High school sophomores are thinking 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 sophomores.

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.”

Breakthrough Junior Challenge
Sponsor: Breakthrough Prize Foundation
Amount: Up to $250,000
Closing Date: September 15, 2026
Description: Competition is open to students between the ages of 13 and 18 years of age. Applicant must explain a big scientific idea in physics, life sciences or mathematics with a short video two minutes maximum).

Innovation in Education Scholarship
Sponsor: LaTutors
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: September 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.

Ethical Torch Essay Scholarship
Sponsor: BBB Pacific Southwest
Amount: Up to $1,500
Closing Date: September 27, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students in grade 9-12 (graduating classes of 2027-2030) residing and enrolled in school in Orange County (California). Applicant must submit an essay on a ethical issue that they faced and how they handled it.

College JumpStart Scholarship
Sponsor: The College JumpStart Scholarship Fund
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students in 10th through 12th grades, college students, and non-traditional students. Applicant must submit a short essay on their educational goals or how these scholarship will help them attain their goals.

Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship
Sponsor: Digital Responsibility
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
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.

I Can Do Anything Scholarship
Sponsor: The Scholarship Collective
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school, undergraduate, graduate, community college, trade and vocational school students in the United States who are enrolled or planning to enroll in college. In less than 100 words, applicant must share their biggest goal in life.

No Sweat Scholarship
Sponsor: Cirkled In
Amount: $2,500.00
Closing Date: September 30, 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 Circkled in account.

Scholarship Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Live Poets Society of New Jersey
Amount: Up to $500
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to all U.S. high school students. Applicant must submit an original poem with 20 lines or less.

Shout It Out Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $1,500.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students 14 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 in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education in the future. Applicant will need to submit a short response to a given prompt.

Ethical Torch Essay Scholarship
Sponsor: BBB Pacific Southwest
Amount: Up to $1,500
Closing Date: October 11, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students in grade 9-12 (graduating classes of 2027-2030) residing and enrolled in school in Greater Arizona. Applicant must submit an essay on a ethical issue that they faced and how they handled it.

$1,500 Easy Scholarship: Offline Mode
Sponsor: DoSomething
Amount: $1,500.00
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: No post, comment, or like is worth risking a life. Distracted driving claimed 3,208 lives in 2024, and you chose to Do Something about it! Share your story about why you chose to take the Offline Mode pledge, help your friends stay in #OfflineMode by sharing the pledge and toolkit, and show your community what it looks like to keep eyes on the road, and not on your feed. Submit your impact, and share why you took the offline Mode pledge and what going offline means to you. You’ll be eligible for the opportunity to earn up to a $1,500 scholarship.

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.

Tommy Tranchin Award
Sponsor: The Dallas Foundation
Amount: Up to $3,000
Closing Date: December 31, 2026
Description: Award is open to North Texas students in grades 8-12 who have a physical, emotional, or intellectual disability.

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.