Below are some of the best scholarships for high school juniors, the Class of 2027:
Award Amount: $500
Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Juniors • Minimum 3.0 GPA Award Details: The Hamilton Award is available to high-achieving and service-focused high school juniors. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. Recipients of this award must commit to participating in a rigorous five-year curriculum.
Award Amount: $100 - $1,000
Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Students Application Requirements: • Create a 16" x 20" Poster Award Details: The Christophers High School Poster Contest is open to high school students. To enter, you must create a 16" x 20" poster that illustrates the idea that one person can change the world for the better, and includes the following statement: "You can make a difference." The poster concept, design, and any photos or artwork used must be the original work of the student entering the competition. Posters will be judged on overall impact, effectiveness in conveying the theme, originality, and artistic merit.
Award Amount: $1,000 - $20,000 Eligibility Requirements: • High School Juniors & Seniors Application Requirements: • Participate in a math challenge Award Details: The MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge is open to high school juniors and seniors. In this challenge, students will be given 14 continuous hours to solve an open-ended, realistic, applied math modeling problem. The challenge is entirely internet-based. Students choose which day they wish to work on the challenge weekend. Each high school may enter up to 2 teams of 3 to 5 students.
Award Amount: $2,500 Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • Age 19 and younger Application Requirements: • Essay Submission Award Details: The Optimist International Essay Contest is open to students who are under the age of 19. To be considered for this award, you must submit a 700 - to 800 - word essay on the following topic: "How Optimism Has Paved My Road to Success."
Award Amount: $1,000 Eligibility Requirements: • Up to age 16 Application Requirements: • Completed an environmental project Award Details: The International Young Eco-Hero Award is available to students between the ages of eight and 16 who exhibit environmental activism. To be considered, you must carry out an action-based, self-initiated project that concerns environmental health, advocacy, research, or the protection of the natural world.
Award Amount: $1,250 - $2,500 Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Students Application Requirements: • 1,000 - to 1,500 - word essay Award Details: The AFSA National High School Essay Contest is open to high school students. To be considered, you must submit a 1,000 - to 1,500 - word essay on the following topic: "Critically assess what you believe to be the most significant effects of the Foreign Service's work during the Vietnam War on contemporary U.S. diplomacy."
Award Amount: $10,000
Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • Minimum Age 14 Application Requirements: • Design an original greeting card Award Details: The Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest is open to students who are at least 14 years of age. To enter, you must submit an original design for a Christmas card, holiday card, birthday card, or all - occasion greeting card. All designs or photographs must be the original work of the applicant.
Award Amount: $2,500
Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • Middle School Students • High School Students Application Requirements: • 500 - to 1000-word essay Award Details: The Stossel in the Classroom Essay Contest is open to middle and high school students. You must submit a 500 - to 1000 - word essay on one of four topics to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: Varies Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Students Application Requirements: • 30-second television commercial Award Details: The Courageous Persuaders Video Contest is open to high school students. To be considered, you must create a 30 - second television commercial targeted to middle school students to warn them about the dangers of drinking and driving or distracted driving.
Award Amount: $2,000 - $8,000 Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Juniors • High School Seniors • Undergraduate Students Application Requirements: • 10-25 second video • Create a radio ad • Design a billboard Award Details: The Project Yellow Light Video Contest Scholarship is available to high school juniors and seniors and full - time undergraduate students. To be considered, you must create a billboard, 10 or 25 second video, or radio ad that discourages distracted driving, specifically texting while driving.
Award Amount: $4,000
Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Students • Minimum age 14 • Opt-in to text messages Award Details: The Huntington Learning Center College Scholarship Sweepstakes is available to high school students who are 14 years of age and older. To be considered for this award, you must text a four - digit code to the sponsor and opt - in to text messages. Entrants who do not want to opt - in to text messages may submit a mail - in entry. Residents of Rhode Island are ineligible.
Award Amount: $1,000 Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • 3.75 GPA • Educator Nomination Award Details: The Carson Scholars Program is open to students in grades four through eleven. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.75 and display humanitarian qualities through community service to be eligible for this award. Interested students MUST be nominated by an educator at their school. Only one student from each school is able to apply.
Award Amount: $20,000 - $25,000 Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • Age 20 • Oration Award Details: The American Legion National Oratorical Contest is open to junior high and high school students who are under the age of 20 and are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States. To be considered, you must prepare an oration on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with emphasis on a citizen's duties and obligations to our government. A complete list of topics is available on the Legion's website. Each state winner certified into and participating in the first round of the national contest receives a $2,000 scholarship.
Check out these Four Scholarship Tips via this Instagram Reel:
The Hamilton Award
Deadline: 1/31/26Award Amount: $500
Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Juniors • Minimum 3.0 GPA Award Details: The Hamilton Award is available to high-achieving and service-focused high school juniors. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. Recipients of this award must commit to participating in a rigorous five-year curriculum.
The Christophers High School Poster Contest
Deadline: 2/12/26Award Amount: $100 - $1,000
Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Students Application Requirements: • Create a 16" x 20" Poster Award Details: The Christophers High School Poster Contest is open to high school students. To enter, you must create a 16" x 20" poster that illustrates the idea that one person can change the world for the better, and includes the following statement: "You can make a difference." The poster concept, design, and any photos or artwork used must be the original work of the student entering the competition. Posters will be judged on overall impact, effectiveness in conveying the theme, originality, and artistic merit.
MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge
Deadline: 2/20/26Award Amount: $1,000 - $20,000 Eligibility Requirements: • High School Juniors & Seniors Application Requirements: • Participate in a math challenge Award Details: The MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge is open to high school juniors and seniors. In this challenge, students will be given 14 continuous hours to solve an open-ended, realistic, applied math modeling problem. The challenge is entirely internet-based. Students choose which day they wish to work on the challenge weekend. Each high school may enter up to 2 teams of 3 to 5 students.
Optimist International Essay Contest
Deadline: 2/28/26Award Amount: $2,500 Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • Age 19 and younger Application Requirements: • Essay Submission Award Details: The Optimist International Essay Contest is open to students who are under the age of 19. To be considered for this award, you must submit a 700 - to 800 - word essay on the following topic: "How Optimism Has Paved My Road to Success."
International Young Eco Hero Award
Deadline: 2/28/26Award Amount: $1,000 Eligibility Requirements: • Up to age 16 Application Requirements: • Completed an environmental project Award Details: The International Young Eco-Hero Award is available to students between the ages of eight and 16 who exhibit environmental activism. To be considered, you must carry out an action-based, self-initiated project that concerns environmental health, advocacy, research, or the protection of the natural world.
AFSA National High School Essay Contest
Deadline: 3/1/26Award Amount: $1,250 - $2,500 Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Students Application Requirements: • 1,000 - to 1,500 - word essay Award Details: The AFSA National High School Essay Contest is open to high school students. To be considered, you must submit a 1,000 - to 1,500 - word essay on the following topic: "Critically assess what you believe to be the most significant effects of the Foreign Service's work during the Vietnam War on contemporary U.S. diplomacy."
Create-a-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest
Deadline: 3/9/26Award Amount: $10,000
Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • Minimum Age 14 Application Requirements: • Design an original greeting card Award Details: The Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest is open to students who are at least 14 years of age. To enter, you must submit an original design for a Christmas card, holiday card, birthday card, or all - occasion greeting card. All designs or photographs must be the original work of the applicant.
Stossel in the Classroom Essay Contest
Deadline: 3/13/26Award Amount: $2,500
Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • Middle School Students • High School Students Application Requirements: • 500 - to 1000-word essay Award Details: The Stossel in the Classroom Essay Contest is open to middle and high school students. You must submit a 500 - to 1000 - word essay on one of four topics to be considered for this award.
Courageous Persuaders Video Contest
Deadline: 3/30/26Award Amount: Varies Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Students Application Requirements: • 30-second television commercial Award Details: The Courageous Persuaders Video Contest is open to high school students. To be considered, you must create a 30 - second television commercial targeted to middle school students to warn them about the dangers of drinking and driving or distracted driving.
Project Yellow Light Video Contest Scholarship
Deadline: 4/1/26Award Amount: $2,000 - $8,000 Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Juniors • High School Seniors • Undergraduate Students Application Requirements: • 10-25 second video • Create a radio ad • Design a billboard Award Details: The Project Yellow Light Video Contest Scholarship is available to high school juniors and seniors and full - time undergraduate students. To be considered, you must create a billboard, 10 or 25 second video, or radio ad that discourages distracted driving, specifically texting while driving.
Huntington Learning Center College Scholarship Sweepstakes
Deadline: 6/30/26Award Amount: $4,000
Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • High School Students • Minimum age 14 • Opt-in to text messages Award Details: The Huntington Learning Center College Scholarship Sweepstakes is available to high school students who are 14 years of age and older. To be considered for this award, you must text a four - digit code to the sponsor and opt - in to text messages. Entrants who do not want to opt - in to text messages may submit a mail - in entry. Residents of Rhode Island are ineligible.
Carson Scholars Program
Deadline: VariesAward Amount: $1,000 Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • 3.75 GPA • Educator Nomination Award Details: The Carson Scholars Program is open to students in grades four through eleven. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.75 and display humanitarian qualities through community service to be eligible for this award. Interested students MUST be nominated by an educator at their school. Only one student from each school is able to apply.
American Legion National Oratorical Contest
Deadline: VariesAward Amount: $20,000 - $25,000 Renewable: No Eligibility Requirements: • Age 20 • Oration Award Details: The American Legion National Oratorical Contest is open to junior high and high school students who are under the age of 20 and are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States. To be considered, you must prepare an oration on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with emphasis on a citizen's duties and obligations to our government. A complete list of topics is available on the Legion's website. Each state winner certified into and participating in the first round of the national contest receives a $2,000 scholarship.
High school seniors can find a scholarship list, too! While it's never too soon to begin your college scholarship search, many United States students begin looking for scholarship opportunities their junior year of high school. Your junior year will be busy, filled with campus visits, college-admissions prep work and deciding what you'd like to go to college for.
How to Find Scholarships for High School Juniors
Instead of wondering how you'll pay for college, do something about it. Students in the 11th grade are generally busy with studying, writing, researching colleges, extracurricular activities and maintaining a social life; it may feel like you don't have time to add applying for scholarships to your schedule. To make the scholarship application process easier, create a free Fastweb profile. From this you'll be matched to scholarships that fit YOU. You'll also want to establish a weekly scholarship application goal for yourself at the beginning of your junior year of high school. Stick to your scholarship plan; challenge yourself. Stay on top of the scholarship deadlines and keep applying. The more you apply for, the better your odds. Before you know it, it will be your senior year! There are many college scholarships for high school juniors! Scholarships for the Class of 2027 range from small, school-specific awards to national contests and competitions that give away big scholarship money. These scholarships can be competitive and targeted toward student accomplishments, merit scholarships with eligibility requirements, and financial aid for students that demonstrate financial need.You Might Also Like
Shawna Newman
Managing Editor, Contributing Writer
Shawna Newman covers various topics related to post-secondary education, including trade schools, the military, and college. She details strategies for paying for school, such as scholarships, financial ai...
