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Full Tuition Scholarships

Full-tuition scholarships are the holy grail of college scholarships- prizes that will cover the majority of your college costs for four years. These scholarship awards can cover tuition costs to all of your living expenses, depending on the terms determined by the provider. While these scholarship opportunities are more rare than others and tend to involve tougher competition, they are readily available for application.

Universities, states, and even several cities offer full-tuition scholarships based on criteria such as merit-based academic scholarships, or on SAT or ACT scores, high school GPA, community service experience, and other criteria. Local scholarships can be funded either publicly or privately and are offered to students from certain geographic areas. Many such scholarships require students to attend a specific college or one of several colleges in a state.

Additionally, several corporate scholarships and foundation scholarship awards cover a student’s full tuition from one to four years of enrollment. Corporate and foundation scholarships typically give students more freedom to attend college where they choose, including private colleges or out-of-state schools while still receiving scholarship money to cover most, if not all, of their tuition expenses. These awards tend to have strong merit or need-based requirements. A number of scholarships for minorities fall into this category as well.

While there might not be a full-tuition scholarship opportunity for everybody, it is still worth the search. You can find full-tuition scholarships and other large dollar amount scholarships when you conduct a free college scholarship search on Scholarships.com. And remember, even if you do not find one full-tuition scholarship that solves all your financial woes, you should still apply for scholarships! Awards of $1000 or $2000 can add up, and every dollar you receive in scholarships is a dollar you will not have to pay back in student loans.

5 Strong Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 12/31/2020
  • Amount: $50,000
  • The 5 Strong Scholarship Foundation is a team of experienced educators that have over 30 years of experience helping minority students graduate from high school and get into college. We have teamed up to form a foundation that's going to be dedicated to building cohorts of 5 college ready scholars and placing them on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

    Applicants must [...] More

Allen Meyer Family Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • The goal of the scholarship program is to provide full tuition assistance to students who can demonstrate moderate to significant financial need, who wish to pursue an outstanding, intellectually rigorous, secondary education at Parish Episcopal School. Applicants must be a new or current Parish student entering the 9th grade at Parish Episcopal School
    and demonstrate moderate to significant [...] More

Chicago Police and Fire Scholarship - UChicago

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • To be considered for this full-tuition scholarship, candidates must be high school seniors who qualify for admission to the
    University of Chicago and be children (biological or legally adopted) of currently active, sworn Chicago Firefighters, Chicago
    Police Officers, or University of Chicago Police Officers who will remain active for the duration of their children’s college careers. Students [...] More

Colorado Garden Show Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/15/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • Applicants of the Colorado Garden Show Scholarships must major in horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, botany, biology (as it applies to horticulture/agriculture sciences), forestry, agronomy, conservation, plant pathology, environmental concerns, city planning and/or other related subjects. For more information and to apply for one of these scholarships, visit the website above. [...] More

Disciples Leadership Program

  • Application Deadline: 1/10/2021
  • Amount: $6,000
  • This top-tier, competitive scholarship is awarded to first-time freshmen based on leadership, academic excellence, and the commitment to explore during college a life of faith-based servant leadership. DLP Fellows receive full tuition plus two on-site mentorships ($6,000 total combined, travel-related expenses) exploring service anywhere in the world. DOC students discerning a call to ordained [...] More

Hyundai Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/15/2020
  • Amount: $20,000
  • It is anticipated that South Korean scholars will utilize their knowledge to enhance the viability of the South Korean economy through the expansion of educational technology in the fields of international business, international banking, computer science, information technology, research and development, and related fields. The program is also designed to interest American scholars in Korea and [...] More

JWU Business Professionals of America (BPA) Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $7,500
  • The JWU Business Professionals of America (BPA) Scholarship is available to any accepted incoming student who is a past or present member of BPA. Recipient is selected based upon participation in organization and transcripts. The award is renewable for up to four years and recipient must participate in and give support to JWU's BPA activities. For more information, or to apply, please visit the [...] More

JWU DECA Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The JWU DECA Scholarship is available to any accepted incoming student who is a past or present member of DECA. Recipients are selected based upon participation in organization and transcripts. The award is renewable for up to four years and students must participate in, and give support to JWU's DECA activities. Award amounts range from $1,000 up to full tuition. Scholarships are awarded on an [...] More

JWU Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • The JWU Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Scholarship is available to any accepted incoming student who is a past or present member of FCCLA. Recipients are selected based upon participation in organization and transcripts. The award is renewable for up to four years, and recipients must participate in and give support to JWU's FCCLA activities. Scholarships are awarded on [...] More

JWU Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/31/2020
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The JWU Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Scholarship is available to any accepted incoming student who is a past or present member of FBLA. Recipients are selected based upon participation in organization and transcripts. The award is renewable for up to four years and recipients must participate in and give support to JWU's FBLA activities. Scholarships awarded on an ongoing basis. For [...] More

JWU Junior Achievement (JA) Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $2,000
  • The JWU Junior Achievement (JA) Scholarship is available to any accepted incoming student who is a past or present member of JA. Recipients are selected based upon participation in organization and transcripts. The award is renewable for up to four years and recipients must participate in and give support to JWU's JA activities. Applications received before February will be considered for full [...] More

JWU SkillsUSA Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • The JWU SkillsUSA Scholarship is awarded to any accepted incoming student who is a past or present member of SkillsUSA. Recipients are selected based upon participation in SkillsUSA and their transcripts. These awards are renewable for up to four years, and recipients must participate in and give support to JWU's SkillsUSA activities. Scholarships are awarded on an ongoing basis. For more [...] More

JWU Technology Student Association (TSA) Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $7,500
  • The JWU Technology Student Association (TSA) Scholarship is awarded to any accepted incoming student who is a past or present member of TSA. Recipients are selected based upon participation in TSA and their transcripts. This award is renewable for up to four years, and recipients must participate in and give support to JWU's TSA activities. Applications received before February will be considered [...] More

McConnell Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 12/15/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The McConnell Scholars Program is a prestigious enrichment program aimed at Kentucky residents who have demonstrated outstanding leadership potential and are committed to the principles of scholarship, leadership, and service. There are 10 awards given each year, and the program has produced more than 200 successful alumni. The program is open to Kentucky high school graduates with a minimum 3.5 [...] More

Mercatus MA Fellowship

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2020
  • Amount: $80,000
  • The Mercatus MA Fellowship is a two-year, competitive, full-time fellowship program for students pursuing a master's degree in economics at George Mason University who are interested in gaining an advanced degree in applied economics in preparation for a career in public policy. The Mercatus Center's MA Fellowship program is targeted toward students with an interest in gaining advanced training [...] More

Microsoft Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • We strongly encourage underrepresented groups to pursue STEM fields of study. Because we greatly value a broad range of perspectives and contributions, a large majority of our scholarships will be awarded to female students, underrepresented minority students (African-American, Hispanic or Native American etc.) or students with disabilities. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a bachelor's [...] More

SMART Scholarship for Service

  • Application Deadline: 12/1/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service is a scholarship for service program that provides students with a stipend (starting between $22,500 and $38,000 per year), full tuition, health coverage, book allowance of $1,000, and other education expenses. SMART has been established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support the education, recruitment [...] More

Starbucks College Achievement Plan

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • Starbucks believes in the promise and pursuit of the American Dream. While more than 70 percent of our U.S. partners (employees) are students or aspiring students, we know that only half of Americans who begin college today will actually finish, largely due to financial and work/life barriers. Starbucks is proud to join with an academic institution that recognizes the need for innovation to offer [...] More

ULINE Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/22/2020
  • Amount: $5,000
  • Uline, a family-owned business, is the leading distributor of shipping, industrial and packaging materials to businesses throughout North America. Uline is also a strategic partner of Marquette University's College of Business and is pleased to provide a scholarship for juniors and seniors in the college and invites all qualified candidates to apply. For more information, or to apply, please [...] More

West Virginia PROMISE Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2020
  • Amount: $4,750
  • The PROMISE (Providing Real Opportunities for Maximizing In-State Student Excellence) Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship program that is designed to make college more affordable to all qualified West Virginia students.
    The program, funded for the first time in 2001, will provide each eligible West Virginia high school graduate a full tuition scholarship to a state college or university in [...] More

Latest College & Financial Aid News

McDonald's, Ivy Tech Team Up on College Tuition Assistance Program

January 23, 2020

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

More than 300 McDonald's locations will participate in the new Archways to Opportunity education program which - through its partnership with Indiana's community college system - will help its employees afford college tuition. McDonald's employees who work a minimum 15 hours per week for 90 days can receive up to $2,500 in college tuition assistance each year - or $3,000 per year for managers - at 18 Ivy Tech Community College campuses located in Indiana.

[...]

Get Paid to Play in College with ESA Esports Scholarships

January 21, 2020

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced its first Esports scholarship, expanding its 20-year-old scholarship program to include Esports competitors in college, according to Polygon. The ESA Esports scholarship program is "intended to elevate the participation of women and minorities" who currently "account for a very small percentage of Esports scholarship recipients. Therefore, in order to be eligible for the ESA Foundation Computer and Video Game Arts Scholarship, you must either be a woman or minority and pursuing a degree leading to a career in computer and video game arts and sciences. Current high school seniors, college freshman, sophomore and juniors who are U.S. citizens may apply for the ESA Esports scholarship. Applicants must also be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program at an accredited four (4) year college or university in the upcoming fall semester in order to be considered. All scholarship applications are due March 2, 2020 at 11:59 PST. Applicants will receive results by mid-June and funds will be issued to scholarship winners by end of August. [...]

Biggest / Largest Dollar Scholarships in 2020

January 16, 2020

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

When it comes to large dollar scholarships, mo' money means fewer problems in paying your college tuition bill. The average student will land between $1,000 and $5,000 in college scholarships after investing a decent amount of time and effort into applying for scholarships. Even smaller scholarships worth $500 are enough to cover books and fees, even if they aren't enough to foot an entire semester’s college tuition bill. [...]

Last Reviewed: January 2020

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