Applying for college? If you’ve already started exploring your options, you know just how expensive it can be!
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of a public 4-year college for the 2025-26 school year is $10,340 per year, totaling $41,360 over 4 years. Over the last 20 years, the cost of college has risen by 93% — that means it’s nearly doubled since the 2005-06 school year!
Fortunately, there’s help available through scholarships, just as long as you know where to find them and how to apply.
Scholarships come in all shapes and sizes, with some need-based, some merit-based, and others designed for students with specific backgrounds or interests. No matter who you are, there are opportunities out there for you!
To help out prospective college students, we put together a guide on applying for scholarships:
How to find scholarships
Start your scholarship search close to home by checking out local opportunities from community organizations, businesses, and your high school. Local scholarships have fewer applicants, and with less competition, you have a better shot at winning some!
If you already know where you’re planning to go to college, you can look on their website for scholarships, too. Most schools list merit awards, departmental scholarships, and need-based opportunities on their financial aid or admissions pages.
Once you’ve looked at local scholarships, check out national scholarship databases like Scholarship America, Kaleidoscope, Fastweb, Scholarships360, and Bold.org. You can search these databases based on your demographic information, interests, or even whether or not the application requires an essay.
Pro Tip: It may be tempting to avoid the scholarships that require essays, but a lot of other people think so, too, so you may have a better shot if you apply to those!
There are organizations out there that want to give money to you — you just have to find them!
When to look for scholarships
It’s never too early for high school students to start looking for scholarships! Don’t feel like you have to wait until your senior year. Many scholarships are open to juniors, sophomores, and even freshmen. The earlier you start, the more chances you’ll have to apply!
Be sure to apply year-round. While many scholarships become available during peak seasons like fall and spring, new scholarships open every month.
You’ll also become eligible for additional scholarships as you move into higher grade levels or join new activities. Make it a habit to check regularly so you never miss an opportunity!
How many scholarships to apply for
Apply for as many scholarships as you possibly can! Even smaller awards, like $250 or $500, add up quickly, and every little bit will help you reduce your future college costs.
The more scholarships you apply for, the more likely you are to receive one! Build a steady routine, such as applying for at least a few scholarships every month.
While you do want to make sure you’re answering each application’s specific questions, you’ll find there’s a lot of overlap that allows you to reuse (with some editing!) your essays and short answers. As you build up your written materials, each new application becomes faster and easier to complete.
How to craft a great scholarship application
When you’re filling out scholarship application forms, details matter! Clean, polished writing shows that you put care into your application, so check your spelling and grammar, and make sure all information is accurate.
Follow all instructions exactly as written. This means not going over word limits, submitting the correct documents, and answering specific questions. Being thorough and precise demonstrates your ability to follow directions.
When possible, support your answers with specific examples. For instance, instead of just saying, “I’m a leader,” add an example of a time you acted as a leader. Describe what you did, why it mattered, and what you learned.
Before you hit submit, review every section of the application! Double-check essays, short answers, and uploaded documents to catch any errors you may have missed.
For tips on writing a college application essay, check out our blog post: Applying For College? Stand Out With A Powerful Personal Essay.
Other tips for applying for scholarships
Keep a list or spreadsheet to organize the scholarships you’ve applied for and plan to apply for. Make sure to track requirements, deadlines, and any materials you need to submit. Staying organized like this helps ensure you never miss an opportunity.
If a scholarship requires a recommendation letter, ask your teacher, coach, or mentor at least two weeks before the deadline. This gives them plenty of time to write a thoughtful, personalized letter. It also helps to share your goals, activities, and the scholarship details so they know what to highlight.
Be cautious of any scholarship opportunity that asks for your credit card number, bank information, or any kind of application fee. These may be scams, but even when they’re legitimate, most scholarships are completely free to apply for. Your time is better spent focusing on those no-cost opportunities.
Applying for scholarships takes time and effort, but every application brings you one step closer to reducing your college costs! Stay thoughtful, persistent, and organized, and you’ll give yourself the best shot at earning the support you deserve. You’ve got this!
