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Scholarships
Top journalism scholarships for you
Find scholarships for journalism majors that can help you pay for college.
Here’s a scholarship you can apply for in minutes.
Enter $2,000 scholarship*
Here’s a scholarship you can apply for in minutes.
What are journalism scholarships?
Journalism scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for journalism students. Scholarships for journalism majors can help students access higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach because of financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for journalism scholarships
Before you apply for journalism scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements to see if you qualify. These may include:
- Minimum GPA
- Community service experience
- U.S. citizenship
- Plans to attend an accredited program
- Leadership skills
- FAFSA® submission
Scholarship requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Keep searching for scholarships that best match your qualifications.
Are journalism scholarships worth my time?
If you want to get as much free money as you can for your education, then yes! You’ll find some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for, while others require more time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply for scholarships that require work (like writing an essay) which means you could have better odds of winning if you apply for one of those.
Pro tip: Don’t pass up on journalism scholarships that have smaller award amounts. ($) There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find journalism scholarships?
From your school to national organizations, there are so many places to find journalism scholarships that can help you pay for college.
Scholarship resources
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free scholarship search engines, like Scholly Scholarships
- Local libraries, businesses, or associations
Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”
Scholly Scholarships
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Find scholarships that are right for you
Easily search through thousands of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.
Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
Scholarships for journalism majors
Jean and Charles Shulz Endowed Scholarship
Due: May 31, 2025
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Jean and Charles Shulz Endowed Scholarship is available to students majoring in Journalism. Information about scholarships is posted on the Student Information Board on the second floor of the Scripps Howard building, announced via student email or are posted on the school's intranet when they become available.
Roosevelt Freshman Honors Scholar Program
Due: 2/1/26
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Roosevelt Freshman Honors Scholar Program is available to incoming freshmen who demonstrate high academic achievement and potential and demonstrate significant interest in civic affairs. The program reflects various career goals, among them but not limited to journalism, social work, law, public health, policy evaluation, philanthropy, electoral politics, activism, agency administration, and corporate social responsibility. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information about the award and the process of application.
Sheila A. Wolfe Award for Excellence in News Journalism
Due: 1/23/26
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Sheila A. Wolfe Award for Excellence in News Journalism is designed to support an entering first-year student who is pursuing a career in non-broadcast news journalism. Preference is given to a student graduating from a Chicago-area high school, and also a student who has worked on a high school newspaper. Applicants must demonstrate academic excellence and must be a Multimedia Journalism major in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
George D. Bernstein Memorial Scholarship in Print Journalism
Due: May 31, 2025
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The George D. Bernstein Memorial Scholarship in Print Journalism is awarded to students based on academic accomplishment, professional preparation, and financial need to students intending to pursue a career in print journalism. First consideration will be given to journalism graduates from Dutchess Community College. Students may contact Student Financial Services for more information and inquiries about the application.
Professor Robert Woodward Endowed Scholarship for Multimedia Journalism Majors
Due: 1/23/26
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Professor Robert Woodward Endowed Scholarship for Multimedia Journalism Majors is designed to support an entering first-year student who is pursuing a career in non-broadcast news journalism. Applicants must demonstrate academic excellence and must be a Multimedia Journalism major in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Students must have a clear understanding and passion for Professor Woodward's legacy by demonstrating a depth of knowledge of his key tenets - accuracy, ethical decision-making, and reporting and editing the facts - by participating in student media or other related activities.
NABJ Scholarships
The NABJ Board of Directors awards a scholarship to students who have a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in journalism and media, a record of community service, and who are in need of financial support. Applicants must be a current NABJ student member in good standing. At least 3 work samples and 3 references are required. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Richard E. Moore Endowment
Due: May 31, 2025
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Richard E. Moore Endowment is open to sophomore, junior, or senior students majoring in Journalism or English. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Ken Inouye Memorial Scholarship
Due: 5/15/25
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,500
The Ken Inouye Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a college journalist of color and is aimed at increasing ethnic diversity in newsrooms. SPJ/LA will award scholarships to aspiring journalists who are students in an accredited journalism program in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties. Applicants must demonstrate their potential to succeed in news, sports, and photojournalism media careers. Students born and raised and who attended high schools in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties and are attending accredited journalism programs elsewhere are also eligible. Applicants must submit at least three of their best fair and balanced work. No opinion pieces will be accepted. Print or text journalists must submit at least three news articles they have written. Photojournalists must submit five or six samples or more to show the breadth of their experience. Broadcast journalists must submit a variety of video clips on set and reporting in the field. Applicants must submit a recommendation letter from their journalism professors or instructors. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact SPJ/LA for more information.
Baltimore Sun Diversity in Journalism Scholarship
Due: 1/20/26
No min. GPA Required
Varies
The Baltimore Sun Diversity in Journalism Scholarship is open to a journalism student living in The Baltimore Sun's circulation area. All incoming journalism students are considered for the listed scholarships based on their applications to the university and their financial needs. Scholarship applications for current students are accepted toward the end of the spring semester and are reviewed annually. Scholarships are only available for current and incoming Merrill students for the upcoming academic year.
MSOJ SWOOP Scholarship
Due: 2/28/26
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The MSOJ SWOOP Scholarship is available to underGraduate Studentss majoring in Advertising. Students must be active in SWOOP. Submission of FAFSA is encouraged but not required.
What types of journalism scholarships are available?
Need-based scholarships
These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to be eligible.
Career-specific grants or scholarships
These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®. To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”
Community or nonprofit scholarships
Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.
Tips for successful scholarship applications
- Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
- You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
- If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
- Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
- Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
- Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
- Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
- Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.
Want more tips to up your chances of winning? Check out our scholarship guide for everything you need to know about finding and winning scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for journalism scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
Need more money for college?
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More resources to explore
Tips for writing scholarship essays
Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.
Find scholarship resources
Explore our scholarship resources, articles, and guide to get all the tips and tricks to help pay for college.
Fill out the FAFSA®
Learn when and how to apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your chances of getting federal student financial aid. Get tips now.
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