How Gen Z is using TikTok to reinvent the scholarship hunt

Key takeaways

• About 2 in 3 (68%) of students use TikTok to look for scholarships.*
• TikTok can help you discover scholarships you might not find elsewhere.
• Quick videos make it easier to understand what a scholarship requires.
• Not all information is accurate, so it’s important to double-check details.
• Using TikTok with trusted tools can help you find and apply to more scholarships.

If you’ve been using TikTok alongside your usual scholarship search—checking school websites, using search tools, or talking to your counselor—you’re already doing something smart. I’m seeing more and more students take this approach, and it often leads to finding opportunities they wouldn’t have come across otherwise.

Source: "TikTok made me apply: Inside Gen Z's scholarship search habits"

In fact, our research from "TikTok made me apply: Inside Gen Z's scholarship search habits" shows that about 2 in 3 students (68%) use TikTok to look for scholarships. So if this is part of your process, you’re in good company.

In other words, sometimes scrolling can pay off with college money.

TikTok isn’t meant to replace the tools you already trust. But it can make your search feel more active, more manageable, and sometimes even a little more motivating, especially when you start seeing real examples of students who've won scholarships.

When you combine traditional scholarship sources and what you’re discovering on TikTok, you give yourself a better shot at finding more opportunities and following through on them. 

Here’s how to make that mix work in your favor.

How TikTok can boost your scholarship search

TikTok often works best as a discovery tool, and it's a way to expand what you’re already doing.

In less than a minute, you can get a quick breakdown of:

• Who a scholarship is for
• How much it’s worth
• What you need to do next

And when creators share what worked for them—like what they wrote about and how they applied—it can make the process feel more doable. You’re not just reading instructions, you’re seeing how someone else figured it out.

That kind of quick overview makes it easier to decide what’s worth your time—and what you can skip for now.

It’s also one of the easiest ways to find smaller or less obvious scholarships. About 3 in 5 (60%) of students say they’ve discovered opportunities on TikTok they hadn’t seen anywhere else. That matters, especially since the best-known scholarships are often the most competitive.

Once you find something that looks like a good fit, tools like Scholly^® Scholarships can help you dig deeper by finding verified, 100% legit opportunities based on your background, major, award amount, year in school, and more.

How to get the most out of using TikTok 

If you’re already using TikTok, a few small shifts can make it much more useful.

Think of it as a first step, not the whole process.

Here’s a simple way to approach it:

1. Search with intention.
   Try terms like “scholarships,” “no essay scholarships,” or “college scholarships 2026.”
2. Save opportunities as you go.
   If something looks promising, save it. You can come back later when you’re ready to take action.
3. Notice what keeps coming up.
   If you see the same scholarship mentioned more than once, it’s worth a closer look.
4. Pause before you apply
   This is where many students skip a step, but it’s the most important one.

What to watch out for

TikTok can be helpful, but it’s not always accurate. About 1 in 3 students (34%) report seeing scholarship information that turns out to be misleading. This may include outdated or missing requirements or scholarships that aren't legit.

Before you apply to anything you find on TikTok:

• Go to the official scholarship website
• Double-check deadlines and requirements
• Make sure it’s a real opportunity

This step doesn’t take long, but it helps make sure your effort actually counts.

Turning what you find into real results

Finding scholarships is one part of the process. Applying is what actually gets you money. TikTok can give you ideas and motivation, but you still need a system to follow through.

After you find something:

• Verify the details
• Keep track of deadlines
• Apply as soon as you’re ready

If you want to make that process easier, free tools like Scholly^® Scholarships can help you find thousands of legitimate scholarships you can easily sort through without even needing to create an account. And if you’re just getting started, keep it simple. Applying to quick-entry opportunities like Sallie's $2,000 No Essay Scholarship and Scholly^® Easy Apply Scholarships can help you build momentum and get into a rhythm.

The bottom line

If you’re already using TikTok as part of your scholarship search, you’re on the right track. It’s a useful way to discover new opportunities and stay engaged in the process. Just remember: it works best when you pair it with more traditional resources and take that extra step to verify and apply.

When you combine both what you’re discovering and what you know is reliable, you put yourself in a much stronger position.

And over time, that consistency can really add up—not just in applications completed, but in real dollars you can use for college. Even a few smaller scholarships can stack together and make a meaningful dent in your costs.