When you think of October, you probably think of Halloween, pumpkin carving, haunted houses, and creative costumes–not scholarships. But believe it or not, there are plenty of weird and unique scholarships out there that reward students for their offbeat hobbies, odd creativity, and one-of-a-kind talents.
These strange scholarships show that paying for college doesn't have to be intimidating. Whether it's crafting a Halloween-themed recipe, studying pest control, or even exploring the art of funeral service, these awards celebrate the students who dare to stand out.
October may be the perfect time to spotlight the bizarre, but these weird scholarships are open throughout the year.
Award Amount: $1,500 - $3,000 Scholarship Details: The Escoffier Crown Scholarship Competition: The Spooktacular Halloween Dish-Off is open to high school juniors and seniors who are interested in attending Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. To enter, create a Halloween-inspired sweet or savory dish and submit three photos that illustrate it in three stages: mise en place, in process, and the finished plated dish.
Award Amount: $2,000 - $5,000 Scholarship Details: The Funeral Directors Life Memorial Scholarship is available to students pursuing a degree in mortuary science. You must be enrolled in an ABFSE - or Canadian-accredited institution/program to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $2,000 Scholarship Details: The Pest Management Foundation Scholarship is available to junior, senior, and graduate students. You must be majoring in biological sciences, with a focus on urban pest management, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $1,000 - $5,000
Scholarship Details: The Rove Pest Control Scholarship is available to high school and full-time college students. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Special consideration will be given to students pursuing a degree in entomology or a related field.
Award Amount: $500 - $5,000
Scholarship Details: The Illustrators of the Future Contest is open to new science fiction and fantasy artists. To be considered, you must submit three illustrations in a color or black - and - white medium created from your imagination. Each illustration must represent a subject different from the other two.
Award Amount: $4,000
Scholarship Details: The Daniel M. Jobbins Scholarship is available to full-time graduate students. You must be conducting (or recently have completed) research regarding mosquitoes or ticks, their biology, and/or practical control to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $1,500 - $2,500
Scholarship Details: The American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship is available to students who are pursuing study in a program in funeral service or mortuary science education in an ABFSE-accredited program. You must have completed at least one semester/quarter of study and have at least one remaining before graduation to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: Varies
Scholarship Details: The Virginia Gordon and Atha Kahler Scholarship Fund is available to students with an interest in the costuming of dolls. You must submit a research topic and plan to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: $2,000 Scholarship Details: 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.
Weird Scholarships
Escoffier Crown Scholarship Competition: The Spooktacular Halloween Dish-Off
Deadline: 10/31/25Award Amount: $1,500 - $3,000 Scholarship Details: The Escoffier Crown Scholarship Competition: The Spooktacular Halloween Dish-Off is open to high school juniors and seniors who are interested in attending Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. To enter, create a Halloween-inspired sweet or savory dish and submit three photos that illustrate it in three stages: mise en place, in process, and the finished plated dish.
Funeral Directors Life Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: 11/1/25Award Amount: $2,000 - $5,000 Scholarship Details: The Funeral Directors Life Memorial Scholarship is available to students pursuing a degree in mortuary science. You must be enrolled in an ABFSE - or Canadian-accredited institution/program to be eligible for this award.
Pest Management Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: 11/30/25Award Amount: $2,000 Scholarship Details: The Pest Management Foundation Scholarship is available to junior, senior, and graduate students. You must be majoring in biological sciences, with a focus on urban pest management, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.
Rove Pest Control Scholarship
Deadline: 12/31/25Award Amount: $1,000 - $5,000
Scholarship Details: The Rove Pest Control Scholarship is available to high school and full-time college students. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Special consideration will be given to students pursuing a degree in entomology or a related field.
Illustrators of the Future Contest
Deadline: 12/31/25Award Amount: $500 - $5,000
Scholarship Details: The Illustrators of the Future Contest is open to new science fiction and fantasy artists. To be considered, you must submit three illustrations in a color or black - and - white medium created from your imagination. Each illustration must represent a subject different from the other two.
Daniel M. Jobbins Scholarship
Deadline: 2/13/26Award Amount: $4,000
Scholarship Details: The Daniel M. Jobbins Scholarship is available to full-time graduate students. You must be conducting (or recently have completed) research regarding mosquitoes or ticks, their biology, and/or practical control to be eligible for this award.
American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship
Deadline: 3/1/26Award Amount: $1,500 - $2,500
Scholarship Details: The American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship is available to students who are pursuing study in a program in funeral service or mortuary science education in an ABFSE-accredited program. You must have completed at least one semester/quarter of study and have at least one remaining before graduation to be eligible for this award.
Virginia Gordon and Atha Kahler Scholarship Fund
Deadline: 4/1/26Award Amount: Varies
Scholarship Details: The Virginia Gordon and Atha Kahler Scholarship Fund is available to students with an interest in the costuming of dolls. You must submit a research topic and plan to be considered for this award.
Minecraft Scholarship
Deadline: 7/31/26Award Amount: $2,000 Scholarship Details: 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.
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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...
