Scholarships for College Freshmen in 2025

Millions of Scholarships, personalized results
Sign up and get matched to scholarships that are personalized for you. Start Your Search
Unigo Author Dave Moniz Written by Dave Moniz
Unigo Editor Unigo Staff ✔️ Edited by Unigo Staff

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.

List of Scholarships for College Freshmen in 2025

Anne Ford Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$10,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
1 Award
Scholarship Deadline
Apr 5 Deadline

The mission of the NCLD is to improve the lives of the 1?in 5?children and adults nationwide with learning and attention issues. This award is for high school seniors with a documented learning disability who have maintained a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and intend to enroll in a bachelor's degree program.
Read More

View Scholarship

Burlington Veterans' Club Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$15,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
10 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Feb 12 Deadline

This scholarship is available for Vermont high school seniors who attend a high school in Chittenden County. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate financial need.
Read More

View Scholarship

Crest Oral-B Laboratories Dental Hygiene Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$2,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
2 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Feb 1 Deadline

U.S. students enrolled in a baccalaureate dental hygiene program are eligible for this award. Students must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and be student or professional members of ADHA.
Read More

View Scholarship

Charles H. Bussmann Scholarship (Undergraduate and Graduate)

/
Award Amount
$2,500 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
2 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Apr 19 Deadline

This scholarship is available for undergraduate and graduate students who are members of the Marine Technology Society. Students must be enrolled full time in a marine-related field.
Read More

View Scholarship

Charles R. Quaiff, Sr. Memorial Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$1,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
3 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Apr 19 Deadline

This scholarship is available for U.S. high school seniors who are members of, or whose parents are members of, Chesterfield Federal Credit Union in Chesterfield, VA. Student must plan to enroll in college full time.
Read More

View Scholarship

Louise Maas Allied Health Professions Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$1,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
1 Award
Scholarship Deadline
Mar 1 Deadline

U.S. female high school seniors who are graduating from Princeton High School in New Jersey are eligible for this award. Students must pursue a career in an allied health profession.
Read More

View Scholarship

Dorothy Ruth Ellis Endowed Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$2,500 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
1 Award
Scholarship Deadline
Mar 20 Deadline

Undergraduate students attending Prescott College in Arizona planning to pursue a course of study in writing, literature or journalism are eligible for this award. Preference will be given to a student whose legal place of residence is southeast Texas (Jefferson, Orange, Tyler, Newton, and Hardin counties) and/or a student who is a member of an ethnic minority group.
Read More

View Scholarship

Bryce Thomson Scholarship Fund

/
Award Amount
$1,700 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
10 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Sep 1 Deadline

Employees of a National Ice Cream Retailers Association member business may apply for this need-based scholarship. Applicants must be college-bound high school seniors, or current college freshmen, sophomores, or juniors.
Read More

View Scholarship

International Foodservice Editorial Council Student Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$4,500 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
3 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Mar 15 Deadline

IFEC Scholarship Application deadline is March 15, 2024. Submit the actual application by Monday March 15, midnight, PST. In your cover email indicate if any materials will be sent later, such as official transcripts. Unofficial transcripts can be sent with application. The International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC) awards scholarships annually to students with experience and/or education in the combination of food/ foodservice and the communication arts. Awards are intended to assist students planning to pursue careers as writers, editors, public relations practitioners, marketing communicators and similar within the food/ foodservice industries. This is a very specific niche. Students with questions about qualifications are encouraged to contact IFEC directly. Students in good standing in a degree-granting program of a post-secondary institution whose studies and work experience combine the fields of food/ foodservice and the communication arts are considered eligible. Awards range in amounts of from $1,500 – $6,000 and are dispersed in July of the award year. The deadline for submitting an application is midnight PST on March 15th.
Read More

View Scholarship

Alpha Gamma Rho Excellence Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$4,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
4 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Apr 30 Deadline

This scholarship is available to all undergraduate members of Alpha Gamma Rho.
Read More

View Scholarship

Alpha Gamma Rho Undergraduate Achievement Award

/
Award Amount
$2,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
2 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Apr 30 Deadline

This scholarship is available to undergraduate members of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity who show distinction in all areas of chapter involvement.
Read More

View Scholarship

Dale Runnion Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$250 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
1 Award
Scholarship Deadline
Apr 30 Deadline

This award is available to undergraduate members of Alpha Gamma Rho who plan to complete a college course in marketing, journalism, advertising or public relations.
Read More

View Scholarship

Alpha Gamma Rho Dairy Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$500 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
1 Award
Scholarship Deadline
Apr 30 Deadline

This scholarship is available to undergraduate members of Alpha Gamma Rho who are studying agriculture with a dairy-related focus. Preference is given to students attending Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.
Read More

View Scholarship

Alpha Gamma Rho Horticulture Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$1,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
1 Award
Scholarship Deadline
Apr 30 Deadline

This award is available for undergraduate members of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity who are majoring in a field related to horticulture. Students must have completed at least three courses in the department of their declared major at time of application.
Read More

View Scholarship

Gene Swackhamer Agricultural Economics and Business Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$1,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
1 Award
Scholarship Deadline
Apr 30 Deadline

This award is available to undergraduate members of Alpha Gamma Rho majoring in agricultural economics or agribusiness.
Read More

View Scholarship

P. O. Pistilli Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$20,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
5 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Apr 23 Deadline

This award is available to current high school seniors planning to major in electrical engineering or computer science from underrepresented groups (women, African American, Hispanic, American Indian, and disabled students). Eligible applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, be U.S. residents, and demonstrate financial need.
Read More

View Scholarship

Cynthia E. Morgan Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$1,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
1 Award
Scholarship Deadline
Feb 25 Deadline

Current high school juniors or older students attending or planning to attend a Maryland college or university to pursue a career in a medical or medical-related field are eligible for this award. Students must be Maryland residents.
Read More

View Scholarship

Arts for Life! Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$50,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
25 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Feb 3 Deadline

Each year Arts for Life! awards $1,000 scholarships to 25 graduating high school seniors in Florida. This award is available for U.S. and international high school seniors in Florida. Students must demonstrate artistic merit and academic excellence in creative writing, dance, music, theatre or visual arts.
Read More

View Scholarship

AFA Teens Essay Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$1,300 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
24 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Jan 17 Deadline

This award is for U.S. high school seniors who will be entering a four-year accredited college or university within 12 months of the deadline date. Students must submit an essay on the impact Alzheimer's disease has on their own lives and others in their family and community.
Read More

View Scholarship

Rebecca Goldman Scholarship Fund

/
Award Amount
$4,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
1 Award
Scholarship Deadline
Feb 15 Deadline

This award is for U.S. students from West Virginia with a field of study in nursing. The applicant must have a 3.0 grade point average or higher and an ACT score of 20 or higher to be eligible. Click here to learn more and apply today!
Read More

View Scholarship

Annie's Homegrown Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$6,250 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
25 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Mar 15 Deadline

This scholarship is available for U.S. and international undergraduate and graduate students who are studying sustainable agriculture. Students must attend full time. Last year, there were three $10,000 awards and three $2,500 awards given in each category (graduate and undergraduate).
Read More

View Scholarship

John Kitt Memorial Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$5,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
1 Award
Scholarship Deadline
Mar 25 Deadline

International and U.S. students enrolled in a North American institution who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and are majoring in food science, chemical science, biological science, or a related area and have a demonstrated interest in confectionery technology are eligible to apply.
Read More

View Scholarship

Becca's Closet Drittel Family Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$1,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
1 Award
Scholarship Deadline
Apr 1 Deadline

U.S. high school students residing in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties in Florida who have been involved with Becca's Closet are eligible to apply for this award. Students must enroll full time and have an unweighted grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
Read More

View Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Trust Scholarship

/
Award Amount
$1,000 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
15 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Jul 21 Deadline

This award is for U.S students who are permanent residents of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, or Massachusetts, and are residents of towns or cities with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants. The student must be enrolled at one of the Community College System of New Hampshire's seven colleges and display financial need.
Read More

View Scholarship

FIDM National Scholarship Competition

/
Award Amount
$30,955 Award Amount
Total Award Amount
6 Awards
Scholarship Deadline
Jul 21 Deadline

FIDM offers a variety of scholarships for high school applicants as well as college graduates and transfer applicants. Scholarships include full and partial awards, and many are renewable by maintaining specific requirements. Please contact FIDM Admissions at 800-624-1200 or visit FIDM.edu for more information: https://fidm.edu/en/admissions/financial+aid/scholarships/
Read More

View Scholarship

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

Diverse group of happy high school freshmen friends in a hallway.

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 

Group of cheerful diverse teens huddled in sunlight at park.

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: 

  1. 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. 

  2. 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. 

  3. 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

Teens engaged in robotics; a blend of focus and fun in STEM learning.

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! 

Trendy teens with skateboards posing by a brick wall.

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!