The Top Essay Scholarships for Students

For writers, an essay assignment is a thrilling opportunity to express yourself. No matter what your level of experience, writing has many positive elements! Some novice writers enjoy a mental health or mindfulness boost by journaling. Other writers excel at technical writing and sharing important research through term papers. Writing is an essential skill you'll use throughout school—from high school to attending college onto your career. In the professional world, a candidate that can write well is highly sought-after—no matter the industry. The below scholarships require an essay entry – some as short as only 250 words – with interesting essay topics. For writers, a few hundred (or even a thousand) words is no biggie. If you're looking for tips to win scholarship essays, we have you covered. If you're not a fan of essay writing, we have a list of scholarships that require no essays, too!

What Are Essay Scholarships (and Why Should You Apply)?

Essay scholarships require students to submit a short or long essay to qualify for an award opportunity. These are not exclusive to future writing majors. Rather, they are for all interested students who qualify. Anyone can -- and should -- apply for essay scholarships. Typically, the applicant pool is smaller, giving you a better chance to win. Plus, they will help you strengthen your writing skills, which can serve you in the classroom as well as in the working world.

Top Essay Scholarships for 2026

Check out these essay scholarships below:

Signs.inc Scholarship

Deadline: 4/30/26 Award Amount: $1,000 The Signs.inc Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate students. To be considered, you must submit a 300-word essay on one of the following topics: "How does signage influence the way we experience spaces — from businesses and schools to cities and communities?" or "The future of signage: How will technology and design shape visual communication in the next decade?" You may also write about a personal project or experience where signage or visual design made a meaningful impact.

Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Deadline: 4/30/26 Award Amount: Up to $25,000 The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is open to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students. You must write an essay between 800 and 1,600 words on one of the three topics listed on the sponsor's website to be considered for this award.

Fountainhead Essay Contest

Deadline: 4/30/26 Award Amount: $25,000 Write about Ayn Rand's novel, The Fountainhead, and write an essay about it for your chance to win up to $25,000. The essay contest is open to students in grades 8-12.

Rover College Scholarship

Deadline: 5/1/26 Award Amount: $2,500 The Rover College Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors and current college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. To be considered, you must submit a 400 - to 500 - word essay on the following topic: "How did growing up with a pet in your life (could be a friend's or family member's) impact the person you are today?"

Minecraft Scholarship

Deadline: 7/31/26 Award Amount: $2,000 The Minecraft Scholarship is available to high school and college students. You must be a U.S. citizen and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. You must also submit a 500 - word essay about your opinion on how Minecraft can be a positive influence on education and career development.

Financial Goals Scholarship

Deadline: 12/31/26 Award Amount: $2,000 The Financial Goals Scholarship is available to students who are 18 years of age or older. To be considered, you must submit a 500-word essay on a topic related to personal finance.

Pulse of Perseverance Scholarship

Deadline: Rolling Award Amount: $1,000 The Pulse of Perseverance Scholarship is available to high school and college students. To be considered, you must read the book, "Pulse of Perseverance: Three Black Doctors on Their Journey to Success" and submit a 250-word essay focusing on how you are currently making a difference in your community and why you believe you have the #pulseofperseverance. You must also submit a 60-second video on why you possess the #pulseofperseverance and what the scholarship will mean to you.

RISE UP Challenge Scholarship

Deadline: Varies Award Amount: $1,000 - $2,500 The RISE UP Challenge Scholarship is available to high school seniors, first-year college students, and college sophomores who are helping to end bullying in their schools and communities. To apply, you must join the Humanity Rising Movement as a student member (free). Additionally, you must share your story in writing or create and upload a 60-second video using the hashtag #RiseUpChallenge.

The Washington Advocates Scholarship

Deadline: Varies Award Amount: $1,000 The Washington Advocates Scholarship is available to students enrolled at an accredited college or university in the state of Washington. You must submit a 300-500 word essay on the following topic: "What are some ways YOU can contribute to making our roads and highways safer? What are some of the ways the laws can be changed to accomplish that goal?"

American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest

Deadline: Varies Award Amount: From $14,000 - $18,000 The National High School Oratorical Contest is open to junior high and high school students who are under the age of 20 and citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States. You must prepare an oration on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government. A complete list of topics are available on the Legion's Web site. Each individual state winner certified into and participating in the first round of the national contest receives an additional $1,500 scholarship.

Alert Scholarship

Deadline: Varies Award Amount: $500 The Alert Scholarship is available to high school seniors in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. To be considered, you must submit a 650- to 800-word essay about a personal encounter you, or someone you know, has had with drug and / or alcohol abuse, how it was dealt with, and, in your opinion, what was right or wrong about the way the incident or problem was handled. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.

How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay

Winning scholarship essays don't just happen. They're a product of hard work, detailed attention, and even teamwork.

Read the prompt carefully.

Nothing will get your essay thrown out faster than an essay that didn't follow instructions. Keep your essay under or at the specified word count. Answer the specific question or prompt carefully and completely.

Lead with a strong hook.

Use the first sentence or paragraph to grab the reader's attention. Consider a startling statistic, an anecdote, or paradox. The point is to pull the reader into your essay and hold their attention the entire time.

Be specific, not generic.

Scholarship committees read countless applications, and the more generic your essay, the more forgettable it is. Be specific with your essay, and it wills stand out from the competition.

Proofread -- and then proofread again.

Finally, proofread your essay multiple times for typos, misspellings, and any other errors. Ask a parent, teacher, or school counselor to double-check your work as well. When you submit your essay to the scholarship committee, you want it to be perfect.

Searching for More Essay Scholarships?

Fun fact: you can repurpose your essays for other scholarship applications, especially those with a more generic prompt. Find more essay scholarships that you qualify for on Fastweb. Create your free profile today and we'll match you to relevant opportunities.