Every year, millions of students enroll in college for the first time. It’s an exciting time for most - but for many, the cost of attendance looms large. Undergraduate scholarships can help to address these concerns, but finding financial aid can be quite challenging, to say the least.

Scholarships don't have to be paid back and can be used to cover tuition, fees, room and board and sometimes more. Unfortunately, finding these opportunities can feel just as complicated as getting into college in the first place.

Undergraduate scholarships can be given on the basis of need or merit. Need-based scholarships will take the student’s financial situation into account, while merit-based scholarships will only look at the student’s academic, athletic or artistic record.

How to get scholarships in the USA for undergraduate studies

If you're interested in a scholarship, visit the scholarship provider's official website and read the eligibility section first. This will determine if you meet the basic criteria, which typically includes factors like school year, planned major, demonstrated financial need, first generation college student, race, ethnicity, extracurricular activities and more.

If you're eligible, you can move on to the scholarship requirement portion, which describes what you need to submit in order to complete the application. This will usually include a transcript, essay or personal statement and at least one letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach or another adult who knows you well. Some scholarships may also require additional essays, a portfolio or a video. It all depends on the specific scholarship.

Continue reading the article below the scholarship list.

25 Undergraduate Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines

Many schools also require that students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for an internal scholarship. By completing the FAFSA, you'll also be able to receive federal grants and student loans. Filling out the FAFSA is a step that all college students should take, no matter their background.

By completing the FAFSA, you'll also be eligible to receive federal grants and student loans. Filling out the FAFSA is a step that all college students should take, no matter their background. There is no fee to complete the form.

Many states have their own scholarship system that requires either the FAFSA or a separate application. Some schools have one singular application that will grant you access to multiple scholarship opportunities, while other schools require a separate application for each scholarship.

The FAFSA has to be completed every year that you want financial aid. FAFSA results can change every year, depending on your and your family’s financial situation.

How to qualify for an undergraduate scholarship

Many scholarships require that students are U.S. citizens and have a Social Security Number, but not all scholarships require this. You must also usually have a high school degree, but some scholarships will accept a GED or another equivalent.

The most basic requirement is submitting your application by the deadline. If you fill in the application after the deadline, you will not be considered for the award - no matter how qualified you may be.

Make sure to read through the application’s fine print. For example, if the scholarship asks for three letters of recommendation and you only attach two, you will likely not be eligible. Understand all the rules and double-check to make sure you’ve included everything.

If you have any questions, email the scholarship provider as soon as possible. If the deadline is coming up and you haven’t received an answer, try to submit everything the scholarship asks for and send a follow-up email to the scholarship provider.

If you apply and do not win, you can try again next year, if you still meet the eligibility requirements. There is usually no penalty associated with applying for the same scholarship multiple years.

Undergraduate scholarship FAQs

Whether you’re a current or prospective undergraduate student, there’s a lot to understand about these types of scholarships. Here are some of the most popular questions:

Can any grade level apply for an undergraduate scholarship?

One common - and expensive - misconception is that only graduating seniors are eligible for undergraduate scholarships. People often say that if you’re not a high school senior, then it’s not worth looking for scholarships.

However, in reality, students from every grade level can find scholarships. Students should always keep looking for scholarships, even if they're already a senior in college.

And while most school applications are due around the same time, scholarship application deadlines can vary wildly. You can look for potential scholarship applications at any point during the year, and you can always fill them out ahead of time when you are less busy.

What's the best place to find undergraduate scholarships?

Third-party resources like our Scholarship Directory are a great place to start. While many undergraduate scholarships are open to almost all students, you can also filter undergraduate scholarships by skills, gender, ethnicity, hobbies and more. This can help you find unique scholarships that you’re most suited for.

Even if you're not attending school locally, you may be able to qualify for scholarships and grants from your own state. Visit your state's department or board of education and see what you’re eligible for.

Can two-year students apply for undergraduate scholarships?

Community college students are usually still eligible for undergraduate scholarships, as long as the scholarship doesn’t specifically exclude them. For example, the Texas Urban Scholarship is available to both two-year and four-year students. The Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Program awards scholarships exclusively for two-year students. Community college students may also be eligible for state grants.

For example, the Texas Urban Scholarship is available to both two- and four-year students. Community college students can receive up to $700. You must have demonstrated financial need to be eligible, and you must be from one of 43 specific Texas cities, including Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Houston.

The Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Program awards scholarships exclusively for two-year students. Awards range from $1,000 to $1,500 and 200 scholarships will be given out each year.

Community college students may also be eligible for state grants, but they usually have to be attending school locally to qualify.

When can I start looking for undergraduate scholarships?

There’s an old proverb that says the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.

The same is true for scholarships. You can start looking for scholarships at any point in your academic career, even if you’re still in middle school. But if you’re in high school, you can start researching potential scholarships and applying for the ones you seem like a good fit for.

While you need to be at least a high school junior for many, if you look hard enough, you may find a scholarship or two that accepts younger applicants; even high school freshmen in some cases.

Do I have to know where I’m going to school to apply for undergraduate scholarships?

One of the biggest hang ups that high school students have is thinking they need to know where they’re going to school to apply for scholarships. But that’s simply a myth. You don’t have to be accepted anywhere to apply and even win a scholarship.

However, in terms of scholarship eligibility, it often matters where you attend school. For instance, some scholarships are only available for students from certain states or who are attending specific types of universities.

Let’s say you win a scholarship that is only given to students attending a Texas school, but you ultimately decide to go to the University of Southern California. In this case, you’ll have to give up your award. When applying for any kind of scholarship, double-check and make sure you understand all the rules and limitations.

Can you negotiate undergraduate scholarships?

Negotiating more money from a third-party organization can be tricky. Those amounts are often set in stone.

However, you might have better luck with your school’s own financial aid department. When you apply to a school, they’ll send you an award letter, which spells out all the financial aid you’ll receive. This includes grants, scholarships, work-study and student loans.

If you receive the letter and realize you’re still coming up short, you can file an appeal and request more money. However, this isn’t like your normal negotiation strategy. You need to demonstrate that you deserve more funds because of financial need.

For example, if one of your parents recently lost their job, that won’t be reflected on the most recent FAFSA application. However, you can mention this in your appeal and say that your parent’s financial situation has now changed dramatically. Being specific in your appeal can help you get the money you need.

Can I get an undergraduate scholarship if I already have a degree?

If you already have a bachelor’s or associate’s degree and are going back to school, you may have a harder time getting a scholarship. That’s because many undergraduate scholarship providers only give out awards if you don’t already have a degree.

That doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying to get a scholarship - it just means you need to fully understand the rules and limits before filling out a scholarship application. Also, some schools may still be willing to give you an internal scholarship if you meet their criteria. When applying, make sure to compare financial aid offers carefully.

However, other types of financial aid can be trickier if you have already graduated with a degree or attended college before. Federal financial aid is often limited, either by a certain number of semesters or a funding amount. For example, you can only receive Pell Grants for 12 semesters total and if you have not already received a bachelor’s or graduate degree.

Also, federal student loans are limited to $31,000 or $57,500 for undergraduate students (the amount varies depending on if you’re a dependent or independent student). If you have already used up that amount, then you won’t be eligible for more funding.

I don’t have a 4.0 GPA - can I still qualify for an undergraduate scholarship?

In a competitive college landscape, it’s easy to think that you need to be a standout student to even have a hope of winning a scholarship. Fortunately, that’s simply not true.

Most scholarships ask for a minimum 3.0 GPA, but that depends on the specific organization. Some organizations may ask for a 3.5 GPA, while others are fine with a 2.5.

For example, the Chuck Peacock Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students who are studying aviation management. Students only need to have a 2.5 GPA to qualify. This scholarship is worth $1,000.

Can I renew an undergraduate scholarship?

What’s better than winning a scholarship? Knowing that it will be renewed for multiple years. Many undergraduate scholarships are given with the stipulation that they can be renewed for several years, often for four years total.

However, students usually have to follow some basic rules, like maintaining a certain GPA. Most scholarships require that you can keep a 3.0 GPA. If your GPA drops below 3.0, then you may lose your funding. Also, not taking enough credit hours can potentially cause problems.

If your scholarship is related to a particular major, then dropping that major may also result in you losing that scholarship. Running into disciplinary problems can also result in a scholarship loss.

Once you lose a scholarship, it’s hard to get it back - even if you meet the criteria again.

How do I improve my chances of winning an undergraduate scholarship?

Some people think that winning a scholarship is all about luck. But there are definitely ways to improve your odds.

The first step is to find scholarships that you’re uniquely suited for, instead of the big generic scholarships that almost anyone can apply for. To find these scholarships, you should list all your interests, skills, hobbies, racial and ethnic attributes and more. Then, take each of these keywords and the word “scholarship” and plug them into Google.

You might be surprised at the kind of scholarships you can find once you start looking. For example, the Cyber Security Scholarship is only available to students who are from a rural area and who are interested in cyber security. Students will receive $1,000, as well as free cyber security training courses.

To organize your scholarship search, create a spreadsheet where you write down each scholarship, the deadline, application requirements and website links. If you have to write an essay, you can also link directly to the essay from your spreadsheet.

What are the easiest undergraduate scholarships to apply for?

When you’re a busy student, finding the time to fill out endless scholarship applications and ask for letters of recommendation might seem impossible.

There are some scholarships that have no essay requirements, so they’re popular with time-strapped students. These easy scholarship applications usually only take a few minutes.

For example, the $2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship is available once a month and students only need to answer five simple questions to apply. Winners are selected via sweepstakes.

You don’t want these to be the only type of scholarship you apply for though. The competition is so high that you’re unlikely to win. Think of these scholarships like dessert - you should sprinkle them in among your regular, more dense and time-consuming applications.