Scholarships for high school students.
National awards worth applying for, plus Georgia’s state money. Each one lists who qualifies, when it usually closes and whether it is worth the hours.
32 opportunities, 32 free · Links and programs checked October 18, 2026 · By Lokesh Pampatti, founder of Clarity Prep
The biggest money for most students isn’t on a list like this. It comes from the colleges themselves, through need-based aid and merit scholarships, so a smart college list matters more than fifty small applications.
Outside scholarships still add up. Start with the ones that fit you closely: your state, your intended major, your family’s employer, or a community group you belong to. Smaller local awards have far fewer applicants than national ones.
32 of 32 shown
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Amazon
Scholarship and internship for students pursuing computer science.
Our take: $40,000 over four years plus a guaranteed paid Amazon internship after freshman year. For low-income seniors planning to major in CS or engineering.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Cameron Impact Scholarship
Bryan Cameron Education Foundation
Full-tuition merit scholarship for seniors with a record of leadership and service.
Our take: Full four-year merit scholarship, 10–15 recipients, no income requirement. Almost nobody knows about the May junior-year window.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Coca-Cola Scholars Program
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Achievement-based scholarship for seniors with a leadership and service record.
Our take: Atlanta-based, $20,000, 150 scholars from about 100,000 applicants. The first-round form is short, so the odds are bad but the cost of trying is low.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
College Prep Scholars Program
QuestBridge
Junior-year program for high-achieving, low-income students, feeding into the National College Match.
Our take: For low-income juniors. Winning gets you essay coaching, campus visits, and a leg up in the National College Match senior year.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
College Scholarship Program
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
One of the largest need-based merit scholarships in the country.
Our take: Up to $55,000 a year for high-achieving seniors with financial need (family income roughly under $95,000). Comes with advising through college.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Coolidge Scholarship
Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation
Full-tuition merit scholarship awarded to juniors, usable anywhere.
Our take: Full ride to any U.S. college, applied for as a junior. A handful of winners a year; the finalist and senator tiers are also real distinctions.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Davidson Institute
Scholarships for students 18 and under who have completed a significant piece of work in their field.
Our take: $10,000 to $50,000 for a significant completed project. Only worth it if you have graduate-level work; if you do, few things read better.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Dell Scholars Program
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
Scholarship with wraparound support for low-income students in college-readiness programs.
Our take: $20,000 plus a laptop, textbook credits, and support staff through graduation. You must be in an approved college-readiness program (AVID, Upward Bound, etc.) and Pell-eligible.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Emory Scholars Program
Emory University
Merit scholarship program at Emory, with an early application requirement.
Our take: Full and partial merit scholarships at Emory. You have to apply by mid-November, which is earlier than Regular Decision.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
U.S. Department of Education FAFSA
U.S. Department of Education
The federal financial aid application.
Our take: Not a scholarship, the door to all of them: Pell Grants, work-study, HOPE, and most institutional aid depend on it. File it the week it opens.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Foundation Fellowship
University of Georgia
UGA's premier undergraduate scholarship, with the Bernard Ramsey Honors Scholarship as the second tier.
Our take: UGA's top scholarship: full cost, funded travel and research, about 25 a year. For Georgia students it is one of the best deals in the country. Requires the separate application.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships
Georgia Student Finance Commission
Georgia's lottery-funded merit scholarships for in-state tuition.
Our take: Georgia pays most (HOPE, 3.0 GPA) or all (Zell Miller, 3.7 GPA plus a 1200 SAT or 25 ACT) of tuition at public colleges. The most money most Georgia students will ever get for the least paperwork.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Horatio Alger Scholarship
Horatio Alger Association
National and state scholarships up to $25,000 for students who have overcome adversity.
Our take: For students who have faced real adversity and have financial need (household income under about $55,000). Junior-year deadline in late October; many eligible students never hear of it.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Jackie Robinson Foundation
Four-year scholarship and leadership development for minority students.
Our take: Up to $35,000 over four years plus intensive mentoring for minority seniors with financial need. The support program is the real prize.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Jefferson Scholarship
University of Virginia
UVA's flagship merit scholarship, by school nomination.
Our take: Full cost at UVA plus enrichment. Nomination comes from your high school, so the ask has to happen early.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Morehead-Cain Scholarship
UNC Chapel Hill
Full four-year scholarship with summer enrichment at UNC.
Our take: The first merit scholarship in the country and still one of the best: full cost plus four funded summers. Out-of-state students can be nominated.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
National College Match
QuestBridge
Binding early match to 50+ top colleges with full scholarships.
Our take: For low-income seniors: rank up to 15 partner colleges and, if matched, get a full four-year scholarship with an early-decision commitment. Late September deadline.
ScholarshipFreePSAT/NMSQT at your school
National Merit Scholarship Program
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
Recognition and scholarships based on junior-year PSAT scores.
Our take: Semifinalist (top ~1% in your state) is a line every reader recognizes, and Finalist unlocks big automatic scholarships at many universities. The only prep is the PSAT.
ScholarshipFreePosse cities including Atlanta
Posse Scholarship
The Posse Foundation
Full-tuition leadership scholarship for students from Posse cities, who attend partner colleges in groups.
Our take: Full tuition at a partner college, going as a cohort of ten with training and support. Atlanta is a Posse city; ask your counselor about nomination before September.
ScholarshipFreeParticipating Georgia school systems
Georgia Student Finance Commission REACH Georgia
Georgia Student Finance Commission
Mentoring plus a renewable scholarship for eligible Georgia students, starting in 8th grade.
Our take: Georgia's needs-based program: a mentor and a coach through high school, then a $10,000 scholarship. Selection happens in 8th grade, so this is for younger siblings and middle schoolers.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Robertson Scholars Leadership Program
Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill
Joint Duke–UNC full scholarship and leadership program.
Our take: Full ride at Duke or UNC with three funded summers and access to both campuses. Separate application in November.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Ron Brown Scholar Program
Ron Brown Scholar Fund
Scholarship and leadership program for African American high school seniors.
Our take: $40,000 over four years for Black seniors, plus a lifelong network. Small class, strong alumni community.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Stamps Scholarship
Stamps Scholars Program (partner universities)
Full-cost merit scholarships at 30+ partner universities.
Our take: Full ride plus enrichment funds at partner universities, which include Georgia Tech and UGA. At most partners there is no separate form; you have to apply early.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
The Gates Scholarship
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Last-dollar scholarship covering the full cost of college for high-achieving, low-income minority students.
Our take: Full cost of attendance for 300 Pell-eligible minority seniors a year. Mid-September deadline; start the essays in summer.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Equitable Excellence Scholarship
Equitable Foundation
Scholarship for seniors who have made a difference in their community.
Our take: $5,000 or $25,000 for community impact. It closes after a fixed number of applications, so early beats good.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation
Renewable $40,000 scholarship for seniors who demonstrate leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship.
Our take: $10,000 a year for four years, about 40 recipients. Leadership and character essays; a strong fit for student-government types.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
HSF Scholar Program
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Scholarships and support for students of Hispanic heritage.
Our take: $500 to $5,000, thousands of awards a year, and the Scholar designation comes with conferences and career support.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Live Más Scholarship
Taco Bell Foundation
Video-based scholarship for ages 16–26.
Our take: A two-minute video about your passion, no grades or essays. $5,000 to $25,000; unusual because it rewards students the traditional forms miss.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Most Valuable Student Scholarship
Elks National Foundation
Large national scholarship competition run through local Elks lodges.
Our take: 500 awards from $1,000 to $50,000 a year, judged on need, leadership, and scholarship. Real money with a mid-November deadline.
ScholarshipFreeLocal post → state → national
National High School Oratorical Contest
The American Legion
Constitutional oratory competition with scholarships at every level.
Our take: A prepared speech on the Constitution plus an assigned topic. Local rounds are small; state champions win real scholarships and go to nationals.
ScholarshipFreeLocal VFW post → state → national
Voice of Democracy
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Audio-essay scholarship competition open to grades 9–12.
Our take: A recorded 3–5 minute essay. Local posts often get few entries, so the first rounds are very winnable; the national winner gets $35,000.
ScholarshipFreeOnline
Burger King Scholars
Burger King Foundation
Thousands of small scholarships for seniors, employees, and their families.
Our take: Mostly $1,000 awards, a huge applicant pool, and a quick form. Worth thirty minutes, not more.
“Helps an application” is our read on how much an admissions reader is likely to weigh it: Strong means getting in or placing is a real achievement, Solid means it shows real interest and effort, and Light usually means most students who apply and pay can attend. It’s our opinion, not a ranking from any college, and a light one can still be a great summer.
Questions
When should high school students apply for scholarships?
Senior fall is the busiest time: many national scholarships close between September and January. Some close at the very start of senior year (the Gates Scholarship and QuestBridge in September, Coca-Cola around October 1), so juniors should plan ahead.
Can juniors apply for scholarships?
A few, but most outside scholarships are for seniors. Juniors can take the PSAT for National Merit and line up recommendations and essays so senior fall is easier.
Are no-essay scholarships worth it?
They take minutes, so they don’t hurt, but they are drawings with huge applicant pools. Your time is better spent on scholarships that fit you closely and on college merit aid.
Want a list picked for you?
Clarity Prep members get opportunities matched to their grade, interests and state in the app, plus a mentor who helps them decide what’s worth applying to and checks in every week until the applications are in.
Free tools: GPA calculator · chances calculator · college acceptance rates · essay grader
Every program here is real and links to its own official site. Dates, costs and rules change every year, so check the official page before you apply. Deadlines are shown as the months they usually close. Spot something out of date? Email sessions@joinclarityprep.com.