How to Get a Scholarship: Your Ultimate Guide [USA]

To get a scholarship in the US, file the FAFSA as soon as it opens each October, search free databases and your college's aid office for awards you qualify for, and apply to many of them with a tailored essay and strong recommendation letters. Scholarships don't have to be repaid, so every award you win is money you won't borrow. This guide covers where to find scholarships, how to apply, how to write the essay and get recommendations, and options for international students.

What a scholarship is

A scholarship is money for school that you don't pay back, awarded for academic results, talent, community service, financial need or your background. Scholarships come from colleges, nonprofits, companies, community groups, states and the federal government. Grants work the same way but are usually based on financial need, such as the federal Pell Grant, whose maximum award for 2026-27 is $7,395.

Types of scholarships

• Merit-based: awarded for grades, test scores, research, art or athletics. The National Merit Scholarship Program uses the PSAT/NMSQT taken in high school to select its scholars.
• Need-based: awarded on financial need, usually measured by the FAFSA. The Gates Scholarship covers the full cost of attendance not met by other aid for high-achieving seniors from low-income households; its most recent application closed on September 15, 2026.
• Identity-based: for students from a particular background, such as first-generation, Hispanic, Black or Native American students, or women in engineering.
• Field-specific: for a chosen major or career. The Department of War's SMART Scholarship funds STEM students, and the Goldwater Scholarship supports college sophomores and juniors planning research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.
• Competition-based: awards for projects or research. The Regeneron Science Talent Search gives $3.1 million a year to high school seniors, with a $250,000 top prize; applications are due November 5, 2026.
• Service-based: for a record of volunteering or community leadership.

Where to find scholarships in the US

• Start with the FAFSA: the FAFSA opens on October 1 each year for the following school year, and many colleges, states and private scholarships use it to decide need-based awards. It's free; never pay a site to file it.
• Ask your college's financial aid office: many colleges award merit scholarships automatically when you apply for admission, and departments list their own awards on their websites.
• Use free search databases: BigFuture, the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop scholarship finder and Fastweb match you to awards by profile.
• Look locally: community foundations, local businesses, clubs, churches and your high school counselor offer smaller awards with fewer applicants than national ones.
• Check employers and memberships: parents' employers, unions, credit unions and professional associations often run scholarships for members and their children.

How to apply for scholarships

• Track deadlines: keep a spreadsheet of each award's deadline, required documents and login. Many deadlines fall months before the school year starts.
• Follow instructions exactly: a missing transcript or an essay over the word limit can disqualify an application.
• Reuse and tailor: build a core essay and activity list, then adapt them to each award's criteria.
• Proofread: ask a teacher or counselor to read your application before you submit.
• Apply widely: smaller local awards add up, and fewer students apply for them.

How to write a strong scholarship essay

• Answer the prompt: address every part of the question, and stay within the word count.
• Tell a specific story: one concrete experience, with what you did and what changed, is more memorable than a list of achievements.
• Connect it to your goals: show how the award fits what you plan to study or do.
• Write it yourself: committees look for your own voice, and submitting someone else's work can get you disqualified.
• Revise: write a draft early, put it aside, then cut anything that doesn't support your main point.

How to get strong letters of recommendation

• Choose people who know you: a teacher, coach, employer or mentor who can describe specific things you did.
• Ask at least a month ahead: give recommenders time to write a thoughtful letter.
• Send a short brief: include your resume, the award's criteria, the deadline and a few points you'd like them to mention.
• Waive access when asked: waiving your right to read the letter tells committees it is candid.
• Say thank you: send a note afterward and tell them how the application turned out.

Avoid scholarship scams and keep going

Legitimate scholarships don't charge application fees, and you never need to pay for a scholarship search or to file the FAFSA. Be wary of anyone who guarantees an award or asks for bank details up front; the Department of Education lists common warning signs on its scams page.

Most applicants are turned down for some awards, so set a steady pace, such as two or three applications a week during the main application season, and reuse your best material. Every award you win reduces what you need to borrow.

Scholarships for international students

• EducationUSA: the State Department's EducationUSA advising centers help international students find US scholarships and financial aid.
• Fulbright Foreign Student Program: the Fulbright Program, administered with the Institute of International Education, funds graduate study in the US for students from other countries.
• Scholarship databases: InternationalStudent.com lists awards open to non-US citizens.
• Your college: many universities offer merit aid to international students, so check each school's international admissions and financial aid pages.

Free scholarship search tools

• Federal Student Aid: official guidance on scholarships, grants and the FAFSA.
• BigFuture: the College Board's free scholarship search and college planning tools.
• CareerOneStop: the Department of Labor's database of scholarships, fellowships and grants.
• Fastweb and Scholarships.com: free profile-matched scholarship databases.
• Appily: the scholarship search formerly known as Cappex.
• Scholly by Sallie: Sallie Mae's free scholarship search app.
• Peterson's, Niche and ScholarshipOwl: more free databases to cross-check.

Scholarships cover tuition, but books, laptops and software add up too. Our student discounts guide lists brands that offer lower prices to students.