College scholarships aren’t just for college students and high school seniors. Many contests are open to students in elementary and middle school, and earning prize money now can help ease the burden of college costs down the road. We highlight eight scholarships below for students in younger grades. Review the details of each one and encourage any interested students you know to apply on time.
International Young Eco-Hero Award
How to Apply: Submit an application describing an environmental project you completed that concerns environmental health, advocacy, research, or protection of the natural world.
Eligibility: Open to students ages 8-16
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: February 28, 2026
Website: https://actionfornature.org/eco-hero-awards/apply
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/
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program
How to Apply: Complete an online application, including report cards, completed parent/guardian forms, two academic recommendations, answers to three short-answer prompts limited to 200 words, and one essay limited to 350 words.
Eligibility: Open to students entering 8th grade in the fall of 2026 who demonstrate unmet financial need
Amount: Scholarship awards vary, but all include educational and college advising as well as financial support from 8th to 12th grades
Deadline: April 29, 2026
Website: https://www.jkcf.org/our-scholarships/young-scholars-program/how-to-apply/
3M Young Scientist Challenge
How to Apply: Submit a 1–2-minute video in which you describe a new invention or solution that could solve or impact an everyday problem that directly affects you, your family, your community, and/or the global population.
Eligibility: Open to students in grade 5–8
Amount: Up to $25,000
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Website: https://youngscientistlab.com/annual-challenge/about-the-challenge
My Impact Challenge
How to Apply: Write an essay of up to 1,200 words on a project you have completed that furthers at least one principle and one virtue as defined in the Bill of Rights Institute’s “Principles and Virtues,” write a report of up to 2,000 words detailing your civic engagement project, including your inspiration and project plan, and include a video or series of photos highlighting your project’s impact on the community.
Eligibility: Open to any U.S. middle or high school student between the ages of 13 and 19
Amount: Prizes range from $500 to $10,000
Deadline: May 3, 2026
Website: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/my-impact-challenge
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
Junior Rubincam Youth Writing Competition
How to Apply: Submit a narrative essay of 750 to 1,200 words about a biological or adoptive relative, foster parent, or guardian.
Eligibility: Open to middle school students in grades 6-8
Amount: $250
Deadline: December 15, 2026
Website: https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/competitions/rubincam-youth-award/
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.
