Top 12 Scholarship Websites to Find Money for College
There are so many college scholarship websites on the internet, and it’s hard to know which are worth using. Which can you afford? Which have easy-to-use mobile apps? Which have the most scholarship money available to students like you?
We’ve answered these questions and more to eliminate the guesswork. Here, we cover the 13 best scholarship websites for higher education.
A brief note on these scholarship search engines
With the exception of Scholly and ScholarshipOwl, these scholarship search engines are completely free! While most of them only offer awards to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, these scholarship sites also contain resources that even international students will find valuable (check out Peterson’s in particular).
(Psst: If you want scholarships to come to you, instead of you actively looking for them, you can also register for a Going Merry account, and we’ll automatically send you weekly alerts of newly added scholarships, plus ones with upcoming deadlines!)
The 13 Best Scholarship Websites
1. Going Merry
Going Merry began in 2016 as a solution to make the process of finding scholarships simpler. While searching for scholarships in graduate school, Charlie Maynard and Ray Murthi found most websites frustrating to navigate. They had to sift through lots of listed scholarships that no longer existed, and when they went to apply, they’d get redirected to sketchy scholarship provider websites.
Charlie and Ray wanted to create a scholarship website that would make both finding and applying for scholarships easier. So, they built Going Merry to enable students to spend less time searching and applying for scholarships, and more time creating applications that would give them the best shot at winning.
Now, students can create a profile and get matched to scholarships immediately. And to make applying faster, they can save and reuse documents, take advantage of autofill for personal information, and in some cases, even bulk-apply to groups of scholarships. Since 2016, Going Merry has helped countless students afford higher education. See some previous scholarship winners here.
Scholarships available: Over 70,000 scholarships totaling $900 million in award money – all vetted to be legitimate and current
Signup/Membership Cost: Free
Signup process: Short
Advertisements: No
Pros of Going Merry:
- Personalized list of scholarships – Going Merry curates a list of “matched scholarships” AKA awards you are eligible for, based on your profile and sorted by “match score” (our proprietary algorithm for how relevant the scholarship is to you personally)
- Auto-filled forms – Students enter their information only once to create a profile, and then Going Merry fills in all future application forms using profile information
- Bundled scholarships – Going Merry bundles awards into a list of scholarships with similar essays, so you can apply for multiple scholarships simultaneously with one application.
- Local scholarships – Find local awards often not featured on other websites. Going Merry includes every community foundation (over 700 across the country!) that offers local scholarships, as well as state government grants. Plus, they list smaller local scholarships submitted by the over 15,000 high school counselors also on the platform.
- Estimated completion time – Get an estimated completion time for each application so you know what you’re getting into before you start!
- “Favorite” or “Ignore” function – Stay organized by choosing to “Favorite” scholarships you like to keep them on a shortlist, and “Ignore” scholarships you don’t like to remove them from your list of matches.
- Reusable (save and request) documents – Store application materials including transcripts, letters of recommendation, SAT scores, and essays — for easy one-click attachments to your scholarship applications.
- Status tracker – Keep tabs on your application after it’s been submitted.
- Additional scholarship tools – Use our “FAFSA® Made Easier” (simplified version of the government financial aid form) and “College Cost Insights” (a tool to compare your financial aid offers and assess your college’s affordability)
- Easy to determine eligibility – Going Merry will only match you to scholarships you’re likely to be eligible for, and any specific niche eligibility requirements are clearly detailed in each scholarship listing
Cons of Going Merry:
- Fewer category options – Instead of filtering through categories, Going Merry requires you to use the “matched to profile” feature.
2. Fastweb
Fastweb was the very first scholarship search engine created to help students find various types of scholarships to help pay their college tuition. The company’s name stands for Financial Aid Search Through the Web. Not only does the website provide a scholarship search function, but it also offers advice on financial aid, college search, and other topics related to higher education.
Scholarships available: Over 1.5 million scholarships totaling $3.4 billion in award money
Signup/Membership Cost: Free
Signup process: Short
Advertisements: Yes
Pros of Fastweb:
- Notifications – Get notifications about new scholarships as well as scholarship deadlines to help you stay on top of your applications
- List of scholarships – Filter your matches into a comprehensive list where you can mark favorites and keep tabs on your applications in progress
- Matching algorithm – Complete your profile with your major, athletics interests, and financial need to be matched with the best scholarships for you
- You might also like – On each scholarship page, get suggestions for other awards you might be interested in based on the award you’re viewing
- Financial aid help – Navigate completing the FAFSA, locating financial aid, and understanding student debt with specialized tools
- Student discounts – Get a curated list of various discounts to help you save extra money to put toward college tuition
Cons of Fastweb:
- Advertisements – It’s harder to focus on finding scholarships with various pop-ups and banner ads on each page
- External applications – Links lead students to apply outside of the website, adding an extra step in the process and potentially exposing users to scams
3. Peterson’s
Founded in 1966, Peterson’s is said to be the world’s leading educational services company. The website offers a variety of student resources, including test preparation for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, and CLEP. The site also operates as a search engine for scholarships, grants, and awards.
Scholarships available: Over 1.9 million scholarships totaling $10 billion in award money
Mobile app: None
Signup/Membership Cost: Free
Signup process: Short
Advertisements: No
Pros of Peterson’s:
- Easy filter options & curated lists – Find scholarships with simple search functionality and choose from ready-made lists to fit your preferences of school and major type
- International student guide – This feature helps students outside the U.S. navigate applying to U.S. colleges and universities
- Save and share functionality – Save scholarship opportunities for later and share them with your friends too
- College list – Save a personalized list of your top schools
- Test preparation – Get help studying for all varieties of tests like the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and many more
- Application materials – Find a comprehensive list of what you need to apply (ex: application form, essay, transcript)
Cons of Peterson’s:
- Paid test prep subscriptions + shopping cart – Paid options are mixed in with the free site, which may be confusing during a scholarship search
- Stale/old scholarships – Lists some scholarships that have been permanently discontinued, meaning students have to sift through the list to find the current opportunities
- External applications – Links lead students to apply outside of the website, adding an extra step in the process, and potentially exposing users to scams
4. Niche
Niche was founded in 2002, originally operating as a publisher of printed U.S. college guidebooks known as College Prowler. The founders created the company from a project completed in their entrepreneurship class. College Prowler was quickly recognized as one of the 50 fastest-growing companies in the nation by Fast Company in 2005. The website now operates as a resource with information on colleges, neighborhoods, cities, and companies around the U.S.
Scholarships available: Unknown
Signup/Membership Cost: Free
Signup process: Short
Advertisements: No
Pros of Niche:
- No signup necessary – Browse scholarships without creating a profile
- Curated categories – Get curated lists of scholarships, like ones organized by major or those that take little effort to apply for
- College rankings – Discover colleges via Niche’s specialized lists
- College quiz – Need help deciding which college or university might be right for you? Take a fun, easy quiz to help find some personalized recommendations
- Life planning resources – Use Niche’s resources to figure out what career and location may best suit you during and after college
Cons of Niche:
- External applications – Links lead students to apply outside of the website, adding an extra step in the process and potentially exposing users to scams
- Incomplete information – Scholarship descriptions are missing information (ex: “Essay Required: Unknown”)
- Limited filters – Finding scholarships is more difficult with limited search functionality
- Extra work – While searching without creating a profile means it’s faster to get started, it also means students will have to sift through a lot of irrelevant scholarships to find ones that they’re eligible for
5. Bold.org
Today, the average student takes on $30,000 of student debt in order to complete their degree. Bold.org aims to change that by helping students pay their college tuition with scholarships, grants, and other awards. Embracing a communal approach to student aid, Bold.org allows donors of all kinds to create and host scholarships on the site. All scholarships on this scholarship site are exclusive to Bold.org and its members.
Scholarships available: Unknown
Mobile app: No
Signup/Membership Cost: Free
Signup process: Long
Advertisements: No
Pros of Bold.org:
- No signup necessary – Search between ready-made lists of merit scholarships and other awards without creating an account
- Exclusive scholarships – Get access to exclusive scholarships that are only available to members of the Bold.org site
- Guaranteed scholarships – Climb the Bold points leaderboard and, by doing so, earn free money to put toward your college fund
- Scam free – With the lack of outside providers, this scholarship site is able to guarantee a scam free experience for its users
Cons of Bold.org:
- Multi-Step signup – The process of creating an account takes time, requiring a lot of information about your future career goals and financial needs
- Bold points – In order to apply for scholarships, students must amass “Bold points” by entering further information into the site, linking their social media, and completing other tasks
- Required email notifications – Accepting email notifications is a requirement to create an account, which may be a barrier to entry for some students
- Incomplete list of scholarships – Bold.org only lists their exclusive scholarships, so students will miss out on outside scholarships available to them
6. Chegg
Founded in 2005, Chegg is an all-encompassing resource for students. The name is a portmanteau of “chicken” and “egg” based on the founders’ experiences of being unable to find a job without the necessary experience, but at the same time being unable to obtain the necessary experience without a job in the field. The website helps students find various resources for college preparation, including books (to rent or buy), study materials (e.g., virtual flashcards), internships, and scholarships.
Scholarships available: Over 25,000 scholarships
Mobile app: No
Signup/Membership Cost: Free
Signup process: Short
Advertisements: Yes
Pros of Chegg:
- “Favorite” function for colleges and scholarships – Save a list of your preferred scholarships to return and apply to later
- Intuitive filters – Find a college or university by school type, environment, degrees offered, and location
- Extensive college database – Access more than 6,000 colleges and universities in the database
- Textbook shop – Buy your textbooks all in one place at a discounted price
- Test prep – Prepare for tests with Chegg’s online flashcards and other academic tools
- Career advice – Find internships and seek career guidance from knowledgeable professionals
Cons of Chegg:
- External applications – Links lead students to apply outside of the website, adding an extra step in the process and potentially opening users up to scams
- Emphasis on colleges & textbooks – Scholarships seem like more of an afterthought.
- No scholarships mobile app – Chegg has apps for various other offerings including studying and prep work, but not for their scholarship finder
7. Cappex
Cappex was founded in 2006 as a tool to provide guidance, helpful resources, and information for every prospective college student. The name Cappex comes from the phrase “College Application Exchange.” The website has helped more than 11 million students find, finance, and enroll in college to date. Students can apply to more than 135 colleges with the Cappex Application, in addition to sourcing external/independent scholarships through the platform.
Scholarships available: Over $1 billion in award money
Mobile app: None
Signup/Membership Cost: Free
Signup process: Short
Advertisements: No
Pros of Cappex:
- College recommendations – Add personal information like your GPA and location preferences and the site will recommend schools specific to you
- Discover colleges – Colleges can use this feature to connect with students who might be a good fit for their school based on their profile and preferences
- Counselor access – College counselors can track student progress and monitor the college and scholarship search process
- Autofill – Get your personal information autofilled in college applications based on your profile
- List builder – Create a list of favorite colleges, scholarships, and majors
Cons of Cappex:
- External applications – Links lead students to apply outside of the website, adding an extra step in the process and potentially opening users up to scams
- Emphasis is on college admissions – This site specializes more in helping students get accepted to college than helping them supplement financial aid
- No mobile app – Without a mobile app, Cappex users will have to do all their scholarship searching from their desktop computer or the site’s basic mobile version
8. The College Board’s BigFuture
The College Board’s Big Future is a not-for-profit organization that represents more than 6,000 colleges, schools, and educational organizations. Founded in 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board, the College Board oversees standardized tests from K-12 and college institutions (such as the AP program, SAT and ACT). The College Board website also serves as a college planning resource to find scholarships and colleges.
Scholarships available: Unknown
Mobile app: None
Signup/Membership Cost: Free
Signup process: Short
Advertisements: No
Pros of College Board BigFuture:
- All-in-one account – Access test scores (AP test scores, SAT, ACT) as well as scholarship applications
- College planning section – Search and compare colleges in this section, and explore majors and careers, too
- Student Search Service® – Let schools search for you through this service, which enables colleges and scholarship programs to match with students who are a good fit for their program
Cons of College Board BigFuture:
- External applications – Links lead students to apply outside of the website, adding an extra step in the process, and potentially opening up users to scams
- No mobile app – Without a mobile app, all College Board BigFuture’s users will have to access all the site’s resources on desktop or the site’s basic mobile version
9. Scholarships.com
One of the largest scholarship databases, Scholarships.com was founded in 1998 not only to help students find money for college, but also to learn about the financial aid process. The website provides scholarship opportunities for high school, college, and graduate students, regardless of age.
Scholarships available: Over 3.7 million scholarships totaling $19 billion in award money
Signup/Membership Cost: Free
Signup process: Short
Advertisements: Yes
Pros of Scholarships.com:
- Comment section – Ask questions and contribute to the conversation with other students
- Valuable to all ages – Find valuable resources for students of all ages, including high school students, college students, and even grad students
- Frequent additions -Includes a “News” section that curates scholarships based on the time of year (Ex. Scholarships for Asian American students during AAPI Heritage Month)
- Student resources – Visit this tab to find tips on essay writing and application checklists
- Educator access – College counselors and teachers can help students in the application process and monitor their progress on the site
Cons of Scholarships.com:
- Usability – The interface is not as user-friendly as students might like
- Advertisements – Ads on the site can make for a frustrating distraction during the scholarship search process
- External applications – Links lead students to apply outside of the website, adding an extra step in the process and potentially exposing users to scams
10. Scholly
You might recognize this scholarship search tool, Scholly, from an episode on Shark Tank that ended with a deal from Sharks Daymond John and Lori Greiner. Scholly CEO, Christopher Gray, won $1.3 million in scholarships and created Scholly to help students like him find little-known scholarships to help fund their education.
Scholarships available: Over 20,000 scholarships
Signup/Membership Cost: Paid
Signup process: Short
Advertisements: Yes
Pros of Scholly:
- Exclusive scholarships – Find awards unique to Scholly and backed by known brands
- Higher level of curation – Get access to Scholly’s curated, comprehensive list of high-value scholarships
- Scholly Editor – Get your scholarship essays and school assignments reviewed by an AI writing assistant that will offer revisions based on grammar, structure, punctuation, etc.
Cons of Scholly:
- Limited free features – While you can use some features of the website without a membership, you can’t take full advantage without paying
- External applications – Links lead students to apply outside of the website, adding an extra step in the process, and potentially exposing users to scams
11. ScholarshipOwl
ScholarshipOwl was built to take as much legwork as possible out of applying to scholarships. To be matched with scholarships on their platform, all you have to do is sign up and take a quiz. From there, the site will connect you to the scholarships that make the most sense for your background, interests, higher education plans, and career goals.
Scholarships available: Unknown
Signup/Membership Cost: Paid
Signup process: Medium
Advertisements: No
Pros of ScholarshipOwl:
- Ease of use – Apply to most scholarships just by clicking a single button
- 7-day free trial – If you want to try the site before you buy, get access to ScholarshipOwl’s features for seven days at no cost
- Open to international students – Students from outside of the U.S. can use the site as long as they’re planning to study in the U.S.
Cons of ScholarshipOwl:
- Paid membership – The site requires a membership that ranges from $10-60/month
- Rigid applications – If there’s a specific award you’re excited about, the site doesn’t have the functionality to allow you to tailor your application for this specific award
- Pop-ups – Various scholarship opportunities pop up while you use the site, which may result in accidentally applying for awards you’re not interested in.
12. Unigo
Established in 2008, Unigo helps match students with scholarships, colleges, internships, student loans, careers, and college majors. The online portal connects students with college planning resources before, during, and even after college.
Scholarships available: Over 3.6 million scholarships totaling $14 billion in award money
Mobile app: No
Signup/Membership Cost: Free
Signup process: Long
Advertisements: Yes
Pros of Unigo:
- Scholarship “save” functionality – Save scholarships in buckets: “I will apply for,” “I will not apply for,” “I haven’t considered”
- Personalized information – Add more information, such as your hobbies, sports teams, organizations, and interests in order to discover more scholarships to apply for
- Internships & job search – In addition to scholarships, get access to internships and job postings on Unigo too
- College Match – Use this tool to identify the best school for you by exploring college profiles and rankings
- Easy scholarships – If you’re looking to apply for scholarships with minimal requirements and additional materials, Unigo has an entire section of the website dedicated to them
Cons of Unigo:
- Lengthy signup – The process is multi-step and the website doesn’t move smoothly between pages
- External applications – Links lead students to apply outside of the website, adding an extra step in the process and potentially exposing users to scams
- Ad banner – Not only can the ad banner at the bottom of each page be distracting, but it can also cause friction as you move through pages
- Lots of old listings – Outdated, permanently discontinued scholarships are still listed on their site
13. CareerOneStop
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, CareerOneStop compiles a number of high-quality scholarships, grants, fellowships, and more, to make higher education more accessible. What makes this website unique is its deep database of awards specifically for students pursuing a vocational certification or an associate’s degree. Additionally, because this website has a focus on jobs, students can find resources to help identify the best career for them.
Scholarships available: Over 8,000 scholarships
Mobile app: No
Signup/Membership Cost: Free
Signup process: Short
Advertisements: No
Pros of CareerOneStop:
- Vocational and Associate’s degree scholarships – If you’re pursuing higher education but not a Bachelor’s degree, you’ll have access to a number of scholarships specifically for you
- Professional development resources – For students with a clear idea of their career path, it’s easy to find awards and resources tailored to that field
- Career planning resources – Use the site’s unique tools to discover which major and career could be right for you
Cons of CareerOneStop:
- Clunky design and interface – This scholarship site is a little difficult to use, and it provides only the most basic functions for scholarship searchers
- Limited number of awards – The CareerOneStop scholarship database is not as extensive as other sites
Ready to start applying with one of the best scholarship websites out there?
At Going Merry, we’re a one-stop shop for all things scholarship-related. Students can sign up for free, enter their information once, and apply for thousands of scholarships. Sign up for your free profile today, and start winning scholarships with one of the best scholarship websites!
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