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Top 15 Scholarships for High School Students 2024 – 2025

The web is full of lists of high school scholarships, but unfortunately, most of them are outdated. So we, at Brighterly, are gathering 15 of the best up-to-date programs that your child can apply for in 2024 and 2025.

How can you get a scholarship in high school?

You can get a scholarship in high school based on your achievements. Many organizations, schools, and private foundations offer scholarships for high school students to help them with tuition or future college expenses. Start by checking with your school counselor and researching local and national opportunities to find the right fit.

When should high school students start applying for scholarships?

High school students should start applying for scholarships as early as their freshman year. Early research is the key to successfully meeting all deadlines and maximizing your chances. There are still a lot of scholarships for high school seniors.  But it’s better to start as early as possible.

The best scholarships for high school students

• Learning Beyond Borders Scholarship
• Scholarship Blurb LA Tutors
• BigFuture Scholarships
• Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship
• Taco Bell Más Scholarship
• Niche $50,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

Scholarship for high school students #1: Learning Beyond Borders Scholarship

Age Group: 18-30-year-old students who decide to get a higher education in the US

Learning Beyond Borders: The 2nd Ling Scholarship 2024

Scholarship Learning Beyond Borders opportunities for high schoolers

This scholarship is mostly aimed at supporting students pursuing study abroad programs, particularly in non-English-speaking countries, with financial aid and lifetime access to language learning. It provides students who want to get a high-quality education in the US with $1,000 for the first-place winner and $500 for the second-place winner, regardless of citizenship. Applicants must submit a personal statement and meet specific eligibility requirements.

Eligibility

• Enrolled in a 4-year college or 1-2 year Master’s program in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Vietnam, China, or Germany
• Accepted into a study abroad program for this or next semester
• All GPAs, majors, minors, and nationalities welcome
• Preference for those studying in non-English speaking countries (not required)

Deadline

The deadline for the Spring 2025 scholarship is December 15, 2024  

Scholarship for high school students #2: Scholarship Blurb LA Tutors

Age Group: High school and college students

Monthly scholarships for creative students

Scholarship Blurb LA Tutors opportunities for high schoolers

The LA Tutors Innovation is one of the free scholarships for high school students that offers $500 awards to creators of innovative projects that positively impact others. It can be fundraisers, mobile apps, or even blogs.

Students may reapply each month, making it a flexible opportunity for motivated students to showcase their work throughout the year.

Eligibility

• Open to US/Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or student visa holders.
• Current high school and college students.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0.

Deadline

Applications are due 11:59 pm PST on the 20th of each month, with winners announced shortly afterward.

Scholarship for high school students #3: BigFuture Scholarships

Age Group: High school juniors and seniors

One of the biggest high school student scholarships that don’t require GPA or citizenship requirements

Scholarship BigFuture Scholarship Blurb opportunities for high schoolers

It’s one of the scholarships for senior high school students that encourages teenagers to plan their education beforehand. It awards monthly prizes ranging from $500 to $40,000 to students who complete simple steps, such as practicing for the SAT or completing a FAFSA form.

Additional entries are given to students from lower-income families, doubling their chances of winning. It’s one of those scholarships for high schoolers, where awards are not based on essays, grades, or financial need, making it accessible to a wide range of students. 

Eligibility

• US high school juniors or seniors.
• Must attend a high school in the US or any other US territories, or DoDEA school.
• Students planning to pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree.

Deadline

February 28, 2025.

Scholarship for high school students #4: Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship

Age group: High school seniors in the United States

One of the most highly paid scholarship programs for high school students

Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship opportunities for high schoolers

The Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship is known as one of the most prestigious scholarships for high school students. The overall awards fund is more than $2.5 million with 500 winners. Awards range from $1,000 to $7,500 annually. The top 20 finalists receive $30,000 scholarships, and the remaining 480 winners earn $4,000 scholarships over four years.

Applicants are judged through a rigorous process that includes local, state, and national evaluations. Winners of national awards are invited to a Leadership Weekend in Chicago, showcasing their achievements and networking with peers.

Eligibility

• Open to US high school seniors who are citizens.
• Applicants must pursue a four-year undergraduate degree at a US college or university.
• No Elk family membership required.

Deadline

The application deadline for the 2025 scholarship has already passed, but students can prepare for the next year. The approximate deadline for the next Elk Most Valuable Students Scholarship is November 16, 2025. 

Scholarship for high school students #4: Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship

Age Group: 16-26-year-olds

One of the best scholarships for high schoolers from nationwide foodchains

Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship opportunities for high schoolers

The Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship supports passionate students by awarding up to $25,000 for educational pursuits. It doesn’t require GPA or essay submissions, emphasizing creativity and authenticity. The applicants just need to film a 2-minute video where they show their thirst for knowledge and how they want to change the world. The scholarship funds for each winner range from $5,000 to $25,000.

Eligibility

• Open to US citizens and permanent residents.
• High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, college students, and graduate students are eligible.
• The applicant must be aged 16–26.

Deadline

January 8, 2025

Scholarship for high school students #5: Niche’s $50,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

Age Group: High school and college students

The scholarship with the easiest application process

Niche $50,000 “No Essay” Scholarship opportunities for high schoolers

It’s one of the easiest currently available scholarships for high school students since applicants just need to create a Niche profile and fill it with their basic academic and personal details. The winner is selected randomly, making this an accessible opportunity for all students, regardless of academic achievements or financial background.

Eligibility

• Open to US citizens or individuals with valid US student visas.
• High school students, college students, or those planning to enroll in college within a year can apply.
• Only one entry per person is allowed.

Deadline

December 31, 2024

$500 scholarships for high school seniors

• Niche’s $500 High School Senior Scholarship
• “Scholar Dollars” Essay
• Stephens, Anderson & Cummings
• Courage to Grow Scholarship

Scholarship for high school students #1: Niche’s $500 High School Senior Scholarship

Age Group: High school seniors

No-essay scholarship open to all senior high school students

Scholarship Niche’s $500 High School Senior opportunities for high schoolers

The $500 High School Senior Scholarship from Niche is a no-essay opportunity open to high school seniors nationwide. This scholarship can be used for educational expenses, such as test prep or tuition, and winners are chosen via random drawing. Just like any Niche scholarship, it has only one winner. 

Eligibility

• Open to high school seniors in the Class of 2024.
• No GPA, essay, or recommendation required.
• Nationwide eligibility.

Deadline

June 1, 2025

Scholarship for high school students #2: “Scholar Dollars” Essay for Black Students

Age Group: High school seniors, college and graduate students

One of the essay scholarships for high school students to support kids from Black communities

Scholarship “Scholar Dollars” Essay opportunities for high schoolers

This scholarship is offered by Scholarships360 as financial aid for Black students. All they need to do is to write a persuasive essay about their education journey and why they need this scholarship. The winner will be selected based on the essay’s quality and the volume of applications made on the Scholarships360 platform.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents.
• Open to African American students.
• Applicable to high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students.

Deadline

January 31, 2025

Scholarship for high school students #3: Stephens, Anderson & Cummings 

Age Group: High school students

Local scholarship for Tarrant County students

Scholarship Stephens, Anderson & Cummings opportunities for high schoolers

If you are from Tarrant County and ask the web, “Where are scholarships near me for high school students?”, it’s your chance to get financial aid. Applicants must submit an essay of 500 to 1,500 words on how their childhood experiences influenced their decision to pursue further education.

Eligibility

• High school seniors in Tarrant County, Texas
• Submission of a 500-1,500 word essay

Deadline

The 2025 Scholarship has already passed, but you can get prepared for a 25-26 academic year with a deadline of November 30, 2025

Scholarship for high school students #4: Courage to Grow 

Age Group: High school juniors, seniors, and college students

One of the easiest scholarship competitions for high school students

Scholarship Courage to Grow opportunities for high schoolers

To apply for this scholarship, students must submit a 250-word essay where they describe a life experience that has impacted their growth, demonstrating how it shaped their career aspirations.

Winners are chosen based on the quality of their essay content, grammar, and authenticity. Each month, one student is selected to receive the scholarship.

Eligibility

• Open to all high school and college students
• GPA 2.5

Deadline

Students need to send their essays by the end of the current month.

Top 5 college scholarships for high school seniors

• Beluga Tale Writing Scholarship
• Washington State Leadership 1000
• Ted and Holly Robins Scholarship
• Jet Future Business Leaders Scholarship
• McDonald’s HACER Scholarship 2025

College scholarship for high school students #1: Beluga Tale Writing Scholarship

Age Group: High school seniors

Unleash the inner creativity of your child with the Beluga Tale Writing Scholarship

Beluga Tale Writing Scholarship opportunities for high schoolers

The Beluga Tale Writing Scholarship offers two awards for students with a demonstrated passion for writing in both fiction and non-fiction categories. Each winner can receive up to $3,000.

Students can apply for one or both categories to increase their chances. While they do not provide full scholarships for high school students, they still give away substantial amounts of money to help students. It’s ideal for those pursuing higher education in creative writing or related fields.

Eligibility

• Current-year graduating senior from a high school in Homer Foundation’s service area 
• Open to high school seniors and students planning to attend college.

Deadline

February 19, 2025

College scholarship for high school students #2: Washington State Leadership 1000 

Age Group: High school seniors

Highly-paid scholarship for Washington state residents

College scholarship Washington State Leadership 1000 opportunities for high schoolers

The scholarship offers up to $5,000 per year for eligible students, with the opportunity for renewal. It supports students who want to study in the state of Washington and have a financial need to achieve their dreams.

Eligibility

• US citizens or legal residents.
• Demonstrates financial need (typically Pell Grant eligible).

Deadline

Students should apply before November 30, 2025, for the 2026 application cycle.

College scholarship for high school students #3: Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship

Age Group: High school seniors

Let your child share their path to resilience to win the scholarship

College scholarship Ted & Holly Rollins opportunities for high schoolers

The Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship provides financial support to high school seniors who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming life obstacles and still aim at academic success.  It offers a one-time award of up to $5,000 to the winner.

Applicants are required to submit an essay sharing their life story, the field of study they intend to pursue, and their plans for making a positive impact on the world. The scholarship is need-based and recognizes students who have excelled academically despite facing significant adversity. 

Eligibility

• High school senior
• US citizen or resident
• Overcame significant adversity
• Demonstrated financial need

Deadline

The high school scholarship application deadline for a college class of 2026 is December 1, 2025.

College scholarship for high school students #4: Jet Future Business Leaders Scholarship

Age Group: High school seniors and currently enrolled college students.

One of the most popular scholarships for high school seniors who are interested in business

Jet Future Business Leaders Scholarship Opportunities for High Schoolers

It offers $1,000 for an aspiring 500-word essay where students describe a project or initiative they hope to lead early in their career to positively impact society. The award encourages students to think critically and creatively about their future in the business world.

Eligibility

• US citizens or permanent residents.
• High school seniors or college students pursuing business studies.
• Submission of an essay using the provided prompt.
• Past winners aren’t eligible.

Deadline

January 31, 2025, for the fall semester.

College scholarship for high school students #5: McDonald’s HACER Scholarship 2025

Age Group: High school seniors under the age of 21.

Scholarship for Hispanic/Latino students

College scholarship McDonald’s HACER opportunities for high schoolers

This scholarship is designed to support students from Latino communities who want to become college students. Since its inception, HACER National Scholarship has provided over $33 million in funding. Each year, McDonald’s awards 30 students annually with financial aid ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. Applicants are required to submit a transcript, personal statement, recommendation letters, and FAFSA/1040s.

Eligibility

• US citizen, legal resident, or DACA recipient.
• Hispanic/Latino heritage with at least one parent of this background.
• High school senior planning to attend a two- or four-year college or vocational school.
• Minimum 2.8 GPA.
• All applicants should be under 21.

Deadline

February 13, 2025

High School Scholarships 2024 – 2025: Conclusion

Choosing the right scholarship for your high schooler can be a game-changer for their future. While looking at the list of scholarships for high school students, parents and students should focus on eligibility requirements, financial aid amounts, and application deadlines when selecting opportunities.

From prestigious programs like the McDonald’s HACER Scholarship and the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship to simpler, no-essay options like the Niche $50,000 Scholarship, the options cater to various talents and interests.

However, in all those cases, it’s still crucial to keep in mind that math knowledge is vital for any student — from engineer or accountant to artist or musician. Brighterly Math tutors gladly help your kid to improve their hard skills and seal knowledge gaps. You can solidify their knowledge by leveraging our math worksheets in a child’s free time.

If you’re also searching for scholarships for younger children in elementary or middle school, consider the Brighterly Math Equity Scholarship. This program is hosted by the Brighterly Math tutoring platform aimed at supporting young students by providing 6 months of free studying with Brighterly math tutors and providing a monetary compensation of $500 to the winner.

To try your luck with the Brighterly Math program, upload a short essay that shows the child’s interest in math, a recommendation letter, and a brief statement of financial need from the parent/legal guardian.

For additional resources, including non-math scholarships for younger children, explore Brighterly’s comprehensive guide: Scholarships for Middle School Students. Empower your child’s educational journey at every stage!