10 Scholarships Every Teen Should Apply For

The Gates Scholarship

The Gates Scholarship is a full-ride scholarship from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for exceptional minority students. This is a competitive scholarship that goes to students who are not only high academic achievers (generally with a GPA of at least 3.3) but who also show leadership potential, a history of personal success, and financial need. The Gates Scholarship is designed to pay for all college expenses, including tuition, fees, room and board, books, and transportation. Eligible students for the Gates Scholarship include minority high school seniors who are US citizens or permanent residents and who are accepted to and plan to enroll full-time in a four-year degree program. Students are selected through a holistic process that reviews their essays, community involvement, and leadership experiences.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program provides $20,000 scholarships to high-achieving high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership, community service, and academic success. This scholarship emphasizes character and community impact and is particularly accessible to students who may not have the highest test scores but who have a proven track record of making positive changes. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is one of the most competitive scholarships, with over 1.5 million applicants in its 35-year history. The application process requires detailed essays and recommendations, which allows students to reflect on and highlight their unique strengths and contributions. Selected winners are invited to join a network of Coca-Cola Scholars, where they can receive mentorship and leadership development opportunities in addition to financial aid.

The Horatio Alger Scholarship

The Horatio Alger Scholarship recognizes US high school seniors who have overcome adversity and demonstrated a commitment to hard work and higher education. Named after the author who embodied the rags-to-riches story, the Horatio Alger Scholarship is open to students who have faced significant obstacles like poverty or family hardship. The scholarship awards range from $10,000 to $25,000 and are given to students with a strong academic record and involvement in extracurricular activities. Applicants must be US high school seniors with at least a 2.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need.

The National Merit Scholarship Program

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a competitive academic scholarship that starts with the PSAT/NMSQT exam that most students take in sophomore or junior year of high school. The earlier students start preparing for and working on building a strong academic record, the better. Students who score in the top percentile in the PSAT may be named semifinalists or finalists and become eligible for scholarships from colleges, corporations, and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The National Merit Scholarship Program rewards high test scores, but finalists are also evaluated on their academic records and extracurricular activities.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship is a merit-based award for high-achieving, high-need high school seniors. This scholarship is valued at up to $40,000 per year, which covers tuition, living expenses, books, and other educational costs for up to four years. This is a great opportunity for students who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have demonstrated academic ability and leadership but may not otherwise have the resources to go to a top college or university. To apply, students must complete essays, submit transcripts, and provide recommendations.

The Dell Scholars Program

The Dell Scholars Program is a scholarship and support program that is targeted towards students who have faced challenges and barriers in their pursuit of a higher education. In addition to offering a $20,000 scholarship, the program provides resources, coaching, and mentorship to help address financial and other emotional barriers to success. Eligible students must be enrolled in a college readiness program, have a minimum 2.4 GPA, and have demonstrated financial need. This is a holistic scholarship that is available to motivated and hard-working teens.

The Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship

The Most Valuable Student Scholarship from the Elks National Foundation awards up to $50,000 to seniors who have demonstrated leadership and academic excellence as well as financial need. This scholarship is different from most others in that it is open to all US high school seniors, whereas many other scholarships only apply to students from specific ethnic groups or geographic areas. This is a character-based scholarship, so applicants must write essays and secure recommendations that allow them to showcase their character and their goals.

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is only available to students who have completed an outstanding project in science, technology, mathematics, music, literature, or philosophy. The scholarship recognizes creativity and the kind of intellectual bravery that makes a lasting impact. Awards range from $10,000 to $50,000 and are given to students whose applications and portfolios demonstrate exceptional talent and expertise in their chosen fields. This scholarship is for exceptionally talented teens. 

The AXA Achievement Scholarship

The AXA Achievement Scholarship offers up to $25,000 to teens who have shown ambition and drive by achieving something that demonstrates exceptional initiative in leadership, service, academics, or work. This scholarship is unique in that it looks at students’ willingness and ability to set goals and work towards them, even if obstacles stand in their way. To apply, students must write an essay that explains what they have achieved and how it demonstrates the qualities the scholarship committee is looking for.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship honors the legacy of Jackie Robinson, a civil rights activist and one of the first Black baseball players to play in the major leagues. It is a scholarship that is available to minority students who have shown leadership potential and have been involved in community service. The scholarship is valued at up to $30,000 spread over four years of college and also offers students access to mentorship and leadership development programs. The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship is open to US citizens or permanent residents with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who are accepted to and plan to enroll full-time at an accredited four-year institution.

The Burger King Scholars Program

The Burger King Scholars Program awards scholarships to high school seniors who have demonstrated academic achievement, involvement in their community, and leadership. There are a number of different awards available through the Burger King Scholars Program, with awards totaling up to $50,000. The program is for students who may not be the top academic performers in their class but who show promise in their effort and work. The application for the Burger King Scholars Program includes an essay about the applicant’s career goals and emphasizes community service and leadership.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are different from scholarships, but they do include the provision of scholarships of up to $5,000 for teens who are leading and carrying out extraordinary volunteer efforts. In addition to the financial assistance, students who are selected as Spirit of Community Award winners also receive national recognition. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are designed to encourage community involvement and recognize teens who are leaders that create solutions and positive change in their communities.

Conclusion

Applying for and receiving scholarships is a great way to ease the burden of higher education and can also validate a student’s talents, values, and potential. The scholarships listed above are a great starting point for students and parents looking for options that are available to teens. They were chosen for a number of reasons, including the value of the scholarships, the ease with which teens can apply, and the potential for ongoing support and community involvement. We recommend that teens apply to multiple scholarships, as each of the scholarships above is competitive. Applying early also helps give students the best chance of actually receiving scholarships. The more time you invest in searching and applying for scholarships, the greater the chances are that you will find scholarships that will be perfect for you and help you to attend the college of your dreams.