High school freshman are starting to think about college. They may not know where they want to attend or what they want to study, but they know they are going to college. But, how will they pay for it? Here are scholarships open to high school freshmen.

Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards
Sponsor: Helen Diller Family Foundation
Amount: Up to $36,000
Closing Date: January 8, 2026
Description: Award is open to Jewish teens who are between the ages of 13 and 19 at the time of nomination. Student must have demonstrated impressive leadership and are actively engaged in community service projects that embody the value of tikkun olam (repair of the world).

Profile in Courage Essay Contest
Sponsor: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: January 12, 2026
Description: Contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to an act of political courage.

AFS Global STEM Academies Scholarship
Sponsor: AFS
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: January 14, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to financially challenged students who want to study abroad and gain the intercultural skills needed to succeed in a global economy. Applicants must be planning to study abroad in Brazil or India. Applicant must be a high school student (graduates and graduating seniors are not eligible) who possess academic and career interest in science, technology, engineering, math or other field important to the energy industry.

BMI Student Composer Awards
Sponsor: BMI Foundation, Inc.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: January 15, 2026
Description: Award is open to citizens of a country in the Western Hemisphere who is engaged in the study of music with a recognized and established teacher (other than a relative). Applicant must be 27 years of age or younger as of the submission deadline. Applicant must submit one composition.

Leaders Save Lives Scholarship Program
Sponsor: American Red Cross
Amount: Up to $2,500
Closing Date: January 15, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to all high school and college students. Applicant must host an American Red Cross blood drive between December 15, 2025 and January 15, 2026.

C-SPAN’s StudentCam Documentary Competition
Sponsor: C-SPAN
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: January 20, 2026
Description: Competition is open to students in grades 6-12. Student must create a short documentary video on the following theme: “America’s 250th Anniversary” Exploring the American Story through the Declaration of Independence”

Fred J. Epstein Youth Achievement Award
Sponsor: Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: January 20, 2026
Description: Award recognizes the strengths and accomplishments of young people with learning disabilities and ADHD. Award is open to a student 19 years old or younger who has demonstrated initiative, talent and determination resulting in a notable accomplishment in any field, including art, music, science, math, athletics, or community service.

Innovation in Education Scholarship
Sponsor: LaTutors
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: January 20, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students currently enrolled in high school or college within the United States with at least 3.0 GPA. Applicant must be a citizen of, permanent resident, or hold a valid student visa in the United States or Canada. Applicant must have designed an innovative project that makes a difference in the lives of others and submit an essay describing the goal of the particular project and provide supporting documentation.

Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship
Sponsor: Digital Responsibility
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: January 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to current high school and college students. Applicant must submit a short statement about technology addiction.

$2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
Sponsor: Niche
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: January 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school, college, and graduate students and those planning to enroll within 12 months. Applicant must be a legal resident of the United States or an international student with a valid visa. Applicant must log in to Niche or create a free account to apply for the scholarship.

Appily Easy College Money Scholarship
Sponsor: Appily
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: January 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who will be attending college in the future. Applicant must create a Appily profile (if they don’t have one already), share about their extracurricular, leadership, and volunteer activities, and then search Appily for scholarships.

School Survey Sweepstakes
Sponsor: Niche
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: January 31, 2026
Description: Sweepstakes is open to current high school students, high school alumni who graduated within the last four years, and the parents of those students or alumni. Individual must take a survey on a United States high school.

Civics Challenge
Sponsor: Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: February 27, 2026
Description: Challenge is open to U.S. students in middle school and high school. Applicant must submit a video, original song, or written essay on one of the following topics: 1. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; 2. American 250: Which Founding Father inspires you the most and why?; 3. Legislative Branch; 4. Executive Branch; 5. Judicial Branch; 6. Citizenship; Rights & Responsibilities.

$250 Easy Scholarship: Ripple Effect
Sponsor: DoSomething
Amount: $250.00
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Most of the pollution impacting our waterways originates in our very own communities, due to improper trash disposal. And, 80% of our litter can actually be found on our coastlines. When trash isn’t disposed of correctly, it can be carried by rainwater into storm drains and eventually into rivers, lakes, and oceans, where it pollutes water, harms wildlife, and disrupts ecosystems. By creating and submitting your very own Ripple Effect PSA, you’ll become eligible for the opportunity to earn a $250 scholarship.

$500 Easy Scholarship: Street Sweep
Sponsor: DoSomething
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: When trash and pollutants, like plastic bags, food wrappers, cigarette butts, and other discarded items are left on streets or in public areas, they often get washed into storm drains during rain. Participate by organizing a Street Sweep event with your own Sweep Squad, or join a community cleanup hosted by other DoSomething members, to collectively remove trash before it enters our waterways. By participating in Street Sweep, you’ll earn 10 volunteer credit hours and become eligible for the opportunity to earn a $500 scholarship.

No Sweat Scholarship
Sponsor: Cirkled In
Amount: $2,500.00
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the United States or the District of Columbia. Applicant must create a free Cirkled in account.

Scholarship Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Live Poets Society of New Jersey
Amount: Up to $500
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to all U.S. high school students. Applicant must submit an original poem with 20 lines or less.

All Star Verified Scholarship
Sponsor: Verified Scholarships
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: April 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school, college, graduate, adult students, and parents of high school and college students. Applicant must fill out a short form and answer the following question: “What is the best or worst part about finding or applying to scholarships?”

Humans of Dementia Scholarship
Sponsor: Hilarity for Charity (HFC)
Amount: $1,500
Closing Date: May 1, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school and college students in the United States and Canada. Applicant must submit a written profile or photo essay featuring someone currently living with or who has passed away from Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia.

Catholic College Scholarship
Sponsor: Catholic College Info
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: May 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who plan on attending a Catholic college or university.

Protestant Faith Based College Scholarship Drawing
Sponsor: FaithBasedCollege
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: May 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship drawing is open to students 13 years of age or older who will request Faith Based college or university information, as well as those planning or considering attending a Faith Based college or university are eligible for the drawing.

$500 High School Freshman Scholarship
Sponsor: Niche
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: June 1, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to legal residents of the United States or international students with a valid visa who are high school freshmen in the Class of 2029.

Huntington’s College Scholarship Sweepstakes
Sponsor: Huntington Learning Center
Amount: $4,000.00
Closing Date: June 30, 2026
Description: Sweepstakes is open to high school students and their parents or guardians who are legal residents of the United States.

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
Sponsor: Gen and Kelly Tanabe
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: July 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students in grades 9-12, college, or graduate school students who are legal U.S. residents. Applicant must submit an essay answering why they deserve the scholarship or their academic or career goals.

Apprentice Ecologist Initiative Youth Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Nicodemus Wilderness Project
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: August 31, 2026
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.