Merit-based scholarships: How to find and apply

The Truman D. Picard Scholarship Program is dedicated to supporting Native American students pursuing higher education in Natural Resources. Preference will be given to students whose degree or area of study directly involves management of Forest Resources or Fire. Students may receive $4,000 if they are college students, graduate students, and graduating college seniors applying or accepted for graduate school to pursue studying Forestry or Fire. Students may receive $3,000 if they are college students, graduate students, and graduating college seniors applying or accepted for graduate school to pursue studying Natural Resources. Students may receive $2,000 if they are high school students studying to pursue Natural Resources, Forestry or Fire. Applicants must submit three letters of reference. Academic and work references will be accepted. Personal references are also acceptable, but in general, solid references from instructors and employers tend to carry the most weight. Applicants must prove that they are a member or descendant of a federally recognized tribe or Alaska Native Corporation. Accepted documents include a photocopy of the member or descendent enrollment card, or a completed BIA Form 4432 Verification of Indian Preference for Employment. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The College Prep Scholars Program equips high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds with the knowledge, confidence, and resources to apply to top colleges. Any high school junior, regardless of citizenship, currently attending high school in the U.S. is eligible to apply to the College Prep Scholars Program. Additionally, U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents living abroad are eligible. International students living outside the U.S. are not eligible. A recommendation from a teacher in a core academic subject is required. Any standardized test score reports may be submitted if taken. We accept PSAT, PreACT, SAT, ACT, or AP test scores. School Profile is optional, but recommended. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

Wells Fargo has developed the Wells Fargo Stacey Milbern Scholarship to help people with disabilities obtain the education or training necessary to succeed in the career path of their choice. Applicants must have an identified disability, defined as someone who has, or considers themselves to have, a long-term or recurring issue that impacts one or more major life activities. Applicants may be a high school senior or graduate or a current postsecondary undergraduate who plans to enroll or who is already enrolled in an undergraduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year. Full-time student awards may be renewed for up to three additional years and half-time student awards may be renewed for up to seven years or until a bachelor's degree is earned, whichever occurs first. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

Oportun is a mission-driven, fintech company that puts its member's financial goals within reach. As part of its commitment to the communities it serves, it initiated an Oportun Scholarship program providing scholarships to help students in the state of California and Harris County, Texas pay for their college tuition. Applicants must be high school seniors or graduates, or current college undergraduates who plan to enroll at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year. Assuming there are qualified applicants, preference will be given to applicants pursuing a non-medical STEM or finance-related degree. Assuming there are qualified applicants, the diversity of the recipient pool will reflect the diversity of the applicant pool. A copy of the first two pages of the most recently filed IRS Form 1040 used for the Financial Information section of the application must be submitted. One online recommendation form must be submitted on March 25, 2025. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Organic's Best SuperParent Scholarship is a cornerstone of our commitment to supporting single parents who are steadfast in their pursuit of higher education while nurturing their families under the principles of organic living. Applicants must have shown exceptional dedication to their academic pursuits and a commitment to leading a healthy, organic lifestyle. Applicants must also be enrolled in an accredited college or university program with a strong advocate for organic nutrition and sustainable living. In the email submission, please include your full name, contact information, and academic institution details. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

NJACAC typically awards a scholarship to a graduate student each year. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact NJACAC for more information.

NJACAC typically awards a scholarship each year to a community college student enrolling at a four-year institution. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact NJACAC for more information.

The James Flack Norris and Theodore William Richards Undergraduate Summer Research Scholarships are open to students who are majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or molecular biology and must anticipate having completed at least two full years of college-level chemistry before summer 2025. While sophomore students are eligible, preference will be given to junior undergraduate applicants with a greater level of research experience. Award winners are required to submit a report of their summer projects to the Editor of The Nucleus by November 1st, 2025 for publication in The Nucleus. They are also required to participate in the Northeast Student Chemistry Research Conference (NSCRC) in Spring 2026. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The AAJA - Vincent Chin Memorial Scholarship awards $1,500 to a student journalist for an insightful essay related to Vincent Chin's life, death, and legacy. Other selection criteria include academic and journalistic achievement, financial need, commitment to journalism, and a sensitivity to AAPI issues. Applicants must be current AAJA student members. They must demonstrate a commitment to AAJA's mission in the answer to the essay question. They must be currently taking or planning to take journalism courses and/or pursuing journalism as a career. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.