Scholarships For High School Freshmen

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You may be just starting your high school career. Yet, now is a great time to start thinking about available scholarships for a high school freshman. Doing so could put you ahead of other students who are also looking for access to scholarships for 9th graders.

Can High School Freshman Apply for Scholarships? 

Not all college scholarships are available to a high school freshman, but some programs open up at this time. Scholarships for 9th graders may be available to students through some programs and offers. Some organizations begin to offer scholarships to these young students to help guide them in taking courses that may benefit them specifically later in college. Other times, the scholarship programs are available to students at any age in high school. So, can high school freshmen apply for scholarships? The answer is often yes. 

Why Should High School Freshman Scholarships Be a Priority?

Once a student decides they may wish to pursue college, they may wish to start considering scholarships. Applying to them early may allow students to get in some practice. It also allows them more time to apply for scholarships, which may take a great amount of time and research. For students that want to take advantage of any opportunities available to them, there’s no reason to put off getting a look at available options.

10 Scholarships for High School Freshman 2024 

Take a look at these 10 scholarships for high school freshman. You may be able to apply to them now to use them for college later.  

Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship

This is a $1,000 one time scholarship. To be eligible, students need to be in high school, a US citizen or permanent resident, and a US student.

Cirkled In “No Sweat” Scholarship

This is a $2,500 non renewable scholarship. Students in grades 8 thru 12 are eligible for the scholarship and need to provide a full portfolio as part of the application.

Voice of Democracy Scholarship

This is a one time $30,000 scholarship for students in grades 9 thru 12 and under 19 years old. Students need to submit a written essay and record themselves reading it as well.

One Earth Award

This is a $1,000 one time scholarship available to 4 different students. The students need to be in grades 7 thru 12 and need to be a citizen of the US or Canada.

Humanity Rising Scholarship

This scholarship varies in value from $500 to $2,000. Students need to be at least 13 and have a 2.5 GPA to be eligible, as well as finish an application and service project.

Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship

This scholarship has a value of $1,000 as a one time award. Applicants need to be in high school, undergrad, or grad school and provide a short response and application.

Humanity Rising Scholarship

This scholarship has a $2,000 award for a high school student age 13 and over. To be eligible, the student needs to submit a service project either in writing or video.

BulkOfficeSupply.com Scholarship

This scholarship is for $1,000 for one time and is available to all high school students as well as college freshmen and sophomores. The student needs to be interested in teaching, art or owning their own business.

Young Innovators to Watch

This scholarship is for $1,000 for one student and is non renewable. Students need to be between 13 and 19 years old and submit a project or an innovation that revolves around technical or scientific creativity.

MIT Think Scholars Program

Three students will each receive $500 for a scholarship for one year as long as they are in grades 9 thru 12. Students need to submit a proposal for a new idea that involves engineering, science, or technology.

When Should You Apply for High School Freshman Scholarships?

Students may wish to begin applying for scholarships for high school freshman as soon as they are eligible for them. Many scholarship providers outline the specific requirements based on grade level, age, or other factors. It may be a great idea for students to start looking at their options throughout their freshman year.  

Tips for Applying for Scholarships for 9th Graders 

Scholarships for high school freshman may be intense. It helps to have a few tips to help you to navigate this process with success. 

  • Read through all of the content provided by the scholarship provider. Following the rules are a big factor when it comes to submitting these scholarships. A simple mistake could cost you. 
  • Don’t apply early if you do not meet the age or grade level requirements. Seek out specific scholarships for a high school freshman and not just any scholarship out there.  
  • Always have someone else proofread your essays and the application. That second set of eyes may help you catch simple mistakes that could cost you the scholarship.

Don’t overlook the benefit of applying for high school freshman scholarships. Even though college seems far away now, you may want all the chances available to secure this opportunity.

List of 2024 Scholarships for High School Freshmen

There are awards worth below. Apply now to our list of scholarships.

Crofton Cares $25,000 Scholarship

Eligible students must: Reside in either the Tampa (FL) Metropolitan Area or Cleveland (OH) Metropolitan Area Be a high school senior or older Have a minimum, unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 and a minimum 1280 SAT (or 28 ACT) Be a leader or actively engaged in their school and/or community Demonstrate financial need
Award Amount

Total:  $25000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  April 15

Think For Yourself Scholarship

Applicants are invited to celebrate their independent thinking by writing a powerful personal essay and win up to $5,000. One grand prize winner and three runner ups will be selected.
Award Amount

Total:  $32000

Awards:  4

Deadline

Deadline:  April 30

Immerse Education Essay Competition

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a pre-set question relating to their chosen subject. 10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship, with runner-up prizes also awarded. Immerse Education was founded in 2012 with the aim of providing students aged 13-18 with unparalleled educational experiences. We have educated thousands of students through our exceptional academic enrichment programmes in the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge University, University College London, and the University of Sydney. Check out our Cambridge, Oxford, London, Sydney, and Online courses.
Award Amount

Total:  $735400

Awards:  10

Deadline

Deadline:  January 04

YouthCon Scholarship

The YouthCon Scholarship is hosted by AASuccess, a Falls Church-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering the youth to gain confidence while fostering leadership skills by living our motto of “perfecting the act of giving back”. Our scholarship allows innovative high school and middle school students living in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area with ideas to be actively involved with philanthropic work to make a difference in neighborhoods, with the support of AASuccess. We award innovative and driven students with the mindsets of giving back, and those seeking to strengthen their skills such as writing, presentation, and leadership.
Award Amount

Total:  $27000

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  January 15

LifeSmart Scholarship

We are looking for people who are passionate about science and/or social science and who are going to be active in the community and work towards bettering their academic success. We do not select students based on academic or sports excellence but rather we focus on students who may not have the same resources by giving them these resources. Whether that is through the help of peer mentors, student advisors, stipends, etc., we are working towards giving you more experiences that you may not have received. That is what differentiates us from other scholarship programs and their selection criteria.
Award Amount

Total:  $540000

Awards:  15

Deadline

Deadline:  August 31

“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women

Are you a woman in high school, college, or graduate school enrolled during the 2023-24 academic year? If so, let us help you! Our $500 “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women aims to help women cover the costs of pursuing their dreams. Whether that dream is starting a business, learning a foreign language, or attending college on the path to fulfilling your dream, the scholarship will cover those costs and make your journey a little easier. No matter your goals, we want to help out a woman who is passionate about their higher education journey and actively looking for ways to fund it. Thus, this scholarship will be awarded to students based on both the quality of their essays and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. In order to apply, simply write an essay about how the $500 “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women will help you fulfill your dreams. We encourage you to apply and look forward to reading your essays. Good luck!
Award Amount

Total:  $500

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 31

Pivotal Essay Contest

We live at a pivotal moment in history. Urgent challenges and rapidly developing technologies confront society — the choices we make now will shape humanity’s long-term future. It is in this context that Pivotal, in partnership with the Global Priorities Institute at Oxford University, is proud to announce a global essay contest focused on the world’s most pressing problems. With $25,000 in prizes, a panel of world-class judges, and no entry fee, this contest provides an unparalleled opportunity for young minds to engage with critical global issues. To aid in their exploration, participants may also request a free copy of William MacAskill’s “What We Owe The Future,” a seminal work that dives into our responsibilities to future generations. Any queries can be directed to [email protected].
Award Amount

Total:  $75000

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  October 10

Dissident Project National Essay Contest

Have you ever stood tall in the face of injustice? When did you realize the value of your American freedoms? What caused this realization? What does it mean to be free? On our trips to schools around the country, we’ve heard from hundreds of incredible young people. You’re a dissident, too — and it’s time to tell the world your story. In our first national essay contest, the Dissident Project wants to award the bravery and resilience of three high schoolers whose essays touch our hearts. The final five contenders will be judged by a panel of esteemed guests who do important work in the journalism and human rights space. Scroll down to pick your prompt, meet our guest judges, read the rules, and check out the prizes.
Award Amount

Total:  $18000

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  December 31

Buildgirls ACE scholarship

In 2022, buildgirls.org was founded in Bethesda, Maryland to empower, educate and engage females in high school about FACE (Females in Architecture, Construction & Engineering) . Recognizing the lack of female representation in the industry drove us to become passionate to cause change in this large and growing industry. Since early 2022, we have been developing new approaches to tackle both the attitudes surrounding women in ACE and also the limited exposure available for women, especially in high school. We support several initiatives, including facilitating discovery experiences, informative discussions, guest speakers, hosting events, creating inspiring competitions, partnering with universities and partnering with companies to join FACE by creating experiences specifically for talented young women. The gender disparity in infrastructure has been widely recognized, but few initiatives have been established at a younger age when girls decide what they want to pursue. We aim to empower and engage girls through offering a variety of opportunities at the high school level. We hope that through this program, not only will there be an increased awareness of women’s potential, but also that girls will be able to recognize their own.
Award Amount

Total:  $27000

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  January 15

AOPA Student Pilot Scholarship

The AOPA Student Pilot Scholarship is open to U.S. students who are pursuing a private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate and already have a student pilot certificate. Students must be members of Women in Aviation, International (WAI); both men and women are eligible to join WAI. Click here to learn more and to apply today!
Award Amount

Total:  $3000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  February 10