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Merit scholarships
College full rides, national awards and competitions. Every listing links to its official source.
- SEP30Regions BankRegions Riding Forward Scholarship ContestEach of four 2026 quarterly contests awards four $8,000 college scholarships, two written-essay and two video-essay winners. Paid to the designated accredited nonprofit U.S. undergraduate college; use fully by the end of 2027-28 for tuition/books/room/board or other college expenses. Unused funds may be forfeited; no graduate-school use.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- SEP30UnigoShout It Out Scholarship$1,500, paid directly to an accredited college, university or trade school after enrollment proof, which must be submitted by 2031. No cash substitute.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- OCT06National YoungArts FoundationYoungArtsCash awards: $250 for YoungArts Award; distinction winners attending National YoungArts Week evaluated for up to $10,000; distinction winners unable to attend receive $500. Winners must complete 1.5-hour financial literacy instruction to receive payment.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- OCT11BBB Greater ArizonaBBB Ethical Torch EssayGreater Arizona awards: $1,500 first, $1,250 second, $1,000 third, $750 fourth and $500 fifth, for college tuition/expenses; recipients recognized at the Torch Awards for Ethics.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- OCT20American Academy of Neurology / Child Neurology SocietyAAN Neuroscience Research PrizeThree AAN winners receive $1,000 each and a 2027 AAN Annual Meeting poster presentation. Each student and one parent or mentor receive coach airfare, two hotel nights, meeting registration and $100 per day for up to two days. One Bhuwan Garg winner receives $1,000 and a 2027 Child Neurology Society poster presentation, with student/parent-or-mentor airfare, three lodging nights, ground transport and registration. Travel benefits depend on the in-person meeting proceeding.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- OCT20Sphinx OrganizationSphinx Competition (Junior and Senior Divisions)Junior Division (17 and under): $10,000, $5,000, $3,000. Senior Division (18 to 30): $50,000 Robert Frederick Smith Prize, $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 Audience ChoiceListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- OCT27National Center for Women & Information TechnologyNCWIT Aspirations in Computing High School AwardNational Winners receive cash and a trip to the Bank of America celebration; the current prize chart does not state the cash amount. National Winners and Honorable Mentions receive an engraved award. Regional Affiliate Winners, Honorable Mentions and Rising Stars receive an engraved medallion. Recognition at a regional event is at the affiliate's discretion.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- OCT31IvyPandaAnnual Video Contest$1,000 first; $500 secondListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- OCT31VFWVoice of Democracy$35,000 national first prize, paid directly to an American college/university or vocational/technical school; other national awards up to $21,000. State first-place winners receive at least $1,000 and the Valley Forge leadership trip; local/district awards vary.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- OCT31UnigoZombie Apocalypse ScholarshipConflict: headline $2,000; official prize clause $1,500UnconfirmedPartly verifiedCompetition
- NOV01Bennington CollegeBennington Young Creators Awards (Young Artists, Innovators, Musicians and Scientists)Cash prizes in each discipline: First $2,000, Second $1,000, Third $500, Distinguished $250. If enrolling at Bennington: First Place full tuition for four years, Distinguished half tuition for four years, Finalists $25,000 per year for four years.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetitionUp to full tuition
- NOV01Bennington CollegeBennington Young Writers AwardsCash by category: $2,000 first, $1,000 second, $500 third; distinguished submissions $250. First-place winners enrolling at Bennington receive full tuition for four years; distinguished recipients half tuition for four years; finalists $25,000 per year for four years. Additional scholarship renewal conditions are not published in the contest rules.ListedPartly verifiedCompetition
- NOV05Society for ScienceRegeneron Science Talent SearchEach top-300 scholar receives $2,000 (with separate $2,000 school award). Top-40 finalist awards: $25,000 minimum, top ten $40,000-$250,000. Awards under $20,000 require documentation within two years; larger awards paid annually for education while enrolled in good standing, beginning within six years of award and ending within eight years of high-school matriculation.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- NOV08Actuarial FoundationModeling the Future ChallengeTeam awards $25,000 first / $15,000 second / $10,000 third / $5,000 fourth, divided among members and paid directly as tuition to U.S. colleges/universities. Choosing a college outside the U.S. voids the award.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- NOV19Kennedy CenterAccess/VSA Emerging Young Artists ProgramFifteen artists each receive a $3,000 stipend and exhibition inclusion. Stipend requires full participation in virtual workshops April 3, May 1 and June 5, 2027 and all-expenses-paid workshops in Washington, D.C., June 14-18, 2027.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- NOV30UnigoEducation Matters ScholarshipConflict: headline $5,000; formal prize clause $1,500; one award paid directly to the institution after enrollment proof by 2031. No cash substitute.UnconfirmedPartly verifiedCompetition
- NOV30Lumiere EducationLumiere Scholars Essay Award (cash prizes)Portable cash awards: $1,000 gold (one), $500 silver (two), $300 bronze (three). Separate Lumiere-program tuition discounts are conditional on admission and are not portable college funding.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- DEC02Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)Senior Brass and Voice Performance CompetitionsNational Winner $2,000, Second $1,000, Third $500, Merit Awards $100 (separately for brass and voice)ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- DEC10Kemper Human Rights Education FoundationKemper Human Rights Essay Contest$5,000 / $2,500 / $1,250ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- DEC31UnigoTop Ten List Scholarship$1,500; one award paid directly to the institution after enrollment proof by 2031. No cash substitute.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- DEC31UnigoUnigo $10K Scholarship$10,000; one award paid directly to the institution after enrollment proof by 2031. No cash substitute.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- JAN11JFK Library FoundationProfile in Courage Essay ContestUnrestricted cash prizes: $10,000 first, $3,000 second, three $1,000 finalist awards. Winner supplies tax forms; first winner and up to two guests receive paid travel/lodging if the May 2027 Boston event is held in person.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- JAN14University of Delaware Horn EntrepreneurshipDiamond ChallengeEach track: first place $12,000, second $8,000, third $4,500 per team, plus topical prizes.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- JAN20C-SPANStudentCamCash per winning entry: $5,000 grand / $3,000 first / $1,500 second / $750 third / $250 honorable mention, shared equally among team members. Separate adviser awards and optional $500 Fan Favorite supplement.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- JAN27Toshiba / National Science Teaching AssociationToshiba/NSTA ExploraVisionFirst prize (4 teams): per student, a $10,000 Series EE savings bond at maturity, $5,000 cash, or $5,000 to a 529 plan. Second prize (4 teams): $5,000 bond, $2,500 cash, or $2,500 to a 529 plan. Finalists get a Washington, DC trip.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- FEB01National Academy of EngineeringEngineerTeen / EngineerGirl Writing Contest2027 prize schedule unverified (2025: $1,000 / $750 / $500)UnconfirmedPartly verifiedCompetition
- FEB01Stulberg International String CompetitionStulberg International String Competition2027 Gold $10,000, Silver $7,000 and Bronze $5,000, each with an orchestra performance award; medal prize money is paid half after competition and half after the performance award concert. Bach Prize $2,000; the other nine semifinalists receive $1,000 each.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- FEB11The ChristophersHigh School Poster ContestFirst $1,000; second $500; third $250; up to five honorable mentions of $100ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- FEB21Blue OceanBlue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition$1,000 / $750 / $500; regional $500; people's choice $750ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- FEB21SPJ / JEAHigh School Essay Contest$1,000 first / $500 second / $300 thirdListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- FEB28UnigoSweet and Simple Scholarship$1,500; one award paid directly to the institution after enrollment proof by 2032. No cash substitute.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- MAR01Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans FoundationScience Without Borders Challenge$500 / $350 / $200; $50 People's ChoiceListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- MAR06Arizona Science CenterArizona Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF route)Fair prizes/scholarships vary; 2027 individual award amounts, payment/use terms and special-award restrictions are not published. Senior Grand winners can advance to ISEF; not every entrant receives money.ListedPartly verifiedCompetition
- MAR12Stossel in the ClassroomStossel in the Classroom Essay ContestHigh school division: first $2,500, second $1,000, third $500, five finalists $200, five semifinalists $100, 15 honorable mentions $50ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- MAR15Journalism Education AssociationJEA Journalist of the Year Scholarship$4,000 for the national winner; $1,200 each for up to five finalistsListedPartly verifiedCompetition
- MAR31UnigoSuperpower ScholarshipConflict: headline $2,500; formal prize clause $1,500; one award paid directly to the institution after enrollment proof by 2032. No cash substitute.UnconfirmedPartly verifiedCompetition
- MAR31VFW AuxiliaryYoung American Creative Patriotic Art Contest (and 3-D Patriotic Art Contest)2026-27 national 2-D prizes: $15,000 first; $7,500 second; $4,500 third; $4,000 fourth; $1,500 fifth/sixth; $1,000 seventh-tenth; $750 eleventh; $500 twelfth-twenty-third. 3-D prizes: $2,500 first, $1,500 second, $1,000 third/fourth, $500 fifth. Paid directly to the chosen American college, university or vocational/technical school after verification; funds may be held for up to five years after high school graduation.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- APR05Courageous PersuadersCourageous Persuaders Video ContestScholarship prizes; category amounts varyListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- APR19Bill of Rights InstituteCommunity Impact Contest$10,000 first / $5,000 second / $2,500 third; up to nine $500 honorable mentionsListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- APR30UnigoAll About Education ScholarshipAward amount unconfirmed: the official pages advertise $3,000, but the program’s embedded prize rules state $1,500.UnconfirmedPartly verifiedCompetition
- MAY01Project ParadigmThe Paradigm ChallengeFor teams of four or more: grand prize $100,000 instead of first place $10,000; other age-division first places $10,000, seconds $2,000, thirds $1,000; other finalists up to $200 per team. For teams smaller than four, each qualifying member receives 25% of the listed team prize ($25,000 for the grand prize; $50 for other finalists).ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- MAY30UnigoFifth Month Scholarship$1,500UnconfirmedPartly verifiedCompetition
- MAY31Constituting AmericaWe the Future Contest$1,000 essay/STEM; $2,000 song/film/social-video/PSA (split for teams)ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- JUN07Bow SeatBlue Planet Awareness ContestCash awards up to $1,000ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- JUN30UnigoDo-Over Scholarship$1,500UnconfirmedPartly verifiedCompetition
- JUL31UnigoFlavor of the Month Scholarship$1,500ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- AUG31UnigoMake Me Laugh Scholarship$1,500ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition
- No confirmed dateNAACPACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics)National gold, silver and bronze medals plus college scholarship opportunities from national sponsors (amounts not stated)ListedPartly verifiedCompetition
- No confirmed dateAmerican Foreign Service AssociationAFSA National High School Essay ContestPrevious first prize $2,500 plus educational travelUnconfirmedPartly verifiedCompetition
- No confirmed dateScholastic Art & Writing AwardsAmerican Voices / American Visions$500 to national American Voices/Visions award recipients. Detailed current payment/use conditions are not public.ListedVerified from official sourcesCompetition