21 Easy Scholarships for Busy Students
For high school students, balancing coursework and applying to college can feel like a full-time job. The last thing you want to worry about is filling out lengthy scholarship applications. Plus, the more time you spend applying for college scholarships, the fewer scholarship applications you’ll have time to submit. Ultimately, that leaves you unable to win as many awards.
Applying for a bunch of “easy scholarships” is one way to maximize your chances of winning free money to put toward your tuition. Another is to sign up for a platform that can help you streamline your scholarship application process.
With Going Merry, you can keep all your application materials in one place, get matched to scholarships, reuse documents, learn about financial aid, and apply to multiple scholarships at once. Added bonus: You can even switch on “auto-apply,” and we’ll automatically submit an application to any future No-Essay scholarships you’re eligible for. One of the best parts of Going Merry is that we only feature free scholarships, so it’ll never cost you even a dollar to apply.
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21 Easy scholarships for higher education
From no-essay scholarships to scholarships with easy application processes, these 21 awards are quick and painless to apply for. None require long essays, and very few require test scores, community service hours, or letters of recommendation. So take a look, find the ones you’re eligible for, and start applying with just a few simple clicks.
1. Burger King James W. McLamore Whopper Scholarship Award
Amount: Up to $60,000
Provider: Burger King Foundation
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Planning to enroll as a full time freshman to a four-year accredited, college or university that is located in the United States or Canada
- Graduating high school senior
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Demonstrate an active leadership role in community service, athletics, and/or similar co-curricular activity (such as student government, team sports, fraternal life, etc); and
- Demonstrate substantial work experience and financial need
Application Requirements: Transcript, relevant work experience, and list of extracurricular activities
Each year, the Burger King James W. McLamore Whopper Scholarship Award gives out over $7 million in free money to academically qualified college students across the United States. Winners can receive between $1,000 and $60,000. The scholarship application is straightforward and takes very little time — you only have to list your previous work experience and community involvement.
2. Doodle for Google
Amount: Up to $55,000
Provider: Google
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or a permanent legal U.S. resident
Application Requirements: Essay, drawing
If you’re a student with artistic flair, the Doodle for Google scholarship program could send you to college with money in your pocket. This scholarship competition includes multiple tiers, which means one winner gets the grand prize of $55,000, a $50,000 supplies and tech package for their school or non-profit organization, and five national finalists receive awards of $5,000. To apply, you’ll need to create a creative, original doodle to be featured on Google.com. Incorporate the Google logo in a unique way, then write a few sentences about what you’ve drawn.
3. VFW – Voice of Democracy National Audio Essay
Amount: Up to $35,000
Provider: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled in high school
Application Requirements: Audio essay
All high school students are eligible to apply for the VFW – Voice of Democracy National Audio Essay scholarship competition. It’s an award created by Veterans of Foreign Wars, the oldest U.S. organization supporting U.S. vets. To apply, record a three- to five-minute audio file that speaks to the scholarship’s annual theme. Applicants will be judged based on originality, content, and clarity.
4. “Be Bold” No Essay Scholarship
Amount: $25,000
Provider: Bold.org
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university
Application Requirements: None
An organization dedicated to fighting student debt, Bold.org created the “Be Bold” No Essay Scholarship giveaway for students who demonstrate boldness and determination. All you need to do to apply is create a profile on Bold.org and explain what makes you unique. This scholarship fund is available to students of all grade levels. There are monthly scholarship deadlines, so check back frequently and re-enter as needed.
5. Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship
Amount: $25,000
Provider: Taco Bell
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled in an accredited post-secondary educational program located in the United States or D.C. (including accredited two- and four-year colleges, universities, vocational-technical, and trade schools) and in good academic standing
- Between 16 and 26 years old
- Not an employee of Taco Bell
- U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card)
Application Requirements: Video essay
Do you love making TikTok videos? Are you passionate about something? If you answered yes to both questions, check out the Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship. This scholarship award has one simple application step: create a video. Use your film to express your passion and explain how you plan to utilize it to improve your community. Also be sure to describe how higher education will help you achieve your goals. The video can be no longer than two minutes, so keep your answers short and sweet.
6. National GEM Consortium Fellowships
Amount: $16,000 minimum stipend + full tuition and fees
Provider: The National GEM Consortium
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale
- Graduate student
- Declared study in engineering or computer science
- Availability to intern with the sponsoring company for two summers
Application Requirements: Transcript, resume, recommendation letters, statement of purpose
The National GEM Consortium Fellowships are for graduate students pursuing engineering or computer science degrees. Unlike many graduate school scholarship applications, this one is pretty simple. The selection committee wants to see your grades and previous work history. This generous award includes coverage of full tuition and fees. Scholarship winners are also offered internships with a sponsoring company for two summers, which means it could lead to future job opportunities, too.
7. Sprout Social UNCF Scholarship Program
Amount: Up to $11,000
Provider: Sprout Social
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Black/African American
- College senior
- Declared field of study in computer or information science or engineering
- U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card)
Application Requirements: Transcript, resume
The Sprout Social UNCF Scholarship Program is a fantastic option for Black college seniors. All you need to do to apply is submit your transcript and resume. On your resume, be sure to list your extracurricular activities, awards, and level of proficiency in different programming languages. Winners will also get the chance to apply and interview for a full-time position at Sprout Social upon graduation. Students can attend any university in the U.S., but Sprout Social gives some preference to applicants from Howard University, North Carolina AT&T, and Georgia Tech.
8. For A Bright Future STEAM Scholarship
Amount: Up to $10,000
Provider: For A Bright Future Foundation
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Asian American, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Native American
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university
- Declared field of study in a STEAM-related field
Application Requirements: Transcript, essay, tax return
The For A Bright Future STEAM Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship fund that supports students of color pursuing undergraduate degrees. The award is merit-based but also takes financial need into account. That means you’ll need to submit your family’s financial information to apply. Otherwise, the only application component is a short, 250- to 500-word essay. Write about overcoming adversity and how education will help you give back to your community. (To take your essay to the next level, check out some of Going Merry’s helpful tips.)
9. Unigo $10K Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Provider: Unigo
Eligibility Requirements:
- 14 years old or older
- U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card)
Application Requirements: Essay
To apply for Unigo’s $10k Scholarship opportunity, you’ll need to write a 250-word essay answering this question: Would you rather be funny, smart, or rich? Unigo wants to hear what skill you prioritize and how it can help you in your future. The selection committee will judge your application based on the quality of your answer as well as your creativity and originality, so have fun with it.
10. Scholarship4Moms
Amount: $10,000
Provider: Scholarships4Moms
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university
- 18 years old or older
- A mother or an expectant mother
- U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card)
Application Requirements: None
If you’re a mother or expectant mother with plans to pursue higher education, Scholarship4Moms has an application that’s easy enough to squeeze into your busy schedule. While this award is a bit niche, the sweepstakes occur five times per year and the only requirement is your contact information. This is one of the easiest scholarships to apply for on our list, and winners can use the cash for any education-related expenses.
11. No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Provider: ScholarshipOwl
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a high school, college, or university
- 16 years old or older
- Residing in any state except for Rhode Island or Michigan
Application Requirements: None
The ScholarshipOwl platform helps students apply for many scholarships at once. It charges a fee for this service, but its scholarship sweepstakes is totally free. To apply for the No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship, applicants must register for the ScholarshipOwl website. Anyone who registers is automatically entered into the scholarship contest, which chooses winners at random. The only fine print is that Rhode Island and Michigan residents are not eligible for this award.
12. Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Provider: Stop Hunger Foundation
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a primary school, secondary school, or college or university
- Between ages 5 and 25
- U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card)
Application Requirements: Community service history
Named for the passionate founder of the Stop Hunger Foundation, the Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarship rewards students committed to community service. To apply, you must demonstrate that you’ve been doing unpaid volunteer work for a minimum of twelve months. If you win, you’ll also get free money for a nonprofit of your choice. Winners receive $10,000 to put toward education-related expenses and a $5,000 grant to the hunger-related charity of their choosing in their local community.
13. ABA Diversity Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: American Bus Association
Eligibility Requirements:
- You must demonstrate your diversity (this includes varying cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, nationality, minorities, age, race, or ethnicity)
- You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited University (4-year university/college or junior college).
- Declared field of study in tourism or hospitality
- U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card)
Application Requirements: Essay
This easy scholarship application is open to undergraduate and graduate students alike. Sponsored by the American Bus Association — which supports the bus and travel industries — the ABA Diversity Scholarship is for students from underrepresented groups interested in pursuing a career in the tourism industry. To apply, write a 500-word essay about how you hope to advance the future of travel and tourism. If this scholarship sounds niche, don’t discount yourself: the travel industry encompasses everything from hospitality to transportation.
14. Christian College Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Provider: The Christian Connector, Inc.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Planning to enroll in a Christian college or university
- 13 years old or older
Application Requirements: None
The Christian Connector assists students around the U.S. as they explore Christian colleges. To help combat the rising cost of student loans, the organization has sponsored the Christian College Scholarship, which awards multiple $5,000 prizes via a random drawing. All you have to do to apply is fill out a short survey about your college aspirations.
15. Future Designer Scholarship
Amount: $1,500
Provider: CardsDirect
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university
- 17 years old or older
- U.S. Resident
Application Requirements: Piece of art
If you’re the kind of student who always finds yourself doodling in the margins, the Future Designer Scholarship could put those artistic skills to use. CardsDirect is on the hunt for its next best-selling holiday card design. All you have to do to apply for this scholarship program is submit one piece of original artwork and the name of the college or university where you’re enrolled or planning to enroll.
16. Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Provider: Unigo
Eligibility Requirements:
- 14 years old or older
- U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card)
Application Requirements: Essay
Do you love science fiction? Have you ever fantasized about surviving a zombie apocalypse?? If so, Unigo wants to hear about it. The Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship will award one lucky applicant $2,000 to help pay their college tuition. Just write a 250-word essay about how you’ll creatively escape a zombie takeover, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win.
17. Wizeprep USA High School Scholarship
Amount: $500
Provider: Wizeprep
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled in high school
Application Requirements: None
The Wizeprep USA High School Scholarship is open to high school students of all ages, and it has one of the easiest scholarship applications on our list. To apply, just create a profile on Wizeprep, an online education platform, and fill in some basic contact information. That’s it! You’ll be entered to win a $500 scholarship you can use to help pay for any education-related expenses, including tuition, textbooks, and school supplies.
18. Going Merry Refer-A-Friend Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Provider: Going Merry
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university
Application Requirements: Email addresses
The Going Merry Refer-A-Friend Scholarship has two perks. First, it’s a super easy scholarship to apply for. Second, scholarship winners get to share the wealth with a friend. This scholarship contest works like a raffle, which means winners are selected at random. To apply, you just have to refer a friend to Going Merry and encourage them to sign up. Once they do, you and your bud each receive an entry into the scholarship drawing. This competition is open to high school and current college students alike.
19. CareerFitter Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Provider: CareerFitter
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 2.4 on a 4.0 scale
- Enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a college or university
Application Requirements: Transcript, essay
The CareerFitter Scholarship is open to both undergraduate and graduate students — and all you have to do to apply is write a 700-character essay about your dream career. Not sure what your dream career is? Try CareerFitter’s career test. The quiz isn’t required for your application, but it could help spark some good ideas.
20. Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Provider: Digital Responsibility
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a high school, college, or university
- U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card)
Application Requirements: Personal statement
Texting while driving is extremely dangerous and extremely common. To help raise awareness of its risks, Digital Responsibility created the Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship. To apply, students must write a 140-character statement about texting and driving. This contest is open to students from high school to graduate school. If you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll be asked to expand on your original statement.
21. Perfecting The Craft Annual Scholarship
Amount: $500
Provider: Red Label Abrasives
Eligibility Requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a college, university, or trade school in the U.S.
- U.S. Citizen
Application Requirements: Transcript and video or written essay
This scholarship application is another fun and easy one. Fintech Abrasives wants to help students in their journey to pursue higher education through its Perfecting The Craft Annual Scholarship. To win this scholarship money, you’ll need to get creative: The selection committee wants to hear about your passion for your craft in whatever way you want to share it. Feel free to submit a written essay, video, artwork, or whatever format fits your expertise.
Get more easy scholarships on Going Merry
Applying for scholarships doesn’t have to be overly time-consuming. In fact, there are a ton of easy scholarships out there (like those listed above) that don’t require test scores, letters of recommendation, or super long essays. Some have application processes that take as few as five minutes. The only trick is finding them — which is where Going Merry comes in.
Unlike other scholarship websites, Going Merry makes it easy to apply for scholarships like these. We help students fill the gap between financial aid and student loans with lucrative, high-quality scholarships. With an extensive database, you can also find niche scholarships with less competition to give you a greater chance of winning free scholarships. Going Merry takes the legwork out of the scholarship search process: The platform automatically matches you with relevant awards. All you have to do is create a profile, and we’ll generate a personalized list of scholarship opportunities you’re eligible for.
If you want to win free money to help you pay for your higher education, sign up for Going Merry and complete your profile today.
Disclaimer: This blog post provides personal finance educational information, and it is not intended to provide legal, financial, or tax advice.
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