20 Free Scholarships for College Students

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Free scholarships for college students can help lower tuition expenses without racking up debt. Not all scholarships are free though. Some organizations charge a processing fee you must pay with the application. For example, the Kosciuszko Foundation bills students $35 for applying to their scholarship programs. The National YoungArts Foundation also requires paying $35 online via credit card before consideration.

Scholarships with application fees aren’t necessarily scams, but they can hamper your finances. If you’re not selected for the prize, you’ll throw away precious dollars. Unless you’re confident in your chances, don’t gamble it. Focus on finding free college money like the following 20 scholarships that won’t cost a dime.

Reviewing the Top Free Scholarships for College Students

1. AFCEA War Veterans Scholarship

Deadline: November 15th

The Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) offers the War Veterans Scholarship for $2,500 yearly. It goes to honorably discharged U.S. military veterans of the Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan or Iraqi Freedom Operations from 2004 to present. Eligible U.S. citizens must:

  • be enrolled as sophomores or juniors
  • carry a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • declare a C41-related major

Acceptable studies include:

  • computer engineering
  • cybersecurity
  • information science
  • mathematics
  • network security
  • robotics
  • telecommunications.
Contact

AFCEA War Veterans Scholarship
4400 Fair Lakes Court
Fairfax, VA 22033
edfoundation@afcea.org
Scholarship Link

2. Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Deadline: January 22nd

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship provides $7,500 in free college money annually to outstanding undergraduates. They must be completing the last two years of a bachelor’s program in a STEMP program:

  • science
  • technology
  • engineering
  • math

Students must:

  • be U.S. citizens or nationals
  • maintain at least a B average
  • attain junior or senior status
  • be matriculated full-time at an accredited institution

Writing a two-page essay discussing a significant problem in one’s field is required.

Contact

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
One Scholarship Way
Saint Peter, MN 56082
(319) 688-4335
phalter@scholarshipamerica.org
Scholarship Link

3. Bruce Lee Foundation Scholarships

Deadline: June 10th

Without an application fee, the Bruce Lee Foundation awards one $10,000 and four $2,500 scholarships yearly. It financially supports students who are attending accredited two-year or four-year U.S. colleges and vocational schools. Qualified applicants must:

  • be at least 16
  • show involvement in extra-curriculars
  • have work or community service experience
  • exhibit personal drive
  • exemplify Bruce Lee’s passion for education

Applications must include:

  • a valid social security number
  • two recommendations
  • a resume.
Contact

Bruce Lee Foundation Scholarships
11693 San Vincente Blvd. Suite 918
Los Angeles, CA 90049
info@bruceleefoundation.org
Scholarship Link

4. Buick Achievers Scholarship Program

Deadline: February 29th

The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program offers up to $100,000 over four years. It is one of the biggest free college scholarships. It makes awards 50 first-time freshmen. They must be enrolling full-time at accredited four-year colleges for bachelor’s degrees. Eligible U.S. citizens or legal residents must declare a major within the STEM disciplines. They must demonstrate career interests in the automotive or related industries. Funding can cover students’:

  • tuition
  • textbooks
  • room and board

The awards are for every year a cumulative 3.0 GPA is maintained.

Contact

Buick Achievers Scholarship Program
P.O. Box 33136
Detroit, MI 48232
(800) 537-4180
buickachievers@scholarshipamerica.org
Scholarship Link

5. Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship

Deadline: October 31st

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship is valued at $20,000. It’s open to current high school or home-schooled seniors . They must anticipate completing a diploma and pursuing a post-secondary degree the next fall. Eligible are:

  • U.S. citizens
  • permanent residents
  • refugees
  • asylees

They must:

  • be applying to accredited colleges
  • possess a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • be engaged in school and community activities
  • be passionate leaders

Online applications are free and don’t require essays or additional materials.

Contact

Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship
P.O. Box 442
Atlanta, GA 30301
(800) 306-2653
scholars@coca-cola.com
Scholarship Link

6. Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship Award

Deadline: June 30th

The Stop Online Harassment Project has created the Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship Award. It provides $1,000 to students committed to thwarting bullying behaviors  on social media and the Internet. To apply you must be a student in :

  • high school
  • college
  • graduate school

You must have a with U.S. citizenship or legal residency. You must be  planning to attend an accredited university. The free online application only requires writing one short, 500-word essay describing how cyberbullying has personally affected them.

Contact

Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship Award
2261 Market Street Suite 291
San Francisco, CA 94114
help@deletecyberbullying.org
Scholarship Link

7. Engebretson Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st

The Engebretson Foundation Scholarship was created by the late David J. Engebretson, a prominent South Dakota businessman. It’s awarded for $5,000 annually to extraordinary high school seniors who need financial assistance to attend a four-year U.S. college. Qualified recipients must:

  • rank in the top five percent of their class
  • achieve a 3.75 GPA or higher
  • score at least 28 on the ACT or 1240 on the SAT
  • have an eligible Expected Family Contribution.
Contact

Engebretson Foundation Scholarship
13110 Birch Drive Suite 148
Omaha, NE 68164
(402) 960-9287
info@engebretsonfoundation.org
Scholarship Link

8. George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program

Deadline: September 30th

Annually, the George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program awards 12 free college scholarships. They go to U.S. citizens under age 30 who wish to spend one year of graduate study at an accredited university in Northern Ireland. The U.S.-Ireland Alliance looks for eligible U.S. citizens who:

  • hold a bachelor’s degree
  • exhibit academic excellence with a GPA over 3.3
  • are committed to public service
  • display leadership ability

Mitchell applicants must complete a 10-minute video interview on webcam.

Contact

George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program
2800 Clarendon Blvd. Suite 305W
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 248-8244
director@mitchellscholars.org
Scholarship Link

9. GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: January 7th

The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship celebrates our country’s 40th president. scholarship is awarded for $10,000 each year. It helps to lower undergraduate tuition for high school seniors planning to enroll full-time at an accredited U.S. college for a bachelor’s program. Eligible Americans must:

  • display good citizenship
  • have unmet financial need
  • achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • have leadership experience at school or work,
  • pass a Skype interview

Finalists must be sponsored by a community leader, such as principal or elected official.

Contact

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship
40 Presidential Drive
Simi Valley, CA 93065
(844) 402-0354
ge-reagan@scholarshipamerica.org
Scholarship Link

10. Horatio Alger Association Scholarships

Deadline: April 15th

The Horatio Alger Association awards $12 million in free college money each year. It honors outstanding students who have succeeded in spite of adversity with $22,000 scholarships. To qualify, candidates must:

  • reside in one of America’s 50 states
  • be enrolled as full-time high school seniors
  • exhibit critical financial need
  • pursue a bachelor’s degree at a non-profit college
  • be engaged in community service
  • maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher
  • demonstrate perseverance in overcoming obstacles.
Contact

Horatio Alger Association Scholarships
99 Canal Center Plaza Suite 320
Alexandria, VA 22314
(800) 684-9040
scholarships@horatioalger.org
Scholarship Link

11. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship

Deadline: November 3rd

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship gifts $40,000 per year. It goes to high-achieving seniors enrolling at the country’s most competitive four-year, accredited institutions. They must be in a  a bachelor’s degree in any declared major. At minimum, eligible applicants must:

  • carry an unweighted GPA of 3.5
  • achieve an SAT combined critical reading and math score of 1200
  • score 26 on the ACT
  • have financial need with a family income under $95,000.
Contact

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
44325 Woodridge Parkway
Lansdowne, VA 20176
(703) 723-8000
scholarships@jkcf.org
Scholarship Link

12. Maureen D. Keller Undergraduate Scholarship

Deadline: May 20th

The Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences sponsors the Maureen D. Keller Undergraduate Scholarship. It’s given to promising high school seniors or college freshmen who are attending an accredited Maine college. They must be earning a bachelor’s degree in biological, Earth, or other natural sciences. Interested in-state residents must:

  • be enrolling full-time
  • hold a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • maintain active involvement in community activities
  • show potential as a valued scientific scholar.
Contact

Maureen D. Keller Undergraduate Scholarship
P.O. Box 380
East Boothbay, ME 04544
(207) 315-2567 ext. 107
kellerscholarship@bigelow.org
Scholarship Link

13. Oracle Corporate Scholars Program

Deadline: April 4th

The Oracle Corporate Scholars Program is funded by the United Negro College Fund. The program distributes at least $2,000 to African American college students who are majoring in:

  • computer engineering
  • computer science
  • math
  • business
  • marketing
  • human resources

Eligible recipients must:

  • attend accredited four-year HBCUs
  • have U.S. citizenship
  • demonstrate financial need
  • attain sophomore or higher standing
  • maintain a GPA over 3.0.

Successful students are also offered free, paid internships with Oracle.

Contact

Oracle Corporate Scholars Program
1805 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
(800) 331-2244
David.ray@uncf.org
Scholarship Link

14. Pearson Scholarships for Higher Education

Deadline: May 2nd

Phi Theta Kappa grants 10 Pearson Scholarships for Higher Education at $5,000 each. It goes to students enrolled full-time or part-time in associate degree programs. Their goal must be to transfer to accredited four-year U.S. colleges for a bachelor’s degree. For free college money, candidates must:

  • be PTK members in good standing
  • have completed 12 to 36 semester hours
  • have a minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA
  • hold temporary or permanent residency in the United States.
Contact

Pearson Scholarships for Higher Education
1625 Eastover Drive
Jackson, MS 39211
(601) 987-5741
scholarhip.programs@ptk.org
Scholarship Link

15. Point Foundation Scholarship Fund

Deadline: February 1st

For a maximum of $13,600, the Point Foundation Scholarship Fund gifts annual awards to “out” high school seniors or college students. The students self-identify as:

  • lesbian
  • gay
  • bisexual
  • transgender
  • queer

Eligible applicants must:

  • be enrolling full-time at an accredited U.S. university
  • pursue a degree-granting program
  • have strong academic achievement
  • exhibit financial need
  • have a proven track record of LGBTQ community involvement

Finalists receive a free Los Angeles trip for an in-person interview.

Contact

Point Foundation Scholarship Fund
1357 Broadway Suite 401
New York, NY 10018
(866) 337-6468
info@pointfoundation.org
Scholarship Link

16. Tylenol Future Care Scholarships

Deadline: June 30th

The Tylenol Future Care Scholarships range from $500 to $10,000. They are awarded for free to 60 college students. The students must be  pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies for healthcare careers. These include:

  • public health
  • nursing
  • pharmacy
  • medicine
  • health education

Qualified candidates must:

  • be legal U.S. residents
  • have completed at least their freshman year
  • attend an accredited college
  • have one or more years remaining
  • maintain a satisfactory GPA,
  • be involved in volunteer services.
Contact

Tylenol Future Care Scholarships
1 Johnson & Johnson Plaza
New Brunswick, NJ 08933
(866) 851-4275
Tylenol@applyists.com
Scholarship Link

17. United Methodist Leadership Scholarship

Deadline: January 16th

The United Methodist Leadership Scholarship is a free, merit-based program. It awards $10,000 to active congregation members. They must be enrolling as freshman at United Methodist-related colleges in the Southeast Jurisdiction (SEJ). Eligible high school seniors must:

  • have unmet financial need
  • carry a minimum 3.5 GPA
  • attain community leadership roles

Online applications must include:

  • transcripts
  • ACT/SAT scores
  • a resume
  • two written references from clergy and teachers
  • a personal essay.
Contact

United Methodist Leadership Scholarship
P.O. Box 340005
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 649-3970
umhef@umhef.org
Scholarship Link

18. Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

Deadline: February 20th

The Vegetarian Resource Group awards $20,000 in scholarship money each year. It goes to three graduating high schoolers who promote a peaceful world through a vegetarian or vegan diet and lifestyle. Eligible non-meat eaters must be enrolling full-time at accredited U.S. higher learning institutions for an associate or bachelor’s degree. The free PDF application must be submitted with:

  • a personal essay
  • copies of academic transcripts
  • three or more letters of recommendation
  • documentation of vegetarianism community outreach.
Contact

Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
P.O. Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203
(410) 366-8343
vrg@vrg.org
Scholarship Link

19. Walmart Foundation First-Generation Scholarship

Deadline: June 24th

Through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Walmart Foundation First-Generation Scholarship is granted for $6,200. It goes to outstanding high school seniors who are enrolling as freshmen at one of 47 public HBCU’s in the TMCF network. Eligible applicants must:

  • be the first in their family to attend college
  • work toward a bachelor’s degree
  • have U.S. citizenship
  • exhibit financial need on the FAFSA form
  • carry a minimum 2.5 GPA
  • showcase leadership ability.
Contact

Walmart Foundation First-Generation Scholarship
901 F Street NW Suite 300
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 507-4851
info@tmcf.org
Scholarship Link

20. Wells Fargo American Indian Scholarship

Deadline: May 1st

The American Indian Graduate Center offers a $5,000 scholarship sponsored by Wells Fargo. It’s awarded each year to undergraduates of American Indian or Alaska Native heritage. It helps fund a degree-granting program full-time. To qualify, applicants must:

  • be at least freshmen
  • hold a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or above
  • attend any accredited U.S. institution
  • demonstrate financial need
  • descend from a federally recognized tribe

There’s also the Cobell Scholarship and Accenture Scholarship Fund for free college money.

Contact

Wells Fargo American Indian Scholarship
3701 San Mateo NE Suite 200
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 881-4584
web@aigcs.org
Scholarship Link

Crafting an impressive scholarship application that stands out takes a lot of:

  • time
  • brain power
  • creativity

Applying for financial aid shouldn’t drain your wallet though. There are millions of legitimate free college scholarships that don’t require the dreaded “non-refundable application fee.” It’s estimated that public and private scholarships combine for $49.3 billion in free tuition coverage. So don’t overlook this untapped resource. Start your search for the right funding fit with these 20 free scholarships for college students.

GCD Staff

Related:

This concludes our coverage of the best free scholarships for college students.

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