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Scholarships
Top West Virginia scholarships for you
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Scholarships for West Virginia
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The Scholarships360 $10,000 "No Essay" Scholarship
Due: 8/31/25
No essay
$10,000
West Virginia - The Charlotte Prudich, Elizabeth B. Devereaux, and Deborah Shamblin Endowed Scholarship
Due: 9/30/25
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Charlotte Prudich, Elizabeth B. Devereaux, and Deborah Shamblin Endowed Scholarship Scholarships will be awarded to occupational therapy students enrolled in an accredited OT, OTA, MOT or OTD program in the United States of America, and is a member of the West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association. Applicants will need three total references: an academic reference, a character reference, and a reference from their OT Program Director. The academic reference should be from a current faculty member or faculty advisor who can speak about the applicant's academic ability. The character reference should be someone who can speak to the applicant's character. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the American Occupational Therapy Foundation for more information.
James Cothran, KD3NI, Scholarship
Due: 1/6/26
No essay
No Recommendations Required
$2,000
The James Cothran, KD3NI, Scholarship will be awarded to those with active Amateur Radio License Class. Applicants must be holding an amateur radio license for at least 1 year. Applicants must either be residents of the Atlantic Division (DE, MD, PA, Southern NJ, Western NY), the Roanoke Division (NC, SC, VA, WV), or the Southeastern Division (AL, FL, GA) or Washington, D.C. Students in any field of study at any institution are eligible. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.
Gary Wagner, K3OMI, Scholarship
Due: 1/6/26
No essay
No Recommendations Required
$1,000
The Gary Wagner, K3OMI, Scholarship will be awarded to those with active Novice Class Amateur Radio License or higher. Applicants must be holding an amateur radio license for at least 1 year. Eligible field of study is Bachelor of Science degree in any field of engineering. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.
L. Phil and Alice J. Wicker Scholarship
Due: 1/6/26
No essay
No Recommendations Required
$2,000
The L. Phil and Alice J. Wicker Scholarship will be awarded to those with active General Class license or higher. Eligible fields of study are bachelor's degree or higher in electronics, communications, or related fields. The applicant must be holding an amateur radio license for at least one year. Transcripts must include all semesters for which grades have been awarded. If the student is applying for graduate school assistance, high school transcripts are not necessary. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.
West Virginia University - Foundation Scholarship
Due: 1/21/26
No essay
No Recommendations Required
$4,500
The West Virginia University - Foundation Scholarship is available to WV resident students who attend and graduate from a West Virginia high school. Students must be admitted to WVU as first-time freshmen by January 16, 2024. Home-schooled students who are WV residents must be home-schooled for at least their senior year to be eligible to apply. Students who meet the admission deadline will be considered for scholarships based on the submission of new high school transcripts or ACT/SAT scores if the information is updated on their WVU student record. This scholarship covers the cost of attendance as determined by financial aid for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor's degree - whichever comes first, plus a one-time $4,500 stipend for study abroad or academic enhancement. Students receiving the Promise Scholarship will receive the Foundation Scholarship less the Promise Scholarship amount. Please visit the scholarship's website and contact the Office of Admissions for more information and inquiries about the application.
Bucklew Scholarship
Due: 1/21/26
No essay
No Recommendations Required
$10,000
The Bucklew Scholarship is available to WV resident students who attend and graduate from a West Virginia high school. Students must be admitted to WVU as first-time freshmen by January 16, 2024. Home-schooled students who are WV residents must be home-schooled for at least their senior year to be eligible to apply. Students eligible to apply will receive additional materials by mail for completion starting in late November 2023. Please visit the scholarship's website and contact the Office of Admission for more information and inquiries about the application.
West Virginia Society of Professional Surveyors Scholarship
Due: 1/31/26
No min. GPA Required
$2,000
The West Virginia Society of Professional Surveyors Scholarship is open to students enrolled in either a two- or four-year surveying degree program and either a West Virginia resident or a student enrolled in a West Virginia college or university. Applicants must be student members of the National Society of Professional Surveyors. Three original letters of recommendation from individuals who are not related to the applicant are required. One must be from a faculty advisor. Applicants must also submit a copy of their driver's license or other state-issued ID. Applications and required documents may be submitted through email or mail. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the National Society of Professional Surveyors for more information.
Arthur M. and Laila Maki Ferenz Scholarship
Due: 2/12/26
No Recommendations Required
Varies
The Arthur M. and Laila Maki Ferenz Scholarship will be awarded to students in any college or university. Applicants must submit their most recent grades. They do not have to be the official transcripts. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation for more information.
Charleston Rotary Club Scholarship
Due: 2/12/26
No Recommendations Required
Varies
The Charleston Rotary Club Scholarship will be awarded to students in any college or university in West Virginia. Applicants must be residents of the Charleston area. Preference will be given to students having prior business or entrepreneurial experience, which must be reflected in the required personal essay. Applicants must also demonstrate service to their schools and communities and have excellent academic performance, which must also be reflected in their required personal essay. Applicants must submit their most recent grades. They do not have to be the official transcripts. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation for more information.
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What are West Virginia scholarships?
West Virginia scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for students living in West Virginia or looking to go to school in West Virginia. West Virginia scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for West Virginia scholarships
Before you apply for West Virginia scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements. To qualify for West Virginia scholarships, you’ll most likely need to prove you’re a resident or you’re attending school in that state. Some other common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!
Are West Virginia scholarships worth my time?
Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning.
Pro tip: Don’t skip over West Virginia scholarships with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find West Virginia scholarships?
There are many resources to help you find West Virginia scholarships.
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 tools 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.”

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Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
What types of scholarships are available for students?
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 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.
Here are more tips that can help you understand all there is to know about scholarships and up your chances of winning.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for West Virginia 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.
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Tips for writing scholarship essays
Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.

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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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