Written By: Zina Kumok|
Edited By: Kevin Ladd|Updated: October 5, 2024
Scholarships for High School Seniors
Key takeaways:
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, for the 2021-2022 academic year, student's were awarded an average scholarship or grant of $8,080 for a public school and $21,718 for a private school.
Scholarships are awarded based on various criteria including academic, athletic and artistic merit as well as community service involvement.
Completing the FAFSA is essential for accessing many scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
If you’re going to college, your senior year of high school will be filled with a long to-do list. You’ll have to apply to college, sort through financial aid information and decide what school to attend - on top of finishing your high school education.
In the midst of that chaos, applying for scholarships can get lost in the shuffle. However, while they may seem like an afterthought, scholarships are absolutely crucial if you want to reduce your college costs.
In the article, we'll show you how to find and apply to scholarships for high school seniors.
About scholarships for high school seniors
Scholarships generally fall into two main categories, merit-based and need-based. Scholarships for high school seniors may also be awarded based on academic, athletic or artistic merit as well as community service involvement. Most scholarships have specific eligibility requirements.
Scholarships.com helps you find scholarships you qualify for by providing a personalized list of scholarship matches.
Well-known scholarships for high school seniors
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program awards 1,400 students with scholarships each year, awarding $3.55 million annually. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for high school seniors who are committed to making a positive impact in their school and community.
One third of the 2024 Coke Scholars are members of the Scholarships.com community. According to the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, "less than 1/6th of 1% of applicants were chosen", a testament to the leadership, service, and academic achievements of the Scholarships.com community.
The Gates Scholarship
The Gates Scholarship is both a merit-based and need-based scholarship focused on supporting minority high school seniors from low-income households. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.3 however, The Gates Scholarship is highly selective. TGS scholars receive a scholarship for the full cost of college attendance that is not already covered by other financial aid.
Cooke College Scholarship Program
The Cooke College Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors with financial need who plan to attend one of the nation's top four-year colleges and universities. The program is for high-achieving students with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5. The selection criteria is based on academic achievements, leadership, persistence, and financial need. According to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, “the award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide as much as $55,000 per year to pursue a bachelor’s degree at any accredited undergraduate institution.”
Find less competitive scholarships for high school seniors
Well-known scholarships are always worth applying to however, they are much more competitive. Scholarships.com specializes in finding you less competitive scholarships as well. Our scholarship database consists of many local scholarships in your city and state.
Continue reading the article below the scholarship list.
25 Scholarships for High School Seniors with Approaching Deadlines
Where to find scholarships for high school seniors
High school seniors can search our Scholarship Directory where all the scholarships in our database are accessible by category. The directory is designed to help students and parents find scholarships they may qualify for based on academic major, school year, geographic location and other demographics and attributes. For a more personalized experience, high school seniors can create an account to match with scholarships you qualify for.
Another great place to find scholarships is through the school you're applying to. When you fill out a basic college application, you may be automatically considered for many internal awards. Some schools may require additional documents for you to be eligible for those scholarships. Contact the financial aid department and ask them how you can maximize your scholarship opportunities.
Make sure to ask your high school counselor, community foundations, professional organizations, and places of worship for additional access to local scholarships.
How to apply for scholarships for high school seniors
Scholarships.com matches you with scholarships you qualify for but now you have to apply. The most important thing is to stay organized. Our platform allows you to mark your favorite scholarships, those you have applied to, and more. It is a good idea to create a Google Sheets with more detailed scholarship information such as deadlines, scholarship application requirements, and award amounts.
Make sure to follow the scholarship application requirements and reach out to the scholarship provider directly with questions and/or to confirm receipt of your application.
If you're attending college next year, you will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during your senior year of high school. The FAFSA is the official form that students must complete to receive federal student loans and grants.
Most students don't know that completing the FAFSA also gives them access to scholarships they would not otherwise receive. Most schools require that students submit the FAFSA to receive their own grants and scholarships. Even if you don't think you'll qualify for need-based aid, you may still need to fill out the FAFSA to receive merit scholarships.
And contrary to popular opinion, you should still fill out the FAFSA even after you're enrolled in college. It has to be completed every year that you want to receive financial aid.
You should try to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after the application has been opened. Some institutional scholarships and grants are only given on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you wait too long to apply, you won’t receive those awards.
Also, make sure to monitor two specific deadlines: the school’s financial aid deadline and the state’s financial aid deadline. You should write down whichever deadline is soonest on your calendar and make sure to submit all required materials on or before that date. Missing these deadlines could result in you being ineligible for thousands or even tens of thousands of potential financial aid.
Frequently asked questions about scholarships for high school seniors
Before you start filling out those scholarship applications, make sure to read through the following questions to learn everything you should know about these awards: