Many scholarships have age limits, leaving non-traditional college students (over 25 years of age) out of luck. However, there are still many scholarships out there that have no age requirements, or are specifically open to non-traditional college students.

Rising Stars Scholarship
Sponsor: Jeffery Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: September 7, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to current undergraduate students who can demonstrate they have increased their GPA by at least one point from semester to semester. Applicant must submit an essay on the following prompt: “What steps did you take to increase your grade point average? Describe the challenges you faced and the efforts you made to improve your academic performance. What lessons did you learn during this time, and how do you expect to use the skills you have gained in your future career?”

Love Your Career Scholarship
Sponsor: JonesTshirts.com
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: September 10, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to current college students. Applicant must submit an essay describing at least three steps that they plan to take in the next year to start a path towards having a career that they love.

ASF Translation Awards
Sponsor: American-Scandinavian Foundation
Amount: Up to $2,500
Closing Date: September 15, 2026
Description: Applicant must submit an outstanding English translation of poetry, fiction, drama or literary prose originally writing in a Nordic language.

Be the Boss Scholarship
Sponsor: Go Skills
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: September 15, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to female high school and college students who want to start their own online business.

Birth Injury Survivor Scholarship
Sponsor: Distasio Law Firm
Amount: $2,500.00
Closing Date: September 15, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to current college students who has a birth injury diagnosis.

Catching the Dream Scholarship
Sponsor: Catching the Dream
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: September 15, 2026
Description: Applicant must be 1/4 or more degree American Indian and be an enrolled member of a U.S. tribe. Applicant must be attending or planning on attending a college or university within the U.S. on a full-time basis that is fully accredited.

Financial Education PSA Scholarship
Sponsor: High Rise Financial
Amount: $1,500.00
Closing Date: September 15, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to current undergraduate and graduate students in the United States. Applicant must create a PSA on a topic related to financial literacy.

NursingColleges.com Scholarship
Sponsor: NursingColleges.com
Amount: $2,500.00
Closing Date: September 15, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to any student in a U.S. based accredited nursing degree program who has attended the university for at least one semester (and will continue to do so in the fall).

Trust Fund Higher Education Scholarship
Sponsor: Delaware Tribe of Indians
Amount: Up to $3,200
Closing Date: September 15, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to Delaware Tribal members attending college. Applicant must have at least a 2.7 GPA in the last semester they attended.

Justice for All Scholarship
Sponsor: The Bettersworth Law Firm
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: September 16, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students pursuing a career in the legal profession, law enforcement, or are pursuing a degree in pre-law or government. Applicant must submit an essay on the following prompt: “Why do you want to enter this profession? Please make sure to include how your life has been impacted by a member of the legal community.”

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.

San Diego Press Club Scholarships
Sponsor: San Diego Press Club
Amount: Up to $2,500
Closing Date: September 20, 2026
Description: Scholarships are open to students enrolled in San Diego County universities and community colleges OR permanent residents of San Diego County attending college elsewhere. Applicant must have an intent to pursue a career in journalism.

AEF Scholarships
Sponsor: Acorn Equality Fund
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: September 25, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students who will retain permanent residence in the AEF service area of downstate Illinois and attend any accredited, post-secondary educational institution. Scholarships are designed to provide academic financial support for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered students, allies, or the children of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered parents.

Anders Tjellstrom Scholarship
Sponsor: Cochlear
Amount: $2,000 – renewable for up to four years, assuming the scholarship recipient maintains a 2.5 GPA or better.
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students who will be enrolled in college during the current academic year who have a Baha® device.

Because College is Expensive Scholarship
Sponsor: Cedar Education Lending
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school students, adults looking to head back to school, current college students, and anyone looking to attend college or graduate school within 12 months. Applicant must submit a short form.

Building Bridges Scholarship
Sponsor: National Parent Volunteer Association
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school juniors and seniors, as well as undergraduate and graduate students. Applicant must have at least a 2.5 GPA and have a commitment to volunteering and making a difference in their communities.

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.

Courage to Grow Scholarship
Sponsor: Courage To Grow
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to juniors and seniors in high school and college students with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applicant must explain in 250 words or less why they believe they should be awarded the scholarship.

Creative Biolabs Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Creative Biolabs
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students worldwide who are current undergraduate or graduate students studying in a science related field. Applicant must have a cumulative average grade of a B (3.0 GPA).

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.

FACT Scholarship
Sponsor: Federation of American Consumers and Travelers (FACT)
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and incoming and current college students. Scholarship is only open to FACT members and their immediate family members.

Graeme Clark Scholarship
Sponsor: Cochlear
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students attending college during the current school year who have a Nucleus Cochlear Implant.

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.

Illustrators of the Future Contest
Sponsor: L. Ron Hubbard Library
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Contest is open to new and amateur artists who have not been professionally published and paid for more than three black-and-white story illustrations, or more than one process-color painting, in media distributed broadly to the general public.

Keep Your Chin Up Scholarship
Sponsor: GK Legacy Foundation
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to Arizona residents who are 25 years of age or older who are pursuing their Associates, Bachelor’s Degree, vocational training, or certification.

Naval and Maritime Photo Contest
Sponsor: U.S. Naval Institute
Amount: Up to $500
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to amateur and professional photographers. Applicant must submit an original photo that can cover any subject and should pertain to the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, or the sea itself.

NDGDA Scholarship
Sponsor: ND Grade Dealers Association
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students enrolled in agricultural curriculums at North Dakota institutions of higher learning, particularly for those students pursuing careers in grain marketing, agronomy and related agribusiness.

Plan for College Sweepstakes
Sponsor: SallieMae
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are of the age of majority in the jurisdiction in which they reside and who are students, parents, guidance counselors, or financial aid officers at the time of entry. Applicant must complete an online registration form.

R2C Scholarship
Sponsor: Return2College
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens and legal residents who are starting a program of higher education (college or graduate school) within the next 12 months or are currently enrolled. Applicant must be 17 years of age or older (there is no maximum age limit). Applicant must share in three sentences of less why they are getting their degree.

Richard E. Merwin Student Scholarship
Sponsor: The IEEE Computer Society
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to graduate students and those in their final two years of an undergraduate program in electrical or computer engineering, computer science, or a well-defined computer related field of engineering who are active members of a student branch or chapter.

Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship
Sponsor: Access Scholarships
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school, college, and graduate school students of all years who are U.S. residents, DACA and undocumented students, or international students currently studying in the U.S.

Structures of Hospitality Excellence (SOHE) Scholarship
Sponsor: NEWH
Amount: Up to $20,000
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to actively enrolled 4-year sophomores/second year students and above, as well as graduate level students with at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicant must be majoring in architecture, construction management, civil or environmental engineering, or project management with a career objective in the hospitality industry.

Fight Against Domestic Violence Scholarship
Sponsor: Attorney John T. Fields Family Law Attorney
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: October 5, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university. The student must have been impacted by domestic violence that was committed against them or a family member, or they must have a substantial interest in providing solutions to prevent domestic violence in the United States.

Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship
Sponsor: John Foy & Associates
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students who have been affected by leukemia, either by being diagnosed themselves or someone they loved being diagnosed with leukemia. Applicant must be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university as an undergraduate or is an incoming freshmen at an accredited institution in the United States.

NEWH Atlanta Chapter Scholarship
Sponsor: NEWH: The Hospitality Industry Network – Atlanta Chapter
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: October 16, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students attending an accredited college in Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina or Alabama. Applicant must have completed at least half the requirements for a degree and must be pursuing a career objective in the Hospitality industry (Hotel/Restaurant management, Culinary, Food Service, Architecture, Design, etc).

Etta Gray Memorial Scholarship Program
Sponsor: UNCF | The William Hipp Family
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: October 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to current students who have a permanent residence in Upstate South Carolina and are pursuing a technical certification (i.e. Computer Technology, PC Programming, and Networking) at specific technical colleges in Upstate, South Carolina.

CareerFitter Online Scholarship
Sponsor: CareerFitter
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students. Applicant must take a free career test and submit an essay on their perfect career.

Chemistry Scholarship
Sponsor: BOC Sciences
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students enrolled as an undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. students majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical technology, or other chemistry-related sciences.

Safety on the Road Scholarship
Sponsor: Lone Star Injury Attorneys
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and current undergraduate and graduate students in the United States who have at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicant must submit an essay discussing their idea for improving road safety and the potential results of their proposed change.

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.

HBCU Connect Minority Scholarship Program
Sponsor: HBCUConnect.com
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: December 1, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to minority students who are incoming or current college students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Technology Scholarship
Sponsor: Attorney Marketing Network
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: December 15, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to current undergraduate students who are studying computer science, mathematics, science or engineering and have at least a 3.0 GPA.

NEWH Green Voice Design Competition
Sponsor: Amtrend, Culp Hospitality, Florida Seating, Posh Textiles, and Royal Thai
Amount: $7,500.00
Closing Date: January 31, 2027
Description: Contest is open to undergraduate and graduate Hospitality Interior Design or Architecture students who are junior level or above. Applicant must have at least $7,500 in current/upcoming debt through college for tuition and program approved books/supplies. Applicant must showcase their design skills while utilizing the very best in sustainable design products and practices.