Whether you’re a high school senior getting ready for college or a current college student, scholarships are a great way to help pay for college. And there’s no better time than July to look for scholarships. Your exams are behind you and you can do your best to ensure that you are maximizing your financial aid as you look forward to the start of a new school year.
You can start by focusing your search on scholarships with July deadlines.
Here are some scholarships with July deadlines.
Vectorworks Design Scholarship
Amount: $3,000 (Round 1), $7,000 (Round 2). About: Vectorworks, a company that produces 3D design…
BestColleges Scholarship
Amount: $6,000. About: The BestColleges Scholarship supports Black women who are currently pursuing a STEM…
Rick and Sherry Murray Medical Futures Scholarship
Amount: $5,000. About: The ALS association, an organization dedicated to fighting the neurodegenerative disease ALS,…
Roy E. Jorgensen Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $15,000. About: Maryland property management company Roy Jorgensen Associates offers the Roy Jorgensen Memorial…
GLHF Education Scholarship
Amount: $250-$3,000. About: Administered by the Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation (GLHF), the Education Scholarship is…
Arkansas Teacher Opportunity Program (TOP)
Amount: Up to $3,000. About: The Arkansas Teacher Opportunity Program (TOP) awards up to $3,000…
Khyentse Foundation PhD Scholarships
Amount: $5,000. About: The Khyentse Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting Buddhist study and practice,…
SAIL Scholarship
Amount: $7,500 (over 2 years). About: Offered by the NAPABA Law Foundation, the Sharon and…
Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation’s Education Scholarship
Amount: $250-$3,000. About: Administered by the Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation (GLHF) , the Education Scholarship…
Prism Foundation Scholarships
Amount: $1,000-$5,000. About: The Prism Foundation is an organization that works to explore and address…
Caesar, Napoli & Spivak PLLC Scholarship
For over 30 years, the premier law firm Caesar, Napoli & Spivak PLLC has fought…
Nitro College Scholarship
Amount: $2,000. About: The $2,000 Nitro Scholarship is a monthly sweepstakes due at the end…
Fry Scholarship
Amount: Full tuition, housing, books and supplies. About: The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry…
National Migrant Farmworker Baccalaureate Scholarship
Amount: Up to $20,000. About: The New York State Migrant Education Program offers the Migrant…
Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship
Amount: $2,000 for up to 3 years (undergraduate), $3,000 for up to 2 years (graduate)….
Trapshooting Hall of Fame College Scholarships
Amount: $5,000 (5 awards), $1,000 (2 awards). About: The Trapshooting Hall of Fame offers seven…
Sallie Mae $1,000 Sweepstakes
Amount: $1,000. About: Student loan servicer Sallie Mae offers a monthly $1,000 scholarship to students…
Scholarshippoints $10,000 Scholarship
Amount: $10,000. About: The ScholarshipPoints program was created in 2006 by Edvisors to help students…
Anders Scholarship
Amount: $1,000. About: The Anders Scholarship is intended to honor Allied Health, Nursing, and Therapy…
Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship
Amount: $3,000 or $1,500. About: Administered by the Stonewall Foundation, the Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship is…
UNCF General Scholarship
Amount: Varies. About: The UNCF General Application is not one specific scholarship but an application…
MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship
Amount: Up to $10,000. About: Offered by MPOWER Financing, which provides private student loans to…
Target Scholarship
Amount: Up to $5,000. About: Created in 2021 by Target in partnership with UNCF, the…
BestColleges Scholarships for Black Women in STEM
Amount: $6,000. About: Administered by The University Network (TUN.com), the BestColleges Scholarships for Black Women…
Carolyn Wilson Dialysis Patient Scholarship Program
Amount: Up to $5,000. About: The American Kidney Fund offers the Carolyn Wilson Dialysis Patient…
Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award
Amount: $5,000. About: The credit card brand Discover offers a scholarship open to high school…
Be Bold’ No-Essay Scholarship
Amount: $25,085. About: Bold.org, a website that helps pair students with scholarship opportunities, offers a…
Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship
Amount: Up to $5,000. About: The National Aids Memorial offers the Pedro Zamora Young Leaders…
For more scholarships with July deadlines, click here.
The scholarships listed above are just some of the best scholarships we’ve found for you. There are many other scholarships out there.
Use TUN’s Scholarship Search Engine to find more scholarships for you.
To keep on top of new scholarships as they are offered, be sure to join the TUN Community. We will let you know about scholarships that you qualify for.
When to apply for scholarships
Each scholarship has a specific deadline. These deadlines occur throughout the year, so you can find one for any time of the year. Keep in mind, however, that some scholarship deadlines may fall months, even a year, before the start of the academic year for which you’re seeking a scholarship.
So, if you’re a high school student looking to get a scholarship for your freshman year of college, you should start the search process early. While you don’t necessarily have to apply for scholarships in your freshman or sophomore year, you will develop a sense of scholarships that are available so you can apply when you’re ready.
If you’re a current college student, you should be looking for scholarships throughout the year. That way, if you find an award that appeals to you, you’ll be ahead of the game.
And when you apply, be sure to meet the deadline for each specific scholarship.
How to apply for scholarships
Each scholarships has its its own unique requirements and qualifications. The first step to successfully applying for any scholarship is reading the details carefully. Make sure that you fit the eligibility criteria and fill out the application completely.
Pay attention to what’s required of you. For example, if you need a recommendation letter, you should request one way ahead of time so you have one by the time you apply. If an essay is required, start writing weeks before the deadline so you have an essay you can be proud of before the due date.
Aim to send in your application at least a few days before the deadline. This way, you avoid the risk of getting sidelined by technical glitches, tests, heavy homework load, or illness.
And don’t forget to submit everything required of you as part of your application.
For more tips on how to apply for scholarships, check here.
How to find scholarships
Colleges may offer either merit-based or need-based scholarships or both. You can usually find most of the information by clicking on their “financial aid” page. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to email or call their financial aid office.
There are also outside scholarships — like the ones listed above — that are sponsored by companies, organizations, foundations, and individuals as a way to give back to their communities. The awards can cover your entire tuition or a portion of it. Some scholarships have a GPA requirement or are based on financial need, while others embrace a cause or emphasize community involvement, athletic achievement, diversity, passion, and much more.
So, how do you find outside scholarships like these?
Start your search with TUN’s Scholarship Search Engine to find scholarships that are ideal for you. You can search by grade level, GPA, major, state of residency, scholarship name, or deadline month. You can also browse through our featured scholarships, some available only through TUN, and a collated list of scholarships for specific groups of students.
You should also check with your high school or college to see if they have a list of scholarships. Your guidance counselor may have the list or point you to someone who can help you. They may also be in the know about scholarships sponsored by local stores or organizations.
Your family is yet another good source of scholarships. Your parents or guardians may work for a company that offers scholarships for dependents of employees.
If you work while in high school or college, you may also qualify for an employee scholarship.
For more tips on how to find scholarships, check here.
How to get scholarships
Scholarships, especially ones with high awards, can be very competitive. In some cases, you may be competing against thousands of students.
So, how do you increase your chances of winning a scholarship?
First, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria and submit all the information required of you, including recommendation letters, transcripts, and resume.
Second, be sure to distinguish yourself from the other applicants. Your essay, if that’s required, is what makes you unique so let your personality and creativity shine through. How do you do that?
You can achieve that “by showing instead of telling,” according to Sarah Chomette, an eAdviser with the College Advising Corps.
“When answering a creative prompt or inputting your personal statement, it’s important to provide the reader with a story instead of just telling them about your goals and accomplishments,” she said. “That can be kind of boring and it makes you get lost in the crowd.”
A successful essay must include four major components, Chomette explained. First, make sure that you convey your personal values. Second, be open and honest to help the reader feel a connection with you. Third, let the reader know why your story is important. Fourth, your writing must show that you put time and effort into it.
If a scholarship asks for a video or infographic instead of an essay, the same principle applies.
To summarize, always put thought and effort into your whole application and submit your best work. There should be no obvious errors or typos. And if you need to submit a recommendation letter, reflect on who knows you best and whose recommendation would help your application the most.
Are scholarships taxable?
Typically, scholarships are not taxable. However, it can depend on how the scholarship money is being used, according to federal tax laws.
Scholarship dollars are tax-exempt if they are going to a degree-seeking candidate and are being used to pay for tuition and fees required for enrollment, books, supplies, and other educational expenses.
Scholarships are not tax-exempt, and you must report them as “gross income,” if they are used to pay for room and board, travel, or optional equipment.
If you have additional questions, you should reach out to the financial aid office of your prospective or current college or university.