Are you a high school graduate looking for ways to fund your college education? Look no further! We have compiled a list of 36 scholarships specifically for high school graduates to help ease the financial burden of pursuing higher education. These scholarships cover a variety of fields and are available to students from all backgrounds. Don’t miss out on these amazing opportunities to make your college dreams a reality. Keep reading to learn more about these 36 scholarships for high school graduate students.
Kim and Harold Louie Family Foundation Scholarship Program – Varies
Kim and Harold Louie Family Foundation Scholarships are annually awarded to high-achieving students entering higher education. Each applicant must be going into freshman year, plan on attending as a full-time student for at least two years, have a grade point average between 3.7 and 4.0 on a 4.0 scale, and have a minimum SAT score of 1300 or a minimum ACT score of 27. Special consideration will be noted for applicants whose parents are U.S. veterans or are currently in the U.S. military, have a demonstrated financial need, or are first-generation college students.
Family Fellowship Scholarship Program – Up to $12,000 per year (for up to 5 years)
Offered by nonprofit Together We Rise, in partnership with the Fund II Foundation, the Family Fellowship Scholarship s intended to help propel foster care youth into higher education. Applicants need to be U.S. citizens between the ages of 17 and 23 and been in public or private foster care for the 12 months leading up to their 18th birthday, have been adopted or placed in legal guardianship after the 13th birthday, or been orphaned for at least one year by the age of 18. Additionally, applicants must be graduating high school seniors who graduated with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and been accepted to an accredited Pell-eligible institution.
AHEPA – Educational Foundation (AEF) Scholarship – Up to $2,000
Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), an association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes, has more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe. To date, AHEPA has awarded more than $2.2 million in scholarships through its AHEPA Educational Fund (AEF). AEF offers national scholarship programs that support undergraduate and graduate education. Applications are accepted from January 2 to March 31 each year. Awards up to $2,000 are payable to the winning student. Applicants must be an active member of the AHEPA Family and/or be of Hellenic descent and/or Phil-Hellene, or the son/daughter of a member in good standing, of AHEPA, the Daughters of Penelope, Sons of Pericles or the Maids of Athena; and be either a high school graduate or high school senior planning to enroll, or a college student, graduate or professional degree student enrolled, full-time at an accredited college or university during the upcoming academic year.
APIA Scholarship – $2,500-$20,000
The APIA Scholarship supports AANHPI undergraduate students attending any U.S. accredited university or college. Awards range from $2,500 one-year awards to $20,000 multi-year awards. To be eligible, applicants must be able to describe their ethnicity, heritage, or ancestry in relation to the countries, territories, or lands in Asia or the Pacific Islands; be a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States, or a citizen of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau; be enrolling or continuing as a degree-seeking undergraduate student in a U.S. accredited college or university in Fall 2023, meet a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted), or have earned a GED; and apply for federal financial aid using the FAFSA by early April 2023.
Delmar Foundation Scholarships – Up to $5,000
Delmar Foundation Scholarships are open to students who live within the Franklin Regional School District in western Pennsylvania and need financial assistance to attend an accredited college, university, junior college, technical college, or trade school. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, meet a minimum GPA requirement of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and have been involved in a variety of extracurricular activities, volunteer activities, and/or work experiences.
Denver Alumnae Chapter Scholarships – $1,500-$6,000
Each year, the Denver Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority awards scholarships to incoming college freshmen. Applicants must be Black/African American women, be residents of the Denver metropolitan area, be graduating or have graduated from high school or recieved a GED within the past two years, have applied to an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or technical school, and meet a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement.
Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship – $10,000
The American Traffic Safety and Services Foundation provides the annual Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship for those who’ve had a loved one die or become disabled due to an on-the-job accident. Applicants must be dependents of deceased or disabled roadway workers who were killed or injured in a work zone. Additionally, applicants must be high school graduates or have received their GEDs.
Jewish Community Federation College Scholarships – Up to $10,000
The Jewish Community Federation offers 12 college scholarships for Jewish students. There is one general application to fill out, and applicants will automatically be considered for all of the scholarships. The general application eligibility criteria states that, for most scholarships, applicants must be Jewish students from the Federation’s service area, which includes the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma. Additionally, the scholarships are only for full-time students.
Helen B. and Lewis E. Goldstein Scholarship – Up to $10,000
Offered by the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, the Helen B. and Lewis E. Goldstein Scholarship is annually awarded to Jewish students with financial need and academic merit. Applicants must be Jewish college-bound high school seniors or current undergraduate students who are already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university. Preference is given to those who are enrolled in a professional school such as a law school, business, or library/information science. Preference will also be given to immigrant students.
Marvin Anmuth Scholarship – $1,500-$5,000
Offered by the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, the Marvin Anmuth Scholarship is annually awarded to Jewish engineering students. Applicants must be Jewish college-bound high school seniors or current undergraduate students who are already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university. Additionally, each applicant must be pursuing an engineering degree, demonstrate financial need, have demonstrated leadership in the Jewish and/or larger community, meet a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and have a permanent residence in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Nathan J. and Virginia H. Friedman College Scholarship – $1,000-$5,000
Offered by the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, the Nathan J. and Virginia H. Friedman College Scholarship is annually awarded to Jewish students with high academic achievements. Applicants must be Jewish college-bound high school seniors or current undergraduate students who are already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program at an accredited college or university. Additionally, applicants must have an “outstanding academic record,” meet a minimum GPA requirement of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale, demonstrate financial need, demonstrate involvement in the Jewish community, and have a permanent residence in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Alliant Energy Innovation Scholarship – $1,000
Alliant Energy, a public utility company that services areas of Wisconsin and Iowa, offers scholarships for students who reside in and attend school in their service areas. Applicants must be age 24 or under and enrolled or planning to enroll for the first time in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university, or vocational-technical school located within the Alliant Energy service territory. Applicants must have participated in a leadership role in community service work or volunteer activities, and be either a current customer or the dependent of a current customer of Alliant Energy or its utility subsidiaries.
James T. and Rose M. Perryman Family Foundation Trade School Scholarship – $2,000-$5,000
Each year, the Perryman Family Foundation awards scholarships to hardworking and community-minded students pursuing programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at U.S. trade schools. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, meet a minimum 2.5 GPA requirement, plan to be registered as full-time students, and live within 150 miles of Houston, Pennsylvania.
Southern Automotive Women’s Forum Scholarship – $1,000-$5,000
The Southern Automotive Women’s Forum (SAWF) Scholarship is offered to women who are enrolled or enrolling in a STEM field. Students may be enrolled in a two-year technical program, a four-year undergraduate program, or a graduate program that can be used in a career in the automotive industry.
UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program – Up to $10,000
The biopharmaceutical company UCB offers scholarships to those impacted by epilepsy. Applicants must be a legal resident of the United States; be diagnosed with epilepsy by a physician or be the immediate family member (parent, spouse, child or sibling) and/or caregiver of a person with epilepsy; be seeking an associate’s, undergraduate, or graduate degree or enrolled in a trade school educational program; demonstrate academic and personal achievement, possess a strong record of participation in activities outside of school, and serve as a positive role model for others; graduate from high school in the application year or have already graduated from high school; and be enrolled in, or awaiting acceptance from, a U.S. college or university for the upcoming fall semester.
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship – Baccalaureate Scholarship – Up to $22,500
The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship is a program intended to prepare students in Washington State to fill the state’s workforce shortages in trade, health care, or STEM fields. Its Baccalaureate Scholarship is open to students pursuing their bachelor’s degrees in STEM or health care fields. Applicants must be Washington State residents, have a high school diploma or GED from a Washington State institution, demonstrate financial need, have a GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale or a passing GED score, plan to pursue an eligible science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) or health care major, and plan to attend or currently attend an accredited Washington State institution at least half-time.
Anders Scholarship – $1,000
The Anders Scholarship is intended to honor Allied Health, Nursing, and Therapy professionals who are at the front lines of patient care every day. It is open to students enrolled in a college or trade program or GED holders who plan on attending one of these institutions during the upcoming semester. To be eligible, those interested must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. To apply, students must submit a current resume, a school transcript, and an essay answering a specified prompt.
ATRH Casey Hoke Memorial Scholarship – $1,000
Named in honor of Casey Hoke, a transgender artist, activist, and speaker dedicated to helping others combat marginalization, the ATRH Casey Hoke Memorial Scholarship is one of two national trans scholarships offered by the American Trans Resource Hub (ATRH). Applicants must be a non-cis-gendered person who is entering trade school, university, or community college. Additionally, applicants must be a leader or advocate in their community. There is no age, income, citizenship, or academic requirement. Application opens in mid-February.
Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship – $1,000-$3,000
The Army Women’s Foundation offers annual scholarships to help current and past soldiers and their children afford higher education. Applicants must be, or be the direct descendants of, women who have served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard, have a GPA of at least 2.5 or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (depending on the degree path), and have graduated from high school. Scholarships are available for those pursuing certificates, associate’s degrees, undergraduate degrees, graduate and doctoral degrees.
CIA Undergraduate Scholarship Program – Up to $18,000 (Up to $25,000 for STEM)
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) offers one of the most unique scholarships available. The CIA Undergraduate Scholarship is a merit and needs-based scholarship that offers students an award up to $18,000 per calendar year (STEM recipients receive $25,000) plus a full starting salary in return for working summer internships at the CIA during their tenure. Recipients of this scholarship are also required to accept continued employment with the CIA after graduation for a period equal to 1.5 times the length of the college sponsorship they received from the CIA.
Eileen Kraus Scholarship – $5,000
The Eileen Kraus Scholarship, established in 2016 in partnership with Kaman Corporation, is awarded annually to one female student from Connecticut who is entering her first year of college or university. Applicants must be high school seniors or recent graduates. The winner is expected to attend the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, where they will be recognized for their award.
Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award – $5,000
The credit card brand Discover offers a scholarship open to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students. This scholarship is offered in the form of a sweepstakes on a monthly basis. Students need only fill out a short online survey in order to apply. Each applicant must be a U.S. resident, be at least 16 years of age, be a high school senior, college student, or a student who has earned a General Education Development (GED) or equivalent, and be enrolled at least half-time in a bachelor’s, associate’s degree, or graduate program at an eligible school within one year of confirmation. Employees and the immediate family of employees of Discover Products, Inc, Merkle, Inc., and their affiliate and parent companies may not apply.
Excelsior Scholarship Program – Up to $5,500
The Excelsior Scholarship allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. The program covers any remaining tuition expenses up to $5,500 for eligible SUNY and CUNY students. Applicants must be New York State residents, who have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term, and be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. They must sign a contract agreeing to reside in NYS for the length of time the award was received, and, if employed during such time, be employed in NYS. They must also meet other requirements, including graduating from high school in the United States, earning a GED, or passing a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test, having a combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less, pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University, and enrolling in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively).
MissionSquare Retirement Memorial Scholarship Fund – Up to $10,000
The MissionSquare Retirement Memorial Scholarship Fund (formerly, the Public Employee Memorial Scholarship) is annually awarded to the children and spouses of deceased employees who worked in education, health care, not-for-profit, public safety, local or state government who died while in service to their community. Applicants must be high school seniors or graduates who plan to enroll or students who are already enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or program at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire academic year, and they must provide a letter from the deceased family member’s place of work.
IHLAEF Scholarships – $1,000-$4,000
The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Foundation (IHLAEF) offers a scholarship for Illinois students who are pursuing hospitality management degrees. Applicants must be a permanent resident of Illinois and a U.S. citizen OR a permanent U.S. resident for at least 12 months on the date of application; be a current undergraduate student enrolled full-time (12 credit hours or more), an undergraduate student enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per semester in an accredited college or university hotel and/or hospitality management degree granting program in the U.S. and are also employed a minimum of 20 hours per week in the hospitality industry, or a high school senior or graduate who has been accepted in an accredited college or university hotel and/or hospitality management degree granting program in the U.S.; and have a minimum GPA of at least 2.5/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (C+).
American Legion Legacy Scholarship – Up to $20,000
The American Legion, a U.S. veterans association, offers the Legacy Scholarship. This is a needs-based scholarship awarded to the children of U.S. military members who died while on active duty after September 11, 2001. Children of post-9/11 veterans who receive a combined disability rating of 50% or greater by the Department of Veteran Affairs also qualify. Application opens on January 1, annually.
Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship – $5,000
Lockheed Martin’s Vocational Scholarship helps students of all ages afford skills-based training in cutting-edge technology and advanced manufacturing fields. It provides funding for students pursuing associate degrees, credit-bearing certificates, or industry-recognized credentials at an accredited vocational technical school, trade school, or two-year community college. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, high school graduates or GED holders, have not earned a bachelor’s degree, be enrolled or planning to enroll at a U.S. accredited vocational technical school, trade school, two-year community college, or state college, and be pursuing an associate degree, credit-bearing certificate, or an industry-recognized credential in a technology or advanced manufacturing field.
Mike Rowe Scholarship – Varies
Mike Rowe, who served as an apprentice on the TV series “Dirty Jobs,” created the Work Ethic Scholarship Program to promote skilled labor. Awarded through his mikeroweWORKS Foundation, the scholarships are intended to encourage students to learn a useful skill. In 2022, the foundation awarded a total of $1.5 million in work ethic scholarships to 250 recipients. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled or plan to enroll in an approved trade program at an accredited two-year college, vocational or technical school, sign the S.W.E.A.T. (“Skills and Work Ethic Aren’t Taboo) Pledge, answer four questions about the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, make a video, submit two references from a teacher or a supervisor, verify their school costs, provide a transcript, and submit the most recent Form 1040 tax form.
Better Together STEM Scholarship Program – $2,500, $10,000
Each year, the PG&E Corporation Foundation offers the Better Together STEM Scholarships of $2,500 or $10,000 to students pursuing STEM-related studies at universities in California and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the United States. Students must be California residents and PG&E customers at the time of application. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors, current college students, veterans and adults returning to school who plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study in an eligible STEM field at an accredited four-year college or university in California or an HBCU in the United States.
Purple Heart Scholarship Fund – $1,000-$5,000
Each year, the Purple Heart Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to college-bound soldiers who’ve been awarded the Purple Heart. Applicants must be high school graduates or have successfully completed a GED program, be accepted to or enrolled as full-time undergraduate students at an accredited college, university, or trade school at the time the scholarship is awarded, maintain a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, have been awarded the Purple Heart, and be members of the armed forces in good standing or who have separated from service honorably.
SFM Foundation Scholarship – Up to $10,000 (renewable for 2 years for 2-year program and up to 5 years for undergrad)
The SFM Foundation Scholarship is annually awarded to Minnesota or Iowa residents whose parent has either been injured or died due to a work-related accident. Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 25 at the time of application, be U.S. citizens or a lawful permanent residents, demonstrate financial need, and be college-bound high school seniors or currently be pursuing a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, certificate, or license from an accredited school.
TheDream.US National Scholarship – Up to $33,000 per year (renewable of each year)
Dream.US refers to its National Scholarship as a “Pell Grant for highly motivated DREAMers with significant, unmet financial need.” The organization works with more than 70 partner colleges to help immigrant students pay for and succeed in higher education. The program is open to high school seniors, high school graduates, GED diploma holders, and community college graduates entering their first year of a four-year bachelor’s program. Applicants must have graduated or will graduate with a high school or GED diploma, or a community college associate degree by the end of the academic year, meet DACA criteria, have significant unmet financial need, agree to enroll full-time at one of the organization’s partner colleges, and qualify for in-state tuition at the partner college.
Opportunity Scholarship – Up to $80,000 maximum over 4 years
Dream.US, a nonprofit organization, created its Opportunity Scholarship to help undocumented students who live in “locked-out states,” meaning states where students “effectively have no access to college – either because they face paying out-of-state tuition or because their state will simply not admit them into its universities.” These states are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. To qualify, applicants must live in and have graduated, or will soon graduate, from a high school in one of the locked-out states listed above, meet DACA criteria, have significant unmet financial need, meet a minimum 2.8 (out of 4.0) GPA requirement, have not earned more than 21 credits at a 4-year college or university before the start of the fall semester, and agree to enroll full-time at one of the organization’s partner colleges. The award, which is renewable, covers tuition, fees, and on-campus housing and meals at one of its partner colleges worth up to a maximum of $80,000 for a bachelor’s degree.
HOPE Scholarship TN – Up to $1,600 for freshmen & sophomores at 2-year institutions; Up to $2,250 for freshmen & sophomores at institutions with campus housing; Up to $2,850 for juniors & seniors at institutions with campus housing
Funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery, Tennessee’s HOPE Scholarship is awarded to entering freshmen who are enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution within 16 months after graduating from a Tennessee eligible high school. Applicants must be Tennessee residents, graduate from a TN eligible high school (with some exceptions), enroll in one of the Tennessee public colleges, universities, or private colleges, and meet other requirements.
VFW ‘Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship’ – Up to $5,000
Offered by Student Veteran of America and Sport Clips Haircuts, the VFW Help A Hero Scholarship provides financial support to help service members and veterans afford higher education. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, be retired, honorably discharged, active duty, or members of the National Guard or Reserve, have completed Basic Training and follow-on training, be separated with or currently hold a military rank of E-5 or below, demonstrate financial need, and be accepted to or currently enrolled in a VA-approved program or school at an accredited post-secondary institution.
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship – Career and Technical Scholarship – Up to $1,500 each quarter
The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship is a program intended to prepare students in Washington State to fill the state’s workforce shortages in trade, health care, or STEM fields. Its Career and Technical Scholarship awards up to $1,500 each quarter to fund a high-demand associate degree, certificate, or apprenticeship from one of Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges. This scholarship can be used toward nearly 1,000 trade, health care or STEM programs across Washington state. Applicants must be Washington State residents, meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) defined and determined by each college, and plan to in at least six credits during the fall, winter and spring terms.
In conclusion, the journey to finding the perfect scholarship doesn’t have to be daunting. Whether you’re just beginning your search or looking to expand your options, our comprehensive scholarship directory offers a wide range of opportunities catering to diverse academic interests and backgrounds. For a more personalized approach, consider leveraging the power of TUN AI, our innovative tool designed to match you with scholarships uniquely suited to your profile. Start exploring today and take a step closer to securing the financial support you need for your educational journey.