41+ Incredibly Useful Scholarships for Juniors in High School
Bookmark Worthy High School Scholarships for Juniors
Scholarships for juniors in high school aren’t something you want to miss out on!
I put together a list with all the crucial deadlines in 2021 so you can apply for free college money all year long.
Coming up with a plan to pay for college early is a smart idea. Figuring out how to graduate from college debt-free is even better.
And fortunately:
There are ways to get a head start on that. Sensible routes to explore include scholarships, grants, and contests geared towards teens.
High school students can get busy on applications well before graduating. In fact, it’s highly recommended and for a good reason. Some awards (such as junior in high school scholarships) are only available to students in certain grades.
Take advantage of these exclusive opportunities while you can! The earlier you start cushioning your college fund, the better.
Winning scholarships for college while still in high school isn’t just an admirable goal. It’s actually attainable. The funds are out there!
To help you submit as many applications as possible:
I rounded up the best college scholarships that high school juniors can apply for and win. With this list, you can take the time spent simply searching for legitimate contests out of the equation.
That’ll free up more of your time! Which you can then use for something more productive. Like working on the application process.
2019-2020 College Scholarships for Juniors in High School
To make it simple:
The scholarships are all grouped by submission deadlines. Be aware that some appear more than once because you can apply multiple times.
Check out the key below to understand what the colors and letters signify in reference to eligibility requirements:
Scholarship Eligibility Key
*W = Women applicants only.
*M = Minority applicants only.
*MI = Military affiliated applicants only.
*State abbreviations included in brackets indicate a scholarship is only available to certain residents or those who are attending college in the specified state.
January Deadlines
One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: January 5, 2020
Award Amount: up to $1,000
Submit: A film no shorter than 3 minutes and no longer than 8 minutes.
Eligibility: Open to elementary, middle school, high school, college, and post-graduate students.
Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: January 8, 2020
Award Amount: $36,000
Submit: An online application form.
Eligibility : Applicant must be aged 13-19 and self-identify as Jewish. Must be currently serving in a leadership role on a project/initiative aimed at repairing the world and volunteering without any compensation.
Profile in Courage Essay Contest
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: January 17, 2020
Award Amount: up to $10,000
Submit: An essay that can be no more than 1,000 words but must be a minimum of 700 words. Citations and bibliography are not included in the word count.
Eligibility: Open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; U.S. students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or the U.S. territories; and U.S. citizens attending schools overseas.
Girls Impact the World Film Festival
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: January 20, 2020
Award Amount: up to $5,000
Submit: A film that is 3 to 6 minutes long. You may enter up to TWO as long as they address two separate topics.
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students aged 25 or under (all genders) are eligible to enter.
Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: January 30, 2020
Award Amount: $1,000
Submit: An online application form with 140 character statement.
Eligibility: Must be a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit.
Ag Day National Essay Contest
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: January 31, 2020
Award Amount: $1,000
Submit: A video essay (maximum length 2 minutes) or a written essay (450 words or less). Applicants are allowed to submit one of each.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9 through 12.
February Deadlines
Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation Scholarship Program
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: February 1, 2020
Award Amount: $1,000
Submit: An application packet + essay.
Eligibility [V.A.]: Any high school junior or senior in a Virginia public or private or home school may apply. Must have plans to attend an accredited four-year college or university in the United States as a full-time student. Students who intend to enroll in a community college must plan to enroll in the college transfer program of the community college.
Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship Program
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: February 1, 2020
Award Amount: Varies
Submit: An application packet + essay (no more than two pages in length).
Eligibility [M.A.]: Applicants must be a legal resident of Massachusetts and a student in the 10th or 11th grades of high school. Must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5.
Davidson Fellows Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: February 12, 2020
Award Amount: up to $50,000
Submit: An online application.
Eligibility: Applicants must be 18 or younger as of October 1, 2020. Must be a U.S. citizen residing in the United States, or a Permanent Resident of the United States residing in the United States, or be stationed overseas due to active U. S. military duty.
We the Students Essay Contest
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: February 14, 2020
Award Amount: up to $5,000
Submit: An online application form + 500 – 800 word essay.
Eligibility: Open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students – no older than 19 and no younger than 14 as of the end of the Contest Period. Must be in grades 8 -12 attending public, private, religious, or charter schools, enrolled in a GED or correspondence school program, or attended a home school program.
The 49 Fund Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: February 15, 2020
Award Amount: $4,900
Submit: An online application form + essay.
Eligibility [F.L., M]: Applicant must be a Central Florida LGBT student with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Must be attending or plan on attending a two or four year college or university to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree; technical colleges are not eligible institutions.
Toyota TeenDrive365 Video Challenge
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: February 27, 2020
Award Amount: up to $15,000
Submit: An original video between 30 and 60 seconds in length. Participants may work alone or in a group of two to four students.
Eligibility: Open to legal United States residents who are at least 13 years of age and are students enrolled in 9th through 12th grade at a public, private, parochial, or home school located in the U.S., at the time of entry and when prizes are awarded.
March Deadlines
Honeywell Opportunity for Prosperity through Education Scholarships for Juniors in High School
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: March 1, 2020
Award Amount: Varies
Submit: Answer essay questions with 3-5 sentences.
Eligibility : Must be a high school junior and graduate from a high school in the Greater Kansas City area. Must also have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (unweighted) and plan to pursue a manufacturing or trade degree (Associate in Applied Science or certificate trade program).
Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: March 4, 2020
Award Amount: up to $1,000
Submit: An essay, poem, or narrative of 600 words or less in response to the prompt.
Eligibility [OR]: Open to Oregon high school 11th and 12th-grade students.
Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: March 15, 2020
Award Amount: up to $11,500
Submit: An online application form + project plan.
Eligibility [I.A.]: 15 scholarships for juniors in high school, Open only to residents of Iowa.
Hearthstone Housing Foundation Scholarship Fund
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: March 31, 2020
Award Amount: up to $5,000
Submit: An online application + personal statement.
Eligibility [C.A., CO, GA, NJ, RI, WA]: Applicant must be 15-24 years of age and a full-time high school student (minimum 3.0 GPA) or a full-time undergraduate student (minimum 2.75 GPA) attending a college, university, or vocational school. Must be from a low-income household or demonstrate financial need. Must be a resident of a Hearthstone Housing Foundation property or a county where a Hearthstone property is located (California, Colorado, Georgia, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, or Washington).
Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy Scholarships
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: March 31, 2020
Award Amount: $2,000
Submit: An online application form.
Eligibility: Open to childhood cancer survivors.
“Because College is Expensive” Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: March 31, 2020
Award Amount: $500
Submit: A short online application form.
Eligibility: Open to all students and those planning on enrolling within 24 months.
April Deadlines
Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: April 1, 2020
Award Amount: up to $3,000
Submit: Design a product or system featuring aluminum extrusions. It is highly recommended to include a 3-D printed prototype of your component design.
Eligibility: Must currently be enrolled as a student in high school, college/university, technical school, or graduate school to be eligible.
College JumpStart Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: April 15, 2020
Award Amount: $1,000
Submit: An online application form + 250 words or less statement.
Eligibility: Open 10th-12th high school students, college students, and non-traditional students. Must be attending or planning to attend an accredited 2-year, 4-year, or vocational/trade school in the U.S.
Cancer Unwrapped Teen Writing Contest
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: April 15, 2020
Award Amount: up to $1,000
Submit: An essay between 500 and 2,000 words sharing your experience with cancer.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 who are United States residents of are welcome to apply. Separate contests for different states.
1000 Dreams Scholarship Fund
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: April 30, 2020
Award Amount: up to $1,000
Submit: Two letters of recommendation and an essay explaining how the grant would be used.
Eligibility : Open to women attending high school or a two-year or four-year college/university in the United States. Students must demonstrate financial need.
June Deadlines
JASNA Essay Contest
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: June 3, 2020
Award Amount: up to $1,000
Submit: An online entry form and a 6-8 page essay with a works cited page.
Eligibility: Open to high school, college/university, and graduate school students. Home-schooled students are also welcome to apply.
Adamson and Cleveland, LLC Scholarship Essay & Video Competition
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: June 5, 2020
Award Amount: $250 – $1,000
Submit: 600 words or less essay OR 2 minutes or shorter video.
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors, currently enrolled college students, and graduate school students. U.S. residents and international students studying at a U.S. school may apply.
“Because College is Expensive” Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: June 30, 2020
Award Amount: $500
Submit: A short online application form.
Eligibility: Open to all students and those planning on enrolling within 24 months.
July Deadlines
The Savor Summer College Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: July 1, 2020
Award Amount: $500
Submit: An application, a letter of recommendation, and 500 words or less essay.
Eligibility: Must be a high school sophomore, junior, or senior and have a 3.0 GPA or above.
September Deadlines
Ocean Awareness Contest
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: September 17, 2019
Award Amount: up to $1,500
Submit: Visual art, film, music, poetry, prose, or interactive multimedia.
Eligibility: Open to any student age 11-18 who is/was enrolled in middle or high school while the contest is open.
Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: September 30, 2019
Award Amount: $1,000
Submit: An online application form + 140-character statement.
Eligibility: Open to high school freshmen, sophomores, high school juniors, or seniors or current or entering college or graduate school students of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit.
“Because College is Expensive” Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: September 30, 2019
Award Amount: $500
Submit: A short online application form.
Eligibility: Open to all students and those planning on enrolling within 24 months.
October Deadlines
The Music Center Spotlight Program
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: October 14, 2019 (*Each category is limited to 400 applicants)
Award Amount: up to $5,000
Submit: A video recording for one of these categories: acting, ballet, classical instrumental, classical voice, jazz instrumental, non-classical dance, or non-classical voice. Live auditions for semifinalists.
Eligibility [C.A.]: Must be a Southern California high school student who attends a public, private, online or home school. Your home base must be in one of these counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, San Diego, Riverside, or San Bernardino. Allowed to apply for more than one category.
College JumpStart Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: October 17, 2019
Award Amount: $1,000
Submit: An online application form + 250 words or less statement.
Eligibility: Open to 10th-12th high school students, college students, and non-traditional students. Must be attending or planning to attend an accredited 2-year, 4-year, or vocational/trade school in the U.S.
November Deadlines
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: November 5, 2019
Award Amount: up to $5,000
Submit: An online application & submit it to your principal or the head of one of these local organizations: Girl Scout councils, County 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs, or Points of Light Global Network members.
Eligibility: Must be in grades 5-12 as of November 5, be a legal resident of any U.S. state or Washington, D.C., and have engaged in a volunteer activity that occurred during the 12 months prior to the date of the application.
December Deadlines
PICMA Emerging Writers Competition
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: December 1, 2019
Award Amount: up to $5,250
Submit: Previously unpublished work in any style, form, or genre. No more than 5000 words, double-spaced, for prose or five poems per entry.
Eligibility: Open to high school students and students currently enrolled in community college.
Americanism Essay Contest
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: December 1, 2019
Award Amount: up to $5,000
Submit: An online application form + 350-word essay.
Eligibility: Open to all students, grades 7 through 12, including those who are home-schooled.
USBC Annual ZEB Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: December 1, 2019
Award Amount: $2,500
Submit: An online application form + essay.
Eligibility: Applicants must be in their junior or senior year of high school and must be United States Bowling Congress Youth members in good standing. This scholarship is based mainly on community service and very strong academic success. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
USBC Gift for Life Scholarships
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: December 1, 2019
Award Amount: $1,000
Submit: An online application form + 2 letters of recommendation.
Eligibility: Open to USBC youth bowlers who currently are in high school and can demonstrate financial need. Applicants must have a grade-point average of 2.5 or higher.
Take Care of Texas Video Contest
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: December 6, 2019
Award Amount: up to $2,500
Submit: A 30-second video, video script + reference sheet.
Eligibility [TX]: Texas middle- and high-school students—whether from public, charter, or private schools or homeschooled—are eligible to participate.
Military Child of the Year
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: December 9, 2019
Award Amount: up to $10,000
Submit: An online application form + 350-word essay.
Eligibility : Applicant must be a legal military dependent between the ages of 13 and 18. Status confirmed by DEERS enrollment form.
Carson Scholars Fund
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: December 13, 2019
Award Amount: up to $1,000
Submit: An application, report card, essay, recent photo, and a recommendation letter.
Eligibility: Students must be in grades 4-11. Must be nominated by an educator at his or her school. Only one student from each school can apply. Carson Scholars must have a minimum GPA of 3.75 and display humanitarian qualities through community service.
National WWII Museum High School Student Essay Contest
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: December 27, 2019 (*Limited to the first 500 entries)
Award Amount: up to $1,000
Submit: An online application form + 1,000 words or less essay.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students (including juniors) in the United States, U.S. territories, and U S military bases.
“Because College is Expensive” Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: December 31, 2019
Award Amount: $500
Submit: A short online application form.
Eligibility: Open to all students and those planning on enrolling within 24 months.
NRA Youth Essay Contest Scholarship
→ GO HERE TO APPLY
Deadline: December 31, 2019
Award Amount: up to $1,000
Submit: An online application form + 1,000-word essay.
Eligibility: Open to all students enrolled, or who will be enrolled, in an elementary, junior high, or high school during the 2019-2020 academic year, including home-schooled students in an equivalent grade level who have not previously received a prize in their category.
Conclusions on High School Junior Scholarships
Do you know of any other scholarships for juniors that I can add to this list?
Leave me a comment below to let me know!
More money opportunities for students:
- No Essay Scholarships – 60 Easy Ways to Get Money for College
- The Complete List of Women’s Scholarships Programs & Grants
About Jen
I’m Jen, one of the co-founders of College Life Made Easy: a lifestyle blog that focuses on helping students navigate college life on topics of finance, organization, dorm living and more.