College scholarships
How to get scholarship money for college
Find free money for college that you don’t need to pay back
Scholarships can be need-based, merit-based, or based on things like your hobbies, field of study, ethnicity, religion, and more.
You don’t need to be number one in your class or an all-star athlete to get free money for college.
Most importantly, all scholarships are free scholarships, which means free money to help you pay for college.
Scholarships aren't just for undergraduate students. Are you a graduate student or considering graduate school? Learn about graduate school scholarships to help further your education.
Tips for getting scholarships
Understanding what it takes to earn a scholarship can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to help you understand all there is to know about free college scholarships and how to find them. Discover 5 tips for getting scholarships for college with Sallie Mae's scholarship guide.
Looking for easy-to-read scholarship resources?
Check out more information from Sallie Mae.
Types of college scholarships
There are many different types of college scholarships available including those for high school students, students from underserved communities, single mothers, and more.
How to apply for college scholarships
These tips about requirements, deadlines, and more can help as you apply.
Writing college scholarship essays
A powerful scholarship essay can help you stand out from the crowd.
Answers to all your scholarship questions
Browse our scholarship resources to level up your knowledge on finding free money for college.
Scholly Scholarships
Find scholarships that are right for you
Easily search through thousands of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.
Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
Frequently asked questions about scholarships
Scholarships are financial aid for college that you can apply for through organizations, websites, scholarship tools, and more. Scholarships can be need-based, merit-based, or based on things like your hobbies, field of study, ethnicity, religion, and more. All scholarships are free scholarships, which means free money to help you pay for college.
You don’t. Scholarships (and grants) are “free money” to help you pay for college, and you never have to pay them back.
Our scholarship programs help students from historically underserved communities reach their higher education goals. We offer scholarships for high school students, current college students, and graduate students. Learn more about our scholarship program to find out if one's right for you.
Here are some examples of scholarship categories that may be right for you.
- Scholarships based on field of study. For incoming college students who have an idea of what they want to study in school and/or what field they’d like to enter after school, scholarships geared toward majors and fields of study can be a good option.
- Scholarships for college students. Whether you’re an incoming freshman or are already in college, there are scholarships specifically for undergraduate students. As you continue your studies and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for. Don't forget to revisit college scholarship opportunities.
- Scholarships for graduate studies. Finding graduate school scholarships is just as important as finding free money for undergraduate studies. There are many scholarships specifically for graduate students that you can apply to.
- Scholarships based on hobbies. There are all kinds of unique scholarships out there. You can search for scholarships based on your skills, activities, and interests.
Search which types of college scholarships you might want to apply for.
There are many sources to help you search for free college scholarships based on the type of scholarship you’re looking for.
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free online tools, like Scholarship Search
There are even many quick and easy scholarships you can apply for to earn some cash for college.
If you've explored all available scholarship opportunities and still need money for college, consider Sallie Mae's private student loans to meet your financial needs.
Start early! Some scholarships have deadlines as early as a year before the funds would be paid. So if you're looking to cover college costs for your freshman year, or even score a free ride, you may need to apply for scholarships the summer before your senior year of high school.