Top Fall 2024 Scholarships for College-Bound Students: Apply Now!

As the crisp air of fall begins to settle in, high school seniors nationwide are entering a pivotal season on their path to college. While fall is the season for bonfires, football games, Homecoming, and college applications, it’s also a prime time to focus on securing financial bonuses like grants, merit awards, and scholarships to help with college. 

The fall season offers a wealth of public and private financial opportunities, many with fast-approaching deadlines. Timing is crucial, and for students aiming to reduce the cost of higher education, now is the perfect moment to seize these resources.

Why Fall is the Perfect Time to Apply for Scholarships

The fall semester is uniquely positioned as a critical period for scholarship and award applications. Many of these applications have fall deadlines, offering prepared and proactive students the chance to secure valuable financial aid by applying early. Missing these deadlines could result in losing out on thousands of dollars in assistance. That's why it's important for students to be aware of these opportunities and to start their applications without delay.

With college tuition continuing to rise, every scholarship can make a significant difference in reducing out-of-pocket expenses, making fall a crucial time to secure financial aid.

Featured Scholarships with Fall 2024 Deadlines

There is a treasure trove of financial opportunities out there, found with a simple online search. Encourage your clients to carve out some time to do their own research and find financial opportunities that are directly related to their interests, talents, and future academic goals. 

Here is a small selection of scholarships offering substantial financial awards for college-bound students, all with deadlines in the fall of 2024. For each listing, we've provided the basic details and contact information; advise your students to explore further details.

September Deadlines

Below are a few notable scholarships and tuition aid with September 2024 deadlines, all available to high school students. A few of these deadlines are fast approaching, so be sure to share these with your clients soon!

"Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship

“To us, boldest does not mean “best”, or “most accomplished”. Being bold means being:

-Earnest

-Determined

-Moving

The scholarship will be awarded to the student whose profile is most bold, according to these characteristics.”

  • Award Amount: $25,000

  • Application Deadline: September 1, 2024

  • Contact Information: Bold.org, Student Inquiries: contact@bold.org, Award Inquiries: (720) 730-2653

Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway

“Over the last 30 years, Dr Pepper has awarded over $17.5M in tuition to deserving students.”

Ascent’s Summer of Success Scholarship Giveaway

“Ascent is committed to your long-term success, and we are giving away $10,000 to one lucky winner for sharing your feedback and ideas on what you need to build the skills and confidence to thrive in the workplace.”

Uncensored: Summer (Banned) Reading List Scholarship

“Fight Book Bans & Celebrate Diverse Perspectives By Reading a Banned Book”

Leadership Excellence Scholarship

“When you are dealing with family law matters, there is much at stake. Whether you are getting a divorce, settling a child custody dispute, or seeking to adopt or establish paternity, the outcome can affect your finances, your family relationships, and your personal well-being.”

  • Award Amount: $1,000

  • Application Deadline: September 11, 2024

  • Contact Information: Unigo 

Ayn Rand Essay Contests Fall Prompt: The Fountainhead Essay

“These contests encourage students to seriously engage with Rand’s ideas through reflection on her profound and influential novels. Students who participate will need to read the book they have selected carefully, grapple with its complex themes, and push the boundaries of their writing ability. By doing so, we hope students will achieve a deeper appreciation for Rand’s literary works and develop a curiosity for the philosophy that underlies them.”

The Gates Scholarship

“The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.”

  • Award Amount: Up to $160,000

  • Application Deadline: September 15, 2024

  • Contact Information: The Gates Scholarship

Ayn Rand Essay Contests Fall Prompt: Atlas Shrugged

“These contests encourage students to seriously engage with Rand’s ideas through reflection on her profound and influential novels. Students who participate will need to read the book they have selected carefully, grapple with its complex themes, and push the boundaries of their writing ability. By doing so, we hope students will achieve a deeper appreciation for Rand’s literary works and develop a curiosity for the philosophy that underlies them.”

Shout It Out Scholarship

“Have something on your mind? Let it out, or better yet SHOUT it out. Give your thoughts a voice and earn free college money at the same time.”

  • Award Amount: $1,500

  • Application Deadline: September 30, 2024

  • Contact Information: Unigo

Don't Text and Drive Scholarship

“Do you know how far you will drive on the freeway if you take your eyes off the road for five seconds, the average time it takes to send a text? An entire football field. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, texting while driving makes drivers 23 times more likely to get into a "safety-critical event." The purpose of this scholarship is to help you understand the risks of texting while driving. For more information on texting while driving, please see these articles.”

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to students in their final year of high school. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities.”

Niche $25,000 "No Essay" College Search Scholarship

“From initial research to final decision, the college search can feel like an unpredictable, winding road.

But Niche can help with every step of the process — including paying for your degree! We’re giving one student $25,000 to help pay for tuition, housing, books, and other college expenses.”

  • Award Amount: $25,000

  • Application Deadline: September 30, 2024

  • Contact Information: Niche Scholarships

Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship

“The “Too Cool to Pay for School” scholarship is part of our contribution to helping students save money for higher education. The scholarship can be used to cover education-related expenses such as tuition, textbooks, housing, technology, and other fees.”

October Deadlines

The following scholarships and awards are currently open for entry with deadlines throughout October 2024. 

 

AES Engineering Scholarship

“Our belief is that achieving a high-grade point average should not be the only criteria for determining who deserves to be helped. For that reason, we are offering a scholarship that will be awarded on the basis of character, as determined by an evaluation of the essays that are submitted.”

CouponBirds “Help to Save” Scholarship

“CouponBirds has launched the "Help to Save" scholarship for high school and college students who need help with their tuition fees.”

College JumpStart Scholarship

“The College JumpStart Scholarship is an annual, merit-based competition— financial need is not considered—that is open to 10th-12th graders, college students, and non-traditional students. The main requirement is that you are committed to going to school and can express your goals for getting a higher education.”

1st Financial Bank USA Financial Goals Scholarship

“1st Financial Bank USA (1FBUSA) wants to celebrate those who recognize the importance of pursuing educational and financial goals with the 1st Financial Bank USA Financial Goals Scholarship.”

VFW Voice of Democracy Competition

“Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regard to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.”

November Deadlines

November has a variety of scholarships that are open now or opening soon. Many of these have great offers for high school students to take advantage of! Check them out:

Brighthouse Scholar Connections

“By awarding academic scholarships that enable scholars to expand their educational journey, Brighthouse Scholar Connections seeks to provide underserved high school and college students with the opportunity to achieve their post-secondary dreams.”

National Space Club and Foundation Keynote Scholars Program

“Provided to a high school senior, undergraduate or graduate student with definite plans to pursue a career in the Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) fields.”

Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Four-Year Scholarship

“Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need.”

Women in Tech Scholarship

“Designli is excited to award a $3,000 scholarship to a female high school, college, or graduate student from the U.S. interested in technology and entrepreneurship. While we have the privilege of working with many amazing female entrepreneurs and are successful in no small part due to the women working within our own company, we recognize that women are underrepresented in the field of technology and want to do our part to change that. Greater diversity of perspectives breeds more innovative ideas, so in our minds, creating more opportunities for women in technology is a no-brainer.”

Education Matters Scholarship

“While continuing your education takes time and money, there's a certain value that everyone is hoping to achieve. Our Education Matters Scholarship is giving you the chance to state why education matters. Why does education matter to you? What is the value you hope to receive from college? What would you do to convince the college cynics?

Speaking up for education could lead to helping you pay for your own.”

  • Award Amount: $5,000

  • Application Deadline: November 30, 2024

  • Contact Information: Unigo

"Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship

“To us, boldest does not mean “best”, or “most accomplished”. Being bold means being:

-Earnest

-Determined

-Moving

The scholarship will be awarded to the student whose profile is most bold, according to these characteristics.”

  • Award Amount: $25,000

  • Application Deadline: November 30, 2024

  • Contact Information: Bold.org, Student Inquiries: contact@bold.org, Award Inquiries: (720) 730-2653

December Deadlines

Before we wrap up 2024, December has quite a few scholarships and grants available! Check some of them out below:

10x Digital Marketing Scholarship

“Are you a high school senior or undergraduate who is looking to offset the cost of your business, tech, marketing, or communications degree? Apply for the 10X $4,000 scholarship to be awarded Winter 2025.”

Dell Scholars Program

“Every year, the Dell Scholars program selects 500 students nationwide, offering comprehensive support and a scholarship to each recipient. Our support is designed to help each Dell Scholar build their ideal pathway to graduation and beyond.”

Hagan Scholarship Foundation

“The Hagan Scholarship is a nationwide need-based merit scholarship, providing recipients “regardless of nationality” with the opportunity to achieve their goals and graduate college debt-free.”

Military Child of the Year Award

“Operation Homefront's Military Child of the Year® Award reflects the positive impact that these impressive young people have made on their military families, their schools, and their communities.”

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship

“Amazon Future Engineer students can boost their future for themselves and their community with the support of college funding, paid internships, and industry mentors.”

Burger King Foundation Scholarships

“Through the BK℠ Scholars program, we’ve awarded nearly $60 million to over 51,000 deserving students across North America. Our goal is to grant one scholarship for every BK® restaurant — that’s more than $7 million each year!”

Equitable Excellence Scholarship

“Equitable Excellence Scholarship® is the flagship program of Equitable Foundation, the company’s charitable-giving arm. The enhanced scholarship program includes renewable scholarships and engagement to create pathways to opportunities for aspiring college students.”

G2 Overachievers Student Grant

“This year, Pilot will once again award exceptional overachievers by awarding two generous grants. To submit yourself or someone you know for either the $100,000 G2 Overachievers Grant or $15,000 G2 Overachievers Student Grant, simply fill out the form below and submit 1,000 to 2,000 handwritten words explaining how you or they go above and beyond to improve the lives of others and positively impact the larger world.”

Unigo $10K Scholarship

“Being funny can get you far in life - it makes people like you and may open up a lot of doors. Smart people are generally always in demand, and they can usually command high salaries. Rich people are more likely to be able to focus only doing things they enjoy.

It's important to be happy with who you are, regardless of your wealth or intelligence level. So tell us, would you rather be smart, funny or rich...and why?

Our Unigo $10K Scholarship could help increase your education with $10,000 to use towards school.”

  • Award Amount: $10,000

  • Application Deadline: December 31, 2024

  • Contact Information: Unigo

How Students Can Maximize Scholarship Opportunities with A High GPA and Solid ACT®/SAT® Test Scores

A high GPA and strong ACT®/SAT® scores can significantly boost a student’s chances of securing scholarships and merit-based awards. Many scholarships require applicants to meet specific academic criteria, such as a minimum GPA and standardized test scores.

  • Meeting Eligibility Requirements: Maintaining a high GPA and achieving strong test scores often makes students eligible for a wider range of scholarships, especially those that are merit-based. These academic benchmarks are used to filter applicants, ensuring that only top performers are considered.

  • Standing Out in a Competitive Field: In competitive scholarship applications, high academic performance helps applicants stand out. Strong GPA and test scores reflect a student’s dedication and ability to excel—qualities that scholarship committees highly value.

  • Unlocking More Opportunities: Top academic achievers often gain access to exclusive scholarships and merit-based awards. By excelling in coursework and standardized tests, students can unlock more opportunities and secure substantial financial support for college.

In short, a high GPA and strong ACT®/SAT® scores not only meet scholarship eligibility requirements but also enhance the chances of winning significant financial aid.

How Test-Prep Tutors Can Encourage Students to Apply for Scholarships

While we want to encourage our clients to do their own due diligence in finding and applying for financial assistance, we can provide guidance through the scholarship and grant application process. 

  • Help identify scholarships that align with their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and career goals. A targeted approach allows students to focus on scholarships they are most likely to qualify for, making the application process more manageable and less overwhelming.

  • Assist students in creating a timeline for scholarship applications. Students need to set realistic deadlines for each component—from gathering letters of recommendation to writing and revising essays. This structured approach will keep them on track and help them avoid the pitfalls of procrastination.

  • When it comes to writing essays, tutors can offer invaluable support. Crafting a compelling scholarship essay can be challenging, but with guidance on structure, feedback on drafts, and help in polishing the final product, students can present their strengths effectively.

  • Encourage the process. Reminding students that even if they don’t win every scholarship, the experience itself builds valuable skills that will serve them well in the future is key. This positive reinforcement can motivate students to persist in their efforts. 

Fall is a season brimming with opportunities for college-bound high school students. With numerous scholarships, grants, and awards available and deadlines fast approaching, now is the time to act! With the right preparation and a proactive approach, this fall can be the season that sets the foundation for their future success.

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Matt McCorkleScholarships, College Scholarships, College Planning, College Prep, High School Seniors, High School Students, College-Bound Students, Advice for Students, Advice for Clients, Financial Aid, Merit Awards, Grants