Fall into Scholarships: October and November 2025 Scholarship Opportunities

The leaves aren’t the only things dropping over the next few months: you’ve got college deadlines, standardized test dates, college visits, and scholarship application deadlines. Yes, all of the things are happening at once, but we’re here to make it simpler for you. Below are all of the reasons you should be applying for scholarships now – as well as which scholarships are worth you’re precious time.

Why Fall is a Good Time to Apply for Scholarships

As a high school senior, you probably feel like your plate is really full right now, and it is, especially if you’re applying early decision or admission. Many early decision and early admission deadlines fall in October and November. So why add one more thing? Because college and scholarship applications go hand-in-hand. Oftentimes, the requirements you must meet for a college application are the same needed for a scholarship application: a form, a personal statement, transcripts, and more. Essentially, you can streamline both processes by making them one. The personal statement that you’re including in your college application? Use it for a scholarship application. Asking your school counselor for transcripts? Request extra. Plus, many of the most prestigious and lucrative scholarship application deadlines occur in the fall. To miss them now is to miss out on thousands of dollars in potential scholarship winnings. Furthermore, many students do not consider applying to scholarships until after they’ve received their financial aid packages, and paying for college becomes a more final concept in the college application process. Applying now may mean less competition and more time dedicated to winning scholarships.

How Getting Scholarships Early Can Support Early Decision Applications

Applying for scholarships earlier rather than later helps to provide students with a more complete picture of how much college will cost. Along with early decision acceptance letters often comes merit aid – or academic scholarship – notifications from the school. Between outside scholarships and merit scholarships offered by the school, students can see how much financial aid is necessary to pay for a particular school. Depending on whether you win scholarships, this could also lead to less reliance on student loans. Squaring away your funding now means less need later, which ultimately impacts your final college decision. For instance, if your dream college is a financial reach for you and your family, but you secure an outside scholarship, you can apply early decision to that school without worrying about whether you can afford it. By applying for and winning scholarships in the fall, your college decision is less about what you can afford and more about what you really want for your ideal college experience.

Fall Scholarships

CJ Pony Parts Scholarship Video Contest

Award Amount: $500 Deadline: 10/15/25 Available to: College students The CJ Pony Parts Scholarship Video Contest is open to students enrolling in post-secondary education. You must submit a video of up to three minutes responding to one of the prompts on the topic of Mustangs.

RISE UP Challenge Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,000 - $2,500 Deadline: 10/15/25 Available to: High school seniors and college freshmen and sophomores 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.

Legacy Lab Scholarship

Award Amount: $15,000 Deadline: 10/20/25 Available to: Undergraduate and graduate students The Legacy Lab Scholarship is open to BIPOC undergraduate or graduate students with a strong sense of personal purpose. You must be attending an accredited college, university or technical school in the United States and answer the five questions provided by the sponsor in the form of a video response of five minutes or less in order to be eligible for this award.

Sustainability Essay Contest

Award Amount: $1,000 Deadline: 10/17/25 Available to: High school students The Sustainability Essay Contest is open to high school students. You must submit an essay on a sustainable construction-related topic to be considered for this award.

Chick-fil-A Community Scholars Program

Award Amount: $25,000 Deadline: 10/28/25 Available to: Undergraduate and graduate students The Chick-fil-A Community Scholars Program is available to undergraduate and graduate students. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, demonstrate financial need, and be involved in community service activities to be eligible for this award. Additionally, you must be recommended by a teacher, coach, community leader, or mentor.

U.S. Bank Student Scholarship Program

Award Amount: $2,500 - $20,000 Deadline: 10/30/25 Available to: High school and college students The U.S. Bank Student Scholarship Program is open to students who are at least 17 years old and are enrolled as current undergraduate students. To be considered for this award, you must register and complete a series of online lessons.

Panda Express Scholarship

Amount: $5,000 Deadline: 10/30/25 Available to: Incoming college freshmen The Panda Cares First-Year Scholars Program, powered by Panda Express Associates and Guests, is available to minority incoming freshman undergraduate students. You must demonstrate financial need, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and plan to enroll on a full-time basis at an accredited four-year college or university to be eligible for this award. Selection is based on academic merit, letter of recommendation, and personal statement.

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program

Amount: $25,000 Deadline: 11/12/25 Available to: High school seniors The JKCF College Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors who intend to enroll in a four-year college in the fall. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and demonstrate significant financial need to qualify for this award. Selection is also based on persistence, leadership, and a desire to help others.

Designli Women in Tech Scholarship

Amount: $3,000 Deadline: 11/30/25 Available to: High school, college, and graduate students The Designli Women in Tech Scholarship is open to female high school, college, or graduate students in the U.S. You must be interested in pursuing a degree related to technology or business and submit a 1,000-word essay discussing the topic provided by the sponsor in order to be eligible for this award.

How Fall Scholarships Can Help Shape Your College Path

Fall scholarships can be instrumental in helping you how to decide and pay for college. Knowing what you can afford well before you have to make the final decision ensures that the decision is methodically made without pressure. Our best advice for winning scholarships is to apply early and apply often, and October and November are the perfect months to begin. Start with this list above and then check your Fastweb matches weekly throughout the year to see new scholarships that you qualify for.