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29 Marvelous May Scholarships for High School Seniors

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List of scholarships for high school seniors due in May

Mark your calendars, cause it’s GONNA BE MAY.

pair of high school girls looking at laptop screen with smiles on their faces

As April wraps up, so does the school year.

May brings the beginning of high school graduation season, and so much more. High school students have a lot going on during this month!

In the flurry of end of year preparations and celebrations it’s important to not neglect securing finical aid for college. Scholarships can be a great way for high school seniors to get the money they need for college.

There are many scholarships that students can apply for. But, it’s key to know what kind of scholarships you are eligible for before you begin applying.

So:

In this post, I’ve gathered a list of May scholarships for high school seniors to help save you some time.

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Related: The Top JUNE Scholarships for High School Seniors

May Scholarships for High School Seniors

  • Deadline: May 1st
  • Award: $10,000

Eligibility: Must be 13+ and a legal resident of the 50 U.S. or D.C.

Submit: Short online form. (no essay)

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 1st
  • Award: $2,500

Eligibility: Applicant must be African-American and plan to attend a U.S. two-year community college or four-year college.

Submit: 250 – 500 word essay, 1 letter of recommendation from a teacher/principal/counselor, a copy of your high school transcript, and a head shot photo.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 1st
  • Award: $2,500

Eligibility: Open to female high school students who are pursuing a STEM-related career path and want to influence the world of technology.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay about why you’re interested in STEM and how you would can influence the tech world as a young woman.

⟶ Go Here to Apply
Easy

  • Deadline: May 1st
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: Open to students who are passionate about gaming and ready to turn their hobby into a lucrative profession. All students interested in attending William Peace University are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Submit: N/A

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 1st
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: Must be a current high school senior; or be transitioning from high school to a college or university; or be already enrolled as an undergraduate in a college or university inside the United States or Canada.

Submit: 800 – 100 word essay and a head shot photo of yourself.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 1st
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: Open to BIPOC students who are in their senior year of high school. Must have a 2.5 GPA or higher.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay on how you would influence a prominent social issue.

⟶ Go Here to Apply
Easy

  • Deadline: May 1st
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: All high school seniors who have a GPA of 2.5 or higher and a strong interest in studying abroad are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Submit: N/A

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 1st
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: Open to any high school senior in California (preference for high school seniors at the Alhambra Unified School District) who has big dreams and a passion for life and expressing themselves.

Submit: 100 words or less on who or what is your “everything.”

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 5th
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: Open to any college-bound teen in grades 9th-12th.

Submit: A short online form.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 5th
  • Award: $5,000

Eligibility: Any BIPOC high school senior or undergraduate student pursuing a STEM degree may apply for this scholarship.First-generation students are preferred.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay. 

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 8th
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: Any high school junior or senior that has lost a parent and has a GPA of 2.5 or above, may apply for this scholarship.

Submit: 300 – 400 word essay on how living in a single-parent household has molded you.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 12th
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: First generation undergraduate students and high schoolers who have overcome mental health challenges are eligible to apply.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay on how your experience with mental health influenced your beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 13th
  • Award: $5,000 per semester

Eligibility: Applicants must have been adopted or exited foster care to permanent guardianship at or after the age of thirteen (13) and be incoming college freshmen under the age of twenty (20). 2.5 GPA or higher.

Submit: Completed application that includes four short answer/essays, 3 letters of recommendation, copy of your Student Aid Report (FAFSA), copy of your adoption or legal guardianship paperwork, most recent high school transcript and a copy of first semester’s grades.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 14th
  • Award: $3,000

Eligibility: Open to youth environmental change leaders ages 13 to 22 (as of May 14, 2023) living in North America (including Mexico, Canada, some Caribbean Islands) and US “Territories”.

Submit: An online application and a photograph of yourself.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 15th
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors who will entering college to study Fine & Performing Arts.

Submit: Short video (3 minutes) or sample of your highlighted performances or artwork, resume of your musical, theatre, art, or chorus background, up to 3 letters of reference, and a copy of the acceptance letter from the college you will be attending in the fall.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 15th
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors seeking a career in social work and/or drug counseling.

Submit: 300 – 400 word essay on what sparked your interest in joining the social work field.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 15th
  • Award: $500

Eligibility: Open to high school seniors who have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Must be planning on attending an accredited United States college or university in 2023.

Submit: 250 word essay.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 18th
  • Award: $5,000

Eligibility: Open to all students at any education level.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay. 

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 19th
  • Award: $500

Eligibility: Any high school senior in Georgia who is interested in majoring in social work or social services may apply for this scholarship opportunity.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay on how you plan to make a positive impact on your community through your career in social services.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 20th
  • Award: $2,000

Eligibility: Any high school senior in Montana or Minnesota who has been diagnosed with a mental illness may apply for this scholarship. Applicants with schizophrenia are preferred.

Submit: 400 – 600 word essay on how mental illness has affected you, your family, and your education goals.

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 20th
  • Award: $500

Eligibility: Open to any high school or college student within the U.S. or Canada with a cumulative GPA of 3.0+.

Submit: Online application, letter of recommendation, self-photo, and an essay describing the goal of the particular project and provide supporting documentation (no min or max word/page count).

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 27th
  • Award: $2,500

Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors who have at least 2 years experience as a swim coach. GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

Submit: Completed application, 2 reference letters (1 swimming related), copy of SAT/ACT scores, official high school transcript, and proof of acceptance to college.

⟶ Go Here to Apply
Easy

  • Deadline: May 29th
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or are lawfully living in the United States and at least 13 years of age on the date of their entry.

Submit: Your email address. Selection is based on the quality of students’ MyMozaic profile.

⟶ Go Here to Apply
Easy

  • Deadline: May 31st
  • Award: $25,000

Eligibility: Open to students at any education level. Students at any education level, school, and field of study will be considered. No GPA requirement.

Submit: N/A

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 31st
  • Award: $5,000

Eligibility: Must have a parent/guardian serving in law enforcement, EMS, or the armed forces (i.e. active duty, retired, volunteer, etc.). Open to seniors graduating high school in 2023 or full-time students currently enrolled in an accredited technical school, college, or university in the United States with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Submit: 500+ word essay, copy of transcript, proof confirming attendance at the accredited institution (high school seniors must include verification of enrollment), and documented proof confirming parent and/or guardian’s military, law enforcement, or first responder status.

⟶ Go Here to Apply
Easy

  • Deadline: May 31st
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, age 13 or older at the time of entry, and and currently planning to enroll in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher learning (college, university or trade school) located in the United States within four years.

Submit: A quick online form (no essay or minimum GPA requirement).

⟶ Go Here to Apply

  • Deadline: May 31st
  • Award: Varies

Eligibility: Must be of at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity; a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the U.S.; either a high school senior or a college student currently enrolled full-time at college; and have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Submit: Online application, transcript, resume, letter of recommendation, 500 word essay, and your artistic portfolio (audio/visual recording demo, pictures, sketches).

⟶ Go Here to Apply
Easy

  • Deadline: May 31st
  • Award: $1,000

Eligibility: Must be 13+ and a legal resident of the 50 U.S. or D.C.

Submit: Quick online form and one sentence response to the question: what’s one thing that makes you smile?

⟶ Go Here to Apply
smiling young woman working on laptop at desk

Final thoughts on scholarships for high school seniors deadline May 2023

So that concludes this list of May scholarships for senior year high school students.

Please leave a comment below if you know of any other good scholarships that should be included in this list!

Pin it for later 📌:

infographic list of high school senior scholarships with deadlines May
Author Charlie
About Charlie

Charlie is the co-founder of College Life Made Easy and author of the book 175+ Things to Do Before You Graduate College. She’s a 2015 graduate who teaches overwhelmed students and parents of students how to confidently navigate the whole college thing. As a former broke college kid, she’s passionate about helping students develop the skills they need in order to thrive (instead of just survive), stress less, and actually enjoy the full college experience.

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