Scholarship Contests

Enter easy scholarship contests and short scholarship essay contests for 2024 and 2025, and win money for college tuition and expenses. These simple scholarship contests don't require high GPA, high test scores or a long essay.

Last updated on November 1, 2024 by College Financial Aid Advice.

Easy Scholarship Contests

Scholarship Contests
Note: some of these contests are offered repeatedly throughout the year, and some may only be offered once or the offer may change. Check them out to see what is available now! And check out tips for winning scholarship contests from one of our readers.


Be Bold Np Essay Scholarship Contest

Application Deadline entries due September 1

Award Amount $25,000

If you are bold, go for this scholarship! Submit your profile and make it bold. Strong. candidates will be earnest, determined and moving. Rolling monthly application deadlines. Get more information for Be Bold Np Essay Scholarship Contest at www.bold.org


Frame My Future Scholarship Contest

Application Deadline entries accepted from October - March

Award Amount $1,000 to 5 winners and $1,000 to grand prize winner's school

If you are creative, this scholarship is for you. Submit an original photo, drawing, painting or even a poem to this online contest. Open to students who will be enrolled in 2 year college, 4 year college or graduate school in fall. Get more information for Frame My Scholarship Contest at www.diplomaframe.com


Sun Trust Education Scholarship Contests

Application Deadline mid September – May (you may resubmit an entry every 2 weeks)

Award Amount $500 (2 winners every 2 weeks for 30 winners)

The Sun Trust Education scholarship sweepstakes is one of the easy scholarships for college, perfect for those who don’t want to enter scholarship essay contests, who don’t have financial need, or don’t have high GPA. You must be high school seniors or undergraduate college student to be eligible. For more information on the Sun Trust Scholarship Contests, www.suntrust.com

CollegeNet Scholarship Contest

Application Deadline winner selected each week

Award Amount $5000 to winner

This college scholarship is another of the scholarship contests to get you to visit their website and participate in their discussion forums. Perfect for students who love to post in discussion forums and contribute in a positive way. For details on the College Net Scholarship Contest see www.collegenet.com


U.S. Bank Scholarship Program

Application Deadline March each year

Award Amount 5 awards of $5,000 selected randomly

High school seniors, college freshmen, sophomores and juniors are all eligible if they are enrolled full time in September. Must be part of the no fee student loan program ($1000 minimum loan). If you need a private student loan, why not enter this $1,000 US Bank Scholarship Contest? www.usbank.com

Kids In Need Foundation X-ACTO Scholarship Contests

Application Deadline from July - September

Award Amount $10,000 for each age bracket

Enter this think create do scholarship contest, for kids ages 4 - 18. For more information on the sharpen Your Skills Kids Scholarship Contests, see www.xacto.com


Dr Pepper College Scholarship

Dr Pepper Scholarship $1,000,000 Tuition Giveaway

Application Deadline tentative July - Nov, but deadline may be later for some contests, such as December 31.

Award Amount $2500 plus chance to enter $100,000 tuition contest at football games sponsored by Dr Pepper. Winners have up to 5 years to use their $100,000 tuition award for 4 consecutive years of college, university or vocational school in the USA. 25 Grand prize winners.

The Dr Pepper scholarship is one of the best scholarship contests for college, perfect for video enthusiasts who can win $2500. Create your unique short video and upload to this free online contest. The video winners will be invited to attend a college championship football game, and can win $100,000 scholarship money for college by throwing the most footballs through a two foot hoop in just 30 seconds. Requirements and rules: Must be a US citizen or legal resident, 18 years or older to be eligible for $2500 award, and age 18 – 24 for the easy $1,000,000 Tuition Contest. For more information about the Dr Pepper Scholarship Contests and Tuition Giveaway, see www.drpepper.com


Create A Greeting Card Easy Scholarship Contest

Application Deadline open Mar to Jan each year

Award Amount $10,000 plus $1000 for your high school or college

Design a greeting card for this easy scholarship for high school seniors and college students. Submit your photo, artwork or computer graphic for the front of a greeting card. Designs should be appropriate for business and consumer use, such as birthday or Christmas cards. The image must be your own original work. This is one of the easy scholarship contests for artistic students! Open to high school, college and university students, and member of the armed forces. Must be a legal resident or have a student visa to attend school in the USA, and be at least 14 years old. The scholarship winner will be notified in March. For more information on the Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest, see www.gallerycollection.com


Scholarship Contests Tips

Tips written by Lauren from Pennsylvania

Cha-ching! Free Money for College on the Internet! - Believe it! It’s not a scam! There’s free money for college on the Internet! The more you look; the more you find. I didn’t believe it at first but now I’m becoming an expert.

I thought that scholarships were only for low income families, outstanding athletes, and minorities. I didn’t think there was a way to find educational assistance for my very average middle class children, but I was wrong; it’s everywhere.

The first scholarship essay contest I encouraged my son to enter he won $500 dollars and in the second contest he won $5000; I was hooked! I began searching online and found dozens of scholarships; some appropriate for my son and others appropriate for my daughter. I found those that work best for our family are essay contests between 250 and 1000 words that can be submitted online, although we’ve made videos, submitted artwork and photographs, and mailed some applications as hard copy.

I found that even when we don’t win, some of the essay topics inspire conversations with my children. The last essay that my daughter wrote, the topic was, “If you could be a superhero for a day, who would it be, and how would you use your powers?” The requirement was a 250 word essay but we talked and laughed about possible ideas for a week. The whole family was involved with offering suggestions and ideas. The actual writing of the 250 word essay took her less than an hour to complete. It was an online submission so there were no added costs of paper, and envelope, or stamps. It was absolutely, totally free money for college. Time, persistence, and creativity are the only investment needed for these types of scholarships.

I avoided video entries at first but then came to realize how talented and creative my children could be with their cell phones and our inexpensive pocket video camera.

We were having so much fun entering scholarship contests as a family that one of my daughter’s friends asked if she could participate with us. She came running through the house screaming when she won $2000 on her second attempt with a 500 word narrative about her childhood.

College search engines are a great way to find scholarships such as; www.college-fincial-aid-advice.com, but random searches through www.google.com, and www.yahoo.com, I have found work well too.

The best advice is to find scholarships that really fit your children’s interests and skills. While I thought my children were “average” I found they were creative writers and could really express their thoughts, experiences, and dreams, well.

Good luck, and remember you have to enter to win free money for college on the internet. Someone is going to receive the scholarship money that is available out there; why shouldn’t it be you!


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