25 Summer Scholarships to Fund Any Semester of College

If you’ve been scrolling through scholarship listings for a while now, you’ve probably noticed most applications are due in the fall and winter — even though summer is when many students actually have the time they need to write all those application essays. 

If that’s you, you’re smart to invest that extra time in scholarship apps. In addition to financial aid, scholarships are one of the best ways to reduce your tuition payments and the amount you may need to borrow in expensive student loans. 

Fortunately, there are still many scholarship awards out there with summer deadlines — if you know where to look. Whether you’re looking to pay for summer classes or simply get help covering your next semester of studies, these scholarship opportunities are a great place to start.

(And here’s a special one for the just-graduated Class of 2024: the $1,000 No-Essay Give-Me-a-Summer-Break Scholarship from Going Merry!)

Here are 25 summer scholarships worth applying for

These are broad-eligibility scholarships that apply to a wide range of students. If you’re looking for options tailored more to your specific background or strengths, sign up for Going Merry. You’ll get full, personalized lists of “matched scholarships” curated just for you. 

1. Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award

Amount: $5,000

Provider: NLGJA: The Association of LGBT Journalists

Eligibility Requirements:

• Enrolled in a college or university
• Declared study in the field of journalism

Application Requirements: Transcript, proof of acceptance/enrollment, resume, 5 work samples, multimedia news story

Named for Leroy F. Aarons, a groundbreaking journalist who founded the NLGJA: The Association of LGBT Journalists, the Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award is for an LGBTQ student who plans to pursue a career in journalism. The award also aims to steer the future of the media industry toward more fair and accurate coverage of the LGBTQ community. So to apply, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’re not just a dedicated journalist, but one who’s informed and passionate about issues facing LGBTQ individuals.

2. The Allman Family Business Development, Marketing, and Sales Scholarship Endowment

Amount: $5,000

Provider: Foundation for Outdoor Advertising Research & Education

Eligibility Requirements:

• Declared field of study in business or marketing

Application Requirements: Transcript, essay

The Allman Family Business Development, Marketing, and Sales Scholarship recognizes one committed business, sales, or marketing student each year. To win, you’ll have to write a compelling essay about your future career goals and any current community service you’re doing. Because Don and Cathy Allman, the scholarship founders, hope to support students at all stages of their academic journeys, this award is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.  

3. El Café Del Futuro Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Provider: Café Bustelo

Eligibility Requirements:

• Latino
• Enrolled full-time in a Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) member institution 
• 18 years or older

Application Requirements: EssayIn honor of its Latin roots, coffee brand Café Bustelo created the El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship to reward high-achieving college or graduate students from the Latino community. To apply, write an essay describing your Latino heritage, your intention to pursue higher education, and your plans to give back to your community. Fine print: To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a HACU member school for the upcoming academic year. Not sure if your school counts? Be sure to check — there are more than 100 on the list.

4. AFSA Second Chance Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Provider: AFSA Scholarships

Eligibility Requirements:

• Attending 2- or 4-year college

Application Requirements: 

This no-essay scholarship from The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) takes less than 10 minutes to complete! It is a sweepstakes scholarship in which 5 lucky, randomly selected applicants will win $1,000 (payable directly to their school). This one is hot-hot-hot!

5. Korean American Scholarship 

Amount: Up to $5,000

Provider: Korean American Scholarship Foundation

Eligibility Requirements:

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Korean heritage
• Enrolled full-time in a high school, college, or university

Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation, essay

The Korean American Scholarship awards Korean and Korean-American students looking to take their education to the next level. For a good shot at winning, your scholarship application should highlight a commitment to community service, pride in your Korean heritage, and academic achievements. This scholarship is open to U.S. citizens as well as international students of Korean descent.

6. Aviation Program Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

Provider: GatewayJFK

Eligibility Requirements:

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Enrolled full-time in a high school, college, university, or trade school

Application Requirements: Transcript, 1 letter of recommendation, proof of acceptance/enrollment

This scholarship opportunity comes courtesy of GatewayJFK. The organization provides community support and advocacy for the neighborhood surrounding New York’s JFK airport. As part of their community focus, GatewayJFK sponsors the Aviation Program Scholarship. The award is need-based and is given annually to one high school senior, college student, or grad student interested in aviation. To apply, you’ll need to write one short essay about your career goals in the field of air transportation. Applicants can be Pell Grant-eligible, but it’s not a requirement.

7. Healthy Lifestyle & Light Pollution Scholarship

Amount: $2,000

Provider: Sport Light Supply

Eligibility Requirements:

• 3.0 GPA
• Half- or full-time enrolled

Application Requirements: 

• 1,500-word essay

Summer is a great time to get active! The Healthy Lifestyle & Light Pollution Scholarship aims to highlight the importance of being active, while also providing an opportunity for applicants to learn about the benefits of LED lightning in sports.

8. MyBioSource Learning Disabilities Scholarship 

Amount: $1,000

Provider: MyBioSource

Eligibility Requirements:

• Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university
• Have a documented learning disability 

Application Requirements: Essay

Underwritten by a California-based biotech company, the MyBioSource Learning Disabilities Scholarship was created to uplift students who have overcome learning challenges to pursue their dreams. The award is available to graduate students, undergraduate students, and high school seniors, and you can apply as either a U.S. citizen or an international student. The centerpiece of the online application is a short essay about why you chose your major, and you must have a documented learning disability to apply.  

9. Raymond J. Rue Memorial Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Provider: Family and Friends of Raymond J. Rue

Eligibility Requirements:

• Affected by gun violence
• Graduating high school seniors

Application Requirements: 

• 500-word essay

For those who have been affected by gun violence, you’re not alone, and this is an opportunity to make your voice and your story heard. The Raymond J. Rue Memorial scholarship is dedicated to Raymond J. Rue, who tragically lost his life to an act of senseless gun violence. As part of the application, you’ll be asked to write a 500-word personal statement illustrating the impact of gun violence on your life and how it has influenced your future goals.

10. Probo Medical Scholarships

Amount: $500

Provider: Probo Medical

Eligibility Requirements:

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Enrolled full time in a high school, college, or university
• 16 or older

Application Requirements: Transcript, essay

To help combat the rising costs of student loans for medical students, ultrasound provider Probo Medical decided to create its own college scholarship. To apply for the Probo Medical Scholarship, you’ll need to write an essay detailing your aspirations for making healthcare more affordable and accessible. While this scholarship opportunity is targeted toward students studying medicine, students of all majors are welcome to apply. 

11. Reef2Leaf Scholarship

Amount: $1,500

Provider: Wildhorn Outfitters

Eligibility Requirements:

• Enrolled in a college or university

Application Requirements: Essay

Wildhorn Outfitters, a mountain sports activewear brand, wants to protect the places we go when we play outside. That’s why it’s championing the Reef2Leaf Scholarship. This college scholarship is essentially an essay contest about the climate crisis. Fortunately, applicants aren’t expected to have all the answers to solving global warming. Instead,  you’ll need to write an essay detailing work you’ve done in the past to protect the environment, and outline an idea for a future project. Eligibility is pretty broad: You just have to be currently enrolled in an institution of higher education to apply. 

12. Reef2Leaf Aquatic Scholarships

Amount: $1,500

Provider: Seaview 180

Eligibility Requirements:

• Enrolled in a college/university 

Application Requirements: Essay

Similar to the Reef2Leaf Scholarship, the Reef2Leaf Aquatic Scholarship is all about the environment, but with a twist. Because this one’s sponsored by Seaview 180, a manufacturer of snorkeling gear, it places its focus on aquatic conservation. For this essay, your biggest asset will be your history of community service, and how that ties into your passion for protecting the world’s waters. Note that you don’t need a plan for solving the climate crisis at large. Instead, this selection committee cares more about your grassroots effort to make an impact on the ocean and marine life. 

13. ABC Humane Wildlife Academic Scholarship – Women In STEM

Amount: $1,000

Provider: ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention, Inc.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Female
• Enrolled in a college or university
• Declared field of study in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 

Application Requirements: 1 letter of recommendation, proof of enrollment, essay

Women make up only 13 percent of engineering professionals, and ABC Humane Wildlife wants to change that. To help make it happen, this woman-owned wildlife-control provider created the ABC Humane Wildlife Academic Scholarship to empower women in STEM. This scholarship opportunity is pretty unique in that winners can use funds for anything academic-related, including summer courses, housing, and even medical expenses. To sway the selection committee, your essay should detail your affinity for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Also be sure to describe how your future career will make an impact on the world.

14. Collegiate Beef Advocacy Program

Amount: $2,000

Provider: American National Cattlewomen

Eligibility Requirements:

• Enrolled in a college/university
• 24 years of age or younger
• Unmarried 

Application Requirements: Resume, headshot, relevant work experience, bio

There’s no better time than summer (i.e. hamburger grilling season) to apply for the Collegiate Beef Advocacy Program. Run by the American National Cattlewomen, this scholarship opportunity is targeted toward students interested in pursuing agricultural studies. However, an agricultural focus isn’t a criteria for eligibility. A unique aspect of this program is that it provides access to career mentors and industry leaders in addition to funding. That makes it a great path to expanding your network both during and after college. 

15. The Sanofi Next Generation Scholarship

Amount: $15,000

Provider: Thurgood Marshall College Fund & Sanofi

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a student at an HBCU (or TMCF member-school)
• Must be willing to participate in a Sanofi NextGen Leadership and mentorship program that includes playing a role as Ambassador to A Million Conversations initiative to improve trust in healthcare

Application Requirements: 2-minute video essay, FAFSA, Recommendation Letter, Resume, and TranscriptThis is a wonderful opportunity for attendees of a Historically Black College or University to apply for $15,000 to help with tuition and living costs. The Sanofi NextGen Scholarship is the first global higher education scholarship program for people from numerous communities underrepresented in healthcare professions, and wants to make higher education more accessible (a mission after our own heart!).

16. Crystal Group Innovation Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Provider: Crystal Group

Eligibility Requirements:

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Enrolled full-time in a college or university
• Declared field of study in business, engineering or a related field
• Completed a minimum of 60 semester hours 

Application Requirements: 2 letters of recommendation, proof of enrollment, essay, resume

The Crystal Group is a computer hardware manufacturer that strives to develop innovative technology — and wants to encourage students to do the same. That’s why they’ve endowed the Crystal Group Innovation Scholarship. This scholarship opportunity is available to full-time undergraduates who are studying business, engineering, or a similar field. Applicants are welcome to apply each school year, even if they’ve received the award in the past. This selection committee prioritizes leadership and community service, so be sure to highlight related achievements in your application.

17. Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Provider: Access Scholarships

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a current high school, college, or graduate school student
• Must be enrolled full-time in either high school or college

Application Requirements: No Essay

The “Too Cool to Pay for School” scholarship is here to help you save money for higher education! The scholarship can be used to cover education-related expenses such as tuition, textbooks, housing, technology, and other fees. To apply, simply enter your info into the form and cross your fingers – it’s as easy as that. Bonus: this scholarship is open to international students studying in the U.S.!

18. Design Thinking Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Provider: American Graphics Institute

Eligibility Requirements:

• Enrolled in a college or university

Application Requirements: Essay

Design thinking can be applied to all disciplines, from math and engineering to social sciences and the humanities. To encourage that kind of thinking, the American Graphics Institute created this essay contest. Your submission should include details about how you plan to think like a designer and apply out-of-the-box thinking to your chosen major. Note: Applicants don’t have to be pursuing design-related majors to apply; any major at a two- or four-year college or university will do. 

19. Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship

Amount: $1,500

Provider: Michael Moody Fitness

Eligibility Requirements:

• Enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a college or university 
• Declared study in a health-related field

Application Requirements: Essay, list of extracurricular activities

Interested in fitness or health? Want to make it your career? Founded by a well-known personal trainer and author, the Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship could help you offset the cost of your tuition. This award is open to both undergraduate and graduate students, and boasts a pretty straightforward scholarship application. While there’s no GPA requirement, this scholarship does place some emphasis on students who can demonstrate a history of high academic performance. 

20. Smart Savings Scholarship

Amount: $500

Provider: Dealspotr

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be enrolled in a U.S. high school, college or university

Application Requirements: Short video

Are you thrifty? Clever with money? Or, just want to push yourself to get better at saving? It’s never too early to start! This Smart Savings scholarship from Dealspotr encourages applicants to share some of the most creative and smart ways they’ve used to save money — techniques and ideas which, frankly, everyone could really learn from. To enter, create a short TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube video (less than two minutes) to share your savings tip.

21. Global Perspectives Scholarship

Amount: $250-1,000

Provider: Rustic Pathways

Eligibility Requirements:

• Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university 

Application Requirements: Essay

This is a scholarship opportunity from Rustic Pathways, an Ohio-based company that builds international gap-year and summer programs for students. Because their goal is to help students travel the world and earn a well-rounded education, they’ve created an award with that same mission. The Global Perspectives Scholarship is designed for high school or college students who care about making a positive impact on the world. The scholarship application includes an essay (and a stipulation to follow Rustic Pathways on Instagram). Winners will receive the full award amount, as will their college or university. 

22. The USRA Scholarship Awards

Amount: $5,000

Provider: Universities Space Research Association

Eligibility Requirements:

• Minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Enrolled full-time as an undergraduate in a college or university
• Declared field of study in science or engineering
• Within two years of earning a degree

Application Requirements: Transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, personal statement, list of extracurricular activities

The Universities Space Research Association sponsors the USRA Scholarship Awards each academic year to support students with an interest in space research, aerospace engineering, or space education. This scholarship opportunity comes with a GPA requirement that’s a bit higher, but the award amount is higher, too. In your personal statement, you’ll need to prove you’re a well-rounded student with a passion for science. Be sure to highlight extracurriculars that demonstrate your commitment to supporting young scientists and advancing the field, like mentorship or tutoring. Fine print: You’re not eligible if you’ve previously won a scholarship from USRA. 

23. Clubs of America Scholarship Program

Amount: $1,000

Provider: Clubs of America

Eligibility Requirements:

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Enrolled in a college or university

Application Requirements: Essay

As a monthly gift subscription company, Clubs of America is used to thinking, quite literally, out of the box. In your essay for the Clubs of America Scholarship Program, you’ll need to describe how you take that approach to your education and career. This award is open to all undergraduate students who have demonstrated high academic performance, and it’s given to one student each school year. 

24. REPLACE

Amount: $25,000

Provider: The Ayn Rand Institute

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicant must have a solid understanding of the book, “Atlas Shrugged”
• Open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students worldwide

Application Requirements: 800-1600 word essay

Calling all writers and lovers of literature – this scholarship opportunity is not to be missed! The Atlas Shrugged Novel Essay Contest is a writing scholarship that asks applicants to read Atlas Shrugged – an inspiring, heroic mystery novel with uplifting philosophical themes – and respond to it in a thoughtful essay. Awards start at $1,000, but first place will be gifted with $25,000 in scholarship winnings.

25. Be the Boss Scholarship for Female Entrepreneurs

Amount: $2,000

Provider: Skills.com

Eligibility Requirements:

• Female
• Enrolled in high school or a college/university

Application Requirements: Essay, work sampleEndowed by GoSkills, an online platform where students of all ages can learn about a variety of topics, the Be the Boss Scholarship for Female Entrepreneurs was created to empower female students. If you’re a female student who wants to start her own business, this selection committee wants to hear from you. There’s no GPA requirement, and this scholarship doesn’t take need into account. Interested students will need to submit a business plan and passionately describe their vision for a meaningful career.

Get more summer scholarships delivered to you 

Want more scholarships to help you afford fall, spring, or summer sessions at your university? Going Merry will match you to scholarships that you’re already eligible for. Each one is pulled from our robust database and selected according to your personal information. We’ll even email you alerts for new matches and reminders of any upcoming deadlines. Sign up to get more scholarships delivered to you today.

Disclaimer: This blog post provides personal finance educational information, and it is not intended to provide legal, financial, or tax advice.

Before applying for private student loans, it’s best to maximize your other sources of financial aid first.  It’s recommended to use a 3-step approach to assembling the funds you need: 1) Look for funds you don’t have to pay back, like scholarships, grant, and work-study opportunities.  2) Next, fill out a FAFSA(R) form to apply for federal student loans.  Federal Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans, excluding PLUS Loan for Parents and PLUS Loan for Graduate and Professional Students which require a credit check and a credit worthy endorser if the parent or graduate or professional student has adverse credit, do not require a credit check or cosigner, and offer various protections if your struggling with your payments.  3) Finally, consider a private student loan to cover any difference between your total cost of attendance and the amount not covered in steps 1 and 2.  For more information, visit the Department of Education website at https://studentaid.ed.gov.

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Charlotte Lau

Charlotte remembers the anxiety of college application time, trying to get into a good university and then finding enough funds to pay for it. She joined Going Merry as Head of Growth, to help make that college process a little less stressful. Charlotte holds a BA from Stanford and a MPP from Oxford—degrees both funded by scholarships. For several years, she also tutored academic writing and edited college/fellowship applications, as a side hustle.

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