What does a need-based scholarship cover

30 Need-Based Scholarships for Graduates and Undergraduates

by
What does a need-based scholarship cover, What is need-based scholarships for international students in the USA,

Why need-based scholarships? Are you dreaming of pursuing a higher education but facing the daunting challenge of hefty tuition fees? Don’t lose hope; there might be a helping hand waiting for you in the form of need-based scholarships.

Table of Contents
[Open][Close]

What Is a Need-Based Scholarship?

A need-based scholarship is a financial aid program designed to support students who demonstrate a significant financial need. Unlike merit-based scholarships, which focus on academic or extracurricular achievements, need-based scholarships prioritize financial hardship as the primary criterion.

Understanding Financial Need-Based Scholarships

Financial need is determined through a thorough evaluation of a student’s family income, assets, and expenses. Scholarships aim to bridge the financial gap between what a student can afford and the actual cost of education.

Types of Need-Based Scholarships

young team coworkers working project 273609

Federal Need-Based Scholarships

These scholarships are funded by the federal government and cater to students with substantial financial need. The most well-known federal need-based scholarship is the Pell Grant.

State Need-Based Scholarships

States often provide scholarships to residents based on financial need. The eligibility criteria and award amounts vary from state to state.

Institution-Specific Need-Based Scholarships

Many colleges and universities offer their own need-based scholarships to attract and support talented students who require financial assistance.

NC Need-Based Scholarship: A Case Study

Let’s take a closer look at the North Carolina Need-Based Scholarship program to understand how these scholarships work.

Eligibility and Application Process

To qualify for the NC Need-Based Scholarship, students must be residents of North Carolina, demonstrate substantial financial need, and enroll in an eligible North Carolina college or university.

Applying for this scholarship involves submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meeting the state’s application deadline.

Need-Based Scholarships for Graduates and Undergraduates

lifestyle people office 23

When it comes to financing a college education, the costs can often seem insurmountable. However, there are numerous scholarships available to provide students with a helping hand, making higher education more accessible. Here, we present a curated list of scholarships with varying criteria to suit diverse needs.

1. A Ray of Hope: “A Helping Hand” Scholarship

  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Maximum Amount: $500
  • Deadline: January 31, 2024

 2. Promoting Diversity in STEM: Minority/Women in STEM Scholarship

  • Provider: Bold.org
  • Number of Awards: 5
  • Maximum Amount: $500
  • Deadline: November 15, 2023

This scholarship is exclusively open to BIPOC and female high school seniors or undergraduates who are first-generation, low-income students interested in STEM fields. It aims to promote diversity and inclusion in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

3. Fulfilling Dreams: The Gates Scholarship

Are you a high-achieving, minority, high school senior from a low-income household? The Gates Scholarship could be your golden ticket to a fully funded college education.

4. Bridging Financial Gaps: Questbridge National College Match Scholarship

  • Provider: Questbridge
  • Number of Awards: Multiple (Full Ride)
  • Deadline: September 26, 2023

For low-income high school seniors who excel academically but face financial barriers to their dream colleges, the Questbridge National College Match Scholarship offers a way forward.

5. Investing in Tomorrow: Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship

This scholarship supports U.S. citizens and high school seniors planning to enroll full-time in a postsecondary institution in the U.S. It aims to invest in the education of promising students.

6. A Lifeline for Dreamers: Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship

High-achieving high school seniors with ambitious dreams of attending their ideal colleges can find financial assistance through the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship.

7. Pursuing Excellence: Hagan Scholarship

If you are a college-bound high school senior from a low-income household attending a public school in the United States, the Hagan Scholarship can ease your financial burden. Hagan Scholars have attended 482 colleges and universities in the united states.

8. Niche’s Generosity: $25,000 No Essay Scholarship

  • Provider: Niche
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Maximum Amount: $25,000
  • Deadline: September 27, 2023

This easy scholarship is available to high school and college students, as well as anyone planning to attend college or graduate school in the upcoming year.

9. Sallie Mae’s Support: $2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship

  • Provider: Sallie Mae
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Maximum Amount: $2,000
  • Deadline: September 30, 2023

Sallie Mae offers a simple scholarship opportunity, with no essay or account sign-ups required, to assist those seeking financial support for their educational journey.

10. Courageous Aspirations: $25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

  • Provider: Bold.org
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Maximum Amount: $25,000
  • Deadline: October 1, 2023

This scholarship is open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students who aspire to achieve their educational dreams.

11. Empowering Futures: Dell Scholars Program

  • Provider: Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
  • Number of Awards: 500
  • Maximum Amount: $20,000
  • Deadline: December 1, 2023

For college-bound high school seniors seeking financial assistance for their postsecondary education, the Dell Scholars Program provides valuable support.

12. Celebrating Excellence: Ron Brown Scholarship

  • Provider: Ron Brown Scholar Program
  • Number of Awards: Multiple (Worth $10,000)
  • Deadline: January 9, 2024

This scholarship is dedicated to Black or African American U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are high school seniors with plans for higher education.

13. Cultivating Scholars: The Beinecke Scholarship Program

  • Provider: The Sperry Fund
  • Number of Awards: Multiple (Worth $35,000)
  • Deadline: February 14, 2024

Exceptional and motivated college juniors aspiring to complete a graduate degree in the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences can find support through this scholarship.

14. Overcoming Adversity: Horatio Alger Targeted Scholarships

  • Provider: Horatio Alger Association
  • Number of Awards: Multiple (Up to $52,000)
  • Deadline: March 15, 2024

High school seniors with critical financial need and a determination to overcome adversity while pursuing a U.S. college education can benefit from these scholarships.

15. Pursuing Excellence: Horatio Alger National Scholarships

  • Provider: Horatio Alger Association
  • Number of Awards: 106 (Worth $25,000)
  • Deadline: March 15, 2024

Full-time high school juniors in the U.S. dedicated to completing a bachelor’s degree after high school and demonstrating a commitment to excellence are eligible for these scholarships.

16. Advancing Journalism: CCNMA Scholarships

  • Provider: CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California
  • Number of Awards: Multiple (Between $500 and $1,000)
  • Deadline: September 30, 2023

These scholarships support students committed to the field of journalism, scholastic achievement, and a bright future in media.

17. A Brighter Future: The Daniel Murphy Scholarship

  • Provider: Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund
  • Number of Awards: Multiple (Worth $7,500)
  • Deadline: October 1, 2023

Funded by the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, this scholarship is dedicated to providing financial and educational support to Chicago students.

18. Nurturing Educators: Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program

Designed for currently employed early childhood educators and providers pursuing a certificate, this scholarship offers financial assistance to advance their careers.

19. Ohio’s Opportunity: Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG)

  • Provider: Ohio Department of Higher Education
  • Number of Awards: Varies
  • Deadline: October 1, 2023

The Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) is available to Ohio residents pursuing associate degrees, first bachelor’s degrees, or nurse diplomas.

20. Embracing International Education: Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

  • Provider: U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
  • Number of Awards: 3,000 (Worth up to $5,000)
  • Deadline: October 5, 2023

This scholarship program, funded by the U.S. Department of State, supports students interested in international education experiences.

21. Forward Steps Scholarship

  • Provider: Forward Steps
  • Number of Awards: Multiple (Up to $6,000)
  • Deadline: October 31, 2023

The Forward Steps Scholarship aims to create opportunities for underserved students, regardless of their background or resources. It encourages determination, respect, innovation, versatility, equality, and nurturing qualities.

22. DRIVE an IMPACT Today Scholarship

  • Provider: LanceSoft
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Amount: $1,000
  • Deadline: October 31, 2023

This scholarship is dedicated to high school or undergraduate students from underrepresented minority backgrounds with financial need who embody the qualities of DRIVE: determination, respect, innovation, versatility, equality, and nurture.

23. Science Fiction Becomes Science Fact Scholarship

  • Provider: Sharp Objects LLC
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Amount: $1,000
  • Deadline: December 14, 2023

Low-income students with a passion for science pursuing STEM or medicine studies can access support through this scholarship.

24. Honoring a Legacy: Hilliard L. “Tack” Gibbs Jr. Memorial Scholarship

  • Provider: Bertha Gibbs
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Amount: $1,000
  • Deadline: November 15, 2023

This scholarship seeks to honor Hilliard L. “Tack” Gibbs Jr. by supporting high school seniors or undergraduates pursuing studies in science or math from low-income backgrounds.

25. Robert F. Lawson Fund for Careers that Care

  • Provider: Lance Lawson
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Amount: $500
  • Deadline: April 15, 2024

High school seniors or undergraduates with plans to dedicate their careers to helping others in healthcare, social work, government, education, or related fields can find support through this scholarship.

26. Ahmadi Family Scholarship

  • Provider: Dan Ahmadi
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Amount: $2,000
  • Deadline: November 15, 2023

Supporting students with financial need, this scholarship is open to high school or undergraduate students heading to a community college or four-year university who are also first-generation students and children of immigrant parents.

27. Abu Omar Halal Scholarship

  • Provider: Abu Omar Halal
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Amount: $4,000
  • Deadline: December 1, 2023

Dedicated to students with significant financial need, this scholarship is available to high school seniors, undergraduates, or graduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

28. Honoring Trailblazers: Ben Bonner Memorial Scholarship

  • Provider: Bonner
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Amount: $3,000
  • Deadline: November 30, 2023

This scholarship aims to honor Ben Bonner’s legacy by supporting low-income high school seniors or trade students aspiring to careers in the trades.

29. Promising Pathways-Single Parent Scholarship

  • Provider: Seamone Family
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Amount: $2,000
  • Deadline: December 06, 2023

Supporting single parents pursuing higher education while raising children, this scholarship is open to undergraduate students with financial need.

30. Envision Scholarship Award

  • Provider: The Ardolf-Rutter Family
  • Number of Awards: 1
  • Amount: $2,000
  • Deadline: October 21, 2023

This scholarship aims to provide financial help to goal-oriented high school students who have overcome difficult childhoods and will be first-generation college students.

These scholarships serve as beacons of hope, offering a helping hand to individuals with diverse backgrounds and aspirations. Each scholarship has its unique eligibility criteria, providing opportunities for a wide range of students to achieve their educational dreams. Don’t miss out on these chances to advance your education and shape your future. Apply now and take a step closer to your dreams.