Unless otherwise noted, the scholarships listed below are not affiliated with Rustic Pathways. We list these as a resource for middle school, high school, undergraduate and graduate students.

Scholarships For Middle School Students

American Legion National High School Oratorical Scholarship offer financial help for students in grades 9-12. The Legion encourages students to explore the U.S. Constitution through speech.

AMVETS National Americanism Program. AMVETS offers poster and short essay competitions open to students from kindergarten through grade 12. Students interested may inquire via the link.

Angela Award for girls in grades 5-8 who have shown excellence in science. They must have evidence of sustained accomplishments and/or evidence that the student’s interest in science has impacted others.

• Amount: $500
• Deadline: December 21

Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests for grades 8-12. Read Rand’s works, note the themes of capitalism, liberty, and rationalism, and write an essay.

• Amount: $500
• Deadline: April 25, 2024

Courage in Student Journalism Award for grades 7-12 recognizes students who demonstrate courage in pursuing journalistic endeavors. They often do so in the face of adversity or opposition.

• Amount: $1000
• Deadline: —

Disabled American Veterans Scholarship is open to volunteers aged 21 or younger. Applicants must have contributed a minimum of 100 hours credited through the organization.

• Amount: Up to $30,000
• Deadline: Feb 29, 2024

Davidson Fellows Scholarship – The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is for exceptional young people under 18 to support their achievements in STEM, literature, music, or philosophy.

• Amount: Up to $50,000
• Deadline: —

Doodle 4 Google – See your artwork original art on the Google Homepage

• Amount:  Up to $50,000 and lots of Google merch
• Deadline: March 14, 2024

Do Something Scholarships Do Something offers scholarships to young people 13-25 who initiate community development and community service projects. Make a positive impact in your neighborhood.

• Amount:  Up to $1,000
• Deadline: March 1, 2024

Eco Hero Awards recognize environmental activists 8-16 who demonstrate leadership in conservation.

• Amount:  Up to $500
• Deadline: February 28, 2024

eCYBERMISSION  is a STEM competition sponsored by the U.S. Army. It challenges students to solve real-world problems in their community using science.

• Amount:  Up to $1,000
• Deadline: February 28, 2024

EngineerGirl Writing Contest Open to middle and high school students who use an unconventional art/think piece addressing climate change.

• Amount: Up to $1,000
• Deadline: February 1, 2024

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes If you are 8-18, then you’re eligible to be a Barron Prize young leader who has made a significant positive impact on their communities and the environment.

• Amount: Up to $10,000
• Deadline: April 15, 2024

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program – The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship. It is intended for high-performing 7th grade students with financial need. The program provides academic and college advising, financial support for school, summer programs, and internships.

• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: May 9, 2024

L. Ron Hubbard Writers & Illustrators of the Future encourages aspiring writers to submit original fantasy works.

• Amount: Up to $1,000
• Deadline: March 31, 2024

New York Times Student Contest Calendar The New York Times offers various contests throughout the year. Please take a look at the various scholarship opportunities available.

Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku and Senryu Competition encourages students in grades 7-12 to explore the art of haiku and senryu poetry.

• Amount: Up to $100
• Deadline: January 29, 2024

Ocean Awareness Art Contest. This scholarship is open to middle and high school students who use an unconventional art/think piece addressing climate change. Tell your climate story.

• Amount: Up to $1,000
• Deadline: June 10, 2024

The Paradigm Challenge. This challenge is for students aged 4 to 18 who use kindness, creativity, and collaboration to help solve real-life problems and make a difference.

• Amount: Multiple awards worth up to $100,000
• Deadline: May 1, 2023

Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest. The Patriot’s Pen Writing Contest from VFW (grades 6-8) is sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. This essay competition challenges middle school students to reflect on patriotic themes. It also asks them to express their thoughts on democracy. High school students in grades 6-8 may write “What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?”

• Amount: $500 to $5,000
• Deadline: October 31, 2023

Prudential Emerging Visionaries recognizes young people 14-18 who have made contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

• Amount: Up to 15,000
• Deadline: —-

River of Words is an international art and poetry contest for students aged 5-19. The contest celebrates the creative expression of young people inspired by nature and the environment.

• Amount: —–
• Deadline: February 29, 2024

Rubincam Youth Award. Open to middle and high school students who submit an appropriately prepared narrative essay explaining or detailing some portion of your genealogy.

• Amount: Up to $250
• Deadline: December 15

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards – Students in grades 7-12 can earn a Scholastic grant of up to $12,500 for art and writing. Submit your 100 to 500-word personal statement and your portfolio online.

• Amount: Up to $12,500
• Deadline: Varies based on region

Student Cam Scholarship is for middle and high school students who create a 5–6-minute documentary addressing the year’s given theme framed in the next two sentences: In the next 20 years, what is the most important change that you would like to see in America? Over the past 20 years, what has been the most important change in America?

• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Deadline: January 19, 2024

Team America Rocketry Challenge – America’s largest rocket contest gives middle and high school students the opportunity to design, build and launch model rockets.

• Amount: Up to $20,000 for your team
• Deadline: —-

Thermofisher Junior Innovators Challenge.

• Amount: —
• Deadline: June 14, 2024

Voice of Democracy is for high school students in grades 9-12. This global citizen scholarship challenges them to write and record audio essays on patriotic themes. Winners receive scholarships and prizes.

• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Deadline: October 31, 2023

Young Scientist Challenge – It’s like your local science fair, but with a $25,000 grand prize. The 3M Young Scientist Challenge invites students in grades 5–8 to present ideas to solve problems. Submit a 2-minute video to propose solutions relevant to your communities.

• Amount: Up to $25,000
• Deadline: —

Scholarships for High School Students and Undergraduate Students

ABPA Harrington-Arthur Memorial Scholarship Essay Competition

AFA’s Teen Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship provides funding to high school seniors who will be a full time undergraduate student in the next year. You must have been impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. Applicants write an essay or submit 4-minute video, describing the impact of Alzheimer’s or another related illness on themselves and their families.

• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Deadline: April 1, 2024

American Indian College Fund – Provides Native American students with scholarships and financial support for the nation’s 33 accredited tribal colleges and universities.

• Amount: Up to $3,000
• Deadline: May 31, 2024

American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest – A veritable staple supporting students with scholarships and grants since 1938, the American Legion competition operates at a local, state then national level. Students must give a speech on some aspect of the Constitution, emphasizing a citizen’s duties and obligations to our government.

• Amount: Up to $25,000
• Deadline: April 1, 2024

Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund – The nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted to providing college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).

• Amount: Up to 20,000
• Deadline: January 9, 2024

Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests for grades 8-12. Read Anthem, Atlas Shrugged or the Fountainhead. Note the themes of capitalism, liberty, and rationalism and write an essay.

• Amount: $500
• Deadline: April 25, 2024

Burger King Scholars Program

Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship – Scholarships and grants opportunities with rolling deadlines

• Amount: Up to $1,500
• Deadline: May 15, 2024

Davidson Fellows Scholarship – The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is for exceptional young people under 18. It supports their achievements in STEM, literature, music, or philosophy. The Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a non-profit dedicated to supporting gifted students, awards the scholarship. Recipients receive significant financial awards to support their academic interests.

• Amount: Up to $50,000
• Deadline: —

Dell Scholars Program – Recognizes academic potential and determination in students in highly motivated, low-income scholars.

• Amount: Up to $20,000
• Deadline: December 1, 2023

Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Competition applicants are awarded on scholarship, leadership, and financial need.

• Amount: Up to $7,500
• Deadline: November 13, 2023

Global Perspectives Scholarship is awarded based on need, merit and global stwardship.

• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: August 24, 2024

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program – The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship. It is intended for high-performing 7th grade students with financial need. The program provides academic and college advising, financial support for school, summer programs, and internships.

• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: May 9, 2024

McConnell Scholarship: The McConnell Foundation Scholars Program is awarding scholarships to students who are likely to bring about positive change in their communities.

• Amount: Up to 30,000
• Deadline: February 12, 2024

McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship Program awards scholarships to Hispanic minority students to help narrow the gap for college-bound students. Application opens in the Fall 2024.

• Amount: Up to 100,000
• Deadline: —

National Geographic Slingshot Students in grades 8-12 create a 1-minute video describing their ideas for solving environmental issues that address one of the following topics: Clean the air, Restore the ocean, Protect nature, Reduce waste, or Address climate change.

• Amount: Up to $10,000
• Deadline: February 1, 2024

National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards scholarship opportunities based on PSAT scores.

Project Bridge Youth Ambassador Program grants specific scholarships and grants to high school student in the 11th or 12th who attend a NYC public school and reside in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens or Staten Island. The high point of the program is a 10 day studying abroad tour which enables students to experience Korea as a host country socially and culturally. There is a deep educational or service component as students experience multiple elements of Korean culture.

Reagan Foundation Scholarships – Scholarship opportunities for outstanding student leaders, continuing the legacy of President Ronald Reagan.

• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: —

Rotary International offers scholarships for undergraduate studies that can often be used for study abroad or volunteer abroad.

• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: May 15

Rubincam Youth Award. Open to middle and high school students who submit an appropriately prepared narrative essay explaining or detailing some portion of your genealogy.

• Amount: Up to $250
• Deadline: December 15

USAC Study Abroad Scholarships offers scholarships on a regional basis for students to study abroad. The scholarships are designed to benefit students from underrepresented backgrounds and increase financial accessibility.

• Amount: Up to 30,000
• Deadline: March 1, 2024

U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize is the world’s most prestigious award presented to a high school student for a water-research project. Students selected travel to Stockholm, Sweden to present their international research before a panel of international experts.

• Amount: $15,000
• Deadline: April 15, 2024

UNCF – The United Negro College Fund awards 10,000 community college students and university students each year through 400 scholarship programs so that students from low- and moderate-income families can afford college tuition, books and room and board.

Vinson & Elkins Diversity Scholarships are for students who have a strong high school record and interest in working in a law firm. Scholars must have a demonstrated financial need and a strong academic profile.

• Amount: $15,000
• Deadline: April 15, 2024

Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition provides high school students heading on to higher education with the unique opportunity to express themselves in a patriotic-themed recorded essay.

• Amount: Up to $35,000
• Deadline: October 31

Undergraduate Scholarships

American Association of Teaching German offers study and volunteer abroad scholarships to recognize high-achieving undergraduate students who plan to study abroad or volunteer abroad in Germany.

American Indian Science and Engineering Society Scholarships help AISES member students AISES scholarships acquire skills and training that will help them meet the unique STEM needs of American Indian communities.

• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: April 30, 2024

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship & Excellence in Education Program

Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan – The Association offers 100 study abroad scholarships to American undergraduate students in Japan.

• Amount: $2,500
• Deadline: March 15, 2024

Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation

Diverse International Women of Color (DIWC) Scholarship for Study Abroad assists women of color who are exceptional in their studies and in need of financial assistance to study abroad. DIWC awards scholarships to women of color who have been accepted to an in-person study abroad program.

• Amount: $500
• Deadline: April 15, 2024

Education New Zealand Scholarships manages several study abroad scholarships for students who wish to learn in New Zealand. Programs cover study abroad expenses on the overseas program.

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest

Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship The Scholarship Program provides undergraduate applicants with academic assistance for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility during the summer.

• Amount: $9,500
• Deadline: —

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Undergraduate Scholarship. The German Academic Exchange Service supports study abroad learning German as a foreign language in Germany at German universities.

• Amount: —
• Deadline: —

Gilman International Scholarship Program. The Gilman International scholarship program enables students with limited financial means for education abroad or to intern abroad. This provides with skills critical to American national security and economic prosperity. Only students receiving a Federal Pell Grant at time application or study abroad program are eligible for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

• Amount: Up to $35,000
• Deadline: March 7, 2024

Gilman-McCain Scholarship. The other portion of the Gilman Scholarship program is the The Gilman-McCain Scholarship which provides awards for undergraduate children of active-duty military members to study or intern abroad. The education abroad scholarship honors Senator John McCain’s legacy of public service. It enables undergraduate students to develop the leadership, career readiness, skills, and global perspective to pursue careers of service and contribute to preserving the principles and alliances that are critical to an international order based on the rule of law, human rights, and democracy.

• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Deadline: March 7, 2024

The Going Abroad Scholarship helps people travel abroad, study abroad and experience the world.

• Amount: $1,500
• Deadline: March 15

Golden Key International Honor Society offers scholarships for high achieving students from various locales.

• Amount: Up to $1,500
• Deadline: June 15, 2024

Go Overseas Study Scholarship – Each year Go Overseas offers program specific scholarships for recent college graduates whether for travel abroad or studying critical foreign languages.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – 125 Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad.

• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: March 15, 2024

Hostelling International USA Travel Scholarships are stipends for travel abroad or studying abroad. Applicants must have a financial need.

• Amount: Up to $1,500
• Deadline: March 1, 2024

JASSO Scholarships are available to qualified international students studying abroad in Japan. Contact your home school’s study abroad office to see if you qualify.

The Language Flagship is for undergraduate students pursuing any major to graduate with professional-level proficiency in a Flagship language. The Language Flagship is an initiative of the National Security Education Program and offers 31 language programs at 23 higher education institutions across the United States.

Mann Lake Beekeeping Scholarship is for college students currently or about to be enrolled in any apiology program, major in agriculture & environmental sciences, and other related studies.

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) program

The MEXT Scholarship: Do you want to study abroad in Japan building competency in one of the world’s critical languages? The Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, or MEXT has you covered.

Native Forward Scholars Fund is the largest scholarship providers to Native students in the United States. The organization will offer financial support to students pursing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in any field of study at any accredited institution of choice.

• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: Multiple

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) supports Italian American students with a 3.5/4.0 GPA.

• Amount: —
• Deadline: March 1, 2024

The NSHSS Foundation fosters the growth of students who wish to be young professionals in STEAM fields, business, economics, public policy, environmental science and/or sustainability.

Study.com Scholarship for Latin American Students

Study.com Scholarship for Latin American Women

Study.com Scholarship for DACA Students

Thurgood Marshall College Fund provides a range of academic and diversity scholarships and support to the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The U.S.-Japan Council Toshizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship provides financial assistance to Japanese students to study in the United States, and American students to study in Japan.

Scholarships for Graduate Students

American Association of University Women

Beinecke Scholarship Program

Boren Scholarships – Boren Scholarships provide funding for undergraduate and graduate students to study in world regions critical to the national security” of the United States which may be underrepresented in study abroad. Boren funds study in East or southeast Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Study in North America, Western Europe or Australia/New Zealand will not be considered.

Citizens and Scholars Fellowships

Churchill Scholarship

Davies-Jackson Scholarship

Fulbright U.S Student Program. The Fulbright grant funds American citizen’s education abroad.

George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program

Golden Key International Honor Society

Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity

Harry S. Truman Scholarships

Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship Award

Hosteling International USA Travel Scholarships

Jacob K. Javits Fellowships Program

James Madison Graduate Fellowships

Knight-Hennessy Scholars program builds a community of grad students from across Stanford University to tackle tough challenges.

Luce Scholars Program

Marshall Scholarships

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

Rhodes Scholarship

Rotary Foundation Scholarships

Spencer Education Fellowship

The Fulbright Program

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

Tips for middle school students & their parents:

Plan Early for College: This proactive approach sets a solid foundation for your or your child’s college education. Remember, there are various ways to prepare for college besides scholarships. Financial assistance, federal Pell grant funding, and grant programs open their applications early.

Start Saving Early: Consider opening a 529 plan to save for college, travel and living expenses. Starting early allows your earnings to compound over time, providing a financial cushion for university students. The US federal government has a slew of programs for students with demonstrated financial need. But, funding opportunities do run out, so move quickly.

Explore Educational Opportunities Beyond the Classroom: Education extends beyond the academic year. Investigate educational summer semester programs that can enhance your child’s learning and prepare them for high school. Some programs cater to middle school students and offer valuable experiences. Participating in travel abroad programs not only enrich learning but also aid in transition to high school.

Are there any scholarships for middle school students?

There are at 29 scholarships for middle school students. The majority of scholarships are for high school and college seniors, community college students, college students, and graduate students.

Frequently asked questions about middle school scholarships

What is the youngest age you can qualify for scholarships?

There is no age limit for applicable scholarships.

Why should I apply to scholarships in middle school?

It’s important to get a head start on the college funding process. Earning some scholarships will beget earning others.

Are there scholarships for international students?

Yes.