Elementary school children may not know where they want to go to college or what they want to study, but thinking about paying for college can be intimidating for their parents. Below are scholarships and contests for students in elementary school.

Book Your Summer Scholarship
Sponsor: Utah Educational Savings Plan
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: July 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to Utah residents with valid U.S. social security numbers who are 18 years of age or younger. Student must participate in the 2026 summer reading program at their local public library.

Candace Freeland Photography of Merit Award
Sponsor: The Mitford Museum & Discovery Center
Amount: Up to $750
Closing Date: September 1, 2026
Description: Award is open to U.S. photographers aged 8-22. Photographers are invited to submit black-and-white and color photos captured on a cell phone, based on the theme Food and Family.

Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
Sponsor: From the Top
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: September 1, 2026
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 2026-2027 academic year. This is the first deadline. Deadline II is November 9, 2026.

Youth Free Expression Film Contest: Documenting Our Democracy
Sponsor: National Coalition Against Censorship
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: September 9, 2026
Description: Contest is open to individuals living in the U.S. or its territories (but need not be citizens) who will be age 19 or younger on the day the film is submitted. Contestant must create a three minute film on this year’s theme: “Documenting Our Democracy.”

Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
Sponsor: From the Top
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: November 9, 2026
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 2026-2027 academic year.

Fields of Corn Photo Contest
Sponsor: National Corn Growers Association
Amount: Up to $500
Closing Date: November 17, 2026
Description: Contest is open to legal residents of the United States. Applicant must submit a photo that helps tell the story of farming field corn in America.

Paradigm Challenge
Sponsor: Project Paradigm
Amount: Up to $100,000
Closing Date: May 1, 2027
Description: Challenge is open to students aged 4 to 18 years of age worldwide. Applicants may work in a team or alone to use kindness, creativity, and collaboration to help solve real-life problems.