Zina Kumok Image Written By: Zina Kumok | Updated: December 2, 2024

Scholarships for Summer

Deadlines for scholarships can vary quite a bit, sometimes making it difficult for students to balance these applications with their academics and extracurriculars. That’s why scholarships with summer deadlines are so attractive, because students usually have more time to complete them.

Continue reading the article below the scholarship list.

25 Scholarships for Summer with Approaching Deadlines

Fortunately, there are many summer scholarships available - if you know where to look. Read below to learn how summer scholarships work, where to find them and how to apply.

What is a summer scholarship?

A summer scholarship is a scholarship that are due in the summer months, starting with deadlines in June. Just like other scholarships, summer scholarships can be used to pay for tuition, room and board, textbooks, software and other related expenses. Some summer scholarships can be used for summer classes or summer study-abroad programs.

Summer scholarships are popular for students who are busy with classes, sports and other extracurricular activities during the school year. Even if you’re working a full-time job in the summer, you probably still have more time to devote to applications.

Each scholarship provider decides when they will announces winners, and many summer scholarships will have a quicker turnaround, due to it being so close to the start of the fall semester for college. They will often notify finalists within a few months of applying or even sooner. This will vary from one scholarship to another.

How to apply for a summer scholarship

To apply for a summer scholarship, you can log-in to your Scholarships.com profile and search by deadline. Our scholarship directory lets you filter applications by date, so you can easily find scholarships with a summer deadline.

The summer due date can make some aspects more challenging for students. One of the trickier parts of applying for a summer scholarship is getting recommendation letters. Some teachers may be slower to respond to emails during the summer, so you should give them more time than normal if you need a reference.

The same problem can arise if you are writing a scholarship essay and want a teacher to review it beforehand, so you should always err on the side of giving more notice. You can also ask multiple teachers just in case one or two don’t respond. Before the school year ends, you can ask teachers for the best way to contact them during the summer. They may agree to give you their personal email address so you can reach out with any questions.

Frequently asked questions about summer scholarships

What are the best summer scholarships?

Contrary to what you may have been told, there are still many excellent scholarships that have deadlines in the summer. The Out To Innovate Scholarships for LGBTQ+STEM Students are given to students who are part of the LGBTQ+ community and are also interested in a STEM career. This scholarship has a June deadline.

The Empower College Scholarships Program provides $5,000 annually to students who are committed to community service and have a household income of $70,000 or less. The scholarship can be renewed for multiple years. There is a July deadline for this particular application. You can also search for local or regional scholarships with summer deadlines. Your high school’s college counselor may be able to help you find scholarship opportunities that are a good fit.

What if I run out of summer scholarships to apply for?

Even though there are quite a number summer scholarships, you may run through the list and still have time to spare before the school year starts. You can apply for scholarships that have fall or winter deadlines. Getting a head start on scholarships can improve your chances of winning, because you won’t be rushing around at the last minute.

If you’re an rising high school senior, the summer is also a good time to start the college application process. Most colleges open their applications starting on August 1, so you can start working on them before the fall semester begins.

How else can I spend the summer besides applying for scholarships?

Aside from completing scholarship applications, you can also use the summer to get a part-time job, shadow professionals in an industry you’re interested in or take extra classes. Also, if you’re not a strong test taker, you can find SAT or ACT classes to help you improve your scores. Doing this can boost your chances of getting into your dream school and increase how much aid you receive.

Remember to relax and have fun as well, especially if you found yourself burned out at the end of the school year. Giving yourself a chance to recharge your batteries can make you a better student when school starts up again.

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