Scholarships
Here at University Preparations, we understand that finding legitimate scholarships can be a struggle.
That’s why we have verified thousands of scholarships and scholarship search engines for you to browse and apply for. We will continue to update this list regularly.
If you are a student who has earned a scholarship and would like to help others, please email us the details of your scholarship at contact@universitypreparations.com with the subject line "Verified Scholarship". Please show proof of the legitimacy of the scholarship.
Once vetted, we will add it to our ongoing list of verified scholarships to help serve other students.
(Best scholarships and scholarship search engines are listed in descending order)
Best Scholarship Search Engines:
[Includes all student types]
https://scholarshipamerica.org/
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
Find Scholarships for College Students in 2023-2024 | Bold.org
https://www.unigo.com/scholarships
Scholarship Finder | CareerOneStop
Specific for high school and middle school students
https://www.raise.me/
https://www.stampsscholars.org/our-program/how-to-apply/
High School Involvement (student organizations, clubs, sports)
Scholarships | Mu Alpha Theta (Math Club)
Note:
-search on google "(insert name of your county) scholarships".
Example: Orlando, FL is a part of Orange County.
Scholarships | Orange County Education Foundation (ocedfoundationva.org) (“Insert County name” Education foundation)
-Check with your specific high school for scholarship opportunities PTSA have funds, events like winning a pageant, etc.
-Search your high school's main website and social media platforms for scholarship opportunities.
Test Performance
National Merit Scholarship (Based off of High School PSATs)
National Merit Scholarship Corporation - Overview
Note:
Becoming a National Merit finalist can help you unlock other scholarship opportunities. Example: the state of Florida gives their residents a full Cost of Attendance scholarship called the Benacquisto scholarship to students who are National Merit Finalists and go to a school in Florida.
Home - Florida Student Scholarship & Grant Programs
Prospective Transfer/ Newly admitted Transfer Students
Note:
Your institution has transfer scholarships and grants based on need and merit. Your schools' undergraduate affairs and financial and scholarships departments would be the best place to ask for opportunities before your first semester of transferring.
International Student Specific
Global Citizen Scholarship - MPOWER Financing
Davis UWC Scholars - Honors - University of Florida (ufl.edu)
united world college scholarship - Google Search
Note:
Look for scholarships on google for students pending asylum. Whatever University you go to, you can ask about scholarships for pending asylum and your intended major.
Waivers, grants and scholarships given by an Institution based on you being from a different country.
Example: at the University of Florida they give a waiver to Latin American and Carribean students. Ask your school if there are any programs like this.
Latin American-Caribbean (LAC) Scholarship | UF Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
Study Abroad
Eligibility - Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Scholarships – Fund for Education Abroad
https://us.fulbrightonline.org/fulbright-program-advisers/search-for-a-fulbright-program-adviser
Note:
Reach out to your Institution's International Center or Study Abroad Department for scholarship opportunities (mostly financial needs based, but there are merit-based aid opportunities)
Institutional Aid
CSS Profile (only at participating Universities: click here)
About CSS Profile – CSS Profile | College Board
Google "Scholarship Universe (insert name of your school)" to see if your school is a participant. Schools pay for the scholarship matching service. You need to be a current student or admitted to the school for the login information.
Examples of participating schools: University of Florida, University of Arizona, University of Kentucky
Most institutions award their aid based on your admissions profile. You are not only trying to get admitted to the school, but also trying to beat out other admits for scholarships. They look at test scores and demographics to see if you are the type of student they are trying to attract.
Parent or Student works full time for school they attend or another state school
-Most state employees get scholarships, grants waivers for the state schools
-Employee assistance programs for faculty/staff and or their children
Note:
Find your university’s fundraising sector. They give fundraising money to Undergraduate Affairs, Graduate Affairs and to all colleges and departments (Example: College of Engineering scholarships, Mechanical Engineering departmental scholarships). Check your Institutions fundraising website for scholarships, grants and waivers that they fundraise for and see if you meet the eligibility requirements for the scholarships.
Miscellaneous Scholarship qualifications (look through to see if you qualify)
Needs Based
Equitable Excellence℠ Emergency Grant Program
STEM
Amazon Future Engineer - Scholarship America
Home - The George Snow Scholarship Fund
Application Criteria | Sunburst Foundation (sunburst-foundation.org)
Environmental Science or Environmental Engineering
https://www.cleanenergyexperts.com/scholarship/
Prestigious national and international merit-based scholarships and fellowships
STAMPS scholars
https://www.stampsscholars.org/our-program/how-to-apply/
Rhodes Scholarship
https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/the-rhodes-scholarship/
Goldwater Scholarship
https://goldwaterscholarship.gov/eligibility/
Marshall Scholarship
https://www.marshallscholarship.org/apply
Beinecke Scholarship
https://beineckescholarship.org/
NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM)
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
https://www.truman.gov/apply/applying/eligibility
Churchill Scholarship
https://www.churchillscholarship.org/the-scholarship
Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/hollings-scholarship
Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows Program
https://www.mountvernon.org/library/fellowships/mount-vernon-fellows/about
Boren Scholars
https://www.borenawards.org/initiatives
The National Institutes of Health Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program
Hertz fellowship scholarship
https://www.hertzfoundation.org/the-fellowship/eligibility-benefits/
Udall Foundation awards scholarships
https://www.udall.gov/ourprograms/scholarship/scholarship.aspx
https://knight-hennessy.stanford.edu/admission/before-you-apply/eligibility
https://www.gatescambridge.org/apply/eligibility/
https://www.schwarzmanscholars.org/scholars/?y=2025
https://fulbrightscholars.org/us-scholar-awards
Graduate Students (Masters, PHD, MD, etc.)
For Applicants | Science Policy Fellowship | National Academies
Grad Assistantships
Teacher Assistant/ Research grants
Waivers from provost office and your specific graduate department
Here are some examples of scholarship living houses (Student Housing Cooperatives) near the University of Florida to get inspiration to find student co-ops in your intuition's town:
Student housing cooperative - Wikipedia
HOME - Southern Scholarship Foundation
Tips:
Check out the article "Mastering Merit-Based Aid: Scholarships, Waivers, Grants, and Assistantships", found on the "Content & Resources" tab, for a detailed breakdown of earning scholarships and all merit based aid.