Niche College Scholarship

Scholarships for High School Juniors

High school students might assume that they can only start applying for scholarships during their senior year. However, many scholarship providers accept high school juniors as applicants. Students who start the scholarship application process in their junior year will be more likely to receive enough aid to cover their expenses without taking out student loans.

Get matched to Scholarships that fit you. Find Scholarships Now. Completely free. Vetted college scholarships

What are scholarships for high school juniors?

Scholarships for high school juniors include those who will accept applications from high school juniors as well as those who exclusively offer scholarships to juniors. For some scholarships, waiting until your senior year means you have already missed the opportunity to apply.

There are also some scholarships that all high school students can apply for, and there are even some for students of basically any age. For example, the Doodle for Google Scholarship is available to students in grades kindergarten through senior year.

You can find scholarship opportunities for high school juniors in our Scholarship Directory, or by directly going through non-profit and professional organizations. Local groups also often award scholarships, even if you’re not a high school senior.

Ask your high school college counselor if they have any suggestions for finding scholarships as a junior. They may be aware of opportunities that are more difficult to find on your own.

How to apply for scholarships for high school juniors

The most important thing to consider when applying for high school junior scholarships is whether or not you are eligible to apply.

Because many scholarships are designed for current high school seniors, juniors need to read through scholarship requirements carefully to confirm they are eligible to apply. If you’re confused about eligibility, email the scholarship program coordinator and ask if you may apply. If you’re not yet eligible, set aside that scholarship until your senior year.

Next, start organizing all the scholarships you find and use a spreadsheet or calendar to track the deadlines. This will help you stay on track and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Don’t wait until the last minute to apply for scholarships, no matter how busy you are. If you do, you’re more likely to have typos or basic errors in your application.

Frequently asked questions about scholarships for high school juniors

Why should I apply for scholarships as a high school junior?

It’s never too early to start applying for college scholarships, and in many cases, you’re better off the younger you are. Not only that, but there are many scholarships exclusively for high school juniors you will miss out on if you wait until your a high school senior to start searching and applying for scholarships.

Your senior year of high school will be stressful enough with the college application process. You will also have to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit other scholarship forms.

If you can start applying for scholarships in your junior year, you can alleviate some of the burden that you would otherwise face next year. Getting a head start could also lead to more aid than waiting until your senior year.

Applying for scholarships can be a daunting process, and there’s often a learning curve involved. By starting the process in your junior year, you’ll have some time to figure out details like which teacher to ask for a recommendation letter or how to write a winning scholarship essay.

Do I have to know what I want to study when applying to scholarships as a junior?

You don't necessarily need to know what you want to major in to apply for scholarships as a high school junior. However, some scholarships are only given to students who are committed to a specific academic major. If you don’t know what you want to major in, look for scholarships without a degree component.

A good example is the Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity is a four-year renewable scholarship open to exceptionally innovative and creative high school juniors and does not require a specific major as a qualification to apply. The scholarship award is renewable each year for a total of up to $20,000.

There are countless scholarship programs looking for students with general academic excellence, as well as athletic or artistic accomplishments. Some scholarships are even awarded based on pure chance.

You can also look for scholarships designed for students from a particular state or racial background. For example, TheDream.US National Scholarship is given to an undocumented immigrant student.

Is it worth applying to scholarships as a junior?

It is not only worth applying for scholarships as a high school junior, we strongly recommend you do so. In fact, you can begin even earlier and potentially find some free money for college.

There are a number of scholarships for juniors that can cover a huge portion of your tuition and other college expenses. For example, both the Coolidge Scholarship and the Cameron Impact Scholarship provide a full-ride to college and allow high school juniors to apply.

Even small scholarships are worth applying to, because they are less likely to have a huge influx of candidates. Those $500 or $1,000 scholarships can add up quickly - especially if you start applying while you’re a junior.

Explore more scholarship categories

Carson Scholars Fund

  • Amount $1,000
  • Deadline December 15, 2023

The Carson Scholars Fund awards $1,000 college scholarships to students in grades 4-11 who excel academically and are dedicated to serving their communities. Named “Carson Scholars,” winners receive an Olympic-sized medal and a trophy for their school. Scholarship Details Award: $1,000 college scholarship. Grades Eligible: 4-11. Previous winners can reapply ... Read more

L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of The Future Contest

  • Amount $5,000
  • Deadline December 31, 2023

L. Ron Hubbard's Illustrators of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new science fiction and fantasy artists worldwide to have their work judged by some of the masters in the field and discovered by a wide audience. Entries in the Illustrators of the Future Contest are judged only by professional artists. Three prizes of $500 are awarded each quarter. From the twelve quarterly winners each ... Read more

Live Poets Society of New Jersey - National High School Poetry Contest

  • Amount $500
  • Deadline December 31, 2023

In an effort to encourage the youth of America in the pursuit of literary exploration and excellence, and to help provide a venue in which American High School students may share their poetic works; The Live Poets Society of New Jersey presents our annual, National High School Poetry Contest. We believe it may be beneficial to browse through our other webpages before you decide to enter this ... Read more

Air Force ROTC Scholarships

  • Amount Varies
  • Deadline January 12, 2024

There are a variety of Air Force ROTC Scholarships for high school students. Applicants must either be a United States citizen or obtain U.S. citizenship by the last day of the first term of their freshman year (for four-year offers) or the first term of sophomore year (for three-year offers). Applicants must pass a Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) medical exam. ... Read more

LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Scholarship

  • Amount Varies
  • Deadline January 31, 2024

LeRoy Homer was the First Officer on Flight 93, which was hijacked and crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. The mission of The Foundation is to continue LeRoy’s love of flight by encouraging young men and women who wish to pursue aviation careers as professional pilots. The Foundation will award flight instruction scholarships to potential students for private pilot certification. ... Read more

National Merit Scholarship Corporation Program

  • Amount $2,500
  • Deadline January 31, 2024

National Merit Scholarship Program: How to Qualify and Apply What is the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)? The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has a long-standing commitment to recognizing and celebrating the academic achievements of U.S. students. Founded in 1955, its primary mission is to highlight the brilliance of young minds and promote a deeper respect for ... Read more

House Scholarship Foundation Aspiring Scholars Award

  • Amount $2,000
  • Deadline February 1, 2024

The House Scholarship Foundation recognizes and honors talented high school students across the United States and its territories by providing financial assistance through need-based and merit-based scholarships. We hope to bolster the chances of prospective college students pursuing their aspirations by alleviating the pressure of financial burdens. Applicants are honored and rewarded through a ... Read more

George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest

  • Amount $6,000
  • Deadline February 15, 2024

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) invites all high school students (9th through 12th grades) interested in the American Revolution to participate in the George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest. The contest is open to all US Citizen and Legal Resident students attending home schools, public, parochial, or private high schools in that same grade range. The ... Read more

GRCF Harry and Lucille Brown Scholarship

  • Amount Varies
  • Deadline March 1, 2024

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation's Harry and Lucille Brown Scholarship is offered to a student who is a Challenge Scholar at Union High School. Challenge Scholars should demonstrate financial need and have at least a GPA of a 2.0. Scholarship recipients are selected by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) and applicants follow the GRCF process. Dollar amounts will vary. By ... Read more

Norwegian National League Scholarship

  • Amount $1,500
  • Deadline March 1, 2024

Organized and incorporated in 1899, the Norwegian National League (NNL) of Chicago exists for the purpose of uniting all Norwegian-American organizations in the Chicagoland area. The NNL serves as an umbrella organization comprised of delegates from these organizations. Through various programs, the League and its members endeavor to keep the Norwegian cultural heritage alive. To encourage ... Read more

GRCF Fred and Lena Meijer Scholarship

  • Amount $10,000
  • Deadline March 1, 2024

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation's Fred & Lena Meijer Scholarship is awarded to any student who is a Meijer team member or a child (natural, legally adopted, or stepchild) of a Meijer Team Member who has been employed for at least one year by the time of the application deadline. Children of team members must be full-time students to apply, while Meijer team member applicants may be ... Read more

GRCF Mildred E. Troske Music Scholarship

  • Amount Varies
  • Deadline March 1, 2024

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation's Mildred E. Troske Music Scholarship is offered to a student who is a resident of Kent County (for at least two years) studying music at a camp or undergraduate music majors. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and have at least a GPA of 3.0. Scholarship recipients are selected by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) and applicants follow the ... Read more

JUF Israel Experience High School Scholarship Program

  • Amount Varies
  • Deadline March 15, 2024

The Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation and the Naftali Steinfeld Memorial Scholarship Fund offer scholarships based on financial need for high school students participating in approved Israel Experience programs. The purpose of the Israel Experience High School Scholarship Program is to develop Jewish identity and nourish greater understanding and commitment to Israel and to the Chicago Jewish ... Read more

Districts Make the Difference Video Contest

  • Amount $2,000
  • Deadline March 31, 2024

We've taken our California student video contest and expanded it across the U.S. High school students are invited to create a fun and informative short video (60 seconds max) highlighting the ways special districts ‘Make the Difference’ in local communities across the US for a chance to win a scholarship. Additional prize money will be given to the teachers of the winning students to promote ... Read more

Hearthstone Housing Foundation Scholarship Fund

  • Amount $5,000
  • Deadline March 31, 2024

Hearthstone Housing Foundation's Scholarship Fund was created to develop and empower new generations to achieve their educational endeavors. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, or come from a low-income household; be 15-25 years of age, and reside at a Hearthstone Housing Foundation property or in a county where a Hearthstone property is located. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for high ... Read more

Richland County Foundation Mansfield Noon Lions Club Scholarship Fund

  • Amount Varies
  • Deadline April 1, 2024

The Mansfield Noon Lions Club Scholarship Fund provides scholarships and or educational assistance for the visually handicapped pursuing their education either part or full-time, giving priority to those students graduating from the visually impaired program at Mansfield City Schools, and whose visual handicap, which means an impairment which, even with correction, adversely affects a child's ... Read more

Saab Family Foundation Scholarship

  • Amount Varies
  • Deadline April 1, 2024

The Saab Family Foundation provides scholarships to individuals seeking to pursue private high school education or higher education in the pursuit of a two- or four-year undergraduate degree. Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit and financial need; and may be provided to cover tuition, room and board, fees, and book expenses. Applicants must be private high school students or ... Read more

Joshua L. Anderson Memorial Foundation Scholarship

  • Amount $3,500
  • Deadline April 7, 2024

The Joshua L. Anderson Memorial Foundation was created in 1992 to award scholarships to deserving student/athlete graduates from high schools in Northern Nevada. Since inception 30 years ago, the Foundation has awarded three hundred and fifty three (353) scholarships to students from thirty three different Northern Nevada high schools. The Foundation expects to award 15 additional scholarships ... Read more

U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize

  • Amount $15,000
  • Deadline April 15, 2024

The U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) was founded in 1997 by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) to complement the Stockholm Water Prize. The SJWP is the world's most prestigious award presented to a high school student for a water-research project. Since the prize's inception, WEF has conducted the U.S. SJWP to send a national winner to the international competition. The ... Read more

Microsoft Imagine Cup

  • Amount $50,000
  • Deadline April 23, 2024

The Imagine Cup Games Competition is a global contest for the best new student games and the winning team will take home $50,000 (US). Create a desktop or tablet game using Windows, or a mobile game using Windows Phone, or a browser game using Windows Azure and you could win big at the Imagine Cup World Finals in Seattle. Many of our competitions are intended for teams, so you may also need ... Read more

Force For Good High School Essay Contest

  • Amount $2,500
  • Deadline May 26, 2024

Our goal is to increase interest in professional opportunities in the genetics and genomics fields for underrepresented populations, including people of color, by being an active part of bridging the gap in diversity in the genetics/genomics medicine field and supporting students who are interested in, but who may not feel currently represented in the field. Eligible students must currently be ... Read more

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

  • Amount $1,000
  • Deadline June 10, 2024

The annual Ocean Awareness Contest is a platform for young people to learn about environmental issues through art-making and creative communication, and become advocates for positive change. Students are invited to create Visual Art (handcrafted and digital), Creative Writing, Film, Interactive & Multimedia, Performing Arts: Music & Dance, and Poetry & Spoken Word to contribute to the largest ... Read more

Skillionaire Games Scholarship: RadLabSC

  • Amount $1,000
  • Deadline August 1, 2024

South Carolina High School Juniors and Seniors are invited to play the Rad Lab mobile gaming app to learn about educational and career pathways in the Life Sciences and be entered to win one of two $1,000 scholarships for any 2yr, 4yr or vocational school. Rad Lab is free to play and invites players to experience different applications of life science—from research and development to logistics ... Read more

L. Ron Hubbard Writers of The Future Contest

  • Amount $5,000
  • Deadline September 30, 2024

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new writers of science fiction and fantasy to have their work judged by some of the masters in the field and discovered by a wide audience. No entry fee is required and entrants retain all publication rights. Entries in the Writers of the Future Contest are adjudicated only by professional writers. Prizes of $1000, $750 and $500 ... Read more

Humans of Dementia

  • Amount $1,500
  • Deadline October 1, 2024

Founded in 2012 by Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen, Hilarity for Charity (HFC) is a national non-profit on a mission to care for families impacted by Alzheimer's disease, activate the next generation of advocates, and be a leader in brain health education and research. Storytelling is a powerful tool to help bring light to Alzheimer's disease and dementia. HFC's Humans of Dementia Storytelling ... Read more

Lindsay Sale-Tinney Award

  • Amount Varies
  • Deadline November 1, 2024

OJEFA currently offers scholarships to bring aspiring young outdoors communicators to the SEOPA conference at absolutely no cost to them. One is through the Lindsay Sale-Tinney Award. Recipients will learn about all aspects of outdoor communications from the people who make it happen day in and day out. Recipients of the Lindsay Sale-Tinney Award receive many things, such as free conference ... Read more

The James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists

  • Amount $2,500
  • Deadline November 15, 2024

In honor of the late James Alan Cox, a trailblazing television photojournalist, the James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists is committed to supporting the next generation of visual storytellers. This foundation, founded to celebrate Jim Cox's legacy, recognizes the power of storytelling through the lens and provides financial aid to high school and college student ... Read more

Michigan American Legion High School Oratorical Contest

  • Amount $25,000
  • Deadline November 17, 2024

The American Legion Oratorical contests can be financially as well as educationally rewarding. High School students who are U. S. citizens or lawful residents can hone their speaking skills while learning about the U.S. Constitution. Department level scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $2,000, with Zone runner-ups receiving $500 and runner-ups receiving $200. At the National level, they range ... Read more

United States Senate Youth Program

  • Amount $10,000
  • Deadline Varies

The mission of the United States Senate Youth Program is to provide a yearly opportunity for selected students to gain an in-depth view of the Senate and the federal government overall as well as a deeper understanding of the interrelationship of the legislative, judicial and executive branches. The program provides a foundation of knowledge and encouragement for those considering a future of ... Read more

Young Women in Public Affairs Scholarship

  • Amount $5,000
  • Deadline Varies

Because Zonta International believes that young women are the key to women’s advancement in the field of public service, it offers the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award, which recognizes young women, ages 16-19, for demonstrating leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes, and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political life. The ... Read more

Last Reviewed: December 2023