topsversePicture Sarah, a high school senior from Ohio. She spends her evenings switching between calculus homework, debate team practice, and filling out what feels like endless scholarship applications. Sarah represents thousands of students across America who are discovering just how expensive college has become in 2025.
The numbers are pretty startling when you see them laid out. A student attending an in-state public university can expect to pay around twenty-seven thousand dollars each year for tuition, fees, and room and board. Private colleges? They can cost fifty-eight thousand six hundred dollars or even more annually. With costs like these, it makes sense that about fifty-eight percent of American families now rely on scholarships to help cover college expenses.
Here is the thing though – finding scholarships does not have to feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. There are actually some fantastic resources out there that can make this whole process much more manageable. I have put together a list of the ten best scholarship resources specifically for United States high school seniors. Each one works differently, has its own strengths, and can help you find different types of awards.
Whether you are looking for merit-based scholarships that reward academic achievement, need-based awards for families facing financial challenges, or even those quirky no-essay contests that seem too good to be true, these platforms have got you covered. The key is knowing where to look and how to use each resource effectively.
Top 10 Scholarship Resources
1. Fastweb: Your Personal Scholarship Detective
Fastweb has been around for quite a while now, and there is a good reason why guidance counselors keep recommending it. Think of it as having a personal assistant who works around the clock to find scholarships that actually match your profile.
When you create an account on Fastweb, you fill out a detailed profile about yourself – your grades, interests, background, career goals, and more. Then their system gets to work, searching through millions of scholarships to find ones you are actually eligible for. The really cool part is that it updates daily, so you get alerts when new opportunities pop up that fit your criteria.
What makes it special: The matching system is pretty sophisticated. You can set up advanced filters based on your major, demographics, location, and other factors. Plus, they have a mobile app that works well on both iPhone and Android devices, so you can scholarship hunt on the go.
Who can use it: Pretty much any United States high school or college student. They have awards for all kinds of majors, backgrounds, and financial situations. For example, they list the Dell Scholars Program, which gives twenty thousand dollars to low-income seniors who have at least a 2.4 grade point average.
Real examples: Beyond the Dell Scholars Program, Fastweb runs its own contests for members, like thousand-dollar “Invite-a-Friend” sweepstakes and various no-essay competitions.
Why students love it: The database is huge, and the personalized matching saves tons of time. It is especially good for finding those niche scholarships – like awards specifically for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics students, arts majors, or first-generation college students.
2. Scholarships.com: The Reliable Workhorse
Scholarships.com has been helping students for decades, and they claim to have assisted over twenty-six million users in finding college funding. That is a pretty impressive track record.
Like Fastweb, you set up a profile and let their system match you with appropriate scholarships. They say they have over 3.7 million scholarships in their database, and they are constantly adding new ones. One thing I really appreciate about Scholarships.com is that they verify their listings, so you can be confident the opportunities are legitimate.
What makes it special: They put a lot of emphasis on local scholarships, with about fifty percent of their listings being region-specific. This is actually brilliant because local scholarships often have fewer applicants, which means better odds for you.
Who can use it: Both United States and international students, though most awards focus on United States colleges. They cover everyone from high school seniors to graduate students.
Real examples: You will find famous programs like the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, which awards twenty thousand dollars to 150 high school seniors each year, and the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway, where one lucky winner gets one hundred thousand dollars.
Why students love it: The site has been around forever, which gives it credibility. Users like that they can see award amounts and requirements at a glance. Plus, Scholarships.com does not charge students anything or sell their information to third parties.
3. Bold.org: The New Kid Making Waves
Bold.org is relatively new compared to some other platforms, but it is definitely making an impression. They have taken a different approach by combining social networking elements with scholarship opportunities.
What sets Bold.org apart is their focus on profile-based, no-essay scholarships. Instead of writing lengthy application essays, students create detailed profiles showcasing their goals and achievements. Bold.org then uses this information to match students with their exclusive contests.
What makes it special: Many of their scholarships are completely unique to their platform, which means less competition. Their flagship “Be Bold” Scholarship awards twenty-five thousand dollars to the student with the strongest profile. No essay required – just a compelling profile.
Who can use it: They welcome students of all grade levels and majors. Many of their scholarships are open to “all education levels, all states, all grade point averages.”
Real examples: Besides the Be Bold Scholarship, they offer five thousand dollar awards for minority students and various technology-oriented scholarships. They also have a debit card program that earns cash back on purchases.
Why students love it: The low-effort nature of applications is a huge draw. Students also like the trendy vibe and partnerships with celebrities like Dwyane Wade and the band Imagine Dragons. Since the scholarships are exclusive to Bold.org, there is often less competition than you would find elsewhere.
4. College Board Opportunity Scholarships: Rewards for Planning Ahead
The College Board’s BigFuture Scholarships program is pretty unique. Instead of traditional applications, students earn entries into scholarship drawings by completing college preparation activities.
You do things like researching colleges, improving your college list, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or practicing for the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Each completed task earns you entries into drawings for five hundred dollar and forty thousand dollar awards. The earlier you finish each step, the more chances you earn.
What makes it special: There are no essays or traditional applications. You are essentially getting rewarded for doing the college prep work you should be doing anyway.
Who can use it: United States high school juniors and seniors who have a free College Board account and meet certain financial criteria. For 2025, eligible students typically include those who have earned a College Board fee waiver or attend schools with high percentages of low-income students.
Real examples: Students can earn up to forty thousand dollar scholarships through this program, plus smaller five hundred dollar awards for completing earlier tasks.
Why students love it: It is like getting paid to plan for college. The no-essay format reduces stress, and the reward system motivates steady progress. Students from families earning under sixty thousand dollars get extra entries, which helps level the playing field.
5. Going Merry: Everything in One Place
Going Merry positions itself as a one-stop scholarship shop, and they have done a pretty good job of living up to that promise. Their “Quick Match” tool lets students fill out one profile and then apply to multiple scholarships through their platform.
One of their smartest moves has been partnering with high schools and local organizations to host their scholarships online. This means you can find and apply for local awards that used to require paper applications and trips to the guidance office.
What makes it special: The profile matching and in-app applications can save enormous amounts of time. After you create your Going Merry account, the platform auto-fills parts of applications with your profile information.
Who can use it: High school and college students in the United States. They specifically mention that they cover scholarships for every grade level, not just seniors.
Real examples: The platform lists thousands of scholarships, including awards like a five thousand dollar “Best All Around” Scholarship and a one thousand dollar “Most Curious” Scholarship.
Why students love it: The convenience factor is huge. Students can apply to dozens of scholarships with minimal extra effort. The platform aggregates all deadlines and requirements in one place, and it is completely free to use.
6. Niche Scholarships: Sometimes Simple is Better
Niche.com is probably best known for its college rankings, but they also run their own scholarship contests. Their approach is refreshingly simple: no essays, no grade point average requirements, just register and apply.
Their two main offerings are a monthly two thousand dollar No Essay Scholarship and an annual forty thousand dollar No Essay Scholarship. Winners are chosen randomly from all eligible applicants.
What makes it special: The complete absence of requirements beyond age and United States residency. You just need to be 18 or older and planning to attend school within a year.
Who can use it: United States citizens or permanent residents who are high school, college, or graduate students.
Real examples: The monthly two thousand dollar scholarship has deadlines throughout the year, while the big forty thousand dollar prize typically has an October deadline.
Why students love it: These require basically no effort for potentially significant rewards. Even if you do not have stellar grades or impressive achievements, you still have the same chance as everyone else. In 2024, Niche awarded over two hundred seventy-one thousand dollars through these programs.
7. Peterson’s: For the Detail-Oriented Student
Peterson’s has been in the education publishing business for a long time, and their scholarship search engine reflects that experience. They advertise having 1.9 million scholarships worth over ten billion dollars in their database.
What really sets Peterson’s apart is their filtering system. You can get incredibly specific with your search criteria, looking for scholarships by field of study, grade point average, location, minority status, gender, and dozens of other factors.
What makes it special: The search precision is unmatched. Want to find scholarships specifically for single-parent students studying history? Peterson’s can probably find them. They also index grants and fellowships, not just traditional scholarships.
Who can use it: Students at all levels, from high school through graduate school. Many of the scholarships they list are quite targeted, so you will need to check individual requirements.
Real examples: While Peterson’s does not fund scholarships directly, they list everything from broad national awards like the Coca-Cola scholarship to very specific niche opportunities.
Why students love it: The comprehensive nature of the database and the powerful search tools. Guidance counselors often recommend it for students who want to leave no stone unturned. The interface might not be flashy, but it gets the job done.
8. RaiseMe: Getting Rewarded for Good Habits
RaiseMe has a completely different approach to scholarships. Instead of competing for awards, you earn guaranteed scholarship money from participating colleges based on your achievements throughout high school.
You sign up as early as ninth grade and build a portfolio of your accomplishments – grades, club involvement, test scores, volunteer work, and more. Each participating college offers specific dollar amounts for different achievements. When you get admitted to one of those colleges, your earned money becomes an actual scholarship.
What makes it special: The achievement-based reward system gives you immediate feedback. Get an A in algebra? That might be worth one hundred twenty dollars at University X. Earn a varsity sports letter? That could be worth two hundred fifty dollars at College Y.
Who can use it: High school students in grades nine through twelve. The number of participating colleges keeps growing, and you only get the scholarship money if you actually enroll at a participating school.
Real examples: One student earned fifty-four thousand three hundred eighty-five dollars in commitments from Susquehanna University just by logging his achievements. Another earned over five thousand dollars from Florida International University.
Why students love it: It rewards consistent effort throughout high school and provides early insight into college costs. Students report finding it motivating to see scholarship amounts accumulate over time. Since 2020, the platform has been completely free to use.
9. Scholly: The Shark Tank Success Story
Scholly was created by Christopher Gray, who famously pitched it on Shark Tank. After being acquired by Sallie Mae in 2023, the platform became completely free to use, which removed a major barrier for students.
Scholly focuses on providing a clean, mobile-friendly experience. Students enter basic information about themselves, and the platform returns matching scholarships from its database.
What makes it special: The user interface is optimized for smartphones and tablets, making it easy to search for scholarships on the go. Since Sallie Mae took over, there are no subscription fees.
Who can use it: United States students at any educational level. The platform surfaces both large national scholarships and smaller niche opportunities.
Real examples: While Scholly does not award money directly, it points users toward opportunities like the Gates Scholarship and various other national programs.
Why students love it: The convenience and backing of a well-known financial services company. Users appreciate that it is free and that the company does not sell personal data to third parties. However, students should be aware that some results might be sweepstakes-style contests rather than traditional merit scholarships.
10. National Society of High School Scholars: Exclusive Access
The National Society of High School Scholars is an academic honor society that offers scholarships to its members. Membership is by invitation only and requires a fee, but once you are in, you gain access to a variety of exclusive scholarship opportunities.
The society and its foundation distribute over 2.5 million dollars in scholarships annually across many different fields and interests.
What makes it special: Year-round scholarship programs covering everything from leadership and medicine to sustainability and literature. Some scholarships have specific naming, like the Claes Nobel Legacy Award or partnerships with major brands.
Who can use it: Primarily National Society of High School Scholars members, though some opportunities through the foundation are open to all high school or college students.
Real examples: Recent scholarships have included first-generation college student awards and various subject-specific prizes. Recipients often receive one-time cash payments that can be applied to college costs.
Why students love it: For eligible students who are already invited to join, the scholarships provide added value to membership. The range of awards means students with different interests and backgrounds can find relevant opportunities.
Tips for Successful Scholarship Applications
Getting organized early makes all the difference. Create a scholarship calendar – whether digital or on paper – to track all your deadlines. I always recommend building in at least a week buffer before each due date so you have time for essay revisions and last-minute touches.
Cast a wide net, but be strategic about it. Do not put all your energy into one or two big national scholarships. Balance your applications between “safety” scholarships where you face less competition and those bigger awards everyone knows about. Even small awards can add up to make a real difference.
When scholarships require essays, take the time to customize each one. Generic essays are easy for reviewers to spot, and they rarely win. Read the criteria carefully and emphasize the qualities they are looking for, whether that is leadership, community service, or something else entirely. Always have a teacher or counselor proofread your work.
Play to your strengths and background. Look for scholarships that align with who you are – your academic interests, intended major, hobbies, cultural heritage, or community involvement. There really are awards for almost everything, from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields to volunteering to being a first-generation college student.
Start asking for recommendations early. Reach out to potential recommenders in the spring of your junior year so they have plenty of time to write thoughtful letters. Provide them with your resume or a list of achievements to help them write specific, detailed recommendations.
Watch out for scholarship scams. Legitimate scholarships never require fees to apply. If any “scholarship service” asks for money upfront or wants your credit card information, avoid it completely. All the trustworthy platforms I have listed above are free for students to use.
Keep detailed records of everything. Save copies of all your application essays and personal statements in organized folders. You can often reuse or adapt essays for similar scholarships, which saves time. Use a spreadsheet to track each application you submit and follow up if you do not hear back within the expected timeframe.
Stay persistent and do not get discouraged. Winning scholarships takes time and effort. If you get rejected from one, move on to the next opportunity. Many successful scholarship winners emphasize that persistence and applying to numerous opportunities is the real key to success.
Conclusion
The scholarship landscape might seem overwhelming at first glance, but with the right tools and approach, it becomes much more manageable. Each of these ten resources offers something unique – whether it is Fastweb’s comprehensive database, Bold.org’s innovative no-essay contests, or specialized programs like the College Board’s BigFuture Scholarships.
The secret is not to rely on just one platform. By using a combination of these resources, you can cover all your bases: broad national awards, local opportunities with less competition, and innovative programs like micro-scholarships. Remember that every application you submit is another chance to win funding for your education.
The most important thing is to start early and stay consistent with your efforts. Even winning smaller awards can significantly reduce your college costs and financial stress. Begin exploring these resources today, use the strategies I have outlined, and stay persistent in your efforts. Your future self will definitely thank you for the hard work you put in now.