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Internal Scholarships

: This is where you'll find almost all ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ scholarships. Usually opens November 1st every academic year. 

• Submit 1 general application to be considered for multiple scholarship opportunities. You will then be matched with additional 'recommended' opportunities that may or may not apply to you.
• Get 1 Letter of Recommendation for your application. An LOR is not required, but is highly recommended. The Financial Aid Office uses LORs to help decide between which students to award, and it may make you eligible for more scholarships.
• Most scholarships offered in the Portal have a deadline of March 1

Your academic department likely offers their own scholarships. Check your academic department's scholarship listings here.

• Most of these scholarships are available through the Scholarship Portal, but not all. 
• For the scholarships not hosted in the Portal, ask your department chair about the scholarships listed on the department's site.

TRIO Scholarships: We offer 3 internal scholarships to ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ TRIO students through the Scholarship Portal. Every scholarship is due by May 1 annually. These scholarships are:

• For TRIO students who may not otherwise have the financial means, academic record, or opportunity to attend university.
•  For TRIO students who demonstrate financial need; preference given to students from diverse populations.
•  For TRIO students who are the primary caregiver to a minor child/children.

American Indian Tuition Waiver: Indigenous students who demonstrate financial need and are either 1/4 Native by blood and/or who are an enrolled member of a Montana tribe may be eligible for a tuition waiver. Hard copies of the waiver are available at the TRIO Office. 

• Indigenous Montana students who are from one of Montana's 7 Reservations may be eligible for the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Native American Scholarship. Applicants should contact ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ's Financial Aid Office to receive and fill out the scholarship application.
• The American Indian Student Services Office is also an excellent resource for assisting Indigenous students with mentorship through college and connecting with additional scholarship and funding opportunities.

Honorably Discharged Veterans Waiver: Montana residents who have been honorably discharged are eligible to have their tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate studies at ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ. Hard copies of the waiver are available at the TRIO Office.

• Active members of the Montana National Guard are also eligible for a .
• Veterans should contact ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ's VETS Office to get assistance applying their G.I. Bill Benefits toward their education.

Scholarships for Montana Residents

 Offers non-renewable $3,000 scholarships to female students from Cascade County.

• Must be enrolled full-time
• Must have completed at least 24 credits within past 5 years
• Must be enrolled for the upcoming academic year
• Opens February, due late April every year

 Offers several scholarships that range from $500-$2,000 to Montana or Wyoming residents who live in Billings Clinic's service area (). Applicants must be majoring in a health care or pre-medicine field to apply.

• Must be pursuing an eligible pre-medicine or health care degree
• Must reside in Billings Clinic's service area
• Must submit a recent college transcript
• Opens in early-to-mid-Spring

Offers scholarships annually to full-time students from Fergus, Garfield, Judith Basin, Petroleum, and Wheatland Counties. Complete 1 application to be considered for multiple scholarships.

• Requires 3 letters of recommendation
• Opens early January, due early May every year

 Awards $2,000 scholarships to Montana students who are pursuing a degree in Nursing. Scholarships are not automatically renewable; students must reapply each year to receive additional funding.

• Must have graduated from a Montana high school
  • Must provide copy of MT high school diploma or high school transcript
• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.75
• Sophomores must be on an accredited BSN track
• Juniors & Seniors must be enrolled in an accredited BSN Nursing Program and show proof of acceptance into higher division program
• Requires 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Opens early February, due mid-June every year

Need-based tuition award for women and non-binary applicants who are pursuing their degree as non-traditional students. Interested applicants should contact the Office for External Scholarships & Fellowships for application assistance & essay feedback.

• Must be a resident of Montana or Georgia
• Must be age 25 or older at time of applying
• Must demonstrate critical financial need
• Requires 2 letters of recommendation
• Opens early November, due mid-February every year

 MCF offers a wide variety of scholarships to Montana students annually. Applicants take an eligibility quiz that matches them with scholarships based on quiz results, which they then apply to individually. Many awards are based on city or county residency, or the high school a student graduated from. 

• Opens January 1, due March 31 every year

: This organization provides multiple scholarship opportunities to Montana residents every year. Complete 1 scholarship application to be considered for a $1,000 award.

• Must be a Montana resident or have graduated from a Montana high school
• Eligible applicants may be matched with supplementary scholarships to apply for
• Opens early January, due early March every year

 Provides renewable scholarships at $3,000 per year for up to 3 years to Montana residents who are entering freshmen or sophomore college students with 60 credits or less.

• Must be a Montana resident
• Must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a college degree program
• Must be either a freshman or sophomore college student
  • Must have completed 60 credits or less
  • Cannot be attending a trade school
• Preference given to students requesting renewals of their scholarship
• Opens early January, due mid-to-late April every year

Financial Need-Based Scholarships

Offers renewable awards of up to $5,000 to full-time students from low-income households. Applicants must demonstrate involvement in activities beyond classes (e.g., work or clubs) to apply.

• Must be enrolled or enrolling full-time
• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5
• Must be employed or be involved in extracurricular activities
• Must submit copy of SAR from most recently filed FAFSA
• Requires 1 listed reference
• Opens early January, due mid-March every year

 Provides renewable $5,000 scholarships to 100 college students every year who have unmet financial need and who demonstrate ambition and drive to be a force for good in their community by encouraging others to pursue higher education. 

• Must be planning to enroll full-time in the next/upcoming academic year
• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5
• Must have unmet financial need
• Opens mid-October, due mid-December every year*
  • *Scholarship America pages change frequently. If the above link doesn't work, Google the scholarship to find the appropriate page

Open to women and non-binary applicants, regardless of state residency, who are pursuing their first bachelor's degree as non-traditional students. Interested applicants should contact the Office for External Scholarships & Fellowships for application assistance & essay feedback.

• Must be age 35 or older at time of applying
• Must demonstrate critical financial need
• Requires 2 letters of recommendation
• Opens early November, due mid-February every year

 Offers a renewable award of up to $25,000 to students who have overcome and/or are overcoming significant financial and life challenges in pursuit of their education. 

• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
• Must demonstrate financial need
• Preference given to first-generation students
• Preference given to students with external responsibilities
  • Ex., student parents; students who have to work to support themselves through college; students who care for/support younger siblings, etc.
• Opens April, due mid-to-late May every year*
  • *Scholarship America pages change frequently. If the above link doesn't work, Google the scholarship to find the appropriate page

Awards scholarships to students who have overcome socio-economic and personal hardship and who demonstrate a compelling desire to pursue higher education. Scholars come from a range of backgrounds and challenges, including teen pregnancy, former incarceration, interrupted schooling, poverty, and homelessness. The Foundation seeks hardworking, resilient students who want to make positive contributions to their local and global communities.

• Must be 25 years old or younger
• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
• Must have demonstrated financial need
  • An annual household Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $75,000 or less
• Must be pursuing first undergraduate degree
• Applications are open from April 1 to April 30 every year

First-Gen Scholarships

 Offers a multitude of scholarships. Students apply to each scholarship individually instead of a general application. Application requirements differ between scholarships, but most require a letter of recommendation from an educator and a 500-800 word essay.

• : For first-generation college students of all grade levels. Application requires a letter of recommendation from an educator. The scholarship often opens in November and is due annually in early March.
• For rising college juniors and seniors who have financial need. Requires a letter of recommendation from an educator, a 500-800 word essay, and a written statement of financial need w/supporting documents (W2s, FAFSAs, proof of government assistance, etc.) Due in early August every year.

 Awards renewable scholarships of up to $10,000 to first-gen students who are pursuing a degree in Business, Tech, or a related field.

• Open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are enrolled full-time
• Must be a first-generation college student
• Must be pursuing a bachelor's in Business, Technology, or a related field
• Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Opens December 1, due late February every year

 Renewable award of up to $5,000 for undergraduates pursuing an undergraduate degree. This is a merit-based award; financial need is not taken into consideration.

• Must be no older than age 26 at time of applying
• Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Preference may be given to first-generation students
• Opens February, due March every year*
  • *Scholarship America pages change frequently. If the above link doesn't work, Google the scholarship to find the appropriate page

TIAA First-Gen Scholarship: Provides renewable scholarships of up to $10,000 to first-gen students, regardless of academic major. Applicants must be planning to enroll full-time for the entire upcoming academic year to qualify.

• Must be a first-generation college student
• Must be planning to enroll full-time for the entire upcoming academic year
• Must submit 2 short personal statements
• Opens early January, due late February*
  • *Scholarship America pages change frequently. If the above link doesn't work, Google the scholarship to find the appropriate page

Scholarships for Former Foster Care Youth

Offers renewable awards of $5,000 to Montana students who are currently in foster care, or who transitioned out of foster care within the past 12 months.

• Must be enrolled or enrolling in a college degree program
• Opens October; applications are accepted until 4 winners are decided every year

: Provides renewable financial assistance, professional resources, and emotional support to former foster care students pursuing a bachelor's degree.

• Must be between ages of 18 and 23 at time of applying
• Must have lived in public or private US foster care for 12 consecutive months leading up to, or including, applicant's 18th birthday
• Must submit high school and official college transcript
  • Speak with your TRIO advisor if finances are preventing you from paying for an official transcript & applying
• Must provide proof of foster care status
• Must provide a professional headshot
  • Take one for free at the ELCS Office on Aber's 2nd floor!
• Requires 2 letters of recommendation
• Opens early March, due early May every year

Offers multiple scholarships to students who aged out of the foster system and are now pursuing higher education. Applicants fill out 1 general application to be considered for all eligible scholarships.

• Must be under the age of 25
• Must be former foster care youth
• Preference given to applicants who have had at least one year of college experience
• No GPA requirement, but C average or higher in all college coursework is recommended
• Applications usually open in the spring- check page frequently 

Provides renewable scholarships, mentorship programs, and paid leadership development opportunities to orphaned and/or former foster care students nationwide.

• Must be under age 24 at time of application
• Must be enrolled full-time
• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5
• Must provide financial aid statements and documentation of former foster care status
  • TRIO students should contact their TRIO advisor for assistance with acquiring all of the documents requested
• Requires 1 letter of recommendation
• Opens February, due late April every year

 Offers scholarships to former foster care students multiple times each academic year. Awards are renewable for students who maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

• Must be a current or former foster care youth, ward of the state, or emancipated minor
• Must be under age 26 at time of application
• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
• Must submit proof of former foster status
• Must submit an official college transcript
  • Speak with your TRIO advisor if finances are preventing you from paying for an official transcript & applying
• Requires 3 letters of recommendation
• Opens July 15, due August 31 (Fall courses) | Opens December 15, due January 31 (Spring courses) | Opens April 15, due May 31 (Summer courses)

 Awards up to $5,000 for Montana former foster care who are now pursuing a post-secondary degree. Video walkthroughs of the application are available on the Reach Higher MT website (linked above). 

• Must be under age 26 at time of application
• Must be aging out, or have already aged out of, the Montana state foster care system
  • Applicants who were adopted/placed into guardianship from foster care after age 16 and applicants who were under tribal court jurisdiction that meet the above foster care criteria are eligible to apply
• Must provide proof of former foster care status
• Open year-round, due December 15 (Spring & Summer courses) | July 1 (Fall courses & Academic Year)

Scholarships for Indigenous Students

: Foundation that provides a wide variety scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native college students. Students only need to submit one application every year to be considered for all available scholarships.

• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
• Must be enrolled full-time
• Must provide proof of tribal affiliation
• Must provide a professional headshot
  • Take one for free at the ELCS Office on Aber's 2nd floor!
• Opens early February, due late May every year

Provides up scholarships worth up to 1/2 tuition or demonstrated need to American Indian and Alaska Native students who are pursuing their first bachelor's degree. 

• Must be an enrolled member of a U.S. Federally Recognized American Indian or Alaska Native Tribe and must be able to provide proof of heritage
• Must provide a professional headshot
  • Take one for free at the ELCS Office on Aber's 2nd floor!
• Must have filed a FAFSA and must provide an official tuition billing statement
• Must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25
• Has multiple scholarship application cycles every year, so multiple chances to apply. These 3 cycles are applicable to ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ students:
  • January Award: Opens September 1, closes November 1. Awarded for the upcoming Spring semester
  • September award: Opens May 1, closes July 1. Awarded for the upcoming Fall semester

 Merit-based scholarships for Indigenous students who also display financial need and a commitment to their studies. Applicants are required to provide proof of tribal enrollment. Undergraduate students may apply for an academic year scholarship and a summer term scholarship.

• No GPA requirement, but 3.25+ advised
  • Applicants with lower GPAs are encouraged to still apply. However, they should be prepared to explain their lower grades, and show strengths in other areas. Students should be able to demonstrate overall success, achievement, and a plan for academic improvement
• Must be enrolled full-time in a 4-year degree program and be making satisfactory progress toward graduating
• Academic year scholarship typically opens in December and closes in March
• Summer scholarship typically opens in February and closes in May

Offers two programs for undergraduates and one program for graduate American Indian and Alaska Native students who are dedicated to a career in health care.

• Must have a minimum 2.0 GPA
• Must intend to service Native people as a health professional in student's chosen discipline
• Interested students should check out
• Opens December, due February every year

 Offers renewable scholarships to American Indian & Alaska Native students enrolled full-time in a college degree program. Recipients are also given access to internships, fellowships, and other learning or experiential opportunities.

• Must be enrolled full-time and remain enrolled full-time
• Must have a minimum 2.5 GPA
• Must submit proof of tribal enrollment
• Must submit a recent transcript
• Opens March, due June every year

: Provides a host of scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native students, ranging from high school to graduate education. Applicants complete a personal profile, which includes their transcripts and references. They are then matched to individual scholarships to apply for. Juniors & seniors who are interested in graduate school should also check out the Fund's .

• Must be enrolled full-time
• Must submit proof of tribal enrollment
• Must submit a copy of SAR from recently filed FAFSA
• Requires 2 references
  • 1 academic, 1 community/leadership
• Opens January, due June 1st every year

 Offers tuition awards, laptops for first-year students, care packages, mentoring, and additional opportunities to Native students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. Students with GPAs between 2.0-3.5 are especially encouraged to apply. PWNA also accepts applications from students with GPAs outside that range.

• Must be enrolled full-time
• Must provide a recent college transcript
• Must provide proof of tribal enrollment
• Must provide a professional headshot
  • Take one for free at the ELCS Office on Aber's 2nd floor!
• Opens February, due early March (priority) and early April (final deadline) every year

For Indigenous students who are pursuing academic programs that will lead them to a career in Forestry and/or Wildland Fire Management. 

• Students must be studying either Forestry or Fire ($4,000), or Natural Resources ($3,000)
• Must provide proof of tribal enrollment
• Due in mid-March

Scholarships for U.S. Veterans

Offers a few awards to active duty U.S. military and veterans who are seeking their first bachelor's degree. 

• $12,000 scholarship for a veteran or member of the National Guard of Reserves who demonstrates unmet financial need
• Up to $4,000 for active duty and military veterans
  • Their website doesn't always update, so you may need to change the year at the end of the link to get the right application
  • Ex.:  (for 2024). To access 2025's application, replace the '24' on the end:  
• Opens January, due late April every year

Open to veterans from all military branches. Applicants who apply for the Veteran Scholarship are automatically considered for a secondary scholarship (the Irzyk Scholarship).

• Preference given to veterans awarded a Combat Infantrymen's Badge
• Preference given to veterans who suffered a serious injury due to combat action and/or received a Purple Heart
• Must be enrolled in an AACSB-accredited university
  • ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ is AACSB-accredited
• Opens mid-April, due September every year

 Offers multiple scholarships for U.S. military veterans from all branches. These scholarships do not require organizational membership:

• Open to full-time sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• For students seeking a degree in the fields of Math, Statistics, Chemistry, Physics, or Engineering. Cannot have separated earlier than 2016
• Open to veterans enrolled full-time, no GPA requirements
• Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled full-time with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Military veterans, spouse dependents, and child dependents are all eligible to apply to this award
• Opens early January, due mid-March every year

For military vets who are pursuing a degree in education, with plans of working in grades K-12. Awards up to $10,000 and is renewable for up to 4 years.

• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
• Must be enrolled full-time
• Must be pursuing a degree in education or counseling
• Must demonstrate financial need
  • Must be using any military education benefits the student is eligible for
• Opens January, due late April every year*
  • *Scholarship America pages change frequently. If the above link doesn't work, Google the scholarship to find the appropriate page

Up to $5,000 scholarship for veterans enrolled full-time. Spouse dependents and widowed dependents of disabled veterans may also apply.

• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
• Must be enrolled full-time
• Opens February, due April every year*
  • *Scholarship America pages change frequently. If the above link doesn't work, Google the scholarship to find the appropriate page

Scholarships for Dependents of U.S. Veterans (Children, Step-Children, Spouses & Widows)

 Offers a few awards for dependents of active duty and retired Airmen or Guardians. Students must be enrolled in college with a minimum GPA of 2.0 to apply.

• Up to $5,000 for child dependents. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement & GPA
  • Child dependents must not reach age 24 during the award year
• A $2,000 award for spouse dependents who are part-time students only
• Open to child and spouse dependents who are enrolled full-time and who demonstrate financial need
  
  • Child dependents must not reach age 24 during the award year
• Opens early January, due late April every year

Offers 1 scholarship of up to $4,000 to spouse dependents of active duty and veteran military service members. 

• Their website doesn't always update, so you may need to change the year at the end of the link to get the right application
  • Ex.: . To access 2025's application, replace the '24' on the end:   
• Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Opens January, due late April every year

 For child and spouse dependents of Navy sailors. Child dependents who are pursuing degrees in a STEM field may qualify for additional scholarships.

• Military service member (sponsor) of child dependents must have a Surface Warfare qualification and have served at least 6 years in commands under control of Commander Naval Surface Forces, US Atlantic Fleet or Commander Naval Surface Forces, US Pacific Fleet
  • There is no Surface Warfare requirement for spouse dependents. Spouse dependent's sponsor must have been serving for at least 1 year to qualify.
• Child dependents must be enrolled full-time and under age 22 at time of applying
• Spouse dependents may be enrolled part- or full-time
• Opens early January, due early March every year

For child and spouse dependents of active duty National Guard service members and medically discharged or KIA U.S. Army veterans. Students only need to submit 1 application to be considered for all scholarships.

• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
• Child dependents must be younger than 23 at the time of applying
• Opens January 15, due April 15 every year

Renewable scholarships between $1,500 and $5,000 for child and spouse dependents of U.S. Navy Submarine Force service members and veterans. Students submit 1 application to be considered for all scholarships.

• Military service member (sponsor) must have served a minimum of 6 years active duty, or have served 8 years active duty in submarine support activities
• Child dependents must be enrolled full-time, unmarried, and under the age of 24 at time of applying
• Spouse dependents may be enrolled part- or full-time
• Opens October 1, due March 15 every year

$2,000 scholarship for child dependents of any Active Duty or Veteran U.S. service member.

• Must be enrolled full-time
• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5
• Opens mid-December, due mid-February every year

Offers up to $5,000 to child and spouse dependents of Active Duty or Veteran military members. Students must demonstrate unmet financial need to apply.

• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
• Must be enrolled full-time
• Opens February 1, due March 31 every year

Need-based scholarships for the children and step-children of a Marine or Navy Corpsman, Chaplain, or Religious Programs Specialist attached to a Marine unit. Awards are renewable for up to 4 years.

• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
• Must have demonstrated financial need
  • Household AGI must be less than $123,000 for the previous tax year
• Opens January 1, due March 1 every year

For spouses of U.S. military members who served post-9/11 in any of the 8 Uniformed Services, as well as to 20/20/20 spouses. Awards are not automatically renewable, but prior recipients are welcome to reapply.

• No minimum GPA
• Opens October 1, due September 30 (open year-round)

 Up to $5,000 for child and spouse dependents of Navy aviation members. Dependents whose tuition/fees are covered by other scholarships, ROTC, or Post 9/11 Bill/Yellow Ribbon benefits are not eligible to apply.

• Child dependents must be unmarried, enrolled full-time, and under age 23 at time of applying
• Opens October 1, due February 1 (Priority) and March 1 (Final) every year

Scholarship Foundations

A good place to start looking for scholarships is through foundations or funds. These organizations typically give out multiple scholarships every year.

Some organizations only require students to submit one general application in order to be considered for every scholarship they have. Others may require that students submit separate applications to each scholarship. Eligibility requirements and deadlines will often differ between scholarships as well. Make sure to note application requirements and due dates as you look at applying.

• Tons of scholarships available for American Indian and Alaska Native college students.
  • Submit one general application to be considered for all eligible scholarships
  • Applications open from Spring to May 1 every year
•  Awards multiple scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students. Applications are open to students who are sophomores or beyond, who are currently enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program, and who demonstrate community service and involvement. Except for the YPAC scholarship, students do not need to be members of the sorority to apply.
  • requires a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • requires a minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Both and require a minimum 2.5 GPA. These scholarships are intended for students who typically will not qualify for merit-based or needs-based awards, have experienced a financial shortfall, and need support to pursue their education
  • Applications are due in mid-April every year
• Multiple scholarships available for varying amounts. Students will filter scholarships based on state residency. Eligibility and GPA requirements are different for each scholarship. 
  • Students need to apply to each scholarship separately
  • Each submitted application costs $5
  • Speak to your TRIO advisor if finances are a barrier to submitting multiple applications
  • Applications open from October to January every year
•  Pool of scholarships for college students who've aged out of foster care. Must be under the age of 25.
  • Submit one general application to be considered for all eligible scholarships
  • Applications open from Spring to late July every year
• Selects 10,000 Hispanic college students each year for scholarships. Amounts range between $500 and $5,000. Students must be enrolled full-time and must submit FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms.
  • Submit one general application to be considered for all eligible scholarships
  • Applications open from early January to mid-February every year
• Wide variety of scholarships for Montana residents. Applicants take an eligibility quiz that matches them with scholarships based on quiz results. 
  • Students need to apply to each scholarship separately
  • Open from January 1 to March 31 every year
•  Awards numerous scholarships to undergraduate student leaders who are active in their campus communities. Some scholarships are open to all regions, and others are region-specific. 
  • These scholarships are applicable to ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ TRIO students:  |  | | | 
  • Students need to apply to each scholarship separately
  • Each scholarship has its own requirements. All of the above except the Alan Davis Scholarship (3.0 GPA) require a minimum 2.0 GPA. The Alan Davis and Harris Goldberg also require that students must be enrolled full-time
  • Applications open in August and are due November 30th annually
•  Offers two major scholarship funds that are applicable to TRIO undergraduate students. The organization only allows students to submit one application for one scholarship each year.
  • The Schwallie Family Scholarship is for Autistic students enrolled in a 4-year degree program
  • The Synchrony Scholarship is for BIPOC Autistic students enrolled in a 4-year degree program
  • Applications open in December and close in April every year
• Offers an array of scholarships to students enrolled in a degree-granting program. Preference is given to students of Hawaiian descent where legally permissible, but all students are welcome to apply.
  
  • Students need to apply to each scholarship separately
  • Applications open between October and December annually

• Offers scholarships to LGBTQ+ students who demonstrate financial need. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and must be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program.

  • LGBTQ+ BIPOC students are also encouraged to apply for
  • The Foundation requires students to be out as LGBTQ+, as they publish their winners
    • For LGBTQ+ students who are not out or otherwise not comfortable with being published, check out the Pride Foundation below
• Has 60+ scholarships available to LGBTQ+ students and allies who are residents of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington
  
  • Submit one general application to be considered for all eligible scholarships
  • Open from October to January every year
• Has several scholarships for Montana residents every year.
  
  • Submit one general application to be considered for all eligible scholarships
  • Open from January 1 to March 1 every year
• Awards national scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 every year to women.
  
  • Students need to apply to each scholarship separately
  • Open from mid-October to mid-May every year

Scholarship Databases

• Portal is free to use for Montana residents; lists several local, state, and national scholarships that Montana students are eligible for

• Specifically for nursing students with disabilities

• Opportunities largely, but not exclusively, for BSW students

Federal Tuition Assistance Programs

Agencies and organizations affiliated with the federal government offer a few generous tuition scholarships that double as long-term hiring opportunities. It is common that these scholarships come with service obligations (obligatory employment periods) in exchange for tuition assistance.

These programs will require that students pass a federal background check. It is critical that students understand the difference between state and federal laws, particularly relating to drug usage, when they apply for these programs. 

Students who cannot pass the necessary federal background check will lose the scholarship and any other professional opportunities previously extended to them. In some cases, they may have to pay back the scholarship funds given to them. 

 The CIA's financial-need based initiative offers undergraduate students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience related to their major. Scholarship recipients receive up to $18,000 in tuition assistance per calendar year ($25,000 for STEM field positions) and work with the CIA during summer terms. Students receive full-time employment benefits, including health insurance, as well as reimbursement for transportation costs to and from Washington, DC. Recipients must accept and commit to working for the CIA full-time upon graduating, with an obligation of 1.5 x the length of time students were sponsored by the scholarship (ex., 1 year = 1.5 years obligatory employment). 

• Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Must be pursuing an undergraduate degree as a full-time student
• Must demonstrate financial need by having a gross annual household income of no more than $120,000 (dependent students)
  • Independent students cannot have a gross annual income of more than $50,000
• Preference given to students with
• Applications open annually in early Spring

 This program straddles the line between tuition assistance and professional development. SMART Scholars are awarded a robust aid package, including full tuition coverage; a living stipend for the academic year; book and health stipends; mentorship from current DoD employees; and summer internships. Currently enrolled college students who are majoring in a qualifying STEM discipline are welcome to apply. Awarded scholars must accept and commit to a one-to-one post graduation service commitment (ex. 2 years assistance = 2 years obligatory service) as a civilian employee with the DoD. 

• Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to continue qualifying for tuition assistance
• Must be currently pursuing a degree in one of 24 SMART STEM disciplines
  • Offered at ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ: Biosciences | Chemistry | Computer Science & Engineering | Cybersecurity | Environmental Sciences | Geosciences | Mathematics | Physics
• Applications open annually on August 1 and are due the first Friday in December

 A scholarship program for currently enrolled and perspective undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science research. Scholars receive up to $20,000 every academic year to use for tuition, educational supplies, and (school-related) living expenses. These scholarships are renewable for up to four years. Awarded Scholars must accept and commit to a post-graduation service obligation of 62 weeks for every academic year they received assistance.

• Must be enrolled full-time in first bachelor's degree program
• Must have a minimum GPA of 3.3
• Must meet Exceptional Financial Need criteria based on Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and household size
  • An EFN chart with that information is available further down on the main page
  • Applicants will need to work with a Financial Aid Officer at ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ to determine and verify their qualifying as a student with EFN. Speak with your TRIO advisor if you need help contacting or getting a response from Financial Aid. 
• Applications open in early January every year

Nationally Competitive External Scholarships

Students who are interested in applying to these scholarships are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships to receive assistance with their applications and essays. The Office can also assist students with acquiring university nomination.

Provides up to $7,500 for tuition, books, room & board, and other fees to undergraduates intending to pursue a research career in STEM fields relating to natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering. The application is open to college sophomores and juniors.

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (3.6 or higher recommended)
• Campus deadline is mid-December
• Requires university nomination

 Awards $35,000 in support of graduate education to junior college students who demonstrate excellence in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, and who have a documented history of receiving need-based financial aid.

• Must be a junior at time of applying (expected to graduate in the fall or spring of the following academic year)
• Must provide documentation of having received need-based financial aid as an undergraduate
  • Pell Grant recipients will receive slight preference
• Must have plans of pursuing a creative- or research-focused master's or PhD program
  • Students in social sciences who plan to pursue graduate study in neuroscience or clinical psychology are not eligible.
  • Scholars must utilize funds within five years of completing their undergraduate education
• Requires university nomination

Grants students up to $30,000 for graduate school in the US or abroad. Applicants are selected based on their academic record, history of community service, career and graduate study interests, and their commitment to a career in public service and policy. The application is open to college juniors.

• Must be in top 25% of class
• Campus deadline is mid-December
• Requires university nomination

Awards up to $7,000 to qualifying college sophomores and juniors who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to pursuing a career in public service. Please note that there are three separate scholarships.

•  For students who desire to pursue a career dedicated to or benefitting the environment. Students must have a strong record of community engagement.
•  For American Indian and Alaska Native students aspiring to enter careers that will improve health care and delivery, or contribute to health care policy and research in Indigenous communities. Students must have a strong record of community engagement.
• For American Indian and Alaska Native students who are passionate about working on and affecting policy issues that impact their own communities, or Indigenous communities more broadly. Students must have a strong record of community engagement.
• Requirements For All 3 Scholarships:
  • No minimum GPA required; applicants advised to have a 3.0+
  • Requires university nomination
  • Annual campus deadline is early January 

Here is our archive of monthly scholarship highlights.

These flyers spotlight scholarships and other opportunities that open during the month they're sent out. We try to find scholarships that are open for more than a month, and which are likely to be offered annually. 

January/February 2025

December 2024

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

Find Scholarships Faster

While scholarship databases like Fastweb can be a great way to find opportunities, they're not the only one, and they're certainly not the quickest way to do so.

Instead, you can use "search operator" terms in Google Search to perform very specific, very quick searches.

Start by using this format: "keyword" inurl:searchterm

• "Keyword" is the specific criteria you're looking for in a scholarship. A forestry student searching for scholarships for forestry majors would put "forestry" here, for example. 
• inurl: this part automatically scans and indexes websites based on what's in the url. This is the only part of your search operator term that you will never change. 
• Your searchterm, scholarship, is the specific opportunity you're looking for
  • Looking for internships? You can use inurl:internship. 
• Altogether, this would look something like:

And so on and so forth. 

By using search operator terms to perform scholarship searches, not only do you find scholarships that apply to you much faster than scrolling through lists, but you also find scholarships that are less publicized and often less competitive!

Stay Organized

Between work, school, and other obligations, it can be difficult to remember to keep up with scholarship deadlines and requirements.

We encourage students to treat scholarships as longer-term assignments. Build time into your schedule, just like you would for a class project or a big paper. Starting early and chipping away at the application not only makes applying more manageable, but it also makes your application stronger by giving you time to edit your essays and work with recommenders. 

Keeping track of scholarship requirements and deadlines will also help by breaking the application down into smaller, achievable goals you can accomplish each week. When tracking scholarships, be sure to pay attention to the following:

• When and what time a scholarship is due
  • You may have to adjust for time zone differences
• How many of letters of recommendation you need
  • Who you need letters of recommendation from
  • When letters of recommendation are due. Sometimes letters will have different deadlines than your main application!
  • Remember that letters of recommendation are the student's responsibility. Send weekly reminders to recommenders. Identify back-up options in case your original recommender cannot finish the letter by the due date
• Essay requirements
  • How many essays are required
  • Word counts and/or page limits for each essay
• Proof of financial need (scholarship dependent)
  • Make sure your FAFSA has been filed. Keep a PDF copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR)
  • Speak with ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ Financial Aid ASAP if your scholarship requires Financial Aid verification or certification
  • Contact your TRIO advisor for assistance if you cannot get in touch with Financial Aid
• Any supplementary materials (scholarship dependent)

Do not submit your application or any application materials late, including letters of recommendation. Your application will likely be disqualified. 

Sample Tracking Tools

Here are a few free trackers through Google Sheets:

And here are a few PDFs:

Letters of recommendation (or letters of reference) are an important component of many scholarship applications. They provide scholarship committees with additional insights and contexts that may not be in your essays, and they help paint a more complete picture of you as an applicant, as a student/professional, and as a person.  

If the scholarship you're applying to requires letters of recommendation, be sure to research the following:

• How many letters you need. The amount of letters you will need vary from scholarship to scholarship.
  • Make sure to note where the letter needs to be submitted. Scholarships may provide a link to a form that the recommender uses to submit their letters in their system. Some may require the letter to be typed up and emailed to the scholarship committee directly. Some may require that you upload it to their application.
  • Do not submit more than the amount of letters the scholarship asks for. Unless the scholarship specifically requests additional letters from you, they will not consider more than what they asked for, and they may disqualify you.
  • Do not submit letters to a scholarship that states it does not require or accept them.
• Who you need the letters from. Depending on the scholarship, they may require a letter from someone who can speak to your performance or character in certain capacities. These are often academic (e.g., a professor or thesis/research supervisor), professional (e.g., a work or internship supervisor), or personal (e.g., an advisor, a mentor, etc.).
• When the letter is due. Letters of recommendation have deadlines. They may be due with your application submission, or they may be due within a few days of you submitting your application. Be sure to pay attention to the time the letter is due by, as well as any time zone differences.
  • Make sure to request your letters of recommendation early. Just as you need time to write your scholarship essays and put together a competitive application, your recommenders need time to write their letters and submit them.
  • Requesting letters early also gives you enough time to identify a different recommender, if the original person you requested a letter from is unable to finish their letter.
  • Don't be afraid to send reminders to your recommenders as the deadline nears. Once a week should be sufficient.
  • Be sure to thank your recommenders once they've submitted their letters.

Scholarships should list their recommendation requirements on the application or on their webpage. If you are unsure about the letter of recommendation requirements, you should email the scholarship's contact for clarification.

Additionally, if a scholarship lists letters of recommendation as recommended, but not required, you are encouraged to submit a letter along with your application. This is especially true for the ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ Scholarship Portal, as some scholarships will use the applicant's letter of recommendation to help award them additional scholarships.

Picking Recommenders

Since letters of recommendation are intended to provide a more complete picture of you, you should pick people who know you and can speak to who you are.

Some examples of recommenders to pick might be:

• A professor you've had several classes with.
• A supervisor you work with frequently in your job or internship.
• A faculty member/sponsor of a student organization you're active in.
• Your TRIO advisor, who you meet with frequently throughout the year.

Do not pick recommenders solely based on title. Your professor who's had you in several classes will know more about you than the head of your department, who you've only met a handful of times. Likewise, your manager can give people a better idea of your abilities and strengths than the organization head or business owner, who's never worked with you at all.

• The exception would be scholarships that require letters or endorsements from people in certain positions. The scholarship should note if that is the case.
• If it is, contact these potential recommenders early. Offer to provide them with a copy of your resume or transcript. Try to meet with them in-person to discuss the scholarship, your qualifications, and how their letter can help with your application.

Your greatest assets when it comes to writing scholarship essays are going to to be:

• Time. Start early. At least a month before the deadline, if not more. 
• Revision. Get constructive feedback from an outside party. 
• Reflection. It's important to understand and really convey the question of "why you" that all scholarships are looking for. There are plenty of other qualifying students who are applying to the same opportunity. What makes you specifically worth investing in?
  • Think about your strengths as a person, or how you've overcome adversity. What are your dreams and goals? What are you doing to pursue them? How will this scholarship help you achieve that?
  • Remember to show, not tell. Whenever possible, use specific examples to illustrate your point.
• Direction. Make sure to answer the essay's question. This ties into that question of "why you" mentioned above. Focusing on answering an essay's question definitively and persuasively often brings out that "why you" element!
• Space. Use all of the word count or page length an essay allows. The scholarship committee is giving you that amount of space for a reason. Use it!
  • Don't submit an essay that is over the world limit. That will disqualify your application.
  • It's fine to go over word limit when writing drafts. Sometimes you have to get ideas down on paper to really start making things flow! Just make sure to continue trimming word count as you progress toward your final product.

Take advantage of the ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ Writing Center's tutoring resources. Bring in your scholarship essays or personal statements to tutoring sessions. 

You should also contact an advisor, professor, or mentor to read over your rough drafts and provide you feedback.

If you are applying for external, nationally competitive scholarships, the Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships offers one-on-one proofreading and application assistance. The office is located in the Davidson Honors College, but this service is available for all students on campus. 

Additional Tips & Resources

Generally, you give yourself the best chance of receiving a scholarship by doing the following:

• Research the scholarship ahead of time and begin your application early (ideally at least 1-2 months before the deadline).
• Ensure you meet all the eligibility requirements.
• Go through multiple drafts of your scholarship essays
  • This is why you want to start your application early. Give yourself plenty of time to write and re-write your drafts.
  • Get constructive feedback from an advisor, professor, or someone else you trust.
• Request your letters of recommendation early.
  • You'll want to request letters of recommendation from people who know you well. A letter from your professor that you've taken several classes with is going to be much better and benefit your application more than a letter from your department head, who you've only spoken to once or twice.
  • Give your recommenders time to complete their letters. Send reminders as the deadline approaches (about once a week suffices), and make sure to thank them for their time.

But, if all else fails:

• Reapply. If you're still eligible for the scholarship during the next application cycle, apply to it again. This can be a good chance to make yourself more competitive, because you already know what didn't work the first time.

Applying for a scholarship is unfortunately not a guarantee that you will receive it. Scholarships are often incredibly competitive.

While it can be disheartening to receive a rejection, there is no shame in reapplying to the same opportunity. Doing so can be actually be an advantage because you are already familiar with what the scholarship's requirements are, what they're looking for in an applicant, and what about your application didn't succeed the first time.