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Top high school junior scholarships for you
Find scholarships for high school juniors that can help you pay for college.
Here’s a scholarship you can apply for in minutes.
High school junior scholarships
United States Senate Youth Program
Due: 9/30/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$10,000
Qualified high school juniors or seniors must show demonstrated leadership by serving in elected or appointed positions in which they are actively representing a constituency in organizations related to student government, education, public affairs and community service. They must be actively serving in qualified leadership positions, enrolled in high school and living in the state (and for these purposes, the District of Columbia) that they will represent for the entire academic year. The college scholarship and attendance at the Washington Week program are one inseparable award. Delegates must participate in the Washington Week program in accordance with all program rules and policies in order to receive the financial scholarship. The USSYP scholarship is designated for undergraduate college study only at an accredited United States college or university. All students are encouraged to include history, political science or related subjects in their undergraduate program. The scholarship is designated for the specified student's education expense and must be used within four years after enrollment. Students may obtain a USSYP application through their high school principals, school counselors and social studies teachers; or they may inquire directly to their state selection contacts online. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Maguire Foundation Endowed Scholarships
Due: 9/30/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$5,000
The Maguire Foundation Endowed Scholarships are open to incoming first-year students who are graduating from a Maguire Foundation partner high school. Applicants must actively participate in school, community, volunteer, or extracurricular activities and demonstrate financial need on their FAFSA. This scholarship awards to up to three incoming Widener first-year students. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
SUNY Brockport Gold Scholarship
Due: 9/30/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
$4,500
The Gold Scholarship is open to first-year students admitted to the University. Applicants must have a high school GPA of 93 and above. Candidates must be first-time college students entering directly from high school. Students may contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.
Mississippi State University Freshman Mississippi Resident Academic Scholarship
Due: 9/30/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
$42,000
The Mississippi State University Freshman Mississippi Resident Academic Scholarship will be automatically awarded to a student upon their admission to MSU based on their 9th-11th grade high school GPA and test scores. Mississippi State accepts the SAT/ACT through the February test date of a student's senior year of high school. The scholarship is renewable annually for up to 8 semesters at MSU. MSU has a rolling admissions policy. The application for each semester will remain open until the 10th day of classes. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for more information.
Maria Nieves Edmonds Scholarship
Due: 9/30/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,000
The Maria Nieves Edmonds Scholarship is available to students graduating from Pinellas County High Schools. Applicants must have a standard high school diploma, be US citizens or permanent resident aliens, and have a weighted cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 at the end of the seventh semester of high school. High school students who meet these qualifications will be notified in writing in the spring term of their senior year. Upon notification of receiving the scholarship, you will need to: 1. Follow the Getting started at SPC steps to apply for admission. 2. Provide proof of Florida residency. 3. Provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent resident alien status. 4. Begin classes at SPC no later than the fall term immediately following high school graduation. 5. Enroll in a minimum of six credit hours as a degree-seeking student. 6. Check your SPC student email and MySPC Checklist regularly for updates. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information and contact Financial Assistance Services for inquiries about the application.
Gwynedd Mercy University Dual Enrollment Program Scholarship
Due: 9/30/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
Varies
The Gwynedd Mercy University Dual Enrollment Program Scholarship is available to students who participate in GMercyU's Dual Enrollment program while in high school and then enroll as a full-time bachelor's degree-seeking student at GMercyU. Recipients of this award will receive a full-tuition scholarship for the final semester of their senior year. When added to any other scholarships and grants, this scholarship will bring tuition costs down to $0 in the final semester of a student's senior year. Submission of test scores is not required. The university offers a test-optional admission.
Ethical Torch Essay Scholarship
Due: 9/30/25
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,500
The Better Business Bureau believes it is never too early to introduce and emphasize the importance of ethics. At the high school level, students begin to face ethical decisions that may impact the rest of their lives. They serve as role models whose moral compass not only guides their actions, but also influences those around them. The BBB seeks to honor ethical students for doing the right thing with the BBB Ethical Torch Essay Scholarship, available in Greater Arizona and Southern California. Five students in Greater Arizona, five students in Orange County, California, and five students in San Diego County, California to be awarded with scholarship prizes. Students in grades 9-12 (graduating classes of 2025-2028) residing and enrolled in school in eligible counties are invited to apply for this scholarship opportunity. Essays should analyze what ethics has taught the students and themselves. Note that the most engaging essays often reflect on a meaningful experience or lesson learned in one's life that focuses on an ethical reflection. Essays should be written by students without the use of AI. Essays written with the assistance of AI will be disqualified from the contest. San Diego and Imperial County students must submit their application on August 11, 2025. Orange County students must submit their application on September 22, 2025. Greater Arizona students must submit their application on October 20, 2025. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Gannon University Knight Achievement Award
Due: 9/30/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
$22,000
The Gannon University Knight Achievement Award is awarded to students based on academic merit as well as SAT/ACT scores. Students must enroll directly from high school. Submission of personal statements and letters of recommendation are optional but are recommended. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Terry Foundation Traditional Scholarship
Due: 9/30/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Terry Traditional Scholarship, or Freshman Scholarship, is a full ride, last dollar scholarship that covers up to eight semesters. It is awarded to Texas high school seniors who have been accepted for admission to one of the Terry-affiliated public universities in Texas. Applications for the Terry Scholarship are available only from the universities affiliated with the Terry Scholarship Program and are not available from the Foundation or from high schools. Applicants must be admitted to a Terry-affiliated college or university for the upcoming Fall Semester. Applicants must apply and commit to residing on campus for the first year of school. Applicants must have a record of leadership in school and in the community. Applicants must be nominated by one of the eleven Terry-affiliated Texas public universities. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Go Idaho! Scholarship Program
Due: 9/30/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
$7,500
The Go Idaho! Scholarship Program is open to new, first-year undergraduate students who are residents of Idaho. Students who are admitted and meet the following criteria are guaranteed to receive the level of funding from a variety of U of I scholarships. Non-accredited Idaho High School GPAs (if provided to Undergraduate Admissions) will be considered for Go Idaho award levels. If you are an Idaho resident who went to a non-accredited out-of-state high school, your award will be based on your standardized test scores. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
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What are high school junior scholarships?
High school junior scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for high school junior students. High school junior scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for high school junior scholarships
Before you apply for high school junior scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements. Some common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!
Are high school junior scholarships worth my time?
Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning.
Pro tip: Don’t skip over scholarships for high school juniors with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find high school junior scholarships?
There are many resources to help you find scholarships for high school juniors.
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 engine 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 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 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (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 high school junior 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
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