Searching for scholarships can feel overwhelming, but the right websites can make the process much easier. Instead of manually sifting through hundreds of programs, scholarship search engines allow you to filter by eligibility, deadlines, and award amounts. Whether you’re a high school senior, college student, or graduate applicant, these top scholarship websites will help you find free money for school.

1. Scholarships.com

Best for: Large scholarship database and personalized matching

Why It’s Great:

  • Over 3.7 million scholarships worth $19 billion
  • Free personalized search based on your background, major, and interests
  • Updated frequently with new scholarships

Pros:
✔ Easy to use with detailed filters
✔ Includes college-specific scholarships
✔ Free to sign up and search

Cons:
🚫 Requires creating an account to access full listings
🚫 Some scholarships may have high competition

🔗 Visit: www.scholarships.com

2. Fastweb

Best for: Students looking for personalized scholarship recommendations

Why It’s Great:

  • One of the oldest and most trusted scholarship search engines
  • Matches students with scholarships, internships, and part-time jobs
  • Sends email alerts for new scholarship opportunities

Pros:
✔ Advanced filtering to find scholarships that fit you
✔ Offers financial aid and loan information
✔ Great for high school and college students

Cons:
🚫 Requires an account to access full listings
🚫 Some email alerts can be repetitive

🔗 Visit: www.fastweb.com

3. Cappex

Best for: Finding scholarships and comparing colleges

Why It’s Great:

  • Over $11 billion in scholarships available
  • Includes a college search tool to compare schools
  • Helps students see their admissions chances based on their profile

Pros:
✔ Easy to navigate with clear scholarship details
✔ Combines college and scholarship search in one place
✔ Includes student reviews of colleges

Cons:
🚫 Requires sign-up to view scholarships
🚫 Some scholarship listings may be outdated

🔗 Visit: www.cappex.com

4. Chegg Scholarships

Best for: A user-friendly experience and no spam emails

Why It’s Great:

  • Over 25,000 scholarships listed
  • No need to create an account
  • Simple, clean search tool for quick results

Pros:
✔ No account required to browse
✔ No spam or excessive emails
✔ Straightforward search filters

Cons:
🚫 Fewer scholarship opportunities than bigger databases
🚫 Some scholarships are limited to U.S. students

🔗 Visit: www.chegg.com/scholarships

5. Niche

Best for: No-essay scholarships and unique awards

Why It’s Great:

  • Offers easy-to-apply no-essay scholarships
  • Includes college rankings and reviews
  • Some scholarships require just a quick sign-up

Pros:
✔ Simple application process
✔ Unique scholarship opportunities
✔ Great for students who don’t want to write essays

Cons:
🚫 Limited advanced search filters
🚫 High competition for easy-apply scholarships

🔗 Visit: www.niche.com

6. College Board’s BigFuture

Best for: Reliable scholarships from a trusted source

Why It’s Great:

  • Over $6 billion in scholarships
  • Offers scholarship programs directly from the College Board
  • Matches students with merit-based and need-based scholarships

Pros:
✔ Reputable source for scholarships
✔ No account required to browse
✔ Helps students understand financial aid

Cons:
🚫 Some scholarships require additional applications
🚫 Not as many niche scholarships as other sites

🔗 Visit: bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

7. Bold.org

Best for: Exclusive scholarships with less competition

Why It’s Great:

  • Offers exclusive scholarships not found on other sites
  • Focuses on students with unique backgrounds, interests, and talents
  • Many scholarships have lower applicant pools, increasing chances of winning

Pros:
✔ No-essay scholarships available
✔ Supports underrepresented students
✔ Private platform with unique funding sources

Cons:
🚫 Requires a Bold.org account
🚫 Not as many large scholarships as bigger search engines

🔗 Visit: www.bold.org

8. Going Merry

Best for: Applying to multiple scholarships with one application

Why It’s Great:

  • Allows you to apply for multiple scholarships at once
  • Matches students with scholarships based on their profile
  • Also provides grants and financial aid resources

Pros:
✔ Saves time with a universal application
✔ Includes both local and national scholarships
✔ Offers FAFSA assistance

Cons:
🚫 Requires an account to access scholarships
🚫 Some scholarships still require separate applications

🔗 Visit: www.goingmerry.com

How to Make the Most of Scholarship Websites

💡 Sign up for multiple sites – No single website has every scholarship, so use at least 2-3 for the best results.

💡 Set up email alerts – Stay updated on new scholarships before deadlines pass.

💡 Apply early and often – The more you apply, the better your chances of winning.

💡 Watch out for scamsLegit scholarships never ask for money or personal financial details.

Final Thoughts: Find Free Money for College

Scholarships can make a huge difference in reducing student debt, but finding the right ones takes effort. These top scholarship websites will help you maximize your chances of winning. Take the time to explore them, apply for as many scholarships as possible, and keep working toward your educational goals!

Related Content

Scholarships for Single Parents: How to Get Help Paying for College

Going back to school as a single parent can be a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to create a brighter future for you and your family. Thankfully, there are scholarships and financial aid programs specifically designed to support single parents in achieving...

Balancing Family, Work, and Education: Time Management Tips for Adult Learners

Going back to school as an adult can be rewarding, but it also comes with challenges—especially if you’re juggling family, a full-time job, and coursework. Finding time for everything without feeling overwhelmed is possible with the right strategies. Learn how to...

How to Save Money on College Textbooks (Legally)

College is already expensive enough—tuition, housing, meal plans, and yes, those infamous textbooks. The average college student spends over $1,200 a year on books and supplies, but it doesn’t have to be that way. With a few smart (and totally legal) strategies, you...

Returning to School After a Break: What You Need to Know

Going back to school after a break can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a chance to chase new goals and open doors to better opportunities. Whether you’re starting fresh or finishing what you started, returning to school as an adult requires planning, focus, and a bit...

Scholarships for Non-Traditional Students: Where to Look

Going back to school as a non-traditional student can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when it comes to paying for tuition. Many scholarships are designed for recent high school graduates, but plenty of funding opportunities exist for adults returning to...

Networking in College: Building Connections That Pay Off Later

When people talk about success after college, they often focus on grades, internships, or résumés. But there’s another powerful factor that can open doors long before you graduate: your network. The relationships you build in college—with professors, classmates,...

Essential Apps Every College Student Should Download

College is a juggling act—classes, homework, social life, maybe even a part-time job. Luckily, there’s an app for pretty much everything. Whether you're trying to stay on top of deadlines, manage your money, or cram for midterms, having the right tools on your phone...

The Ultimate Guide to College Applications

Applying to college can feel overwhelming, but breaking the process into manageable steps makes it much easier. Get step-by-step advice to craft a standout application, from choosing the right schools to nailing your personal statement. Start with Self-Reflection...

Financial Aid vs. Scholarships: What’s the Difference?

Navigating college funding can be confusing, especially when terms like "financial aid" and "scholarships" are thrown around. Understand the key differences between these two funding sources and how to maximize both for your education. What is Financial Aid? Financial...

How to Maximize FAFSA: Getting the Most Out of Federal Aid

Every year, millions of students miss out on free financial aid simply because they don’t fully understand how the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) works—or how to make it work for them. Whether you’re a first-time applicant or renewing your form for...

Check out these scholarships:

Media Fellows Scholarship

The Washington Media Scholars Foundation (WMSF) provides the opportunity for college students to gain firsthand knowledge of the public policy advertising world through scholarship and networking opportunities. The Media Fellows program is the Foundation’s essay-based...

Association of Women Contractors Scholarship

With the mission to drive equity in terms of the ratio of women-owned business and women in the construction industry, we offer financial support in the form of scholarships to female students and apprentices who are pursuing careers in the construction industry....

George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship

The George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship was established to provide scholarship opportunities to outstanding students who are preparing for careers in public service.Scholarship Sponsor Ok College StartAward Type $1,000 CashGender Eligibility AllOther...

Ohio News Media Foundation Minority Scholarship

The Ohio News Media Foundation will award a $1,250 scholarship to a minority high school senior in Ohio who plans to major in a field relevant to the newspaper industry, particularly journalism, advertising, marketing, or communications degree program at an accredited...

Dr. Duane Grierson Memorial Scholarship

College bound seniors living in Clark County, Nevada, or current college students attending UNLV, who are a current member of a school or club baseball, basketball, or football team may apply for this scholarship. Student must have a 3.0 or higher GPA and plan to...

Bill of Rights Institute We the Students Essay Contest

Students across the country are asked to write an essay responding to the prompt of the year. The first place winner will receive a scholarship to Constitutional Academy on top of a monetary prize.Scholarship Sponsor Bill of Rights InstituteAward Type $7,500...

John Elway – Melba FFA Scholarship

Pursuing a degree in any field of agriculture or agribusiness. Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale required. Scholarship Sponsor Western Dairy Farmers Promotion AssociationAward Type $300 CashGender Eligibility AllOther Requirements/Criteria Geographic Criteria: Idaho...

Elizabeth Garde National Scholarship

The Danish Sisterhood of America is very proud of its Scholarship and Grant Program. We have four different scholarships, one of which presently offers eight awards per year, and one grant program offering ten awards annually – five are given in February (the “January...

Interior Design Creative Scholarship

College bound seniors living in Clark County, Nevada who plan to attend UNLV to study Interior Architecture & Design may apply for this scholarship. Student may be a senior at a charter, private, or CCSD high school. One $600 scholarship will be awarded.Scholarship...

The Loren Gruber Scholarship for Literary Studies

Missouri Valley College offers the Loren Gruber Scholarship for Literary Studies to incoming English majors. Applicants must have an ACT of 21 or an SAT of 976, and have a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must write a 500-word essay about their favorite book, blog, poem, play,...

Aerosmith Scholarship

The Aerosmith Scholarship is open to music business/management majors at Berklee College of Music, who have a GPA of at least 3.7. Scholarship Sponsor Berklee CollegeAward Type Varies CashGender Eligibility AllOther Requirements/Criteria Geographic Criteria: USA...

Animal Welfare Institute Scholarship

The Animal Welfare Institute Scholarship is open to seniors in high school who have demonstrated a commitment to animal welfare through volunteer work and/or advocacy and intend to pursue a career that will ultimately reduce animal suffering. Scholarship Sponsor...

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences sponsors programs, seminars, and scholarships for high school and colleges in cities served by the 19 local chapters and awards scholarships to outstanding high school seniors who intend to pursue a bachelor's...

The Edison International STEM Scholarship

The Edison Scholars Program supports students pursuing degrees in STEM fields. Scholarship Sponsor Edison InternationalAward Type $40,000 CashGender Eligibility AllOther Requirements/Criteria Geographic Criteria: Southern California Criteria / Requirements:Applicant...

Rear Admiral John D. Hayes Pre-Doctoral Fellowship

Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC), Department of the Navy, using gift/trust funds, is offering one pre-doctoral fellowship in U.S. naval history for the academic year. NHHC will provide financial and scholarly aid for dissertation research and writing. The...
Skip to content