23 Scholarships You Can Apply For Once In College

Scholarships are amazing monetary gifts awarded to students for a variety of reasons. They help you pay tuition for schools that you would otherwise be unable to afford because let’s face it: college tuition is not cheap. Despite their many benefits, the process of applying for college scholarships can be complicated, and the deadlines for applying for scholarships are often not entirely clear. For these reasons, it’s easy to miss the deadlines for submitting applications, and it’s even easier to misunderstand whether or not you qualify for specific scholarships.

One common misconception is that you can only apply for scholarships before you’re an undergraduate student. While some scholarships are exclusive to high school juniors and seniors, here is a list of 23 scholarships you can apply for as an undergraduate or graduate student once in college!

1. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program

Applicants must be current college sophomores or recent graduates from a two-year institution with a 3.5 GPA or higher. The amount awarded per recipient is up to $40,000.

2. Davidson Fellows Award

Applicants must submit an original essay in the field of science, technology, mathematics, music, literature, philosophy, or a combination of these disciplines, and the essay must be considered “outside the box.” The amount awarded per recipient ranges between $10,000 and $50,000.

3. Nitro College Student Scholarship

Applicants must submit a personal statement, and all winners will be drawn at random. The amount awarded per recipient is $2,000.

4. Dell Scholars Program

Applicants must have a 2.4 GPA or higher and be in financial need. Eligible applicants must have participated in an eligible college readiness program during their junior and senior years of high school. One recipient is chosen each year, and the total amount awarded is $20,000.

5. Texas Law Dog Animal Rescue Scholarship

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher as well as personal experience with rescued animals. One recipient is chosen each year, and the total amount awarded is $1,000.

6. Columbia College of Missouri Transfer Achievement Scholarship

Applicants must be undergraduate students with a 3.0 GPA or higher who are planning to transfer to Columbia College of Missouri with seven or more transferable credits. The amount awarded per recipient is $8,000.

7. Outstanding Citizen Scholarship

Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to community service and citizenry as well as maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher. One recipient is chosen each year, and the total amount awarded is $1,000.

8. Collegiate Inventors Competition

Applicants must enter an innovative competition as either an individual competitor or with a group of no more than four competitors. All finalists will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., and all winners will be awarded cash prizes ranging from $1,500 to $15,000.

9. St. Mary’s College of California Transfer Scholarship

Applicants must be accepted as transfer students to Saint Mary’s College of California with 30 or more transferable academic semester units and a 3.25 GPA or higher. The amount awarded per recipient is up to $8,000.

10. AfterCollege Business Student Scholarship

Applicants must be majoring in a business field, such as accounting, advertising, business administration, economics, finance, human resources, international relations, management, political science, or public relations. The amount awarded per recipient is $500.

11. Rapid Formations Entrepreneur Scholarship Program

Applicants must submit an original 800-word essay detailing their entrepreneurial goals and plans. One recipient is chosen each year, and the total amount awarded is $750.

12. ScholarshipOwl’s You Deserve It Scholarship

Applicants are entered into a drawing, and a winner is chosen at random. One recipient is chosen each year, and the total amount awarded is $1,000.

13. Clubs of America Scholarship Award for Career Success

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and submit an essay detailing their passion for the career and educational path they are pursuing. One recipient is chosen each year, and the total amount awarded is $1,000.

14. Goldberg & Osborne Arizona “Don’t Text and Drive” Scholarship

Applicants must be attending a college in Arizona and pledge not to text and drive. One recipient is chosen each year, and the total amount awarded is $1,000.

15. CouragetoGrow.com Scholarship

Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA or higher and submit a 250-word essay on an assigned topic topic. The amount awarded per recipient is $500.

16. NGPA Scholarship

Applicants must be enrolled in aviation-focused program and prove evidence of their contributions to the LGBTQ community. One recipient is chosen each year, and the total amount awarded is between $1,000 and $7,000.

17. Greg Baumgartner Annual Scholarship

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and be in financial difficulty. One recipient is chosen per year, and the total amount awarded is $1,000.

18. Strong Roots Scholarship & Essay Contest

Applicants with a 3.0 GPA or higher must submit an essay and be interested in community building. One recipient is chosen per year, and the total amount awarded is $500.

19. Niche Monthly Scholarship

Applicants are entered into a monthly drawing, and a winner is chosen at random. One recipient is chosen each month, and the total amount awarded is $2,000.

20. Course Hero August Sweepstakes

Applicants who share their personal study documents are entered into a drawing, and a winner is chosen at random. One recipient is chosen per year, and the total amount awarded is $4,000.

21. AFSA Second Chance Scholarship

Applicants must read an essay about automatic fire sprinklers and take an online test. The amount awarded per recipient is $1,000.

22. Walmart Associate Scholarship

Applicants must have been employed by Walmart for at least six months prior to the application deadline and must be in financial difficulty. The amount awarded per recipient ranges from $500 to $3,000 depending on the college type, number of credit hours completed, and type of degree or certificate being pursued.

23. Right to Privacy Scholarship

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and submit a 750-word essay. One recipient is chosen per year, and the total amount awarded is $1,000.