10 Best Scholarship Websites And Search Engines
Finding the right scholarships can significantly reduce the cost of your education. Discover the best scholarship search engines and websites that offer a wide range of opportunities, including merit-based and need-based awards. With these resources, you can simplify your search and focus on securing financial support to pursue your academic goals.
Scholarships are a way to reduce the cost of education. With increasing tuition fees, using scholarship search engines can help students find opportunities based on financial need, academic achievement, or personal interests. These sites match students with scholarships they are eligible for, making the search easier. While some colleges may reduce financial aid if you receive private scholarships, they are still a great way to get financial support.
Scholarships
Scholarships are a way to fund your education without repayment. While grants are need-based, scholarships are awarded for merit such as academic achievements, athletic skills, artistic talent, or leadership. To qualify for federal grants like the Pell Grant, you must fill out the FAFSA required for many state and school-based grants. In addition to school-specific merit scholarships, private scholarships can be found on search engines. Many scholarships are based on financial need or personal interests, and local organizations like community groups, cultural organizations, and clubs often offer opportunities with less competition.
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10 Best College Scholarship Search Engines
College students can find millions of scholarship opportunities with the help of scholarship search engines. These sites allow students to access various scholarships in one place, making the search easier. But be cautious as some sites may share or sell your information, and you will get unwanted spam emails. The following scholarship sites are known to protect your privacy and offer a lot of opportunities to fund your education.
Scholarships.com
Scholarships.com has a vast database of scholarships and grants worth $19 billion in financial aid. The site uses an algorithm to match you with scholarships based on your profile with criteria like major, athletics, art, ethnicity, GPA, and more. Just create a profile with basic details like your school year, birthdate, ZIP code, and email and the site will auto-suggest relevant scholarships. You can also browse the site’s directory if you prefer.
In addition to scholarships, Scholarships.com offers resources like tips for writing great essays, checklists for college applications, and information about student loans and financial aid. The site also has a college search tool for those still deciding where to apply.
Fastweb
Fastweb is one of the largest scholarship search engines with over 1.5 million opportunities worth more than $3.4 billion in financial aid. Like Scholarships.com, it uses a personalized algorithm to match you with scholarships based on your profile. Once you complete your profile, the site will generate a daily list of scholarships you may be eligible for so you never miss out. All scholarships are vetted by professionals for reliability.
The site helps you track scholarships you’ve applied for, plan to apply to, or skipped. Fastweb also offers college planning, financial aid advice, and internship opportunities. With its vast database and user-friendly tools, Fastweb is a must-have for students looking for big and small scholarships.
ScholarshipOwl
ScholarshipOwl offers both free and paid features. The free version provides basic tools, while premium services like a personal account manager and auto application submissions require a subscription. Using AI ScholarshipOwl helps you improve your chances by providing credibility scores for scholarship providers, auto reapplications, and competition insights.
The premium plan costs $20-$69 a month and includes benefits like college admissions webinars and expert proofreading for a 500-word essay. Additional features include exclusive student discounts, essay support, and auto reapplications for recurring scholarships. The streamlined application process makes it easier to apply and increases your chances of getting financial aid.
Sallie (formerly Scholly)
In July 2023 Sallie Mae acquired Scholly and rebranded it as Scholarship Search by Sallie. Originally featured on Shark Tank, Scholly built a reputation as one of the top scholarship search sites. Now, Scholarship Search by Sallie matches students with scholarships and assigns a score to each, indicating how well the student matches the scholarship’s criteria. The higher the score the better the fit.
One of the major updates with the rebranding is that Sallie Mae made the site completely free for all users. Scholarship Search by Sallie is known for connecting students with lesser-known scholarships, which can give you a competitive advantage as fewer people apply for these opportunities. Although it’s now part of the larger Sallie Mae student loan brand, Scholarship Search by Sallie is still a great tool for students looking for financial aid.
Scholarships360
Founded in 2010 by brothers Will and Brian Geiger, Scholarships360 was created after the founders struggled to find scholarships themselves. The site has a free database of thousands of scholarships that can be filtered by grade level, demographic, and even by ease of application like scholarships that don’t require an essay.
One of the key features of Scholarships360 is that all scholarships are now “ungated” meaning you no longer need to sign up to access scholarship details. This makes it more student-friendly, you can go directly to the scholarship website and apply. You can also use the app to check eligibility and be matched with scholarships you’re most likely to qualify for. With its mission to simplify the process, Scholarships360 helps you apply for verified scholarships from nonprofits and companies so it’s easier to find financial aid for your education.
BigFuture by College Board
BigFuture, created by the College Board, has an extensive database of over 6,000 scholarships. While College Board is known for its entrance exams and AP programs, BigFuture helps you fund your education with valuable resources.
You can create a free account, filter scholarships by criteria like family background, citizenship, or community membership, and narrow your search by career field. The site simplifies the application process, syncs data, and allows reapplications. In addition to scholarships, BigFuture helps estimate family contributions and guides other financial aid options.
Niche
Niche.com is a great tool for finding scholarships and exploring colleges through student reviews. It matches you with scholarships based on your qualifications and offers essay-free options if you don’t want to write. Scholarships are categorized by factors like award popularity, state or major-based aid and minority scholarships.
What sets Niche apart is its incentive to create an account. You automatically enter to win a $2,000 scholarship with no essay required - just basic info like name, birthdate, and school year. The site also allows you to search for colleges by specialty, test scores, student body size, and religious affiliation. With its broad search capabilities and easy-to-use filters, Niche is a free way to find scholarships and explore colleges.
Bold.org
Bold.org is a newer scholarship search platform that allows anyone to create a scholarship, so there are more opportunities for niche awards. While the registration process is a bit longer, it’s worth it to access a wide range of scholarships. The site partners with donors to offer exclusive scholarships, grants, and fellowships. You can search by category like scholarships for nursing students, women, or those from specific regions like Texas. Bold.org also has an option to filter scholarships that don’t require essays to make the application process easier. And the best part is it’s free to use, so it’s a great resource for students.
Peterson’s
Peterson’s is a comprehensive scholarship site with access to over $10 billion in private financial aid. In addition to scholarships, you can find grants, fellowships, forgivable loans, and prizes. To access detailed information you’ll need to create an account which requires basic personal details.
Peterson’s also has resources for graduate students, including test prep for exams like the LSAT and MCAT. It has tools for military members, adult learners, and international students and a College Discovery Center to help you find the right school based on your preferences. With over 1.9 million scholarships, grants, and fellowships listed, Peterson’s is a great resource for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Appily (formerly Cappex)
Appily, formerly Cappex, is a comprehensive site for scholarship searches and college planning. Students can explore schools, understand application processes, and navigate college life. The scholarship section is easy to use - after creating a free account you can filter scholarships by location, ethnicity, and award amount.
Appily personalizes the search by matching opportunities to your profile and demographics, so you find the most relevant scholarships. The site also has student reviews to provide insights into academics, campus culture, and extracurriculars. Whether searching for scholarships or researching schools, Appily simplifies the process.
Your College’s Website
If you’ve already decided on a college, don’t forget to check out their website for scholarships. Many schools offer scholarships specific to their programs, departments, or student organizations. These opportunities are easier to access since fewer students might be aware of them, so you have a better chance of winning.
If you don’t find anything right away, reach out to the school. Contact departments related to your major, the campus career center, or the registrar’s office for more information. They can direct you to scholarships and grants you might be eligible for based on your program or personal background.
Types of Scholarships You Can Apply for
Scholarships are designed to support students from all backgrounds and no matter your area of study, experience, or academic history there’s likely a scholarship for you. Some common types include law school scholarships, pharmacy school scholarships, LGBTQ scholarships, scholarships for women returning to college, and general scholarships for women.
Beyond these, some unexpected and quirky scholarships can provide significant funding. For example, the Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship or the Debt.com Scholarship for Aggressive Scholarship Applicants might sound unusual, but they can offer hundreds or even thousands of dollars in aid. The key is to research and apply for as many scholarships as possible that match your profile. The more scholarships you secure the less you’ll need to borrow, making your college journey more affordable.
Tips for Applying for a Scholarship
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Apply for as many scholarships as you can. The more scholarships you apply for the higher your chances of winning. Don’t overlook small awards as several small scholarships can add up and provide significant financial assistance.
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Get second opinions on your essays. Have a parent, teacher or counselor review your essays for feedback before submitting them.
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Stay organized. Track your scholarship applications, deadlines, and statuses using a spreadsheet.
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Start early and keep looking. Begin searching for scholarships before you need to pay for school and continue looking after high school.
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Use all available resources. Utilize scholarship search engines, and your school’s financial aid office, and ask your counselor for help.
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Don’t hesitate to ask for more tips. Attend local workshops or ask for feedback on your essays from universities or community colleges.
Conclusion
FAQ
Do scholarship search engines include all available scholarship opportunities?
No, scholarship search engines include many opportunities, but not all of them. Many local scholarships for example are exclusive to specific regions or communities and may not be listed on national search platforms. These scholarships are usually available directly through local organizations, schools, or community groups like Rotary or Lions Club. So, make sure to check with your school’s financial aid office and local organizations to see if you’re missing out on these opportunities.
What are the benefits of private scholarships versus school-based scholarships or grants?
Private scholarships offer some flexibility that school-based grants don’t. While school grants are often renewable and don’t require a separate application, private scholarships can be used at multiple universities and aren’t tied to specific institutional or federal financial aid rules. This means students can receive private scholarships in addition to other forms of financial aid without having to worry about them being reduced or “displaced.” Moreover, some private scholarships send funds directly to the student giving them more control over how the money is spent. However, it’s important to note that school-based grants don’t have the same complexities as displacement which can reduce the financial benefit of private awards.
How can I determine which scholarships I’m eligible for?
To find scholarships you’re eligible for many scholarship search engines let you filter results based on criteria like GPA, ethnicity, or field of study. Some platforms even allow you to create a profile and match you with scholarships based on your demographic information. After identifying potential scholarships always cross-check eligibility details on the sponsoring organization’s website to ensure you meet all requirements. For private scholarships qualification information is usually provided in the description. Some colleges also have a scholarship grid that outlines the GPA and test scores required for different awards but not all merit scholarships have this publicly available information.
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