Scholarships – Free Money for College

Do you want free money for college? Scholarships are the way to go!

Use this extensive list of scholarships to match your passions, abilities and post-secondary plans.  Apply early for all the scholarships that match your interests – you may be surprised at what you receive! 

Academic/Leadership

American Muslim Alliance of Florida
$500 to $1,000 | Open to high school seniors of all faiths and races, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, who have been accepted at a Florida college; essay. | January 2025

Coca-Cola Scholars Program
$20,000 | Achievement-based scholarship awarded to high school seniors committed to making an impact on their schools and communities. | 10/30/2024

Elks Most Valuable Student
$4,000 to $30,000 over four years | High school seniors. Scholarship, leadership, financial need. | 11/15/24

Equitable Excellence Scholarship
$2,500 to $20,000 over four years | High school seniors. Community involvement and achievement. | 12/15/24

Foot Locker Scholar Athletes
Up to $20,000 over four years | High school seniors who are exemplary leaders on their sports teams, in their classrooms and in their communities. | 12/25/24

LifeSmarts Scholarship
$500 | High school seniors who participate in LifeSmarts and conduct community service outreach. | 3/15/25

Simon Community Scholarships
Up to $1,500 | High school seniors in every community that is home to a Simon mall; demonstrate academic promise and financial need. | 2/16/25

Community Service

Burger King Scholars
$1,000 to $60,000 | High school seniors based on GPA, work experience, extracurricular activities and community service. | 12/15/24

Do Something Scholarships
Up to $2,500 | U.S. citizens between the ages of 13 and 25 who complete volunteer, social change and civic action campaigns | 5/31/25

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
$10,000 | Students up to age 18 who have executed a service project to help the community or protect the environment. | 4/15/25

Jimmy Rane Foundation
$500 to $5,000/year, renewable | High school seniors with demonstrated financial need who exhibit academic excellence, leadership skills and community involvement. | February 2025

Prudential Emerging Visionaries
Up to $15,000 | Students 14 to 18 who create solutions to financial and societal challenges. | November 2024

Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarships
$10,000 plus $5,000 grant to your favorite hunger-related charity | Students ages 5 to 25 driving awareness and mobilizing youth to be catalysts for innovative models that provide solutions to eliminate hunger in the U.S. | 12/5/24

Essay Contests

B. Davis Scholarship
$1,000 | High school juniors and seniors; 1,000-word-or-less essay: Describe the three characteristics of leadership you value most and why they are so important. | 5/21/25

Florida School Counselor Association
$250 | High school seniors. Essay: How do school counseling programs positively impact students? | April 2025

International Virtual Learning Academy
$1,000 | High school seniors accepted into an accredited U.S. university, community college, or trade school; 300 to 500-word essay. | April 2025

Optimist International
$2,500 | Optimistic essay topic changes yearly, is submitted to local Optimist Club. | February 2025

Regions Riding Forward
$8,000 | High school seniors. Essay or video about someone you know personally who has inspired you. | Quarterl, beginning February 2025

Student Research Group
Up to $10,000 | High school students must submit a brief personal statement that describes an action plan developed to make a difference to your school. | June 2025

Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Scholarship
Up to $35,000 | High school students. Record an essay on this theme: Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision? | 10/31/24

ETHNICITY

Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship
$2,500 to $20,000 | Students of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage of financial need and the first in their family to attend college. | January 2025

Association on American Indian Affairs
$2,000 to $3,000 | Students must be enrolled in their tribe. Complete one application to be eligible for multiple awards. | 5/31/25

The Gates Scholarship
$ Varies | Minority high school seniors with exemplary academic record who are Pell-eligible and demonstrate leadership ability. | 9/15/24

Hispanic Scholarship Fund
$500 to $5,000 | Must be of Hispanic heritage; scholars selected based on merit and relative need. | 2/15/25

Jackie Robinson Foundation
Up to $35,000 over four years | Minority high school seniors. Demonstrate leadership and financial need. | 1/10/25

José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund
$2,000 | Need-based merit scholarship for eligible students of Hispanic origin who will attend Florida public or eligible private institutions. | April 2025

Minority Teacher Education Scholars
$4,000 | High school seniors who are residents of Florida; identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaskan Native; and admitted into a state-approved teacher education program at any of FFMT’s participating universities/colleges; 100- to 300-word essay | July 2025

Ron Brown Scholar
$10,000 per year; total of $40,000 | African-American high school seniors. Academics, community service, financial need. | 12/1/24

Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Foundation
$4,000 to $25,000 | Various scholarships for students of Italian descent. | March 2025

United Negro College Fund
$ Varies | Nation’s largest private scholarship provider to minority group members. Initiate the online application process to search thousands of scholarships. | Deadlines vary

FIELD OF STUDY

Aircraft Electronics Association
$1,000 to $3,000 | Multiple opportunities for students seeking careers in aircraft electronics or aviation maintenance. | Deadlines vary

American Culinary Federation (ACF)
Up to $1,500 | High school seniors accepted to an accredited institution with a culinary, pastry or foodservice-related major. | 10/31/24, 4/30/25

American Dental Education Association
$1,000 to $3,000 | High school seniors enrolled part- or full-time in a course of study in dental hygiene, education or public health. | November 2024

American Public Power Association
$2,000 | High school seniors planning to pursue a certificate or degree that could lead to a career at an electric utility. | 10/15/24, 2/15/25

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers
$10,000 | High school seniors accepted into pre-engineering, engineering or engineering technology programs leading to a bachelor’s degree in a course of study for the HVAC&R profession. | 5/1/25

Arts for Life
$1,000 | Florida high school seniors who demonstrate excellence in creative writing, dance, drama, music or the visual arts. | February 2025

AvaCare Medical
$1,000 | High school seniors planning to pursue a degree in the medical field. Preference given to students with a physical disability. Write about an act of kindness that inspired you. | 12/15/24

CodeWizardsHQ
$2,500 | High school seniors planning to pursue a degree in STEM, include a statement of purpose. | 5/1/25

Florida Engineering Society
$ Varies | Multiple scholarships for students interested in pursuing a career in engineering. Submit application to local chapter representatives. | Deadlines vary

Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association
Up to $3,000 | High school seniors preparing for a career in horticulture. | Deadlines vary

Florida Realtors Education Foundation
$1,000 and up | High school seniors who will attend college or university and pursue a real estate career preferred, but any major may apply. | April 2025

James Beard Foundation
$ Varies | Aspiring professionals who plan to further their education at a licensed or accredited culinary school or hospitality institution, college or university. | 3/31/25

Joe Francis Haircare
$3,000 and up | High school seniors applying for entrance into cosmetology/barber school with financial need. | 6/1/25

National Center for Women & Information Technology
$ Varies | The NCWIT Aspirations in Computing award honors high school women, genderqueer or nonbinary students for their computing-related achievements and interests. | 11/6/24

National Society of High School Scholars Foundation
$ Varies | High school seniors planning careers in subjects such as entrepreneurship, leadership, literature, medicine, music, STEM, sustainability, visual arts, and community service. | Deadlines vary

Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Up to $10,000 | High school senior planning to pursue a career in applied geophysics or a related field, such as geosciences, physics, geology, or earth and environmental sciences. | 3/1/25

Ted & Holly Rollins Scholarship
$5,000 | High school senior; essay on their life story, intended field of study and career, and how they will make an impact. | 6/1/25

Women in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
$5,000 | Women entering the HVACR industry through college or trade school; essay on their goals and motivation of seeking a career in the HVACR industry. | 5/31/25

Young Arts Awards Competition
$250 to $10,000 | Artists ages 15-18. The competition includes classical music, dance, design arts, jazz, film, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing. | 10/25/24

Zonta Scholarships
$5,000 to $10,000 | Zonta supports scholarships and awards for women and girls pursuing careers in fields traditionally dominated by men. | Deadlines vary

Florida or Specific County Residents

Bailey Family Foundation
$20,000 over four years | Open to seniors in certain high schools in Hillsbourough, Pinellas or Polk counties. Scholastic achievement, community service and financial need. | 2/28/25

Brevard Schools Foundation
$250 to $5,000 | Multiple opportunities for high school seniors in Brevard County. | March 2025

Central Florida Foundation
$ Varies | Multiple opportunities for high school seniors from Central Florida. | Mid-February 2025

Community Foundation of Broward
$1,500 | The Fort Lauderdale Alumnae Panhellenic Scholarship is for female high school seniors with a GPA of 3.3 or higher who live in Broward County. | April 2025

Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties
$ Varies | Numerous opportunities for high school seniors in Palm Beach and Martin counties. | February 2025

Emerald Coast
$ Varies | Multiple scholarship programs for students in Bay, Okaloosa and Walton counties. | Deadlines vary

Selby Scholarship
Up to $7,000 | High school seniors from Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties; personal values, scholastic achievement and financial need. | 3/1/24

Southern Scholarship Foundation Housing Award
Up to four years of college housing valued at $50,000 | Housing opportunities in Fort Myers, Gainesville and Tallahassee. | April 1 for Fall; November 1 for Spring semesters

Health or Disability

Lighthouse Guild Scholarship for the Blind
Up to $10,000 | High school seniors who are legally blind with strong academic accomplishments. | 3/31/25

National Center for Learning Disabilities
Up to $10,000 | High school seniors with a documented learning disability, demonstrated perseverance and commitment to achieving personal goals despite the challenges of their disability. | May 2025

National Hemophilia Foundation
$ Varies | Multiple scholarships for promising students affected by bleeding disorders | Deadlines vary

Patient Advocate Foundation Scholarships for Survivors
$3,000, renewable | Students who have been diagnosed with or treated for cancer or a chronic disease within the past five years. | March 2025

Rick and Sherry Murray Medical Futures Scholarship
Up to $8,000 | Students who have had a close family member diagnosed with ALS and who want to pursue a degree in the medical profession. | July 2025

Sertoma Hard of Hearing or Deaf Scholarship
$1,000 | High school seniors with clinically significant bilateral hearing loss pursuing four-year college degrees in any discipline, minimum 3.2 GPA. | 3/31/25

Members of Organizations

American Legion Department of Florida
$500 to $2,500 | Multiple opportunities for high school students focused on veteran and military influences. | March 2025

Fisher House: Scholarships for Military Children
$2,000 | Dependent child of parents serving active duty, in the reserve, deceased or retired from the military, 3.0 GPA, essay. | 2/12/25

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
$500 | High school seniors who are FBLA members. | 4/15/25

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)
$1,500 | High school senior who is a child or grandchild of a GCSAA member and pursuing a career in the golf course industry. | 4/15/25

Marine Technology Society
$1,000 to $2,500 | High school seniors who have been accepted into a full-time marine studies program. MTS membership required. | Deadlines Vary

National Association for the Self-Employed
$3,000 | High school seniors who are dependents of NASE members. Selection criteria include leadership abilities, strong academics and financial need. | 4/30/25

National Future Farmers of America
$1,000 to $10,000 | Numerous programs available primarily to FFA members. | Mid-January 2025

PDK International
$500 to $4,000 | Numerous opportunities for high school seniors who have an association with PDK and are pursuing a career in education. | April 2025

Roofing Alliance
$1,000 to $5,000/year, renewable | Roofing industry employee dependents who plan to pursue careers in the roofing or building construction industries. | January 2025

Special Interests

ConnectHER Film Festival
$2,500 to $5,000 | High school students. Submit an original short (3-6 minute) film focused on specific critical women’s issues. | June 2025

Florida State Golf Association
Up to $10,000 | Multiple scholarships for high school seniors with financial need, good academics and an association with golf, such as team participation. | Deadlines Vary

Florida Striders Track Club
$1,000 | High school seniors from Northeast Florida who are runners or active in track and field events. Essay required. | March 2025

Scholastic Art & Writing
Up to $12,500 | High School students whose creative work demonstrates originality, technical skill, and emergence of a personal voice or vision through art or writing. | Deadlines vary

Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship
$5,000 to $25,000 | High school students on track for a postsecondary education. Submit a 2-minute video about you, your passion and how you would create a better future for your community. | January 2025

Vegetarian Resource Group
$5,000 to $10,000 | High school seniors who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and communities with a demonstrated compassion, courage, and strong commitment to a peaceful world through a vegetarian diet/lifestyle. | 2/20/25

State Scholarships and Grants
Florida Department of Education Office of Student Financial Assistance provides grants and scholarships to Florida residents to assist with financing postsecondary education. Application criteria and deadlines vary. Detailed information is available at

BRIGHT FUTURES Scholarships
Would you like to receive free or partial tuition, most fees, and $300 per semester for textbooks?

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program provides scholarships for Florida high school grads with a record of high academic achievement, good test scores and community service. You can use the scholarship for a degree, certificate or applied technology program at most Florida public or private postsecondary education institutions.

Be sure to apply as soon as you are eligible!

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