Scholarships

Scholarships for students with disabilities

Find scholarships for students with disabilities that can help you pay for college.

Here’s a scholarship you can apply for in minutes.

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Disability scholarships

The FHE Health "Hope for Healing" Scholarship

Due: 2/28/26 No Recommendations Required
$5,000
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Gallaudet University Academic Recognition

Due: 2/28/26 No min. GPA Required
$7,000
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Hillsborough Community College Disabled Students Scholarship

Due: 2/28/26 No essay No Recommendations Required No min. GPA Required No Transcripts Required
Varies
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New York University September 11 Scholarships

Due: 2/28/26 No essay No Recommendations Required No min. GPA Required No Transcripts Required
Varies
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Gallaudet University Dean's Prestige Scholarship

Due: 2/28/26 No min. GPA Required
$9,000
Apply now

TPA Hearing Trust Grants and Scholarships

Due: 2/28/26 No essay No Recommendations Required No min. GPA Required
$1,000
Apply now

WI-HEAB Hearing/Visually Impaired Student Grant

Due: 2/28/26 No essay No Recommendations Required No min. GPA Required No Transcripts Required
$1,800
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Gallaudet University Endowed Scholarships

Due: 2/28/26 No essay No Recommendations Required No min. GPA Required No Transcripts Required
Varies
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Sandra K. Lacey Scholarship

Due: 2/28/26 No Recommendations Required No min. GPA Required No Transcripts Required
Varies
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Key takeaways about scholarships for students with disabilities

  • Disability scholarships can help cover college costs without needing to be repaid.

  • Many scholarships are open to students with a wide range of physical, learning, mental health, and chronic conditions.

  • You don’t always need a perfect GPA—many awards focus on resilience, goals, or lived experience.

  • Applying for multiple scholarships, including smaller ones, can add up to real money for school.

  • Tools like Scholly Scholarships can help you find and apply for the right scholarships faster.

College can be expensive—there’s no sugarcoating that. And if you’re a student with a disability, the financial stress can feel even heavier. Between tuition, housing, books, technology, and healthcare-related costs, it’s a lot to manage. The good news? There are scholarships specifically designed to support students with disabilities—and they can make a real difference.

This page breaks down what disability scholarships are, why they matter, what scholarships are available for students with disabilities, how to qualify, and where to find the top opportunities.

What are disability scholarships?

Disability scholarships are financial awards created to support students who have physical, learning, mental health, sensory, or chronic disabilities. Like other scholarships, this is money for college that you don’t have to pay back.

Some disability scholarships are open to students with any documented disability, while others focus on specific conditions such as autism, ADHD, hearing or vision loss, mobility impairments, or mental health conditions. Many are funded by nonprofits, advocacy organizations, schools, or private companies that want to help level the playing field.

These scholarships can be used for a variety of education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, housing, assistive technology, and sometimes even transportation.

Why scholarships matter for students with disabilities

Students with disabilities often face extra costs that don’t show up on a tuition bill. That might include specialized equipment, accessibility tools, medical expenses, or reduced ability to work while in school.

Scholarships can help:

  • Reduce reliance on student loans

  • Offset disability-related education costs

  • Make college more accessible and manageable

  • Create breathing room so you can focus more on school and less on money

Beyond the financial impact, disability scholarships also send an important message: your experiences matter, and you belong in higher education.

How to qualify for disability scholarships

Eligibility requirements vary, but most disability scholarships look at a mix of the following:

  • Proof of disability: This could be medical documentation, an IEP, a 504 plan, or a letter from a qualified professional.

  • Enrollment plans: Many scholarships require you to be a high school senior, current college student, or planning to enroll in an accredited program.

  • Academic standing: GPA requirements are often flexible and not always the main factor.

  • Personal statement or essay: This is where you share your story, goals, and how the scholarship would help you.

  • Community involvement or leadership: Some awards value advocacy, volunteering, or involvement in disability-related communities.

  • Financial need: Your info from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) will be considered for need-based scholarships

If one requirement feels intimidating, don’t let that stop you. Plenty of scholarships take a holistic view—and applying is often worth the effort.

Scholly Scholarships

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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.

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Top scholarships for students with disabilities

There’s no single “best” disability scholarship—the best one is the one you qualify for and actually apply to. That said, here are a few types of scholarships students with disabilities may commonly explore:

  • General disability scholarships open to students with any documented disability

  • Scholarships for specific conditions (such as autism, ADHD, or mental health conditions)

  • Scholarships for students with physical or sensory disabilities

  • Scholarships for students pursuing certain majors or career paths

  • Easy-entry scholarships like Sallie’s $2,000 No Essay Scholarship, which don’t require essays or transcripts

Use tools like Scholly Scholarships to quickly find scholarship that match your profile and Scout College Search to explore school options.

How to apply for disability scholarships

Applying for scholarships doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you take it step by step.

  1. Start early. Many deadlines fall months before the school year starts.

  2. Get organized. Keep a list of deadlines, requirements, and logins.

  3. Reuse what you can. Essays and personal statements can often be adapted for multiple applications.

  4. Apply all over. Big scholarships are great, but smaller awards can add up.

  5. Don’t self-eliminate. If you mostly qualify, apply anyway.

Pro tip: Set aside a little time each week to apply. Consistency beats cramming every time.

Additional resources for students with disabilities

Frequently asked questions

These tips can help as you get ready to apply for disability 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?

Private student loans can help you cover additional costs for school.

*No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Ends 12/31/2026.
See Official Rules.

FAFSA® is a registered service mark of U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid.