarships are available every year, amounting to more than $7.4 billion.

However, it doesn’t mean that all the winners are able to claim their prizes. Unclaimed money, many assume, is then redistributed for other uses or kept for future scholarship programs by their respective providers.

Many students are on the hunt for unclaimed cash prizes, which some people, after doing some math, believe amount to more than $6 billion just waiting for some college students to get their hands on it.

Alas, unclaimed scholarship money is just a myth.

Its existence, however, tends to reemerge every academic year, especially when every high school student is busy applying to colleges and universities and for scholarships, too. One of the reasons for the myth’s resurfacing year after year is unclaimed Pell Grants, which actually exist because of the failure of students to fill out the FAFSA form on time.

Unclaimed scholarship programs are college financial aids that nobody applies for because it’s not a thing.

There are competitive scholarships many students apply for because of their big awards. Then there are also less competitive scholarships, like the ones mentioned above, that not everyone considers applying for because the cash prizes are not that big — some of them award less than $100 to lucky applicants.

Because what they give away is still money, no matter how small, it’s still a good idea to try applying for them.

Applying for several small scholarships allows you to enjoy bigger chances of winning numerous small awards, which can quickly add up and slash a portion of the cost of going to college.

Read Next: Is QuestBridge Scholarship Legit? Facts and Myths

I graduated with BA in Nursing and $36,000 in student loan debt from the UCF. After a decade in the workforce, I went back to school to obtain my MBA from UMGC.

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Jeff Gitlen, CEPF®, is the director of content operations at LendEDU. He graduated from the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware.

Are you looking for scholarships that are easy to apply for? If so, no essay scholarships may be your answer.

The scholarships below are free forms of student aid and do not require you to submit an essay. Make sure you meet any other eligibility requirements before applying.

4 No Essay Scholarships

Here are four scholarships with no essay requirements for high school and college students.

Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship

• Value: $1,000
• Essay: None
• Deadline: June 30

This Cappex scholarship is offered to all students enrolled in high school or college or those who plan to enroll in the next 12 months. Not only is there no essay requirement, but there is also no minimum GPA requirement either. A winner is selected each month so you can apply more than once.

• Value:   $1,000
• Grade Eligibility:  Enrolled in high school or college or planning to enroll in the next 12 months
• GPA Requirements:  None
• Essay:  None
• Deadline:   August 31, 2020
• You’ll need to create a Cappex account to submit your application

Niche “No Essay” Scholarship

• Value: $2,000
• Deadline: August 31

The Niche “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all high school and college students. You’ll need to create a free account with Niche to apply. Only one application is permitted per household.

• Value:  $2,000
• Grade Eligibility:  High school or college
• Deadline:  August 31
• Must be at least 18 years old or 13 years old and have parent’s or legal guardian’s consent and supervision to use niche.com
• Must currently attend, or plan to enroll within the next 12 months, a high school or college listed on niche.com
• One entry per household

The “No Sweat” Scholarship

• Value: $2,500
• Deadline: September 30

The “No Sweat” Scholarship is an award for $2,500 that can be used for any educational need. Some uses include books, housing, tuition, and more. On top of the no essay requirement, there is also no minimum GPA requirement.

• Value:  $2,500
• Grade Eligibility:  High school students
• Deadline:  September 30
• Create a free Cirkled In account

The $1,000 August Scholarship

• Deadline: August 20

Like their “No Essay” Scholarship, Niche offers another scholarship for $1,000 that does not require an essay to be written to apply. This award is available to all high school and college students and anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next 12 months.

• Value:  $1,000
• Grade Eligibility:  All high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year
• Deadline:  August 20
• Create a free account to apply

Recap of No Essay Scholarships

If you’ve reviewed the scholarships above and are interested in finding additional opportunities, you can check out the guides below:

• College Scholarships
• Scholarships for Low GPA
• Weird Scholarships

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

64 Great Colleges That Don't Require Essays to Apply

College Info , College Essays

If the thought of writing a college essay fills you with terror, you might be wondering: are there any colleges that don't require essays?

The answer is yes, there are! This guide will give you an overview of colleges that don't require admissions essays, how to find these schools, and whether you should apply to one or not. We'll wrap up with a list of 64 colleges with no essay requirement that you can apply to.

Why Do Some Colleges Not Require an Essay?

In general, college essays help schools get a sense of you as a person—beyond your academic record, GPA, and test scores. They give you a chance to clearly articulate your goals and also give admissions officers a better idea of how you'll fit within the school's community. Finally, essays are helpful because they provide schools with concrete evidence of your writing ability.

However, there are many colleges that don't require essays for admissions. What are some reasons why? Let's take a look at the three biggest ones:

#1: Limited Resources

It takes a lot of admissions officers' time and energy to read and evaluate college essays.

At smaller schools with fewer resources, and even at larger schools that enroll tens of thousands of students, the resource costs associated with reading each essay for every single student might outweigh the benefits of getting additional information on applicants beyond GPAs, test scores, and transcripts.

Schools sometimes balance these concerns by requiring essays only for the most competitive programs (usually things such as engineering and nursing) or for scholarships, for which the additional information might be more instrumental in making decisions.

They need to use those limited resources for coffee.

#2: Specific Admissions Cutoffs/Criteria

Many colleges, particularly public schools, admit students based on a type of selection index, which tabulates some combination of GPA, test scores, and/or class rank.

If students meet the minimum index score cutoff, they will be admitted. In this case, the school might simply feel that additional information from an essay isn't necessary for making a decision regarding whether a student will be successful or not.

Selection indices are also often different for in-state and out-of-state students, with the latter being subject to more stringent academic criteria.

In addition, the selection index is sometimes used for scholarships, with students with higher index scores being awarded more money.

Schools with selection indices do often require or recommend college essays for borderline candidates so that students can provide additional information on why they'd be a good fit at the school in spite of not meeting the stated academic criteria.

#3: Make Admissions Process Easy and Appealing

Some colleges hope that by making the admissions process easy and requiring only a transcript, test scores, and basic demographic information, they'll attract a wider variety of applicants.

By presenting their application process as a simple alternative to more intensive processes that require letters of recommendation, essays, and so on, they can attract students who are on the fence about applying to college at all .

They could even potentially motivate highly qualified applicants to use them as one of their safety or match schools because the students won't need to write additional essays or do extra work to apply.

Some applications seem like you just have to click to apply!

How to Find Colleges That Don't Require Essays

There are over 4,000 postsecondary educational institutions in the US, and over 80 of these schools don't require essays for admission.

If you want to know whether a particular school requires an essay for admission, Google "[School Name] freshman admission requirements" or "[School Name] admissions essay." This should pull up pages from the school's official website, with links to guidelines on admission essays.

If, however, you're looking more generally for schools that don't require essays, you can check out our  list of 64 schools below or try one of the following starting places:

Public Universities in Your State

A significant number of public universities don't require essays for admissions.

Even if the major public schools in your state (such as the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign or UCLA) require essays for admission, you might find that the smaller campuses and smaller or more specialized state schools  might not require essays. So be sure to check those out!

You can actually get a pretty robust list of schools in your state by simply Googling "[State Name] colleges." Do this and a list of colleges will appear across the top of your screen. Thanks, Google!

Schools With Automatic Admissions Criteria

A school that has criteria for automatic admission (e.g., if you live in-state and have a particular class rank, GPA, and/or test score profile) might not require applicants who meet the automatic criteria to submit essays with their applications.

However, don't assume that just because you meet automatic admissions criteria that you won't need to write an essay.

At UT Austin, for example, all students must submit an essay , regardless of whether they meet the automatic admissions criteria. Although you could probably write just a straightforward paragraph in the essay section and still get admitted (since you meet the criteria), you'd likely be hurting your scholarship potential, not to mention jeopardizing your chances of being let into your desired major.

Small Private Liberal Arts Institutions

Another group of schools that might not require essays are smaller, private liberal arts institutions. These types of schools often serve a fairly niche market and might simply not get a high enough application volume to need essays to differentiate applicants.

Community Colleges

Local community colleges do not require essays for enrollment, since most allow anyone to enroll. Some even have automatic transfer agreements with local four-year universities. However, if you want to transfer to a particular four-year university after you finish at a community college, you might very well have to write an essay—so you could just be putting off the inevitable!

You can find a lot of no-essay colleges for your basket!

Complete List: 64 Colleges That Don't Require Essays

The following chart contains 64 colleges with no essay requirement, organized by state.  

Note that these are far from the only no-essay college applications —just some of the most notable. Follow our guidelines above for finding additional essay-free colleges.

Should You Apply to a College That Doesn't Require an Essay?

If you're reading this article, you're clearly worried about writing application essays for one reason or another. Maybe you're concerned about having enough time to finish everything. Or maybe you think your writing is terrible.

Here are some reasons to write college essays in spite of your misgivings:

#1: You Want to Apply to the Most Selective Schools

If you're hoping to apply to the most selective schools , you'll almost certainly have to write at least one essay. The most highly ranked no-essay school that I could find was the University of Pittsburgh—a great school. But if you're going for UChicago , MIT , Stanford , or an Ivy League-level school , you'll have to write an essay.

#2: You Want a Scholarship

Even if you do apply to a school that doesn't require an essay, you might still have to write an essay if you want to apply for the most competitive scholarships .

#3: You Have Special Circumstances to Explain

If you have any kind of special circumstance to explain—say, a dip in your grades one year due to a family illness—you definitely want to write about it in an essay. This will help you compensate for any perceived deficits in your academic record and also prevent you from being penalized in the admissions process for the vagaries of life.

There's value in telling your story to the admissions committee.

#4: You're a Good Writer

I'm thinking that most strong writers are going to actively want to write college essays, but just in case: if writing is one of your strengths, definitely write an essay. You want to show off your best qualities to admissions officers, after all! If your primary concern is time, use something like the Common Application so you don't have to write a new essay for every school.

#5: The Essay Prompt Is Short

Some college essays are barely essays at all. Some required essays have just a 250-word limit, and 500 words is pretty standard. For reference, the first section of this article—"Why Do Some Colleges Not Require Essays?"—is about 450 words, including sub-headings. That's not so bad!

#6: You Can Get Help

Although it's important that your college essays are your own work, you're allowed to get help with them! Colleges expect you to put your best foot forward, so if that means discussing ideas with parents and teachers, and having someone else look over your rough drafts and offer suggestions, that's completely fine. You don't have to go at it completely alone.

#7: You Can Reuse an Essay for All Your Schools

For schools that use the Common App , Coalition App , or Universal College App , you can generally use one essay for all your colleges. Some schools might require additional supplemental essays, though, so be sure to look that up in advance to avoid being blindsided later.

So Should I Write an Essay?

If it happens that all the schools you want to apply to don't require essays, then great! But overall, I'd say don't let the fact that a school has one (or even two) essays stop you from applying if you're genuinely interested in going there.

If you find writing essays stressful or if you're time-limited, there's nothing wrong with using some strategies to limit the number of polished essays you need to produce (such as using the Common App) and applying to a mix of essay and no-essay schools.

Key Takeaways: Colleges That Don't Require Essays

There are actually tons of colleges that don't require essays. Here are some common reasons why a college might not require an essay:

• Limited resources—it takes a lot of time and effort to read an essay by each applicant
• They might have certain GPA and/or test score admissions criteria and feel as though the information provided by an essay isn't necessary
• To make it more appealing to students by having an easier application process

So how can you find college applications without essays? Here are some places to start:

• Public schools in your state, especially smaller ones in case the bigger ones do require essays
• Schools with automatic admissions criteria—if you qualify for admission, you might not need to write an essay
• Smaller liberal arts institutions
• Community colleges

When it comes down to it, though, should you apply to colleges with no essay requirement? Here are some reasons you might want to write a college essay, even if you're apprehensive:

• The most selective colleges usually do require essays
• Scholarship applications for particular schools often require essays
• If you have special circumstances to explain, plan on writing an essay
• Strong writers should write essays to put their best foot forward
• Word limits are often very short—think 250-500 words (that's just a few paragraphs!)
• You're allowed (and encouraged) to get help with brainstorming ideas and revising drafts
• If you use an application system that can send applications to multiple schools, such as the Common App, Coalition App, or Universal College App, you might be able to write just one essay for all the schools you're applying to

No essay, no tears!

What's Next?

Need more help looking for colleges? See our step-by-step guide to college research . Also, check out how to decide where to go to college and the difference between a college and a university !

Decided to write an essay after all and need some help? Check out our comprehensive guide to writing a college essay and our guide to writing the "why this college" essay . Be sure to avoid these 10 college essay mistakes , too.

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Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

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Essay Scholarships

When you apply for a scholarship, certain factors like your GPA and test scores are already established and cannot be changed at that moment. Similarly, the strength of your recommendation letters is largely determined by your academic performance and participation up to that point. However, one area you do have control over is the essay you submit with your scholarship application.

Continue reading the article below the scholarship list.

25 Essay Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines

Swing scholarship.

• Amount $2,000
• Deadline July 30, 2024

SWING Scholarship Applicants must complete and submit a SWING Scholarship application; be female; be a woman of color and submit proof of current enrollment status as a full-time student at an accredited institution of higher education (i.e. college, university, or technical institute) for the upcoming school year. This can be a screenshot of your class schedule with your name, date, and a number

Emily’s Light CF Foundation Scholarship

• Amount $3,000
• Deadline July 31, 2024

All applications are reviewed by an independent committee comprised primarily of individuals who knew Emily or are connected with cystic fibrosis treatment or research. Applications are scored on essay answers, achievements in school and extra-curricular activities, and quality of writing. The two top scoring applicants will be notified in late August on their chosen award, with funds sent

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship

Sallie Mae is offering a straightforward monthly scholarship opportunity, awarding $2,000 to eligible entrants. No essays or account sign-ups are required—just a simple scholarship for individuals seeking financial assistance for their education. Scholarship Details Monthly award of $2,000. No essay or account sign-ups needed. Eligibility Criteria Open to individuals seeking financial

Walkin’ Pets Veterinarian & Rehab/Vet Tech Scholarships

• Amount $1,000

Walkin’ Pets is dedicated to providing the best products to serve aging, disabled, and injured pets. Each year Walkin’ Pets sponsors a scholarship program to honor tomorrow’s miracle workers and the future impact they will make in the veterinary community. A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to the doctoral student entering or currently enrolled in veterinary school in the current year. And a

Niche $10,000 "No Essay" Summer Scholarship

• Amount $10,000

Niche is offering this scholarship for high school seniors to win a $10,000 scholarship you can apply toward tuition, housing, books, and any other college expenses. No essay is required, so it is quick and easy to apply! Scholarship Details $10,000 scholarship Apply in minutes No essay requirement Eligibility High school or college students may apply Currently

$25,000 Be Bold No-Essay Scholarship

• Amount $25,000

This is your chance to win the $25,000 "Be Bold" Scholarship, a no-essay scholarship designed for individuals with bold profiles. Designed for students like you, who are pushing yourselves to succeed and educate yourselves, this scholarship celebrates determination and ambition. By joining the platform, you can spotlight your goals, accomplishments, and drive directly to scholarship panels

PACIM Polanie Legacy Scholarship

The Polanie Legacy Scholarship, established in 2014 through a generous bequest from the Polanie Organization, supports studies at a secondary or post-secondary institution, including colleges, universities, technical schools, and vocational schools. All application materials must be submitted by July 31. Applicants must be of Polish descent. Submit a short biographical statement, including a

HUSTLE Hearts Foundation Scholarship

HUSTLE Hearts Foundation Scholarships are awarded in July for the fall semester, and checks will be distributed to the college by August 22nd. Scholarship recipients will be recognized at a special social in December as part of HUSTLE Hearts Foundation. Three scholarships in the amount of $1,000 & $500 will be awarded. Applicants must submit their high school transcript, two letters of

Niche $2,000 No Essay Scholarship

The $2,000 No Essay Scholarship is open to high school student all the way up to, and including, graduate school students. Scholarship Details $2,000 No Essay Scholarship for tuition and any other college-related expenses No essay requirement. Eligibility High school, college or grad school students. Specific criteria can be found in the official scholarship

Annie Ibok Scholarship

The Annie Ibok Scholarship is a one-time award given primarily to underserved students to offset the rising costs of undergraduate studies at Historically Black Colleges & Universities(HBCUs). This scholarship honors the late Mrs. Annie Ibok, a loving wife, mother, and RN from the Bay Area with a deep passion for supporting her community. Eligibility Be a rising college freshman

Adam Charles Ports Foundation Scholarship

• Amount Varies

To be eligible for the ACP Foundation College Scholarship, you must have completed at least one year of training in any style of Martial Arts and be a resident of the State of Ohio or an undergraduate with a permanent address in Ohio. Evaluation criteria will include: Academic Achievements; Leadership Qualities; Extra Curricular Activities; Community Involvement; Martial Arts Accomplishments;

U.S. Naval Intelligence Essay Contest

• Amount $5,000

Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East offer real-world case studies in modern technology applied to enduring conflicts. Militaries around the globe are working to gain insights from these conflicts and apply them to their own situations and national interests. At the same time, U.S. Navy leaders aspire to double down on technological change in the face of meager resources and institutional

We Art Scholarship

• Deadline August 3, 2024

Applicants must submit a short video presenting their talent along with an essay on the topic “Why I’m passionate about my career”. The essay must be 3-5 pages in length with a format 12-point Times New Roman font and Double Space (no single spacing anywhere and no extra spacing anywhere.)Projects must be filmed and posted via social media with our brand tag #WeArtScholar. The video must be 2

Edvisors $2,500 Scholarship

• Amount $2,500
• Deadline August 15, 2024

ScholarshipPoints $2,500 Scholarship ScholarshipPoints awards a $2,500 scholarship every month of the year exclusively to members. There is no essay required. Simply sign up to be automatically entered into the scholarship. ScholarshipPoints will also be awarding three separate $1,000 Scholarships each month. That means we give out over $5,500 in scholarships every single month! Applicant

Essay and Art Contest on Civil and Human Rights

Are you passionate about social change and have a talent for writing or art? We have an exciting opportunity for you! Hindus for Human Rights and Dalit Solidarity Forum are hosting an art and essay contest on the topic of "Which South Asian social justice activist do you admire and why.” Applicants can submit either a piece of art or an essay to demonstrate their creativity. Artwork must consist

GCC Foundation Scholarship

• Deadline August 23, 2024

To be eligible for the GCC Foundation Scholarship, applicants must: be a resident of Guam; be a full-time new or continuing student at Guam Community College; be in good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; and participate as a volunteer for the GCC Foundation’s Par Excellence Golf Tournament. In addition to completing the application, applicants must also submit: an official

Castagra Roofing Scholarship

• Amount $1,500
• Deadline August 30, 2024

Applicants to the Castagra Roofing Scholarship must be pursuing a post-secondary education in college or vocational programs in roofing or a similar field. Similar field must be applicable to the building industry (construction, waterproofing, etc.) Must be passionate about innovation and/or sustainability and be an American or Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Castagra Products, Inc.

Apprentice Ecologist Scholarship

• Deadline August 31, 2024

The Apprentice Ecologist Initiative (officially recognized by the U.S. EPA) has engaged tens of thousands of young volunteers (kids, teens, and college-age youth) from around the world in environmental cleanup and conservation projects since 1999. This program has received multiple awards from the City of Albuquerque, a "Best Community Impact" award from Eastern Kentucky University, and is

Italian American Executives of Transportation Scholarship

To be considered for an IAET Scholarship, the application must be filled out completely. A digital picture, head shot, of at least 800 pixels must be submitted via email. If selected, you must attend the Dinner Dance in November. If selected, you must be willing to stand in respect for our US National Anthem, with hand on heart, as is protocol. If selected, You will dress respectfully for a

Joyce Komperda Athlete Support Fund

The Joyce Komperda Athlete Support Fund fund is intended to provide financial assistance for intermediate, novice and junior-level athletes who demonstrate financial need. Applicants can be singles, pairs or ice dancing competitor at the intermediate through junior levels. A 250-word essay is required as

Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay Contest

The Lincoln Forum Scholarship Essay Contest is held annually, with a new Abraham Lincoln related prompt each year. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students in an American college or university during the spring semester proceeding the deadline for the year the award is offered. Entries must be between 1,500 and 5,000 words. You do not have to be an American citizen, but you do need to

Preventive Measures Legacy Scholarship

PM Legacy Scholarship funds will be awarded to selected applicants. Scholarships are awarded based on academic performance, leadership potential, participation in extracurricular or community activities, letters of recommendation and evaluation of essay submission. Applicants must either be a resident of PA, DC Metropolitan Area or GA (or attending schools there), or they must be attending an

Polonia Institute Historical Scholarship Competition

• Deadline September 1, 2024

The Battle for Rome, also known as the Battle of Monte Cassino, was of primary importance to the Allied effort to defeat the Axis Coalition in World War II. The Monte Cassino Monastery, well-fortified by the Germans, stood in the way of the Allied effort to take over Rome. Eligibility Must be 18 or older on the date of the deadline for application High school senior or older Essay

Utom Conservation Fund Scholarship

The Utom Conservation Fund is managed by a consortium of groups* that are dedicated to protecting the Utom River and its watershed in southern California. 10 grants in the amount of $2,000 will be awarded. Eligibility Open to high school seniors and junior college and undergraduate students Applicant must reside in the Utom River Watershed Special consideration will be given to

NFWL Essay Student Scholarship Contest

• Deadline September 2, 2024

NFWL has a long-standing tradition of supporting young women. Over the years, the scholarship has brought together some of the nation’s leading young scholars for a week of mentorship, learning, and growth. Scholarship winners have gone on to attend top universities, found non-profit organizations, and pursue their dream careers. During NFWL’s Annual Conference, winners spend extensive time with

The scholarship essay is your opportunity to showcase who you are as a student, your unique qualities as well as your passions and interests. Fortunately, there are numerous essay scholarships available. The essay component is not just a formality, it is a chance to write a winning piece that highlights your best qualities. Below, you'll find guidance on how essay scholarships work, where to find them, and tips for crafting an essay that stands out.

What is an essay scholarship?

An essay scholarship is exactly what it sounds like; it is a scholarship that includes an essay component. A lot of scholarships will require at least one essay, but some may ask for two or possibly three.

Topics for essay scholarships can be serious, like describing the most difficult experience you’ve ever had, or light-hearted, like detailing how to survive a zombie apocalypse . Essay scholarships can give students a chance to sway the scholarship committee, even if they don't have the most impressive GPA or standardized test scores.

Even students who don’t like writing should consider applying for scholarships that require an essay because they represent such a large percentage of the scholarships for which they are going to be eligile. If you don’t enjoy writing, you may be tempted to use AI tools to write your essay. You should be aware that the scholarship judges may run your essay through an AI detection tool, which could cause you to be disqualified.

How to apply for an essay scholarship

You can find dozens or even hundreds of essay scholarships through our Scholarship Directory . There are dozens of different kinds of essay scholarships with various requirements. To apply for an essay scholarship, make sure you understand all of the components, not just the essay part. Start working on the application several weeks before it’s due, which should give you enough time to write a thoughtful and convincing essay.

To write a winning essay, read through the prompt and brainstorm all the points you want to make in your piece. Then, outline the essay in a clear format. After the outline is done, you can start writing the essay. Once you have a rough draft, share it with one or two adults you trust. Even if you're a stellar writer, you should still have someone else look at your essay before submitting it. Another person can point out ways to strengthen each draft.

Ideally, you should ask an English teacher, but a high school college counselor, another teacher or perhaps a coach can provide useful guidance. Make sure to give them enough time to read through the piece and provide feedback, preferably a couple of weeks or more. Implement their advice in your next essay. Then, have another person read it to make sure it’s better. If you make any more revisions, ask someone else to read the essay to check for typos and mistakes.

Types of Essay Scholarships

Academic achievement scholarships.

High school students can apply for Academic Achievement Scholarships to get financial support in recognition of their remarkable academic achievements. These scholarships are intended especially for students who have excelled academically throughout their high school careers. As they set out on their journey towards higher education, school students might investigate a number of scholarships that are available.

• The National Merit Scholarship is one such grant given to pupils who perform exceptionally well on the PSAT. Based on their academic performance, students who place in the top percentile are eligible to receive this distinguished grant.
• The Coca-Cola Scholars Program , which honors students for their leadership abilities, academic distinction, and community service, is another noteworthy scholarship. Students pursuing higher education at recognized institutions or universities are eligible to apply for scholarships under this program.
• The Gates Scholarship is a highly competitive award that offers low-income minority school students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement complete financial support. The recipients of this scholarship have proven to be dedicated to community service, have great leadership abilities, and achieve well academically.

Students must complete certain requirements and meet particular criteria in order to be eligible for these scholarships. This could entail submitting recommendation letters, writing an essay, taking part in extracurricular activities, and maintaining a minimal grade point average.

Organizations hope to encourage academic achievement and assist school students in their pursuit of higher education by offering these scholarships. These programs provide high-achieving high school students recognition for their hard work and effort in addition to cash help.

Creative Writing Scholarships

Students who want to work in fiction, poetry, or screenwriting can apply for a number of creative writing scholarships. The Helen McCloy Scholarship from Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is one such award. The purpose of this fellowship is to assist prospective mystery fiction writers who show promise in the field.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and enrolled in an authorized 4-year college or university in the country in order to be eligible for the MWA Helen McCloy Scholarship. They must also be majoring in creative writing, English, or a related subject, be in their junior year or higher, and be really interested in creating mysteries or thrillers. In addition, candidates must submit a statement of intent outlining their writing objectives and why they ought to be given consideration for the scholarship, as well as a sample of their mystery fiction writing.

Additional grants for creative writing are offered by the Janelle Gray Preyer Scholarship, which helps deserving students majoring in creative writing or English, and the Academy of American Poets Prize, which recognizes exceptional undergraduate poets. These scholarships offer young authors who are following their passion for fiction, poetry, and screenplay both cash support and recognition. To improve their chances of getting financing for their artistic endeavors, students who are interested in these scholarships should thoroughly understand the qualifying conditions and scholarship application procedures.

Career-Specific Scholarships

Several career-specific scholarships are available for Indigenous students, single moms, persons of color, undocumented students, and LGBTQIA+ students, according to the background information that was provided. The purpose of these scholarships is to assist members of underrepresented groups who want to work in particular industries.

The Indigenous Education Scholarship is a well-liked choice for Indigenous students. Indigenous students pursuing jobs in a range of disciplines, such as healthcare, teaching, engineering, and more, can apply for this award to receive financial support. For Indigenous students interested in STEM fields, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society also provides a number of scholarships.

Scholarships such as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation Scholarship are beneficial for single mothers who wish to work in particular industries. This fellowship is intended to assist low-income women who want to pursue vocational training or higher education, particularly single mothers.

For persons of color, there are other scholarships tailored to specific careers, including the Gates Millennium Scholars Program. Undergraduate students from minority backgrounds who intend to work in science, mathematics, teaching, engineering, or healthcare are eligible to apply for this prize and move forward with their career goals.

Scholarships like TheDream.US , which give undocumented high school graduates the chance to continue postsecondary education in a variety of subjects, can help undocumented students.

LGBTQIA+ students with a focus on particular professions can look into scholarships such as the Point Foundation Scholarship. LGBTQIA+ students interested in careers in the arts, business, healthcare, STEM, and other fields are supported by this scholarship.

In conclusion, students who identify as LGBTQIA+, Indigenous, single mothers, persons of color, or lack legal status can apply for a range of career-specific awards. The goals of these scholarships are to help underrepresented people succeed financially and to open doors for them to do so.

Field-of-Study Specific Scholarships

Area of study Grants given to both high school and undergraduate students studying a particular field of study are known as specialized scholarships. These scholarships, which offer financial support to people who aspire to succeed in a particular field of interest, are quite pertinent to the subject.

Field-of-study scholarships, in contrast to general scholarships, are designed to meet the particular requirements of students pursuing undergraduate degrees in specific fields including engineering, medicine, the arts, and sciences. These scholarships are intended to foster and develop the abilities of students who are enthusiastic about a particular subject, acknowledging the value of doing so.

It is crucial to remember that field-of-study scholarships could have further requirements in addition to the GPA and essay, including extracurricular activities or certain courses pertaining to the chosen field of study. Scholarships for the arts may require the submission of a portfolio of the applicant's creative work, whereas scholarships for engineering students may require applicants to show competency in math and science.

Students who apply for field-of-study scholarships stand to win recognition for their commitment to and enthusiasm for their chosen field in addition to receiving financial aid for their education. These scholarships help students realize their goals and make a positive impact on their particular sectors by providing a method of advancing their academic and professional aspirations.

Frequently asked questions about essay scholarships

What are the best essay scholarships.

There are many essay scholarships that provide generous rewards with simple-to-understand requirements. The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest awards $10,000 to students who describe political courage using several primary and secondary sources. The essay should be between 700 and 1,000 words, not including citations.

The Umps Care All-Star College Scholarship gives out $5,000 per semester to students attending a four-year institution. To qualify, you must have been adopted at age 13 or later, or have been in foster care since the age of 13. Scholarship winners will also receive support from a Major League Baseball umpire and their family.

How long are essay scholarships?

Word requirements vary wildly depending on the scholarship provider, but are often between 500 and 1,000 words. However, some popular essays may have longer requirements. For example, the Elie Wiesel Prize In Ethics Essay Contest asks for an essay between 3,000 and 4,000 words.

Some scholarships will ask for a certain page length instead of a specific word count. Make sure to read through the word count or page requirements before starting. If an essay has a broad range, try to write closer to the max. Be sure never to exceed the maximum number of pages or words. Some scholarship providers may disqualify you altogether for going over the word count, even if it is only by 5 or 10 words. Follow the instructions to the letter to be on the safe side.

Can I use the same essay for multiple scholarships?

While it’s unlikely that a scholarship provider will find out if you’re reusing an essay, you should not just copy and paste one essay to another scholarship form. Make sure that the old essay fits the current prompt; you may have to make adjustments before submitting. If you’re using a recycled essay, have someone else look at the prompt to see if it still works. You may be able to keep some of the same parts and only have to write a small portion from scratch.

• Best Scholarship Websites of 2023
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• Our Experts' Advice for Choosing the Best Scholarship Websites

Best Scholarship Websites of 2024

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Even the best student loans and other financial aid items don't always provide enough to cover all the costs of college. Scholarships are a great way to bridge the gap, with no obligation to repay the money. Finding scholarships you qualify for can be difficult. But there are several great scholarship websites that can help you do it.

Keep in mind, however, that many colleges deduct private scholarships from the amount of gift aid they provide, reducing how much "free money" you can get from the school. That would effectively negate the work you did in seeking out and applying for private scholarships. Therefore, you should consider looking at schools that offer merit-based scholarships or provide generous packages to students with financial need.

Scholarships.com

Collegeboard, scholarshipowl, compare the best scholarship websites.

We've rounded up the best scholarship websites for students looking to save on the cost of college, with an emphasis on those that provide a wide breadth of opportunities. Most of the sites are free to use. Some offer basic features at no cost, with an option to pay for additional functionality. 

Peterson's 

Our experts for the best scholarship websites.

We consulted scholarship and financial experts to give their insights into finding the best scholarship websites — and when to avoid them altogether.

• Christopher Rim, founder and CEO at Command Education
• Jennifer Ledwith, owner at Scholar Ready
• Neeta Vallab, founder at MeritMore
• Ryan Wangman, former loans reporter at Personal Finance Insider

Best Scholarship Websites FAQs

There isn't a singular website that's the best to apply for scholarships. Instead, consider scholarships.com, Fastweb, Bold.org, Peterson's, College Board, Scholly, GoingMerry, Scholarship Owl, and ProFellow.

Do your due diligence when looking to apply for scholarships you find on aggregation websites. Confirm that the scholarship's sponsor is legitimate by looking at reviews of the company, and check its Better Business Bureau grade, if available. 

Most private scholarships won't completely cover the cost of your education. You're better off looking for merit scholarships from individual colleges that cover your costs completely or filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  to see if you're eligible for a need-based full ride. 

Generally speaking, you shouldn't pay someone to search for scholarships for you, though there are exceptions to every rule. Many scholarship websites are free to use. They only "cost" the time you spend searching on them. 

The timing on when you should start filling out applications for scholarships varies depending on the specific scholarship you're applying for. Some scholarships are even available to high school students, so it's never too early to start your search.

The GPA requirement varies from scholarship to scholarship, but the lowest GPA is usually around 2.0. In general, you'll have a better chance of success with a higher GPA. 

Some of the most common scholarship types include academic scholarships, athletic scholarships, identity-based scholarships, and first-generation student scholarships.

Our Experts' Advice for Choosing the Best Scholarship Websites

What are the advantages of private scholarships versus scholarships or grants from schools.

Neeta Vallab: 

"Honestly, there are very limited advantages to using private scholarships over grants directly from schools. Unlike private scholarships, most grants from schools do not require a separate application and are renewable for four years. Additionally, many colleges will deduct the value of a private scholarship from any award they give you. This is called 'displacement.' And because this practice is so prevalent, it often leaves students with no net financial benefit, despite the effort they invested in submitting an application."

Jennifer Ledwith:

"Unlike scholarships from schools, private scholarships can be used at multiple universities. Furthermore, unlike grants from schools, private scholarships don't have to follow federal or institutional financial aid methodology. Consequently, students can receive private scholarships without regard to other financial aid awards. Furthermore, some private scholarships send the money directly to the student, allowing greater flexibility in using the funds."

Should you always consider scholarships before loans? Are there any scenarios you should pick a loan?

Christopher Rim: 

"No, you should never pick a loan over a scholarship! You always have to pay back loans. Students should bear in mind that they may have their scholarship rescinded if they don't meet the terms and conditions. They should be absolutely sure to read the terms of their scholarship thoroughly to understand the possible consequences if they fail to meet the set conditions."

Ryan Wangman:

"You'll need to repay the money you borrow from any lender, so it's never a good idea to choose a loan over a scholarship, which is money you don't have to pay back. There aren't any scenarios I can think of where it is better to pick a loan than a scholarship. 

How do you know what scholarships you're qualified for?

Rim : 

"Many websites will allow students to filter through their databases to find scholarships they are eligible for. Others ask students to create a profile and then match them based on demographic information. Once students find the scholarships on databases, they should be sure to cross check eligibility requirements on the sponsoring organization's website."

Vallab : 

"Private scholarships will usually have a qualifications section in their description. Some colleges may publish a scholarship grid showing the GPA and test scores required for certain levels of eligibility. Not all merit scholarship information is published however."

What's the best way to track what scholarships you've applied for and are waiting to hear back from?

"Students should keep a spreadsheet to track their scholarship application status."

"Like Jennifer mentioned, a spreadsheet is usually the best way to track application status. Make sure you note how far along you are in each process, as well as any awards you have received — both private and from the schools you've been accepted to.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Young Hispanic Leader Scholarship

Barrios Virgüez’s Young Hispanic Leader Scholarship offers $2,500 in financial assistance to students anticipating or returning to college. This scholarship celebrates students’ successful development of leadership skills alongside their academic success.

Students submitting their scholarship applications for consideration are encouraged to elaborate on the challenges that their time in a leadership position foisted upon them. Barrios Virgüez wants to uphold the efforts of a student who had their abilities, perspective, and/or perseverance challenged while in the service of others.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

The Young Hispanic Leader Scholarship is open to any undergraduate or graduate student who can meet the following criteria:

• You have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• You are enrolled in or accepted at an accredited college, university, or graduate school in the United States
• You agree to the scholarship terms and conditions
• Submit the necessary application materials, including an unofficial transcript and scholarship essay

HOW DO I APPLY?

Please review the eligibility requirements carefully and then craft an essay on the scholarship topic provided below.

Once your essay is complete:

• Fill out the application form
• Upload a copy of your unofficial transcript
• Upload a copy of your scholarship essay
• Submit proof of enrollment/acceptance to an accredited college/ university/ graduate school (Student ID; Letter of acceptance; etc.)

SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY TOPIC

To apply for the scholarship, please share a chapter of your life in which you took on a leadership role (as a basketball captain, volunteering leader, dance group leader, etc.). Write a 1,000-1,500 word essay about your experience, in which you address the following points:

• What were some of the main challenges you faced in your journey, and how did you overcome them?
• Which are the most valuable lessons you learned from this experience?
• And last, but not least, how did the experience influence your educational and/or professional aspirations?

These questions are meant as guiding prompts. We encourage you to elaborate beyond these points in your application.

YOUNG HISPANIC LEADER SCHOLARSHIP

All applicants to this scholarship must meet the eligibility requirements as laid out on the scholarship application page, including:

• Applicant must be enrolled at a college, university, or graduate school
• Applicant must be at least 18 years old at the age of enrollment
• Applicant must have residency in the United States OR proof of work/school authorization
• Applicant must be in good academic standing
• Applicant must submit some personal information, including name, contact information, proof of enrollment
• Applicant must author an original essay on the scholarship essay topic provided
• Applicant must detail their experience in a leadership position and the challenges related to their service in a 1,000 to 1,500-word essay

Anyone who meets the following conditions is NOT eligible to apply:

• Employees or children of employees of the Young Hispanic Leader Scholarship
• Past recipients of the Young Hispanic Leader Scholarship
• Applicants who are unable/unwilling to be interviewed by a representative of Barrios Virgüez if they were to be awarded a scholarship
• Applicants who submit the same essay for multiple scholarships

Sallie Mae "No Essay" Scholarship

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