Between visiting colleges, obtaining letters of recommendation, and writing college essays, high school juniors are busy. But there’s one more task they should make time for as they prepare for college: applying for scholarships. Every scholarship you receive, no matter how small the amount, will reduce your out-of-pocket cost and help ease your mind as you plan for college. To provide some help, we’ve compiled a list of six scholarships that high school juniors can apply to right now. Many of these scholarships are open to grades even younger than high school juniors. Review the details of each one and set aside some time to submit your applications before the deadlines.
Stossel in the Classroom Essay Contest
How to Apply: Write a 500–1,000-word essay about one of four topics: tariffs, birthright citizenship, America’s 250th birthday, or whether Congress should have term limits or not.
Eligibility: Open to students ages 10-18 who live in the U.S., Canada, or at a U.S. military address
Amount: Ranges from $50 to $2,500
Deadline: March 13, 2026
Website: https://stosselintheclassroom.org/essay-contest/
Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
How to Apply: Submit a pre-application first. If eligibility requirements are met, then submit the online application, including a letter from a lead reference and two additional letters of recommendation.
Eligibility: Open to children ages 8-18 who are legal residents of the U.S. or Canada and are currently working on an inspiring service project or have done so within the past 12 months; project must benefit other people or the planet
Amount: Multiple winners receive $10,000 each
Deadline: March 15, 2026 (pre-application) and April 15, 2026 (full application)
Website: https://barronprize.org/apply/
Chip Miller Memorial Scholarship
How to Apply: Write an essay of 400–600 words that answers the question, “What are your career hopes and how do they relate to the automotive industry?”
Eligibility: Open to any high school, undergraduate, graduate, or trade school student pursuing a career in the automotive field
Amount: 25 winners of $1,000 each
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Website: https://bold.org/scholarships/chip-miller-memorial-scholarship/
Ocean Awareness Contest
How to Apply: Share how the ocean has shaped your story through art, writing, performance, film, or multimedia, answering the question, “How does the ocean sustain, protect, and inspire you?”
Eligibility: Open to students ages 11 to 18; students must provide the contact information for an adult sponsor (teacher, parent, mentor, etc.)
Amount: Multiple awards of up to $1,000
Deadline: June 8, 2026
Website: https://bowseat.org/programs/ocean-awareness-contest
Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship
How to Apply: Write an essay of 200–1,000 words describing how your experience with mental health shaped your goals, relationships, and understanding of the world.
Eligibility: Open to all students who have had challenges with mental health or who have had loved ones who have struggled with mental health
Amount: Two winners of $3,383
Deadline: June 13, 2026
Website: https://bold.org/scholarships/ethel-hayes-destigmatization-of-mental-health-scholarship/
Amber D. Hudson Memorial Scholarship
How to Apply: Write an essay of 400–600 words describing how you would educate and assist patients and their families on ways to improve their quantity and quality of life, based on peer-reviewed research that reveals a strong link between nutritional choices and the prevention, progression, and sometimes regression of many major medical conditions.
Eligibility: Open to any female high school, undergraduate, or graduate student who is pursuing certification as a Registered Dietitian (RD), Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Certified Nutrition Specialist, or another nutrition-related area
Amount: Two winners of $1,000 each
Deadline: July 2, 2026
Website: https://bold.org/scholarships/amber-d-hudson-memorial-scholarship/
Please note, most scholarship recipients receive $2,500 or less, and only 0.1% of undergraduate students receive $25,000 or more in scholarship funds. Scholarships are one of many sources of funding for college, including savings, current income, and federal and private loans. To learn about the variety of ways to pay for college, visit our Paying for College webpage.
