Scholarships by Grade Level
People often think scholarships are only awarded to incoming freshmen. Though freshmen scholarships are popular, there are a multitude of other scholarships offered to students at every grade level.
A few scholarships will have open eligibility, allowing anyone who meets basic requirements to apply, whether they are in middle school, high school, college , or attaining a graduate/professional degree. These awards can be sweepstakes, contests, or awards based on specific activities such as community service. Awards can also be divided by grade level or age group and, give out multiple scholarship prizes within the group. These scholarships allow for a broad appeal, and prevent any one group from having an unfair advantage.
Grade Level Limits
Scholarships commonly target specific age groups or grade levels. These range from “high school juniors born in a particular calendar year” to “anyone currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or professional program”. By limiting eligibility requirements to a specific population, scholarship providers are making sure that students are competing at an equal grade level.
Scholarships for High School Students
Scholarships for high school students is the most common category of Scholarships by Grade Level. High school students are planning to attend college for the first time and likely do not have funding sources available. Scholarships for high school students creates an investment for new students to begin higher education.
Scholarships for Undergraduate Students
Not every student has four years of funding secured from the first day of college. Many students continually search for new scholarships because their first award was not renewable annually. Scholarship providers recognize the need for funding beyond the first year of college, and have created scholarships for undergraduate students for students who need continuous funding.
Scholarships for Graduate Students
While less common, there are scholarships for graduate students. Graduate students typically rely on fellowship, however there are not many fellowships and they do not always cover living expenses. Therefore, a number of scholarship providers are willing to help graduate students finish their educational pursuits by providing funding.
Other Resources
To begin exploring Scholarships by Grade Level, check our free resources listed above. To get a customized list of scholarship awards, fill out a profile on Scholarships.com and conduct a free college scholarship search.