Niche $25,000 No Essay Scholarship
Cara Goldstone Image Written By: Cara Goldstone | Edited By: Alyssa Schulz | Updated: June 2, 2026

Essay Scholarships

Key takeaways:

  • Scholarships with essay components may be contests, which only require essay submissions, or traditional application-based awards with written supplements.
  • The requirements for essay scholarships, including word counts, prompts, and document specifications, vary depending on the award.
  • There are scholarships with essays for all kinds of students, regardless of school year, academic interest, or other individual qualities.

While writing a whole essay for a scholarship application may sound intimidating at first, essay-based scholarships are well worth the effort. It’s a good idea to get used to writing and submitting essays because many scholarships require written components, even when they place more weight on other factors. Keep reading to find a list of the best essay scholarships available, plus tips on how to win them.

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The 25 Best Essay Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines in 2026

  • 1

  • L. Ron Hubbard Writers of The Future Contest

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineJune 30, 2026

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. Entrants retain all publication rights. Scholarship Details Merit-based Up to $5,000 available Quarterly opportunities for submission, with one grand prize winner per

  • 2

  • Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest

  • Amount$8,000
  • DeadlineJune 30, 2026

Regions Bank awards quarterly scholarships of $8,000 each to the student with the best video or written essay. The topic of students' written or video essays must be an individual they know personally who lives in their community; the essay must address how the individual has inspired the applicant and helped them build the confidence they need to achieve their goals. Scholarship Details 4

  • 3

  • LGBTIQ+ OUTbio Scholarship Program

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineJuly 10, 2026

The LGBTIQ+ OUTbio Scholarship aims to encourage young adults within the LGBTQ+ community to pursue careers in STEM, particularly in the life sciences. Established by OUTbio, the biotech industry's largest LGBTQ+ professional group, this scholarship supports students who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ diversity, equity, and inclusion. Scholarship Details Open

  • 4

  • Minecraft Scholarship

  • Amount$2,000
  • DeadlineJuly 31, 2026

Apex Hosting is dedicated to supporting education and the positive impact of Minecraft in learning. We are excited to offer a scholarship for students passionate about this unique educational tool. Scholarship Details $2,000 scholarship towards college tuition. Annual scholarship with drawings in early August. Eligibility Criteria U.S.

  • 5

  • U.S. Naval Intelligence Essay Contest

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineJuly 31, 2026

This year’s naval intelligence essay contest invites applicants to propose a course for naval intelligence to adapt, inform, and shape the Navy and nation. Awards will be given to the top three submissions. Scholarship Details $5,000, $2,500, and $1,500 prizes awarded. Winners will be recognized at the Naval Intelligence Professionals' Annual Meeting. Essays have the potential

  • 6

  • Euphradian Foundation Essay Scholarship

  • Amount$500
  • DeadlineSeptember 1, 2026

The Euphradian Society was founded by students of the University of South Carolina in 1806 as a forensic and literary society. For more than two centuries, the Euphradian Society has been committed to nurturing the art of oratory and cultivating the virtue of its members as part of an effort to preserve the liberal arts heritage of the University of South Carolina. Scholarship Details

  • 7

  • The Gates Scholarship

  • AmountFull-Tuition
  • DeadlineSeptember 15, 2026

The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding minority high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, TGS awards exceptional student leaders, aiming to help them realize their maximum potential. Scholarship Details Scholars receive funding for the full cost of attendance that is not covered by other financial aid and the expected

  • 8

  • The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. National High School Essay Contest

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineOctober 31, 2026

The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. invites high school seniors to participate in its annual International High School Essay Contest. This scholarship opportunity is available to all college-bound seniors who can submit their essays through a Chapter of the Fraternity. Scholarship Details Essays may be submitted via postal service or email in Microsoft Word Scholarships: $5,000, $3,000,

  • 9

  • Cooke College Scholarship

  • Amount$55,000
  • DeadlineNovember 12, 2026

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's top four-year colleges and universities. Scholarship Details Significant coverage of educational expenses including tuition, living expenses, books, and required fees.

  • 10

  • Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation Essay Contest

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineDecember 10, 2026

The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation (KHREF) is offering scholarships to high school students who submit the best essays addressing the prompts provided. There are two contests, one for high school students in the U.S. and another for students who are citizens and residents of other countries. This is an excellent opportunity for students to engage in critical thinking about human rights

  • 11

  • John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

  • Amount$10,000
  • DeadlineJanuary 12, 2027

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation invites U.S. high school students to describe and analyze an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born. Scholarship Details Required essay of 700 to 1,000 words Essay must be the student’s original work A minimum of five varied sources, such as government

  • 12

  • Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship

  • Amount$40,000
  • DeadlineJanuary 15, 2027

Amazon Future Engineer students can boost their future for themselves and their community with the support of college funding, paid internships, and industry mentors. Last year, hundreds of students selected from nearly 40 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico were awarded this $40,000 scholarship, along with a paid internship at Amazon. Scholarship Details Up to $40,000 in college

  • 13

  • Elie Wiesel Prize In Ethics Essay Contest

  • Amount$10,000
  • DeadlineJanuary 20, 2027

The Elie Wiesel Foundation established the Prize in Ethics Essay Contest in 1989. Thousands of students from hundreds of colleges and universities across the nation have participated. Through their writing, they explored their concerns and beliefs, their fears and their hopes. While we suggest relevant topics each year, applicants are encouraged to choose any subject they feel strongly about,

  • 14

  • Association for Women in Mathematics Essay Contest

  • AmountVaries
  • DeadlineFebruary 1, 2027

To increase awareness of women’s ongoing contributions to the mathematical sciences, the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and Math for America co-sponsors an essay contest for biographies of contemporary women mathematicians and statisticians in academic, industrial, and government careers. The essays will be based primarily on an interview with a woman currently working in or retired

  • 15

  • PAVE Essay Contest and Scholarship Program

  • Amount$3,500
  • DeadlineFebruary 28, 2027

The PAVE Essay Contest and Scholarship Program is open to all high school juniors and seniors enrolled at a school in Michigan. Immediate family members of PAVE staff, PAVE member organizations, contest sponsors, and the PAVE Essay Contest Selection Committee are not eligible to enter. Scholarship Details Participants can choose from three essay prompts Essays should be 1,000 words or

  • 16

  • Sofia Blanco Scholarship for Childhood Cancer Survivors

  • Amount$2,000
  • DeadlineMarch 15, 2027

Childhood cancer patients/survivors can apply to receive one of three (3) scholarships toward their college education. Recipients of the Sofia Blanco College Scholarships will receive a $2,000 allowance fortuition/room and board, plus a laptop or tablet (first-time awardees only). Scholarship Details Three scholarships are available annually, each valued at $2,000 First-time awardees

  • 17

  • Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service

  • Amount$50,000
  • DeadlineMarch 17, 2027

The Voyager Scholarship supports students who have a passion for helping others, experience serving their communities, and can demonstrate an expansive view of what's possible through public service. We are looking for young people from every corner of this country who share a curiosity about the world and the conviction to want to make positive change within it. Scholarship Details Up

  • 18

  • CBC Spouses Essay Contest

  • Amount$2,000
  • DeadlineMarch 27, 2027

Each year, qualified African-American and Black junior and senior high school students participate in the Essay Contest and Issue Forum. Students are presented with a topic that embodies some of our communities’ most pressing issues and are asked to write an essay to defend their research, analyses, and opinion. Submissions are judged by a special committee of CBC Spouses. Winners and their

  • 19

  • IWSH Scholarship Essay Contest

  • Amount$2,000
  • DeadlineApril 30, 2027

The IWSH Essay Contest encourages thoughtful discussion about clean water, public health, and the essential role of professionally installed plumbing systems, which are critical for preventing waterborne illnesses and protecting public health. Scholarship Details Essays must be between 800 and 1,600 original words Open to high school seniors, full-time technical or trade school

  • 20

  • Irene Adler Prize

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineMay 30, 2027

The Irene Adler Prize is open to women pursuing a bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution. In addition to the $1,000 US prize, up to two $250 honorable mentions will be awarded. Entry is free for applicants worldwide. (This marks a change from 2017 to 2022, when the prize was available exclusively to U.S. and

  • 21

  • Freedom From Religion Foundation Essay Contests

  • Amount$3,500
  • DeadlineJune 1, 2027

The Freedom From Religion Foundation Essay Contests are open to all ongoing college students already attending a North American college or university. You remain eligible to enter this contest if you will graduate from college by spring or summer the year of the award. Please fill out online submission form and attach essay. The essay must be double-spaced, standard margins, font size of 11 to 14

  • 22

  • Hindus for Human Rights Civil Rights Scholarship Contest

  • Amount$1,500
  • DeadlineJune 1, 2027

The Hindus for Human Rights Scholarship Contest centers on migration as a constant in human history, inviting emerging writers and artists in high school and college to reflect on movement, borders, and belonging through personal, historical, and creative lenses. Scholarship Details 4–5 scholarships awarded Award amount: $1,500 each Fully funded by Hindus for Human Rights and

What are essay scholarships?

Essay scholarships are financial aid awards that require a written component to apply. These scholarships may be presented as essay contests, whose winners are chosen based on their essay submissions alone, or they may simply include essay components as a part of a longer application. Exact eligibility criteria varies by scholarship, as do the approved ways in which the award can be applied.

Essay contest scholarships, for example, are likely to have fewer restrictions on the use of their funds than other essay scholarships. These contest winners may be permitted to spend their funds however they wish, while traditional scholarship funds are typically reserved for tuition alone.

Some essay scholarships may only be open to certain groups or encourage applications based on students with particular interests. There are essay contests specifically offered to minority students, while others are open to any group. Some might also consider applicants’ financial need or be solely merit-based. They may be filtered further by major or year in school; it all depends on the award.

How to apply for scholarships with essays

The best way to apply for essay scholarships is to sign up for a free account on Scholarships.com. In under 5 minutes, you can input your demographic and academic information to match with all the scholarships for which you are eligible. From there, you can sort through your matches to determine which have essay components and view details about each of them, including the steps you need to take to apply.

At minimum, most scholarships with essays will require your basic demographics, like your age and year in school, as well as at least 1 typed essay, which you will usually submit as a digital file. If you are entering an essay contest, this may be all you need to submit to apply; however, scholarships not designated as contests will likely require more information.

When writing your essay, make sure to follow the scholarship provider’s instructions. There will usually be an essay prompt, a required word count, and specifications about the file format. Some essay scholarships may require you to anonymize your essay document before submitting. Ensure you follow all the guidelines so your application is considered.

It’s important to note that scholarship committees need to read your essay in your own words to fairly and accurately choose a winner. If you plagiarize or use AI to generate an essay, you risk disqualification from the scholarship and may be banned from future competitions.

Frequently asked questions about essay scholarships:

How long should a scholarship essay be?

Different scholarships and contests will have different word count requirements. Length expectations may vary based on all kinds of factors; an essay scholarship for graduate students may require a lengthy, specialized written component about a particular topic, whereas a broader, general essay contest for high school juniors may be more open-ended in its length requirement.

For instance, the $5,000 OUTbio LGBTIQ+ Scholarship Program, open to LGBTQ+ college students and graduating seniors in New England going into STEM fields, requires many supplemental documents to apply. Given the intensity of its other requirements, its essay component has an upper limit of 300 words.

The U.S. Naval Intelligence Essay Contest is also worth up to $5,000, but its parameters are much different. Almost anyone can apply; the essay component, which must be anonymized to submit, may reach up to 2,500 words on the subject of naval intelligence in the U.S. Essay scholarships like this one that only require students to submit a single document often have significantly heightened word counts.

Are scholarship essays all about yourself?

The topic of each scholarship essay you write will vary based on who the scholarship is targeted towards and what the award money is endowed for. Sometimes, you’ll be asked to write a general essay about your goals and how they relate to the scholarship award, similar to a personal statement. Not all scholarship essays will be written on the same topic, though.

The Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship is an example of an award with a personal statement-type essay as one of its requirements. Along with academic records and general demographics, the $40,000 scholarship contains essay and short-answer questions about applicants’ life goals and personal interests to demonstrate their involvement in engineering.

The $10,000 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest, on the other hand, entails a research paper-style essay as its written component. Students must submit analytical essays of 700-1000 words, using primary and secondary sources to support their arguments about acts of courage by JFK-era politicians.

Do scholarship essays always have prompts?

In general, scholarship committees will outline a prompt to which students must respond in their essay submissions. Whether it is open-ended or very specific and argument-based, the prompt for a scholarship essay is the rubric by which scholarship providers will judge submissions. Always make sure to keep your essay on-topic with the prompt.

Prompts vary widely based on the scholarship to which you are applying. For example, Apex Hosting’s $2,000 Minecraft Scholarship prompts applicants to write at least 500 words about the impact of Minecraft as an educational tool; the IWSH Scholarship Essay Contest is worth the same amount, but its topic is sanitation processes and access to clean water. Your essay topic should always align with the prompt you are given.

What are the best scholarships with essays for high school seniors?

The best scholarship for any student is the one they have the highest chance of winning, which varies from person to person. Given the huge wealth of essay scholarships available to high school seniors in particular, it’s a good idea to narrow down the options as much as possible by searching for highly-specific scholarships. These awards will have smaller applicant pools and thus be easier to win.

A good example of a less-competitive essay scholarship for high school seniors is the Queer Youth of Faith National Essay Contest. Worth $2,000, this award invites LGBTQ+ seniors of any practicing religion or faith to write an essay about intersectionality between queerness and faith. Due to its relatively specific eligibility criteria and essay requirement, this scholarship may be the best choice for qualifying students.

Can you re-use a scholarship essay?

If your scholarship essay has not been officially published online or in print anywhere, you may be able to submit it to multiple scholarship providers, effectively re-using the same essay for multiple scholarships. However, it’s crucial to ensure that your essay follows the guidelines of every scholarship to which you submit it.

If you aim to re-use a scholarship essay, make sure you tailor it based on the different requirements of each scholarship. If the prompts for the scholarships to which you’re hoping to apply are incompatible or the specifications are significantly different, it’s a good idea to write a whole new essay rather than trying to modify one you’ve already written.