Are you looking for high school first-year scholarships? There are numerous scholarships for high school students transitioning from middle school to continue their academic journey. These scholarships come from different sources, including educational institutions, private organizations, foundations, and community groups. The aim is to provide financial support to cover tuition costs, fees, textbooks, and other educational expenses, helping students pursue their academic goals and ease the financial burden on their families.
High School First-Year Scholarships
Browse the list of scholarships below.
ExpressVPN Future of Privacy Scholarship
Sponsor: ExpressVPN
Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: Annual in August
Description: Scholarship is open to students enrolled in a high school, undergraduate school, or graduate school located in the United States. There is no age or citizenship requirement. Applicant must submit an essay on one of three given topics related to privacy.
Make Me Laugh Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Annually in August
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia who are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2024) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicants will need to submit a short response to a given prompt.
Scholarship Detective Launch Scholarship
Sponsor: Scholarship Detective
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Annually in May
Description: Scholarship is open to high school and college students who are permanent residents of the United States. Applicant must fill out a short online application and share in 140 characters or less how they will use the scholarship.
We the Future Contest
Sponsor: Constituting America
Amount: Varied based on class standing
Deadline: Annually in September
Description: Contest is open to K-12 students, college students, law school students, graduate schools students, adults 25 years of age and older, and seniors 65 years of age and older. Each age group has different requirements, so applicants should visit the website for details.
Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship
Sponsor: Digital Responsibility
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Annually in September
Description: Scholarship is open to high school students in grades 9-12 and current college or graduate school students. Applicant must complete a short form and share a 140-character statement explaining why they will not text and drive.
Scholarship Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Live Poets Society of New Jersey
Amount: Up to $500
Deadline: Annually in September
Description: Scholarship is open to all U.S. high school students. Applicant must submit an original poem with 20 lines or less.
Scholarships.com $500 InstaScholarship
Sponsor: Scholarships.com
Amount: $500
Deadline: Annually in September
Description: Contest is open to all U.S. citizens who are either currently enrolled in high school and plan to attend a U.S. Department of Education accredited institution of higher education or are currently enrolled in a U.S. Department of Education accredited institution of higher learning. Applicant must share a post/pic of their top priorities for this upcoming school year and tag @scholdotcom and use #InstaScholarship on Instagram.
Shout It Out Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Annually in September
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2022) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicants will need to submit a short response to a given prompt.
Student-Athlete Scholarship
Sponsor: CaptainU
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Varies
Description: Scholarship is open to student athletes in high school and community college who plan to attend a four-year college. Applicant must fill out an athlete profile at CaptainU, add five (or more) colleges to their college list and a few other easy steps.
Writer’s Square Essay Contest
Sponsor: Hakka Foundation
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: Varies
Description: Scholarship is open to all enrolled students from first grade to college. Applicant must write an essay on how they can make the world a better place.
Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
Sponsor: From the Top
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: Rolling Admissions
Description: Award is open to classical instrumentalists, vocalists, and composers between the ages of 8 and 18 who have not yet entered college during the 2016-2017 academic year.
Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Annually in October
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia who are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2022) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicants will need to submit a short response to a given prompt.
Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition
Sponsor: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
Amount: Up to $30,000
Deadline: Annually in October
Description: Program is open to students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions. Applicant must submit a 3-5 minute essay on this year’s theme; “MY Responsibility to America.”
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Education Matters Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Annually in November
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia who are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2022) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicants will need to submit a short response to a given prompt.
Americanism Essay Contest
Sponsor: Fleet Reserve Association (FRA)
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: Annually in December
Description: Contest is open to students in grades seven through 12 (or equivalent). Applicant must be sponsored by a branch of the Fleet Reserve Association or a unit of the Ladies Auxiliary. Applicant must submit an essay on the theme, “What Memorial Day Means to Me.”
College Scholarship
Sponsor: Lamber & Goodnow Injury Law Team
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Annually in December
Description: Scholarships are open to students enrolled at an accredited high school, college, or university with a 2.8 GPA or higher. Applicant must submit an essay on how they are driven to innovate.
Rubincam Youth Award
Sponsor: National Genealogical Society
Amount: Up to $500
Deadline: Annually in December
Description: Award is open to students in grades 7 through 12. Applicants must submit a genealogical project.
Apprentice Ecologist Initiative Youth Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Nicodemus Wilderness Project
Amount: Up to $500
Deadline: Annually in December
Description: Scholarships are open to students between the ages of 13 and 21 who are candidates for a degree/diploma at a primary (middle school), secondary (high school), or accredited post-secondary educational institution from any country around the world. Applicant must conduct their own environmental stewardship project in 2016.
Poetry Card Contest
Sponsor: Blue Mountain Arts
Amount: Up to $300
Deadline: Annually in June
Description: Contestant must submit an original poem.
Top Ten List Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Annually in December
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia who are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2022) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicant will need to submit a short response to a given prompt.
Unigo Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Annually in December
Description: Applicant must be at least 13 years of age or older, a legal resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, and be currently enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2022) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education.
ABPA Harrington-Arthur Memorial Scholarship
Sponsor: American Backflow Prevention Association
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Annually in January
Description: Scholarship is open to all persons of high school age (at least 13 and no older than age 19 as of December 31, 2016) who are legal residents of the United States or Canada. Applicant must submit an essay on a topic related to safe drinking water.
Leaders Save Lives Scholarship Program
Sponsor: American Red Cross
Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: Summer & Winter dates annually
Description: Scholarship is open to all high school and college students.
Girls Impact the World Film Festival Scholarship
Sponsor: Connecther
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: Annually in January
Description: Scholarship is open to high school and college students under the age of 25. Applicant must submit a 3-6 minute short film that raises awareness about critical issues affecting women and girls around the world OR propose solutions to critical challenges faced by women.
Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship
Sponsor: Digital Responsibility
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Annually in January
Description: Scholarship is open to current high school and college students. Applicant must submit a short statement about technology addiction.
I Have a Dream Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Annually in January
Description: Applicant must be 13 years of age or older, be a resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, and be currently enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicant must submit a short essay (250 words or less) about a dream.
Sweet & Simple Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Annually in February
Description: Applicant must be 13 years of age or older, be a resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, and be currently enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2023) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicant must submit a short written response about a gift they received.
NSF Peer Tutoring Scholarship Competition
Sponsor: National Scholar Foundation, Inc.
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: Annually in March
Description: Scholarship is open to non-paid student tutors in middle and high school. Applicant must submit a 500-word essay on a given topic to peer tutoring.
Dexter All-American Team Scholarship
Sponsor: U.S. Bowling Congress
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Annually in March
Description: Scholarship is open to female high school students who are nominated. Applicant must have a USBC high school membership.
Average to Extraordinary Scholarship
Sponsor: Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Annually in March
Description: Scholarship is open to high school students from Texas. Applicant must share an experience that has changed her of her life, entrepreneurial goals, and their passions.
Superpower Scholarships
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Annually in March
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia who are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2023) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. In a short written response, students must explain which superhero or villain they would want to changes places with for a day and why.
E-waste Scholarship
Sponsor: Digital Responsibility
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Annually in April
Description: Scholarship is open to high school students and current or entering college or graduate students at any level. Applicant must answer in 140-characters or less “the most important reason to care about e-waste is…”
Fifth Month Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Annually in May
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia who are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2023) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicants will need to submit a short response to a given prompt.
Average to Extraordinary Scholarship
Sponsor: Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Annually in June
Description: Scholarship is open to high school students from Texas. Applicant must share an experience that has changed her of her life, entrepreneurial goals, and their passions.
Digital Privacy Scholarship
Sponsor: Digital Responsibility
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: June 30, 2017
Description: Scholarship is open to current high school, college, and graduate school students. Homeschoolled students are also eligible. Applicant must complete a short form and finish the following statement in 140-characters or less: “I’m taking responsibility for my digital profile by…”
Do-Over Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Annually in June
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2023) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicants will need to submit a short response to a given prompt.
Flavor of the Month Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Annually in June
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia who are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2023) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicants will need to submit a short response to a given prompt.