Scholarships That Matter
No sweepstakes. No spam. Just real national scholarships your student can win — based on merit, need, and potential.
You don’t need a 4.0 or a perfect test score to get help paying for college. Some of these scholarships are highly competitive — others are more forgiving. We’ll tell you the difference.
Looking for even more savings? Check out our comprehensive college specific hub(covering 200+ colleges) as well as our State aid guides, covering all 50 states plus Washington D.C.📚 Every scholarship below links to a full breakdown: who wins, what they’re really looking for, how to apply, and what most families miss. If you’re serious about scholarships, don’t stop at the table — click through.
🏅 National Merit-Based Scholarships
These national scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, leadership, or standout achievement — not financial need.
| Scholarship | Amount | Deadline | Priority | Competitiveness | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coca-Cola Scholars Program | $20,000 (non-renewable) | Oct 2, 2025 | 🔥 High | 🔵 Nationwide – 150 awarded | 👥 | 📈 |
| Equitable Excellence Scholarship | $2,500–$20,000 | Dec 2025 | ⭐ Moderate | 🔺 Broad eligibility | 👥 | 🌟 |
| Elks Most Valuable Student | Up to $50,000 | Nov 2025 | ⭐ Moderate | 🔶 High – 500+ winners | 📈 |
| Heisman High School Scholarship | $1,000–$10,000 | Oct 2025 | ⭐ Moderate | 🔺 Moderate – school nomination | 👥 | 📈 | 🏃 |
| National Merit (Commended/Semi/Finalist) | Varies by college | Fall of senior year | 🎓 College-linked | 🔶 Based on PSAT percentile | 📈 |
| GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship | $10,000/year | Jan 2026 | 🔥 High | 🔵 Very competitive – 10–20 awarded | 👥 | 📈 |
| Coolidge Scholarship | Full Ride (any U.S. college) | Feb (Junior Year) | 🔥 High | 🔵 Extremely competitive | 📈 | 👥 |
| Stamps Scholarship | Full Tuition + Enrichment | Varies by school | 🔥 High | 🔶 Competitive – college nomination or application | 📈 | 👥 |
| Amazon Future Engineer | $10,000/year + internship | Jan 2026 | 🔥 High | 🔵 400+ awarded – CS majors | 🧠 | 🌟 |
| Davidson Fellows Scholarship | $10,000–$50,000 | Feb 2026 | 🔥 High | 🔵 Extremely competitive | 📈 | 🧠 |
| Burger King Scholars | $1,000–$50,000 | Dec 2025 | ⭐ Moderate | 🔺 Broad eligibility | 🌟 | 📈 | 🙌 |
What if your kid isn’t a straight-A student?
That’s okay too. You don’t have to win Coca-Cola or have a 4.0 to get money for college.
Explore real options for average students »
💰 National Need-Based Scholarships
These programs are designed to support students from lower-income backgrounds, many of whom are first-generation or underrepresented.
| Scholarship | Amount | Deadline | Priority | Competitiveness | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Kent Cooke Foundation | Up to $55,000/year | Nov 2025 | 🔥 High | 🔵 < 100 winners | 💰 | 🌟 |
| Horatio Alger Scholarship | $10,000–$25,000 | Oct 2025 | 🔥 High | 🔶 State-level selection | 💰 | 🌟 |
| The Gates Scholarship | Full COA | Sept 2025 | 🔥 High | 🔵 300 winners | 💰 | 🌍 |
| Cameron Impact Scholarship | Full Ride | Sept 2025 | 🔥 High | 🔵 10–15 awarded | 📈 | 👥 |
| Dell Scholars Program | $20,000 + support | Dec 2025 | ⭐ Moderate | 🔺 Pell-eligible focus | 💰 | 🌟 |
| QuestBridge National College Match | Full Ride | Sept 2025 | 🔥 High | 🔶 Competitive – partner colleges | 💰 | 🌟 | 🌍 |
| UNCF Scholarships | Varies | Rolling | ⭐ Moderate | 🔶 African American students | 💰 | 🌍 |
| Ron Brown Scholar Program | $40,000 | Jan 2026 | 🔥 High | 🔵 Very competitive | 💰 | 🌟 | 🌍 |
Looking for scholarships tied to where you live or where your kid is applying?