Scholarships for college students
By Vincent Elliott · Published · Updated
You can keep applying for scholarships after you start college. These are the open ones that require you to already be enrolled, which makes the field smaller than for high school seniors.
136 open scholarships require current college enrollment, and 19 of them need no essay. Many more scholarships on the site are open to college students and high school students alike; those show up when you make a free profile and filter by your year and major.
Open scholarships for enrolled students (136)
- Fashion Scholarship FundAmount varies
Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF)
This combines a case study competition with scholarship money for undergrad and grad students in fashion design, merchandising, or business, and there's a separate track for community college students too.
Apply by Oct 12, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - ACI Foundation Fellowships and ScholarshipsAmount varies
American Concrete Institute (ACI) Foundation
Covers a full academic year for undergrad and grad students studying civil engineering with a focus on concrete materials and construction.
Apply by Nov 1, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - AWWA Scholarship ProgramAmount varies
American Water Works Association (AWWA)
Undergrad or grad students studying an environmental, civil, or chemical engineering field tied to drinking water treatment and distribution can apply, plus there are separate section-level scholarships available.
Apply by Nov 6, 2026Last verified Sep 30, 2026 - RTDNA Foundation Scholarships$1,000–$10,000
Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Foundation
Undergrad and grad students headed into broadcast or digital journalism can apply for $2,500-$5,000 scholarships judged on a submitted work sample and academic record. RTDNA hands out 13 scholarships plus 3 fellowships each year, with individual awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
Apply by Nov 14, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - ACA Foundation Courtland C. Lee Multicultural Excellence ScholarshipAmount varies
American Counseling Association (ACA) Foundation
For graduate students in a counseling program who've shown real commitment to multicultural competence and social justice within the field.
Apply by Nov 20, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - APhA Foundation Student Scholarships$500–$1,500
American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation
Student pharmacists who've finished at least one year of professional pharmacy coursework with a 2.75+ GPA can get $500-$1,500, as long as they're active APhA-ASP members who participate in chapter activities.
Apply by Dec 1, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholarship$1,300
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa members at community colleges can win $1,300 and a place on the Coca-Cola Academic Team, which recognizes some of the highest-achieving two-year students in the country based on academics, leadership and service.
Apply by Dec 1, 2026 - Guistwhite ScholarshipUp to $5,000
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Phi Theta Kappa members with a 3.5 GPA who are transferring to a four-year college can win up to $5,000, based on chapter engagement, leadership and academic achievement. You need 45 or more credits and three recommendation letters.
Apply by Dec 1, 2026 - Hites Transfer Scholarship$7,500
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Phi Theta Kappa members with a 3.5 GPA who have completed at least 50 college credits and plan to transfer to an accredited four-year college this coming fall can win $7,500.
Apply by Dec 1, 2026 - Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer ScholarshipUp to $55,000
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Community college students with strong grades and financial need can get up to $55,000 a year for two to three years to finish a bachelor's degree at a four-year school. You also get advising, internship stipends and conference and travel funds.
Apply by Dec 9, 2026Last verified Oct 11, 2026 - Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association Scholarship$1,000–$10,000
Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association (FNSNA)
Students already enrolled in a state-approved nursing program, whether that's an ADN, BSN, diploma, direct-entry master's, RN-to-BSN/MSN, or accelerated BSN, can win anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 based on grades, financial need, and involvement in nursing student organizations. Incoming high school seniors don't qualify since you have to already be enrolled.
Apply by Jan 11, 2027Last verified Sep 30, 2026 - NSBP Simons Scholars ProgramAmount varies
National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP)
Undergraduate members of the National Society of Black Physicists can apply for this paid ($20/hour), 11-week summer research program run jointly with the Simons Foundation. It's a research stipend rather than a traditional scholarship, and the application requires a one-page personal statement.
Apply by Jan 13, 2027Last verified Sep 30, 2026 - ASCE Y.C. Yang Civil Engineering Scholarship$5,000
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Undergrad civil engineering students can win $5,000 through this ASCE-administered scholarship, one of several judged on academic merit and involvement in the field.
Apply by Jan 15, 2027Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - Samuel Fletcher Tapman ASCE Student Chapter ScholarshipAmount varies
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Civil engineering students active in an ASCE student chapter or club can apply for this scholarship, judged on chapter involvement and academic achievement.
Apply by Jan 15, 2027Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - AMA Foundation Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship$10,000
American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation
Final-year medical students can win $10,000 across more than 15 categories, including tracks for students underrepresented in medicine and specific specialty or leadership tracks. You'll need U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or DACA status.
Apply by Jan 19, 2027Last verified Sep 30, 2026 - ISM R. Gene Richter ScholarshipUp to $15,000
Institute for Supply Management (ISM)
A small group of undergrads studying supply chain management, just six in a recent cycle, split up to $15,000 in tuition assistance, picked for academic excellence, leadership, and professional experience, with mentorship and conference recognition included.
Apply by Jan 23, 2027Last verified Sep 30, 2026 - Barry Goldwater ScholarshipUp to $7,500
Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation
College sophomores and juniors pursuing a research career in science, engineering, or math with at least a 3.0 GPA can get up to $7,500 a year, covering tuition, fees, books, and room and board minus other aid. You have to be nominated through your college or university.
Apply by Jan 29, 2027Last verified Oct 11, 2026 - AIAA Undergraduate Scholarships$500–$10,000
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
AIAA student members with at least a 3.3 GPA who've finished a full-time semester of college and plan to go into aerospace engineering can win anywhere from $500 to $10,000.
Opens Oct 15, 2026 · Due Jan 31, 2027Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - DAR America 250! Scholarship$25,000
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
Ten students a year who are majoring in American history at an accredited undergrad or grad program, with a 3.5 GPA or higher, can win a one-time $25,000 award. You have to be a U.S. citizen, and applications run through the DAR Academic Works portal between November 1 and January 31.
Opens Nov 1, 2026 · Due Jan 31, 2027Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate ScholarshipUp to $9,500
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
U.S. citizen sophomores (or community college students about to transfer as juniors) studying a NOAA-related science, math, or engineering field with a 3.0+ GPA can get up to $9,500 a year for two years of full-time study, plus a paid 10-week summer internship at a NOAA facility that pays $700 a week.
Apply by Jan 31, 2027Last verified Sep 28, 2026
Can you apply for scholarships while in college?
Yes, and many students do it every year. Scholarships for current college students often look at your major, your college GPA, research or service, and your plans after graduation, and the applicant pools are usually smaller than for high school awards. Some of the best ones (research fellowships and field-specific awards) are open to undergraduates only once they are in school.
A few tips: ask a professor early if an award needs a recommendation, keep a running copy of your best essay so you can adapt it, and check whether a scholarship reduces your other aid (see scholarship displacement). Short on time? Try the last-minute scholarships or the ones with no GPA requirement.