If you are about to be a college freshman, more than likely, you are looking for scholarships to help finance your education. Well, you're in luck – there are plenty of scholarships available specifically for freshmen on Unigo.com! This article will provide an overview of just some scholarships for college freshmen, including information on how to apply and how to meet eligibility requirements. So read on to learn more and start applying today!
It's never too early to get started. Scholarships for freshmen could assist with reducing student debts and reducing educational expenses such as tuition, living expenses, textbooks, laboratory fees, etc. The sooner you begin working toward it, the more you'll acquire benefits and the less money you'll have to pay off after your graduation.
$50,000
Award Amount
14
Awards
Jun 30
Deadline
The Citizens Bank Undergraduate Scholarship is open only to those legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are seventeen (17) years of age or older at the time of application and who will be enrolled as an undergraduate in accredited post-secondary institution of higher learning for the current and upcoming school year. Click here to learn more and to apply today!
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$14,000
Award Amount
3
Awards
Jan 31
Deadline
This scholarship is available for international students who are currently enrolled in an MPOWER partner college or university within the United States. To apply, students must complete an online application and submit an essay of up to 1,000 characters in length.
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$2,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Nov 1
Deadline
This scholarship is available for U.S. and Canadian female high school seniors who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students must be 20 years or age or under by the application deadline.
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$34,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Nov 1
Deadline
U.S. graduating high school seniors who will receive an International Baccalaureate diploma are eligible for this award. Students must plan to attend Drury University in Missouri.
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$3,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 10
Deadline
The AOPA Student Pilot Scholarship is open to U.S. students who are pursuing a private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate and already have a student pilot certificate. Students must be members of Women in Aviation, International (WAI); both men and women are eligible to join WAI. Click here to learn more and to apply today!
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$5,000
Award Amount
1
Award
May 14
Deadline
The John E. Kostic Memorial Foundation offers scholarship that benefit high school seniors attending college and current undergraduates. The Juvenile Diabetes Scholarships benefits incoming college freshman in the state of New Jersey. Amounts in scholarships vary but were previously $5,000 each.
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$500
Award Amount
1
Award
May 15
Deadline
Angels On The Move is commited to improving the quality of life by helping students fund their education. This scholarship is open to all students and can be used for any kind of academic endeavor. There are no restrictions on citizenship, residency, age, level of study, school/college, GPA, scores, finances, activities, or major.
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$2,482
Award Amount
1
Award
May 1
Deadline
This award is for Pennsylvania undergraduate students who are planning to attend an eligible college or university in Pennsylvania or eligible colleges with reciprocal agreements with Pennsylvania. Students must demonstrate financial need and have an EFC of $5,081 or lower, as determined by completing the FAFSA.
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$2,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Sep 30
Deadline
Niche prides itself on helping students discover the schools and neighborhoods right for them.This scholarship is available for U.S. and international high school and college students enrolled in U.S. academic institutions. Applicants must apply online by creating a free account or logging in on the provider site.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jun 10
Deadline
This scholarship is available for international and U.S. high school juniors and seniors, and students who are currently registered in a postsecondary institution.
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$10,000
Award Amount
10
Awards
Jun 30
Deadline
This award is available to current members of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) pursuing a field of study related to their work.
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$25,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
May 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to female U.S. incoming and current freshmen who are majoring in computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, software engineering, and systems engineering. Students must attend eligible schools as listed on the SWE website.
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$1,000,000
Award Amount
100
Awards
Jan 20
Deadline
At Amazon, supporting underserved students in their computer science education is not only important to us–it’s imperative to building a diverse tech industry and future. Our Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship program provides students with an opportunity to upgrade their careers with a $40,000 scholarship, plus a paid summer internship programming at Amazon.
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic performance, experience with computer science, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, short answer responses, unusual personal or family circumstances, financial need, racial/ethnic/gender diversity, and an educator appraisal, preferred to be completed by a computer science teacher.
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$3,000
Award Amount
3
Awards
May 21
Deadline
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund and varying partners unite to offer the COVID-19 Emergency Award to students attending one of TMCF’s publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs).
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$2,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Nov 15
Deadline
This schoalrship is provided twice annually for graduate students and executive education students in the U.S. To apply, students must submit an essay about visual organization in the workplace.
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$1,400
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 1
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. and international undergraduate and graduate students who are residents of North Carolina. The student must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$2,620
Award Amount
17,455
Awards
Feb 1
Deadline
This award is available to honorably discharged or separated Texas veterans and to eligible dependent children and spouses of Texas veterans who are planning to attend a public Texas college or university.
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$3,000
Award Amount
3
Awards
Jan 31
Deadline
The Haskell Endowed Scholarship is available for students at FSCJ who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and unmet financial need. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and enrolled at least part time (six or more credit hours).
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 1
Deadline
This scholarship is available for female 4-H members in Maine who are active in 4-H activities. Students must be graduating high school seniors or have previously graduated from high school but delayed going to college for no more than one year.
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$2,000
Award Amount
1
Award
May 15
Deadline
This scholarship is available for current undergraduate students attending the University of Maine. Students must be residents of Bethel Maine, or the county of Oxford in Maine.
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$18,000
Award Amount
1
Award
May 1
Deadline
This award is available to Kansas undergraduate students who are pursing a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse program. Recipients must sign an agreement to practice nursing for one year for each year of scholarship support.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1,100
Awards
May 1
Deadline
This award is available to Kansas high school students who are designated as state scholars during the senior year of high school and planning to attend a Kansas college or university.
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$2,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
May 1
Deadline
Undergraduate students who have 30 semester or 45 quarter hours or more to be completed are eligible for this award. Students must be the children, natural or by adoption, of a person who is serving or has served as an air traffic control specialist (whether with the U.S. government, U.S. military, or a private facility in the United States).
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$3,846
Award Amount
832
Awards
May 1
Deadline
This award is for Montana undergraduate students who are at least one-quarter American Indian blood or are enrolled members of a state- or federally-recognized tribe. Students must attend a Montana University System institution and demonstrate financial need.
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$80,000
Award Amount
200
Awards
Mar 15
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. high school seniors who are Catholic, of Italian descent, or have a non-Italian Catholic parent or grandparent who is a member of the Italian Catholic Federation. Students must have a grade point average of 3.2 or higher and live within the Catholic Dioceses of California, Nevada, Illinois, or Arizona. A complete list of participating branches is available online.
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When you are starting your college journey, figuring out how to pay for it can feel daunting. Between scholarships, loans, and work-study programs, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. One of the best ways to fund your education—especially in your first year—is through grants. Unlike student loans, grants typically don’t need to be repaid, making them a valuable form of financial aid. In this guide, we’ll break down what grants are, where they come from, and how you can secure them to help cover your freshman-year expenses.
Types of Grants Available to College Freshmen
Federal Grants
Federal grants are often the first place freshmen turn for financial aid. The Pell Grant, one of the most common grants, is awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate significant financial need. Because the maximum Pell Grant amount changes annually, it’s important to check the Federal Student Aid website for the most up-to-date information. To apply, students should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as it becomes available. Another federal grant is the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), which provides additional grant funds to low-income students who qualify for the Pell Grant. Since SEOG funding is limited and distributed by individual institutions, submitting the FAFSA early is crucial.
State-Sponsored Grants
Many states offer grants specifically for residents who plan to attend in-state colleges or universities. For example, California’s Cal Grant program supports students attending both public and private institutions who meet certain GPA and financial need criteria. New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps residents attending approved colleges and universities in the state. Eligibility, deadlines, and award amounts vary by state, so it is essential to review your state’s higher education agency website. In most cases, these state grants take into account both financial need and academic performance.
Institutional Grants for Freshmen
In addition to federal and state sources, colleges and universities themselves often award grants to attract and support promising freshmen. These grants may be awarded based on need, merit, or a combination of both. To find out what your prospective institution offers, start by reviewing the school’s financial aid webpage. It may also be helpful to contact a school’s financial aid office directly to inquire about freshman-specific grants. Some colleges automatically consider admitted students for their internal grant programs, while others may require separate applications. By exploring these institutional opportunities, you can discover valuable sources of funding tailored to your individual circumstances and academic profile.
Scholarships Applications Tips for College Freshmen
Scholarship applications can be daunting, and it can be difficult to know where to start. The following tips can help you navigate the scholarship application process:
- Start by doing your research. There are many different types of scholarships available, so it’s important to identify the ones that are most likely to be a good fit for you. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, take the time to read through the eligibility requirements and application instructions carefully.
- Create a timeline for yourself. Applying for scholarships takes time and effort, so it’s important to create a timeline that will help you stay on track. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to gather all of the required materials and write a strong essay.
- Proofread your application thoroughly before submitting it. This may be one of the most important steps in the process, as even a small mistake could disqualify you from consideration. Be sure to ask someone else to read over your application as well, just to be sure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Start Applying for Scholarships as a Freshman?
The answer is yes! Many scholarships may be available to students who are just beginning their college journey. However, it is important to note that the competition for scholarships might be fierce. To give yourself the best chance of success, you should start researching and applying for scholarships as early as possible. Many scholarships may require students to submit essays or personal statements, so it may also be important to begin working on your writing skills. If you start early and put in the effort, you could increase your chances of attaining a scholarship and help to relieve some of the financial burdens of paying for college.
Why It’s Important to Apply for Scholarships as a Freshman
Applying for scholarships as a freshman is important because it may give you the opportunity to receive financial aid. The earlier you start applying for scholarships, the better your chances often are of receiving one. Freshmen are usually unaware of the vast number of scholarships available to them, which is why it is so important to begin your search early. By starting your search early, you may increase your chances of finding scholarships that are a good fit for you and your academic interests. In short, applying for scholarships as a freshman is often an important step in ensuring that you can afford the college of your choice.
Benefits of Scholarships for College Freshmen
Scholarships often provide many benefits for college freshmen, including financial assistance, recognition, and opportunities. One of the most obvious benefits of scholarships is that they can help you pay for your education. With the rising cost of tuition, room, board, and other expenses, scholarships may be a much-needed source of financial assistance.
In addition to providing financial assistance, scholarships could also help you stand out from your peers. Scholarships are often awarded to students who have demonstrated academic excellence or have unique talents or abilities. Receiving a scholarship might give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs or graduate school.
Finally, scholarships may provide you with opportunities to get involved in your field of interest. Many scholarships may be awarded by organizations or companies that are related to the student’s field of study. For example, a student interested in engineering might receive a scholarship from an engineering firm. These types of scholarships often come with benefits like paid internships or the opportunity to shadow a professional in your field.
The sooner you begin looking for scholarships, the more likely you are to find ones that fit both your academic interests and preferences. Applying for scholarships during freshman year gives you the best chance of being able to finance your college education. By beginning your search early, you may have more time to put together a strong application with all the required materials.
Start applying for 2025 scholarships for college freshmen today!
There’s no time like the present to start looking for scholarships! The sooner you start the process, the more money you could potentially have for college. And don’t think that you have to be a straight-A student to qualify – there are usually scholarships available for all types of students, from those who excel in academics to those who are involved in extracurricular activities. So what are you waiting for? Take a few minutes each day to search for scholarships, and before you know it, you’ll have a stack of applications waiting to be filled out. Don’t wait until it’s too late – start applying for scholarships today!
Our Scholarships
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$1,500 – I Have a Dream
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$10,000 – Unigo $10K Award
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$1,500 – Sweet and Simple
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$2,500 – Superpower
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$3,000 – All About Education
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$1,500 – Fifth Month Scholarship
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$1,500 – Do-Over
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$1,500 – Flavor of the Month
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$1,500 – Make Me Laugh
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$1,500 – Shout It Out
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$2,000 – Zombie Apocalypse
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$5,000 – Education Matters
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$1,500 – Top Ten List
Written by Dave Moniz
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Edited by Unigo Staff