The winter months bring quiet and calm to life, and the same can be said of the scholarship search. These months offer a similar number of scholarship opportunities as the rest of the year, but with less competition.
Our advice to you? Hunker down and power up your scholarship search. Set aggressive goals, get organized, and maximize your scholarship-winning potential.
College and graduate students especially, should use the free time in January to make great strides in their scholarship search. Some schools may start later in January, or even offer the whole month off for the January term. Whatever date you begin again, embrace winter break productivity and use any remaining free time wisely.
Finally, many students pause their scholarship search. Understandably, they’re exhausted from applying to colleges and finals. Scholarship season will pick back up once financial aid packages are delivered. Applying for January, February, and March scholarship deadlines will help you beat the rush.
As college acceptance letters and notifications arrive over the next few weeks, winter scholarships can help drive enrollment decisions. Having scholarship wins and financial aid packages in hand will help you realistically compare college costs across all your choices.
You will be able to compare merit and financial aid at each college, as well as outside scholarship wins. This could especially be helpful if you decide to negotiate financial aid packages at different schools.
PRO TIP: Yes, you can negotiate scholarships and financial aid between colleges. If one college provides a more enticing offer, but you’d like to attend elsewhere, show them what you’ve received from other schools. They may meet your other offers to win your enrollment decision.
Award Amount: $2,500 The Sony Photojournalism Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing studies in still photojournalism. To be considered for this award, you must submit a portfolio of your still photography work, a letter of recommendation, and essays about your background and aspirations.
Award Amount: $5,000
The Best In Class Award is available to undergraduate students. You must have a minimum 2.7 GPA and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $1,500 The Kickin' it for Katy Scholarship is available to students entering or continuing their education in a mental health field. You must be attending a university in West Virginia and submit an essay explaining your interest in mental health, what committed you to the field, and any relevant experiences to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: $10,000 The UCB Myasthenia Gravis Scholarship is available to students who have been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, and to students who are the immediate family member of someone diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. You must demonstrate academic ambition, personal achievement, and serve as a positive role model for others to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: $1,000 The Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship is available to students. To be considered for this award, you must submit a web design, from the past or present, that showcases your creativity and understanding of today's web design trends and possibilities.
Award Amount: Full-Tuition The Call to Action Scholarship Program is available to high school seniors who reside in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Nevada, or Utah. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $5,000 The Future Innovators Scholarship Program is open to full - time undergraduate and graduate students. You must be majoring in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, or a closely related technical field to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $5,000
The DEWALT Trades Scholarship is available to students who are currently enrolled in or accepted to a postsecondary school or training program. You must be pursuing training in the construction, industrial, motor / power, mechanics, or technology industry to be eligible for this award.
Why Winter is the Perfect Time for Scholarship Applications
The new year often brings a fresh mindset to many areas of life, including the scholarship search. Whether you’re a high school, college, or graduate student, embrace this fresh start, set new goals, and deliver results for yourself. Now is the time to begin prioritizing scholarship applications. Start by setting a goal to apply for 1-2 scholarships per week.How Winter Scholarships Bridge the Gap Between Acceptance and Enrollment
Types of Scholarships Available During Winter Months
You will find similar scholarship types during the winter months as you would throughout the rest of the year. January, February, and March offer scholarship opportunities like: · Annual scholarships with the same winter deadlines each year · Essay contests and creative competitions · Major national scholarships · Local and community scholarships · Career- and major-specific awards Below is a list of scholarships with winter deadlines across various scholarship categories.February 2026 Scholarships
Sony Photojournalism Scholarship
Deadline: 2/6/26Award Amount: $2,500 The Sony Photojournalism Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing studies in still photojournalism. To be considered for this award, you must submit a portfolio of your still photography work, a letter of recommendation, and essays about your background and aspirations.
Best In Class Award
Deadline: 2/11/26Award Amount: $5,000
The Best In Class Award is available to undergraduate students. You must have a minimum 2.7 GPA and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this award.
Kickin' it for Katy Scholarship
Deadline: 2/13/26Award Amount: $1,500 The Kickin' it for Katy Scholarship is available to students entering or continuing their education in a mental health field. You must be attending a university in West Virginia and submit an essay explaining your interest in mental health, what committed you to the field, and any relevant experiences to be considered for this award.
UCB Myasthenia Gravis Scholarship
Deadline: 2/15/26Award Amount: $10,000 The UCB Myasthenia Gravis Scholarship is available to students who have been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, and to students who are the immediate family member of someone diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. You must demonstrate academic ambition, personal achievement, and serve as a positive role model for others to be considered for this award.
Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship
Deadline: 2/18/26Award Amount: $1,000 The Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship is available to students. To be considered for this award, you must submit a web design, from the past or present, that showcases your creativity and understanding of today's web design trends and possibilities.
Call to Action Scholarship Program
Deadline: 2/20/26Award Amount: Full-Tuition The Call to Action Scholarship Program is available to high school seniors who reside in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Nevada, or Utah. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Future Innovators Scholarship Program
Deadline: 2/27/26Award Amount: $5,000 The Future Innovators Scholarship Program is open to full - time undergraduate and graduate students. You must be majoring in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, or a closely related technical field to be eligible for this award.
International Young Eco-Hero Award
Deadline: 2/28/26 Award Amount: $1,000 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 protection of the natural world.DEWALT Trades Scholarship
Deadline: 2/28/26Award Amount: $5,000
The DEWALT Trades Scholarship is available to students who are currently enrolled in or accepted to a postsecondary school or training program. You must be pursuing training in the construction, industrial, motor / power, mechanics, or technology industry to be eligible for this award.
Optimist International Essay Contest
Deadline: 2/28/26 Award Amount: $2,500 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."You Might Also Like
Kathryn Knight Randolph
Associate Content Editor
Kathryn Knight Randolph covers trends in higher education, changes to admissions and financial aid practices, and the student experience. She is passionate about simplifying the college search and financia...
