Scholarships for juniors
By Vincent Elliott · Published · Updated
Most scholarship lists only surface what's open to graduating seniors. This one is filtered for the Class of 2028, current juniors.
Applying as a junior means fewer of your peers are applying, and you get a real opportunity to apply before you're busy with senior year and college applications. Some of these you can apply to again next year too, so save the ones you're not ready for yet.
Scholarships open to juniors (295)
- ANNA ScholarshipsAmount varies
American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA)
Nursing students and practicing nurses working toward further education in nephrology nursing can apply for these scholarships and awards.
Apply by Oct 15, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - Evans Scholars Program$125,000
Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation
Golf caddies with at least two years of strong service, a 3.0 GPA or better, financial need, and demonstrated leadership can win full tuition and housing worth more than $125,000 over four years.
Apply by Oct 15, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - Blood Cancer United Scholarship for Blood Cancer SurvivorsAmount varies
Blood Cancer United (formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)
Students who've been diagnosed with a blood cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma, can apply, judged on academic achievement and a personal essay.
Apply by Oct 15, 2026 - PayrollOrg Money Matters Scholarship$1,000–$5,000
PayrollOrg (formerly American Payroll Association)
PayrollOrg gives out one $5,000 scholarship and two $1,000 scholarships to students ages 17-25 attending or planning to attend college in the U.S. or Canada. Winners are picked based on personal essays rather than any specific major.
Apply by Oct 16, 2026 - NCWIT Aspirations in Computing AwardAmount varies
National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)
Young women, and gender-diverse and non-binary students in grades 9-12 pursuing computing and technology, can earn National or Regional Affiliate Winner, Honorable Mention, or Rising Star recognition, opening doors to further scholarships, internships, and community. There's no fixed cash award at the high school level; the prize structure and perks vary by year and region.
Apply by Oct 27, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship$1,500–$25,000
Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Awards range from $1,500 to $25,000, but you have to be working as a Chick-fil-A Team Member at a franchised, company-owned, or affiliated restaurant when you apply. It's not open to the public, but the money can go toward any accredited college, university, or vocational school.
Apply by Oct 27, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - U.S. Bank Student ScholarshipUp to $20,000
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank runs this sweepstakes-style program with awards up to $20,000, open to high school seniors and current college students who register during the entry period, no essay required, though eligibility rules still apply. It's not merit- or need-based; winners are picked at random. Your entry comes from learning modules in the Zogo app, and the award tier scales with how many you finish: 25+ modules for up to $2,500, 50+ for $5,000, 75+ for $10,000 and 150+ for $20,000.
Opens Jul 1, 2026 · Due Oct 30, 2026Last verified Oct 11, 2026 - VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship$1,000–$35,000
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
High schoolers in grades 9-12 record an audio essay on a patriotic theme for this VFW competition, which hands out more than $1.6 million nationally to winners every year.
Apply by Oct 31, 2026Last verified Oct 11, 2026 - Mike Rowe Works Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship$1,000–$20,000
mikeroweWORKS Foundation
This $10 million fund hands out awards from $1,000 to $20,000 for tuition, tools, and fees to graduating seniors, grads, or GED recipients headed into a trade certification or associate degree program at an accredited technical or vocational school.
Apply by Oct 31, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - VFW Patriot's Pen Youth Essay Contest$500–$5,000
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
This patriotic essay contest is only open to students in grades 6-8, not high schoolers, and you submit it through a local VFW Post. There's $55,000 in national awards up for grabs, with $5,000 going to the national first-place winner and at least $500 to each state winner.
Apply by Oct 31, 2026 - American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Scholarship$2,500
American Culinary Federation (ACF) Education Foundation
Graduating seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA heading into a culinary, pastry, or foodservice program can get $2,500 a year for up to four years. There's a separate $2,500 award for students already enrolled, with a slightly lower 2.75 GPA requirement.
Apply by Oct 31, 2026Last verified Sep 30, 2026 - Toyota Scholarship Program$7,500–$30,000
Toyota Financial Services, administered by Scholarship America
High school seniors, graduates or current undergraduates with at least a 2.0 GPA who plan to study full-time can get up to $30,000 over four years ($7,500 a year) through Toyota Financial Services. You have to be a member, or a former member within the last three years, of one of Toyota's listed non-profit partner organizations, and a representative of that organization signs a verification form for you.
Apply by Nov 6, 2026Last verified Oct 11, 2026 - Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award$1,000–$16,000
Soroptimist International of the Americas
Women who are the primary financial support for themselves and their dependents, and who are enrolled in or accepted to a vocational program or undergrad degree, can win cash awards starting at $1,000 at the club level. Winners can advance to regional ($5,000) and international ($10,000) rounds for a combined total up to $16,000, as long as they show financial need and don't already hold a graduate degree.
Apply by Nov 15, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - Point Foundation ScholarshipAmount varies
Point Foundation
Point Foundation backs LGBTQ students of merit, whatever they're studying, with mentoring and leadership development alongside the financial support.
Apply by Nov 20, 2026Last verified Sep 30, 2026 - NRMCA Ready Mixed Concrete ScholarshipsAmount varies
Ready mixed concrete industry, various state and regional associations
These scholarships are actually run independently by state and regional ready mixed concrete associations (like Iowa's IRMCA or Arkansas's ARMCA) for students pursuing civil engineering, construction management, or business degrees with a connection to the industry. Find your state association to see its specific application and essay requirements.
Apply by Nov 30, 2026Requirements could not be foundLast verified Sep 30, 2026 - USBC Youth Scholarships$1,000–$6,000
United States Bowling Congress (USBC)
USBC offers a range of scholarships from $1,000 to $6,000 to high school and college youth members with at least a 2.5 GPA, weighing academics, leadership, and how you perform on the lanes. That includes the $1,000 Gift for Life Scholarship for bowlers with financial need and the $6,000 Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow for male members under 20.
Apply by Dec 1, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - P.E.O. STAR Scholarship$2,500
P.E.O. Sisterhood
Women in their final year of high school can get this $2,500 scholarship no matter what they plan to study. It requires a recommendation from a local P.E.O. chapter, so reach out to one near you early if you're interested since it's not a simple open application.
Opens Sep 1, 2026 · Due Dec 1, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - Air Force ROTC ScholarshipUp to $18,000
U.S. Air Force
This covers full tuition and fees under Type 1, or up to $18,000 a year under Type 2, plus a book stipend and monthly living stipend, with no restriction on your major. In exchange, you commit to a period of military service as a commissioned officer after graduation, and you'll need to pass a physical fitness assessment as part of applying.
Opens Jul 1, 2026 · Due Dec 11, 2026Last verified Sep 30, 2026 - The Coolidge ScholarshipAmount varies
Coolidge Foundation
This full-ride scholarship covers tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergrad, awarded through a genuinely competitive, merit-based national contest.
Opens Sep 1, 2026 · Due Dec 11, 2026Last verified Sep 28, 2026 - AATG ScholarshipsAmount varies
American Association of Teachers of German (AATG)
This covers several separate AATG-run programs, including summer study-abroad scholarships, Delta Phi Alpha honor society chapter grants, and the National German Exam post-graduate scholarship, each with its own requirements. Start here and you'll be considered for the ones you're eligible for. Most require a short essay written in German.
Apply by Dec 15, 2026Last verified Sep 30, 2026
Can you apply for scholarships as a junior?
Yes. Plenty of scholarships accept applications from juniors, and some are only open before senior year. Applying now means you are competing with fewer students, and you learn how applications work before the senior-year rush. Build a short list now and keep it in a scholarship tracker, then see the grade-by-grade timeline for what to do each year. Next year? See scholarships for seniors.