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Annual contest!

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Fill out the entry form where you'll upload at least one pic of yourself in your Duck® promwear and fill in more details. Don't forget to get your parent's permission if you're under 18 years old for the photography release. After you submit, a confirmation email will be delivered right to your inbox.

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Stuck At Prom: Duct Tape Attire Scholarships | Duck Brand

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Learn about Stuck At Prom, a duct tape scholarship contest. We award scholarships to high schoolers who make the best prom attire out of Duck Brand Duct Tape.

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Search millions of scholarships, contests and grants.

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You're about to search millions of scholarships, grants and contests. To make the best matches, we'll need a little information about you. Please answer each question as completely as possible to get the most accurate results.

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You're about to search millions of scholarships, grants and contests. To make the best matches, we'll need a little information about you. Please answer each question as completely as possible to get the most accurate results.

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Information about colleges and how to pay for them through debt free options.

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Weird. Wacky. Outlandish. Some of the most ridiculous things in life are what you take notice of.

The same goes with scholarships. Some of the best are also some of the silliest, weirdest, oddball awards that often get a "I can get an award for what?!" type of reaction. This is exactly why they're worth celebrating.

Here are some of Fastweb's all-time favorite take-notice scholarships. These fall under the silly, outlandish and how'd-they-come-up-with-that? category of scholarship opportunities that may make you think or, perhaps, look twice. They make you wonder exactly who is applying for these scholarships and how on earth can you meet them?

But, at the end of the day, a scholarship is a scholarship! And these are nothing short of awesome.

You never know, one of the following awards could be perfect for you! If so, you are our hero.

Project Yellow Light Radio Scholarship

The Project Yellow Light Radio Scholarship is available to high school juniors and seniors and full - time undergraduate students. To be considered, you must record a radio recording of exactly 20 seconds that discourages distracted driving, specifically texting while driving.

Learn more about the Project Yellow Light Radio Scholarship .

Project Yellow Light Video Contest Scholarship

The Project Yellow Light Video Contest Scholarship is available to high school juniors and seniors and full - time undergraduate students. To be considered, you must create a 25 or 55 second video that discourages distracted driving, specifically texting while driving.

Learn more about the Project Yellow Light Video Contest Scholarship .

Stop Texting and Driving Video Scholarship Contest

The Stop Texting and Driving Video Scholarship Contest is available to high school juniors, seniors and full-time college students. You must submit a 30 to 60 second video on YouTube that will convince others not to text and drive in order to be considered for this award.

Learn more about the Stop Texting and Driving Video Scholarship Contest .

E-Waste Scholarship

The E-waste Scholarship is available to high school, undergraduate or graduate students. You must submit a short statement that completes the sentence "The most important reason to care about e-waste is..." and be U.S. citizen or legal resident to qualify for this award.

Learn more about the E-Waste Scholarship.

Paradigm Challenge

The Paradigm Challenge is open to students up to the age of 18. You may work in a team or alone in creating an original and creative way to reduce waste in homes, schools, communities, and / or around the world. Entries may come in the form of posters, videos, inventions, messages, community events, websites, mobile apps, or anything else that will help save lives. Additionally, you must submit a brief statement of your idea (140 characters or less) in order to qualify for this award.

Learn more about the Paradigm Challenge .

For the Love of Chocolate Foundation Scholarship

The For the Love of Chocolate Foundation Scholarship is available to students at the French Pastry School. You must be accepted into L'Art de la Patisserie program, demonstrate a desire to develop your pastry art skills and have worked a minimum of 40 hours in a food service establishment prior to the beginning of the semester to qualify for this award. Selection is also based on financial need. A personal essay and two letters of recommendation must also be submitted.

Learn more about the For the Love of Chocolate Foundation Scholarship.

Andrew Flusche Scholarship Contest

The Andrew Flusche Scholarship Contest is available to high school seniors and students currently enrolled in a college or university. You must create a public service advertisement video (PSA) which portrays the correct way of interacting with a police officer during a traffic stop, or any other encounter, to qualify for this award. The video must be uploaded to YouTube and be no longer than three minutes long.

Learn more about the Andrew Flusche Scholarship Contest.

"Stuck at Prom" Scholarship Contest

The Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest is open to students who will be attending a high school, home school association, or other school - sanctioned prom. To enter, you must submit at least one photo of you in either the dress or tux category wearing DIY prom attire made out of Duck brand duct tape. One $10,000 grand prize winner will be selected from each category, with 4 runners-up in each category receiving $100.

Get more information on the "Stuck at Prom" Scholarship Contest.

American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest

Deadline: Varies
Amount: $18,000
Ages: High School Freshmen through High School Seniors

The National High School Oratorical Contest is open to junior high and high school students who are under the age of 20 and citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States.

You must prepare an oration on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government.

A complete list of topics are available on the Legion's Web site. Each individual state winner certified into and participating in the first round of the national contest receives an additional $1,500 scholarship.

Get more information on the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest.

Kermit and Mickey Schafer Foundation Scholarship

The Kermit and Mickey Schafer Foundation Scholarship is open to students studying broadcasting, motion pictures or video-film at the University of Miami, School of Communication. You must be working in the field comedy to qualify for this award.

Learn more about the Kermit and Mickey Schafer Foundation Scholarship.

CKSF Scholarship Competition

The CKSF Scholarships are available to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students in the U.S.

You must register to participate in scholarship quizzes that test your knowledge of topics ranging from general "common knowledge" to specific academic subjects, books, websites, and even movies.

You will be scored based on a combination of time and accuracy. Students with the highest scores at the end of each competition win.

Learn more about the CKSF Scholarship Competition.

Alice McArver Ratchford Scholarship for What You Don't Do

Deadline: Varies
Available To: College Freshmen through College Seniors
Award Amount: Varies

The Alice McArver Ratchford Scholarship is open to female students at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

You must live on campus and have never been married.

You must also not have a car and have received no other scholarships to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Alice McArver Ratchford Scholarship.

Twin/Triplet Dorm Room Waiver

The Twin/Triplet Dorm Room Waiver is available to full-time entering freshmen at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

You must be a twin or triplet and all must attend NEO together (but you don't have to room together) to be eligible for this award.

Learn more about the Twin/Triplet Dorm Room Waiver.

Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest

The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest is available to high school seniors who demonstrate talent in duck calling.

You must participate in a duck calling contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas to be considered for this award.

Get more information on the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest.

Prom Pics Contest

The Prom Pics Contest is open to high school students. To be eligible, you must submit a high resolution photo from your prom event. Prizes will be awarded in each of the following categories: promposal, pre-prom, prom dance, and post-prom.

Get more information on the Prom Pics Contest.

Rodeo Club Scholarship

The Rodeo Club Scholarship is open to entering freshmen or transfer students enrolled in the Michigan State University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

You must be majoring in animal science, be enrolled full time, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be planning to participate in the Rodeo Club NIRA sanctioned events to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Rodeo Club Scholarship.

Mycological Society of America Graduate Research Prize

Deadline: Varies
Available to: Graduate Students, Year 1 through Year 5
Award Amount: 4 Awards of $100

The Mycological Society of America Graduate Research Prizes are available to student members of the MSA who present the best research papers or posters in mycology.

You must be a student member of the MSA and be a M.Sc. or Ph.D. candidate to be eligible for this award.

Learn more about the Mycological Society of America Graduate Research Prize.

Chester Gould Scholarship

The Chester Gould Scholarship is available to full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors at Oklahoma State University. You must be a Daily O'Collegian staff member and demonstrate creativity through cartooning, graphics and layout and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.

Learn more about the Chester Gould Scholarship.

Jack Oakie Comedy Scholarship

The Jack Oakie Comedy Scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students attending the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. You must demonstrate excellence in writing or directing comedy to be eligible for this award.

Learn more about the Jack Oakie Comedy Scholarship.

Need Money to Pay for College?

Every semester, Fastweb helps thousands of students pay for school by matching them to scholarships, grants, and internships, for which they actually qualify. You'll find high value scholarships like VIP Voice's $5,000 Scholarship, and easy to enter scholarships like Niche $2,000 No Essay Scholarship, and internships with companies like Apple, Google, Dreamworks, and even NASA!

Join today to get matched to scholarships or internships for you!

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Check out this list of Fastweb's all-time favorite take-notice, fun scholarships. These can be described as silly, funny, outlandish or bizarre - these scholarship opportunities may make you think or, perhaps, look twice. But, at the end of the day, a scholarship IS a scholarship!

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Free Money

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Top College Scholarships for High School & College Students 2023

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Find the best college scholarships for high school and college students, Black & African American, Hispanic & Latinos, Women, First Generation, Texas, California, Easy, No Essay, Nursing, STEM, and Merit scholarships

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Create your own google doodle and get FREE MONEY for school

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The four National Finalists, who do not become the National Winner, will have their doodles featured on the Doodle 4 Google gallery. Each National Finalist will receive:

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If you need help paying for school, there are plenty of college scholarships out there. In fact, we've already covered 100 of them. But we're all about the unusual and out-of-the-ordinary here, so we wanted to dig deeper. And in doing so, we discovered some pretty... unique opportunities you might have missed in your more traditional searches.

Some of these scholarships reward you for thinking outside the box, some reward you for falling into ridiculously narrow categories, others are just plain strange. All of them are worth checking out.

So if you're on the hunt for funds to help you pay for college, take a look at these 100 weird scholarships - they're strange, wacky and oddly specific.

Creative Scholarships

Book learning isn't everything - flex your creative muscles for these scholarships.

Come up with the best survival plan should a zombie apocalypse hit your high school or college, and you could win $2,000.

Deadline: October 31, 2015

Make your prom attire (by yourself, or with your date) entirely out of duct tape and you could win $500 to $5,000. Creations will be judged on "workmanship, originality, use of colors, accessories" and, of course, use of Duck Brand duct tape.

Deadline: Annually on May 23

Make a garment from 100% wool or a wool blend and model it in a photo for a chance to advance to the National Competition, where scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $2,000. (Note: There is an entry fee of $12.)

No deadline is mentioned on the website. For more information, send your question along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

National Make It With Wool Competition
Mary Roediger
PO Box 123
Albany, OH 45710
740-591-5149
[email protected]

For knitters in particular, Jimmy Beans Wool gives five scholarships each year in the amount of $3,200 apiece.

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

Several times a year, WholesaleHalloweenCostumes.com runs a $500 scholarship contest based on a specific assignment. The current assignment - to create a meme using a product image from their site - ends August 12, 2015.

Deadline: Varies (check back each month for new contests).

Live in JD Salinger's dorm room for your first year and get a $32,000 scholarship renewable all four years of school. Winners demonstrate a Holden Caulfield "it" factor - namely, "an unusual perspective... quirky brilliance... a voice not necessarily the kind that can be measured by conventional standards."

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

The late-night funny man established this award at his alma mater, Ball State University, for students who display noteworthy creativity in a project in the telecommunications vein (film, audio, video, graphics, etc.). It's noteworthy in that grades aren't a factor. Winner receives $10,000, second-place gets $5,000 and third-place gets $3,333.

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

Earn $1,500 by writing a letter to the number five. Yep, you read that right: writing a letter to the number five. Doesn't get much weirder than that.

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

Describe what ice cream flavor you would be, and why, for a shot at this $1,500 award.

Deadline: July 31, 2015

Win $2,500 if you have the best answer to the question, "Which superhero or villain would you want to change places with for a day and why?"

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Class clowns, jokers and anyone with a funny story (real or made up) to tell: You've got a shot at $1,500 simply for sharing. Whatever makes the sponsor LOL the hardest is the winner.

Deadline: August 31, 2015

Bizarre dreams, daydreams, dreams for your future... Write the best essay on any kind of dream, and it could net you $1,500.

Deadline: January 31, 2016

"Big things come in small packages" is the theme of this essay contest, which asks you to write a piece describing a seemingly small gift or gesture that left a lasting impact on you. The winner gets $1,500.

Deadline: February 29, 2016

The question: "If you could say one thing to the entire world at once, what would it be and why?" Say it best in 250 words or less, and you can win $1,500.

Deadline: September 30, 2015

This art contest sponsored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service awards scholarships ranging from $200 to $1,000 for creating a duck stamp design that adheres to a rather extensive list of criteria, including: Ducks must be shown in their natural habitat, feather colors must be appropriate to the season in which they are depicted, and duck featured must be on their roster of eligible species. (Don't you even think of drawing a mute swan!)

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

Want to get a jumpstart on your kid's college fund? If they're between the ages of 6 and 12 and can make coolest sandwich using Jif peanut butter, they could win a $25,000 college fund. (Runners-up each receive a $2,500 college fund).

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

Boasting about your extracurricular activities and GPA on scholarship applications can get boring. How about, instead, you simply list out the 10 things that make you awesome? There are no rules on what you can list, so put on your creativity cap and start bragging.

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Ever picked up a Hallmark card and thought, "I could do better"? Then sharpen your colored pencils, pick up your camera or fire up your graphic design software and submit your best design for a chance to win $10,000 for yourself (and $1,000 for your school).

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

We offer a scholarship worth $2,000 to the student with the best essay on an interesting or unique thing they've done to make or save extra money. Let's hear your stories!

Deadline: December 31, 2015

Demographically Based Scholarships

Get money just for being born with one of these traits.

This nonprofit, which supports those with dwarfism, offers scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000+ to members diagnosed with dwarfism and their families. (Preference is given to LPA members and their families, but non-members with dwarfism can also qualify.)

Deadline: Annually on April 22.

If you're "vertically gifted" and a member of TCI, you can apply for this $1,000 scholarship. You must be at least 5'10" (if you're female) or 6'2" (if you're male), under the age of 19 and entering your first year of college.

The deadline for the Fall 2015 scholarship has passed, so check back later for the next deadline.

If you're a tall graduating high school senior living in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, you can also win $250 from the Central Arizona Tall Society. See your local high school's guidance department for information on application process and deadlines, which are provided directly to Phoenix Metropolitan area high schools.

23. Scholarships for Twins and Multiples

Plenty of schools and organizations offer scholarships for twins and other "multiples," whether they attend the same school or go their own separate ways. Check out two great lists of opportunities here and here.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA have a chance at $1,000 to $1,500 if they can demonstrate academic success, financial need and the fact that they're left-handed.

Deadline is not mentioned on school's website. Contact John Wall at [email protected] or (814) 641-3132 for more information.

High school juniors or seniors who are natural redheads (or strawberry blonds) can earn $500 by submitting a photo of themselves from childhood and present-day and "creating something that represents what it means to be Redhead."

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

If you or someone you love has a sleep disorder, you can win $1,500 (or one of four $500 runners-up awards) for writing an essay about how it affects your life, their life and/or how CPAP therapy has helped.

Deadline: January 31, 2016

Hobby- and Interest-Related Scholarships

Convert that secret (or not-so-secret) passion of yours into some serious cash.

Attention, Trekkies: Every year, STARFLEET (a fan club run by The International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc.) offers scholarships to students in five areas: engineering; medical/veterinarian; business/languages studies/education; arts and misc. Winners receive $1,000.

Deadline: Annually in June

Graduating high school seniors who are passionate about vegetarianism and have worked to promote it in their schools and communities can win $5,000 to $10,000. Submissions will be judged on "having shown compassion, courage and a strong commitment to promoting a peaceful world through a vegetarian diet/lifestyle."

Deadline: February 20, 2016

The NBAP believes "today's youth are bombarded with anti-beef messages," so they're out to create "passionate advocates for the beef community." Students ages 16 to 20 can compete to demonstrate their passion for beef in the NBAP's national public speaking competition, and Senior Division winners are eligible to receive a scholarship of $1,000 (for first place), $750 (for second place) or $500 (for third place).

The competition will be held September 25-26, 2015 in Denver, CO. To learn more, contact your local CattleWomen's association or the NBAP Manager at 303-850-3440 or [email protected]

If you have an AANR (American Association for Nude Recreation) affiliation or have had an AANR "experience" (we'll let you decide what that constitutes), you can apply for a scholarship of around $1,000. Winners may be eligible for future fund renewal.

Deadline: Annually on May 31

If you have an amateur radio license, there's a plethora of scholarships available to you. Check out the full listing here for further details.

This is just one of the rodeo-related scholarships available at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. (And in general - check out some others below.) Award amount varies for this and other scholarships; check out this page for the full listing.

Members of Michigan State's Rodeo Club can earn anywhere from $250 to an undisclosed amount covering travel, lodging and tuition depending on their status with the club (non-rider, National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association team member, etc.).

Deadlines vary based on scholarship type.

Participants in the above event who are a) residents of Texas and b) planning to attend a Texas college or vocational school are eligible for $1,000 in renewable funds.

Deadline: Annually on April 1

More for the Texas cattle-wranglin' folk. There's a host of scholarships available here, with awards ranging from $9,000 (over two years) to $18,000 (over four years).

Deadlines vary by scholarship.

Five USBC Youth members each year have the chance to win $5,000 apiece from this scholarship in honor of legendary pro bowler Earl Anthony.

Deadline: December 1, 2015

This scholarship awards $1,000 to an amateur bowler "who combines outstanding bowling talents with academic excellence."

Deadline: Annually on June 15

Active USA Boxing members have several scholarships to choose from, including the Gene Rabbitt Scholarship (for female athletes) and the Michael Nunnally Scholarship (for athletes pursuing a degree in Elementary or Secondary Education). Amounts are not disclosed on the USA Boxing website.

Deadline: Annually on July 15

If Katniss Everdeen got you interested in archery and you're a member of the National Field Archery Association (NFAA) or NAA/USA Archery, you could win a scholarship ranging from $100 to $20,000.

Deadline: Annually on December 31

Schools in various states offer scholarships for chess champions. You can check out the full list here.

"Mibsters," if you win this marble shooting tournament, there's more than national honors up for grabs. The "King and Queen of Marbles" each get a $2,000 scholarship, and the boy and girl named best in sportsmanship each get $1,000. We say "boy and girl" because entrants must be between the ages of 8 and 14.

The 2015 tournament has passed, so check back later for the dates of the 2016 tournament.

It pays to be a caddie! Sponsored by the Western Golf Association, this scholarship covers full tuition plus room and board, preferably at one of the 14 universities across the U.S. that have an Evans Scholarship Chapter House.

Deadline: September 30, 2015

Graduating high school seniors who they can muster up a good old-fashioned duck call have a shot at $2,000 (for first place), $1,000 (for second place), $750 (for third place) or $500 (for fourth place). Quack, quack!

Deadline: November 28, 2015

Harness track racing is where the jockey steers from a little cart pulled behind the horse, and if you're involved in it (or have a parent involved in it), you're eligible for a scholarship ranging from $1,500 to $5,000. Giddyup!

Deadline: July 10, 2015

Youth AQHA members have quite a few scholarship options to apply to - and by quite a few, we mean pages' and pages' worth. Check out this list, with awards ranging from $500 to a whopping $35,000.

Deadline: Annually on December 1

And your parents used to scold you for all the time you spent playing! Compete in the 2015 Pokemon World Championship from August 21-23, 2015 in Boston, MA for a chance to win a share of the $500,000 in scholarships up for grabs.

Qualify for your chance to make it to the World Championship by competing in tournaments here.

Industry- or Career-Specific Scholarships

If you (or your family) are involved in an unusual industry, there could be money in it for you.

Grad students "conducting research for the benefit of the potato industry" can win $10,000 to support their studies.

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

Full-time college juniors, seniors and grad students pursuing a degree leading to a career in the grocery industry can win one of 10 of these awards. Scholarships offer $2,000 per semester for a max of four consecutive semesters.

Deadline: Annually on April 30

If you or your parents are members of the MLA, you may be eligible for one of two $1,000 scholarships, which are renewable up to three times. Members of the Michigan alpaca community, don't fret: you can also become an MLA member.

Deadline: Annually on May 1

Grad students involved in "sheep and/or wool research" (animal science, agriculture economics, veterinary medicine, etc.) can earn $2,500 towards their studies.

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

Llamas and sheep not your thing? How about cows? NDS offers a plethora of scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 to students majoring in the dairy industry or other agriculture-related fields.

Annual application window is March 1 to April 15.

If you're a migrant farmworker who dreams of developing your talents as an artist (in disciplines ranging from visual art to poetry to crafts), you could receive a grant up to $2,500. You must be at least 16 and do not need to be enrolled in school to apply.

Deadline: Annually on June 1 and November 1

Whether you're interested in becoming a winemaker or a vineyard manager, the ASEV has funds you could qualify for. (Award amounts vary per year and are not predetermined.)

Deadline: Annually on March 1

Calling all Egon Spenglers and Fox Mulders: if you're studying parapsychological phenomena (telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, etc.), you can apply for this $2,000 to $5,000 endowment.

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

This parapsychology award gives $3,000 to an undergrad or grad student studying anything from telepathy to near-death experiences to reincarnation.

Deadline: Annually on July 15

If you're interested in spooky phenomena on a larger scale, this scholarship supports research "into macroscopic psychokinetic phenomena such as those reported in sitter-groups, séances, and poltergeist activity, and/or theoretical approaches to help explain the nature of such large-scale effects." One or more winners may be selected, with the total grant(s) given per year not to exceed $10,000. You'll receive 90% of your award upfront and 10% once you've reported back on the results of your investigation.

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

If you've ever watched TLC's My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, you know who Romanies and Travelers are - but do you know enough to write a scholarly paper suitable to be published in the journal Romani Studies? If so, you could win a $500 award and publication in said journal.

Deadline: October 30, 2015

If your studies focus on fungi, the MSA offers a number of awards. Check out the full listing here.

Deadlines vary by scholarship.

Nope, it's not for watchmaking - this one's for students interested in a career "in an underwater-related discipline" (diving, research, tourism, photography, etc.). Awards are given in three regions - North America, Europe and Australia - and the North American award is worth $25,000.

Deadline: December 31, 2015

If fishery management - "cold or warm waters, fresh water or salt" - is your calling, the International Federation of Fly Fishers has $500 that could have your name on it. You'll need to get yourself nominated, though, so start your campaigning now.

Deadline for nominations: Annually on April 1

This scholarship provides $1,000 for UNIMA-USA members "to study with a recognized puppetry professional or professional program outside of the United States, or to attend an international puppetry festival."

Deadline: December 1, 2015

If you're studying a branch of turf management (Commercial Turf Management, Golf Turf Management, etc.) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA and you're entering your sophomore year, you could win some money for it.

Deadline and award amount are not disclosed on school's website. Contact ABAC at 1-800-733-3653 for more information.

If you're planning on attending Middle Tennessee State University to study Concrete Industry Management, you've got a plethora of potential scholarships to apply for. Check out this page for deadlines and details for each.

AWS offers several scholarships to students interested in pursuing a career in welding. Check out their page for deadlines and details for each.

If you're studying for (or your parents currently have) a career in the "fence, deck, railing and perimeter security industry," you can apply for funds from the AFA. (The amount and number of awards each year depends on funding.)

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

How's this one for specific: The NTHA is offering two $500 scholarships to students majoring in forest management, forest products "or a closely related field" who also happen to have graduated from or lived in one of a handful of counties in Pennsylvania. We're guessing the competition's not terribly stiff for this one.

Deadline: June 1, 2015

Like to write about opera? Don't really care about opera, but like the sound of $500 toward your educational expenses? Then try your hand at this essay contest, which is open to anyone who submits an essay of no more than 3,000 words on "an operatic subject" (history of the genre, critical theory, analysis of stagecraft or costuming, etc.).

Deadline: October 1, 2015

If you've earned your private pilot certificate and are actively involved in supporting the LGBT community (regardless of how you identify your personal sexual orientation), you could win anywhere from $3,000 (standard scholarship) to $6,000 (for "one truly exceptional candidate").

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

Grad students pursuing research in the field of crystallography (if you don't know what that means, you're not one of them) can win $2,500 towards their studies if they and their research show promise.

Deadline: Annually on October 21

This scholarship can be used for tuition, room and board and "travel to appropriate conferences" for students studying vacuum coating technology at an accredited institution. The SVC usually gives three or more scholarships each year, but it reserves the right to determine the amounts and types of awards based on factors like available funds and quality of applications submitted.

Deadline: December 1, 2015

Students pursuing a postgraduate degree in "thermal spray processes (plasma, flame, arc, HVOF) or materials" can apply for this $2,000 from the International Thermal Spray Association. Up to three awards may be awarded per year.

Annual application window is May 1 to July 15.

Students studying for a career in the corrosion industry have a shot at several scholarships and can win more than one (up to a total of $10,000 per student in any given year).

Annual application window is September 1 to January 1.

73. North American Cartographic Information Society Competitions

Yep, cartography still exists, and cartography students can win $500 in the NACIS's Student Map and Poster Competition or Dynamic Map Competition.

Deadline: September 11, 2015

Sponsored by Great Clips but usable at any cosmetology or barbering school, the scholarships awarded each year by this program varies in amount and number (and is not disclosed on the site).

Deadline: Annually on June 30 and December 31

If you're enrolled in funeral service or mortuary science programs, you could earn $500 to $2,500.

Deadline: Annually on March 1 and September 1

Our world may be going more and more digital, but there's still a need for paper. The Technological Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry supports students preparing for careers in these industries by offering several scholarships, including the William L. Cullison Scholarship (worth up to $4,000 a year) and Technical Division scholarships (worth $1,000 - $4,000).

Deadlines: Annually on May 1 (for Cullison Scholarship) and on February 15 (for Technical Division scholarships)

College sophomores, junior and seniors with an interest in "confectionary technology" (the most delicious kind of technology) may apply for this $5,000 scholarship, which is awarded in two $2,500 installments - one for each semester of the school year.

Deadline: April 1, 2016

Company-Centric Scholarships

Why pay for a market research study or ad company consultation when you can ask students to talk up your company for free, and you only have to pay one of them?

Orthodontists need answers to real-world problems like how to get more patient referrals, positive online reviews and social media exposure - and they're willing to pay you to help them. Ortho Scholar will give you $1,000 (partially funded by orthodontic practices across the U.S.) if you can come up with the best solution to these problems - regardless of your major.

Deadline: Annually on March 31

Student travel company STS Travel wants to know how they can better reach today's college student. Create a YouTube video of no longer than five minutes that outlines your marketing plan for them and you could win a $1,000 scholarship.

Deadline: November 20, 2015

We're not sure if they're trying to conduct market research or get ad campaign ideas, but whatever the motive, online marketplace CustomMade.com will award a $1,000 scholarship to the student who composes the best essay answering the question, "Why buy custom furniture?"

Deadline: December 15, 2015

Same as the above, but this time the question centers around custom jewelry.

Deadline: December 15, 2015

A company that provides data to help people make life decisions wants to know one important decision you made in your life, and what sort of information you relied on to reach that decision. Best answer gets $2,500.

Deadline: December 31, 2015

If you've seen a performance in Branson, MO (or can "research and use your creativity" to imagine you have), BransonShowTickets.com has $1,000 up for grabs for the person who writes the best essay titled, "How (*Enter Your Show*) Inspired Me to Realize My Dreams."

Deadline: Annually on October 15

Designers, artists and girls who've been dreaming about their weddings since they were five: Think you've got what it takes to create a standout diamond ring? Then enter this contest sponsored by an online diamond jewelry retailer. Best design wins $1,5000.

Deadline: August 1, 2015

Don't be embarrassed by excessive perspiration... write an essay about it and you could get $2,000.

Deadline: Annually on July 15

Write an essay on the importance of education in your life (bonus points for "finding a creative way to include your passion for coffee within your essay without losing sight of the primary topic") and you could win $500 to put towards books and other educational materials.

Deadline: Annually on January 31 and September 30

The New Look Laser Tattoo Removal clinic in Houston, TX awards $1,000 twice a year for the best essay posted on a website, blog or online forum about "the societal impact of laser tattoo removal." Oh, and you have to link to their clinic's website and mention their tattoo removal guide in the essay. So basically, it's a really well-paid sponsored post. (But hey, $1,000 is still $1,000.)

Deadline: Annually on June 30 and November 30

Scholarships for Doing Something or Knowing Something Unique

Stand up, stand out and make money.

DoSomething.org offer campaigns throughout the year that challenge you to make the world a better place, and for each one you complete, you're entered to win scholarships that range from $3,000 to $10,000. Completing any campaign also earns you an entry towards their Seasonal Scholarships worth $10,000.

Deadlines: Vary by campaign; check site for details and new campaigns posted regularly.

One of DoSomething.org's current campaigns, this one requires you to sign up for two free pairs of "Thumb Socks" - one for you, and one for a friend (with whom you're expected to share some information on the dangers of texting and driving). You'll be entered to win a $10,000 scholarship, but at the minimum, you'll have some cool attire for thumb wrestling competitions.

Deadline: August 31, 2015

Also sponsored by DoSomething.org, this campaign asks you to send texts to three friends on the dangers of texting and driving (you can choose "fun, dramatic or factual" texts). Do so and you have a chance to win $5,000.

Deadline: August 31, 2015

Generosity, volunteerism and community involvement are at the heart of this scholarship, which is sponsored by a "world-wide secret society" encouraging everyone to "embrace all humanity" with the virtues of "compassion, creativity, persistence and sacrifice."

In keeping with the theme of secrecy and random acts of kindness, there is no application for this scholarship; Hiram College juniors are nominated for it via an involved selection process. The amount of the award is unknown, and in years where they don't find a fitting recipient, they don't give out an award.

DeVry University wants to help out those looking to complete their bachelor's or associate's degree (at DeVry, of course), and it's offering this merit-based scholarship of $18,000 to transfer students looking to do so.

Deadline: July 6, 2015

Persistence pays off. Send Debt.com confirmation of every scholarship you've applied to (whether you received it or not) and an essay about who you are and what your application experience has been like, and you could win $500.

Scholarships will be awarded every quarter. This quarter's deadline has passed, so check back shortly for next quarter's deadline.

This one's for the trivia buffs. If you're well-versed in everything from books to movies to academic subjects, you can win anywhere from $250 to $2,500. You can win a total of $5,000 from taking more than one quiz, and parents can even compete on behalf of their kids (but they have their own special quizzes to keep things fair).

Quizzes currently run from August through December.

What's cooler than an open-book test? An open-book test that earns you a chance to win a scholarship. Simply read an essay on fire sprinklers, then answer a short multiple-choice questionnaire about it (you can reference the essay as you answer). Each correct answer earns you a chance to win one of 10 $2,000 scholarships.

This year's deadline has passed, so check back later for the next year's deadline.

Just Plain Strange

'Nuff said.

How's this for specific: To qualify for this scholarship, you must attend Loyola University Chicago, be a baptised or confirmed Catholic and have the legal last name Zolp. Scholarship amounts "will vary depending upon fund availability and the number of eligible recipients." Given the strict requirements for this one, we're guessing there aren't many eligible recipients (and there are likely plenty of funds available as a result).

Deadline: Applicant must be admitted to Loyola University Chicago by February 1, 2016.

Not a Zolp? If you're a first-time undergraduate student applying to North Carolina State University and you were born with the last name Gatling (or Gatlin, though no other spelling is allowed), you're eligible for this scholarship, the amount of which varies each year depending on funding.

Deadline: You must apply to NC State by January 15, complete the FAFSA by March 1 and be accepted by NC state no later than March 30 of the year in which you need the scholarship.

It doesn't get much easier than this. Enter your basic information and you're eligible for a $2,000 scholarship selected by random drawing. Scholarships are awarded once a month and you can enter every month for a new chance.

Have you lived a life of relative leisure? Have you abstained from illegal substances while other kids were out partying? Are you a couch potato? Then have we got a scholarship for you!

This Bucknell University award is for students who have lived in Mount Carmel, PA for 10 years, are graduates of Mount Carmel Public High School and "who are not habitual users of tobacco, intoxicating liquor, and narcotics, and who do not participate in strenuous athletic contests." Oddly specific, but when you're funding a scholarship, I suppose you get to choose whatever requirements you like.

Deadline and award amount are not mentioned on school's website. Contact Bucknell's Financial Aid Office at 570-577-1331 for more information.

What if you're a female student living a relatively simple life? This University of North Carolina, Greensboro award is for female undergrads who live on campus, don't own a car and are currently single (and agree to remain single for the duration of the scholarship). They also must have no other scholarships in conjunction with this one.

Deadline and award amount are not mentioned on school's website. Contact UNCG's Financial Aid Office at 336-334-5702 for more information.
Your Turn: Would you apply for any of these unusual scholarships? Which one(s)?
Kelly Gurnett is a freelance blogger, writer and editor who runs the blog Cordelia Calls It Quits, where she documents her attempts to rid her life of the things that don't matter and focus more on the things that do. Follow her on Twitter @CordeliaCallsIt.

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100 Weird College Scholarships: Wacky Ways to Win Money for School

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Can you make the best duck call or make an amazing PB&J? Are you really tall or really short? Do you have a specific name or an epic zombie apocalypse plan? We're not kidding: All of these characteristics could help you win money from one of these weird college scholarships.

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Unusual Scholarships

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Everyone knows there are plenty of scholarships out there for the egghead, the jock, the feminist, the free spirit, and even the average student. There are also many scholarships that reward quirky and unique talents. Talents that truly make you stand out in a crowd and could potentially earn you substantial money for college expenses.

Unlike your typical scholarships, where the selection pool is huge, unusual scholarships - such as having the name Zolp - is required. There are tons of wacky, unusual, and just plain weird scholarships out there. Do you have a knack for duck-calling? Seems like a strange question but if you can, check out the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest; with a grand prize of $2,000. If you have a sweet tooth and are interested in creating the next big candy, National Candy Technologists Scholarship is the perfect outlet for you to put those taste buds to good use. Do you have a strong passion for fashion? Then take on the Duck Brand Stuck at Prom Scholarship Challenge and create your entire prom attire out of Duct tape.

Remember, if you have an unusual talent, there may just be an equally unusual scholarship available. For a complete list of wacky, unusual, and just plain weird scholarships, conduct a free scholarship search at Scholarships.com and put those talents to good use.

Application Deadline: 4/30/2018

Amount: $8,000

The Asparagus Club awards a maximum of ten scholarships per year (subject to availability of funds). Each scholarship is $2,000 per semester (fall and spring only) not to exceed four consecutive semesters. Recipients must retain full-time student status and earn at least a 2.5 GPA to earn a scholarship each semester/quarter. Eligible applicants must be rising juniors, seniors, or graduate [...] More

Application Deadline: 11/25/2018

Amount: $2,000

The Chick & Sophie Major Memorial Scholarship Duck Calling Contest is open to any high school senior in the United States who can call ducks. During its 38-year history, the renowned contest has awarded more than $60,000 in scholarships to young duck callers attending 32 different colleges and universities in 13 different states. The competition will be held on November 25 at 11:00 a.m. The [...] More

Application Deadline: 10/19/2018

Amount: $2,500

The Ludo Frevel Crystallography Scholarship Award was designed to encourage graduate students to pursue crystallographically-oriented research. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled in a graduate degree program with a major interest in crystallography.

Submission materials:
-Curriculum vitae
-A one-page summary describing the type of crystallographic research being pursued
-Expected date [...] More

Application Deadline: 6/15/2018

Amount: $10,000

Each year, NPC awards a $10,000 academic scholarship to one graduate-level student conducting research for the benefit of the potato industry. The winner is selected based on a number of criteria, including academic achievement, leadership abilities, potato-related areas of graduate study, benefit to the U.S. potato industry/commercial value, extracurricular activities, and grades.

Explain in [...] More

Application Deadline: 3/1/2019

Amount: $1,000

Are you under 21 years of age and about to start college in the fall? If so, you may be in luck! TCI annually awards student scholarship(s) of up to $1,000 each to tall students who are under 21 years of age and attending their first year of college in the following fall.

Eligibility:
-You must be under 21
-You must be entering college in the upcoming fall
-You must also meet the TCI [...] More

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Everyone knows there are plenty of scholarships out there for the egghead, the jock, the feminist, the free spirit, and even the average student. There are also many scholarships that reward quirky and unique talents. Talents that truly make you stand out in a crowd and could potentially earn you substantial money for college expenses.

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Scholarships for education after high school

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Scholarships for education after high school

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Some of the weirdest Scholarships

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Some of the Weirdest College Scholarship Opportunities

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Before you give up on the idea of winning a scholarship, take a look at this list of the weirdest college scholarships out there. With awards as strange as these, you may be eligible for more free college funding than you think! The amount offered is the top award; there may be runner-up prizes too.

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Some weird scholarships

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10 Weird College Scholarships You Should Consider

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Usually we think of college scholarships as elite awards available only to the top students who have excelled in academics, athletics, or extracurriculars. Sometimes, students who have steadily made their way through high school without particularly standing out in any single area may feel as though a college scholarship is an unrealistic expectation.

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Unique & Weird Scholarships

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Are you a musician with aviation aspirations, wanting to someday become a pilot? Are you anticipating the Zombie Apocalypse in the near future and have some ideas on how you would survive? Ok, here's the more important question: do you need money to help pay for college? We've searched the cosmos and gathered 200 unique and weird scholarships worth applying for - when combined, they total over $800,000 in award money!

Patently Unique (or Weird) Scholarships

These scholarships are the cream of the crop, the most unique of the unique. They stand out from the crowd because they highlight a feature that is unique to you (shout-out to all of the tall people), or the subject is so specific that we couldn't find anything else like it. Here you can find a scholarship that will let you write about fire sprinklers, showcase your interest in antique dolls or parapsychology, or create an amazing greeting card. There's a scholarship out there for everyone.

Unique Scholarships about Agriculture and Animals

If you love animals or have a green thumb, then this list is a great place to start for fun scholarships relating to agriculture and animals. Many of these scholarships are geared toward those interested in riding horses, taking care of sheep and cattle, and rescuing animals, or if you plan on pursuing a career in environmental sciences, the dairy industry, horticulture sciences, food distribution, or even growing potatoes or corn!

Unique Scholarships about Athletics and Sports

These aren't your average sports and athletic scholarships. Here you'll find scholarships that celebrate the typically underrepresented sports like fencing, archery, bowling, table tennis, and more! You'll also find some interesting organizations offering scholarships for fitness enthusiasts and those want to pursue a career in sports entertainment.

Unique Scholarships about Business, Marketing, and Leadership

Even the more common degrees like business, communication, marketing, and management, have some not-so-common scholarships catered to them, from places you may not think to look at. In this list, you'll find contests, competitions, and more that will have you demonstrate your leadership and entrepreneurial skills, and/or interest in a specific area of business like grocery retail and real estate.

Unique Scholarships from Companies and Organizations

You may be surprised to find out that these organizations offer scholarships to their employees and employees' children. Also featured in this section are some unique businesses you may not have heard of before that have scholarships available to virtually any student, and do not need to be directly associated with the company.

Unique Scholarships about Food and Drinks

For our foodie and beverage lovers, you'll be happy to know there are quite a few companies and organizations out there that appreciate your fondness for all things tasty by offering scholarships and awards. These awards vary depending by type of food or drink, and in some cases, diet and nutrition.

Unique Scholarships about Hobbies and Interests

Interests are as varied as the people who enjoy them. As such, you'll find in this category a WIDE range of scholarships that award recipients with some college dough for hobbies, interests, and pastimes that may seem unusual to some but common for others.

Unique Scholarships about Literature and Writing

Whether you're a romantic poet, musical theatre songwriter, or a Mary Shelley-inspired horror writer, there's a scholarship for you in this list. Yes, there are plenty of essay-based scholarships out there, but the ones here are unique because they are specifically catered to those with a passion for literature and writing in any and all forms.

Unique Scholarships about Math, Engineering, and Science

STEM is a popular and ever-growing field, and you may be wondering how these scholarships could be unique enough to make it on this list. However, these scholarships are for smaller STEM fields such as studying fungi, crystallography, mortuary science, or glass technology. There are also "combined" scholarships listed, which require pursuing any STEM-related degree, plus an interest or talent in a different field like sewing or music.

Unique Scholarships about Performing Arts and Music

Do you love to sing, dance, perform on stage, or possibly, all of the above? Then chances are you'll find a scholarship here that fits you perfectly. This features scholarships from unexpected sources, and scholarships dedicated to icons like John Lennon. You'll also come across ones that give you the opportunity to deliver an impeccable operatic, jazz, a capella, or acting performance, with outstanding prizes such as being featured in a magazine and international travel.

Unique Scholarships about Traveling and Languages

Your college education doesn't have to (and shouldn't) end in the classroom. The scholarships here are for those who want to learn how to speak or already know an underrepresented language, or for those who want to travel, whether its Washington D.C. or Indonesia. Many of the scholarships are in this list because they are coming from a seemingly unlikely source, are promoting an uncommon language, or want to help students travel to a unique destination.

Unique Scholarships about Visual Arts and Design

Let your creativity soar! You'll find scholarships here that will ask you to tell a story through visual arts like painting, drawing, photography, or filmmaking. You can also get a chance to show the judges who you are through graphic, print, costume/fashion, or game design.

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200 Unique and Weird Scholarships Worth Applying For

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Updated for 2018-2019 Are you a musician with aviation aspirations, wanting to someday become a pilot? Are you anticipating the Zombie Apocalypse in the near future and have some ideas on how you would survive? Ok, here's the more important question: do you need money to help pay for college?

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Work smarter not harder

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Are you tired of working on those long scholarship applications that require you to list every activity you have participated in since you started high school? What about writing those boring scholarship essays where you have to explain why you deserve the award or who you are going to be in ten years? Well, you're in luck. Today is No-Brainer Day, which means you get to relax and put very little thought into everything you do - including filling out scholarship applications! We know it may seem as though every scholarship, regardless of the amount of money, requires a ton of work, but there are actually quite a few easy scholarships with simple applications that are fun and painless. Don't believe us? Check out this list of scholarships that are total no-brainers.

Niche (formerly College Prowler) gives away a $2,000 scholarship every month. Simply register for a free account and you are entered to win this easy scholarship.

Don't let a low GPA scare you away from applying for scholarships. Some scholarship providers, like Cappex, don't even consider it when choosing a winner. Just register for a free account, and you'll be entered to win the $1,000 monthly prize.

If you've taken a college class, cash in your experience with this easy $5,000 scholarship. To apply, just review a college class. It only takes a few minutes and the more steps you complete, the more you can win.

How does a $5,000 scholarship sound? If you're 13 or older, complete two surveys and redeem your points for a scholarship or other awards. The more surveys you do, the better your chances to win.

Applying for this scholarship is so easy, and you can do it every month to increase your chances of winning! Just create a free profile and post at least once a month about your educational achievements to be eligible for this super simple monthly scholarship.

If you are 13 or older, apply to win our $10,000 scholarship. Yes, it requires a 250 word or less essay, but for $10,000, who's complaining?

Think you know how to survive a zombie apocalypse? Do you enjoy eating ice cream? Can you tell a great joke? If you answered yes to any of these questions, check out our monthly scholarships! Awards range in value from $1,500 to $5,000, and all are fun and easy to enter! A new winner is selected every month.

Keep in mind that many students are looking for these simple scholarships, so the competition may be a little higher than normal, but that doesn't mean you should blow them off. Just be sure to spend some time on local scholarship programs and those that may be a little more restrictive, as your chances of winning will increase. One thing is for certain, you can't win if you don't apply.

Want more scholarships? We have over 3 million in our scholarship directory, but if you need more help paying for college, check out our LoanFinder.

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Are you tired of working on those long scholarship applications that require you to list every activity you have participated in since you started high school? What about writing those boring scholarship essays where you have to explain why you deserve the award or who you are going to be in ten years?

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General, Women & Other underrepresented minorities

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Scholarships to reel students into STEM fields are multiplying, and an online search will turn up hundreds of sources. Below is a sampling of what students with the right qualifications can compete for; some are open to all STEM students, while many target members of underrepresented groups. Requirements vary, so college-bound seniors can apply for many but some are only for students already in college.

* Intertek Scholarship: Five scholarships of up to $10,000 and an internship go to engineering students.

* The SMART Scholarship: This Department of Defense program provides full tuition and a stipend to students in STEM willing to work for the DOD upon graduation.

* Society of Women Engineers: Offers scholarships and fellowships from $1,000 to $20,000 for women pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, engineering technology and computer science.

For Underrepresented Minorities

* The Google Lime Scholarship: Google offers $10,000 scholarships for computer science or computer engineering students with disabilities.

This story is excerpted from the U.S. News "Best Colleges 2016" guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.

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Browse STEM Scholarships for Each Type of College Student

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Scholarships to reel students into STEM fields are multiplying, and an online search will turn up hundreds of sources. Below is a sampling of what students with the right qualifications can compete for; some are open to all STEM students, while many target members of underrepresented groups.

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Easiest apps - FREE MONEY

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Scholarships are awesome resources if you're checking out different ways to pay for college. It's free money-what's not to love? As it turns out, most scholarship programs have application processes that aren't exactly lovable. Students generally have to submit a lot of information about themselves: transcripts, GPAs, test scores, resumes, community service activities, and so on. There may even be a few essays and grade requirements thrown in as well. You don't want to complain, because again, free money-but these applications sure are tedious when you're working on college apps, high school courses, and financial aid applications all at the same time. The following easy scholarships have application processes that are a bit more manageable. Some ask you to write short essays while others don't require any essays at all! The awards may not be as large as some other scholarships, but when the application process is so easy, you really don't have much to lose. I'll start off with some words of warning before getting into the good stuff: essay and no-essay scholarships that are so easy to apply for, you may end up applying to all of them!
Caveat: If a Scholarship Seems Too Good to Be True ...

It turns out there aren't too many legitimate "easy" scholarships out there. If a scholarship application seems too good to be true, then be cautious-you don't want to fall victim to a scholarship scam. Here are some things to look out for:

If a scholarship application asks for personal information that doesn't seem relevant to the award, tread carefully. Many top scholarship programs ask for very personal information (transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, even financial information for need-based scholarships), but this info is all relevant to candidate evaluation. If you're ever uncomfortable providing personal information, dig deeper into the scholarship award-can you verify that it's legitimate? Does it have its own site, or can you only find information on it through a third party? Google "[award name] scam" to see if anything suspicious pops up.

Avoid any scholarship that ask you to make payments to enter or win. Scholarship programs are in the business of giving money to students, not taking it. It's likely just a scam if the application asks for payment, especially if it asks you to enter credit card information.

Now that we got that out of the way, we can get to the good stuff: easy essay and non-essay scholarships and how to win them.
These essays won't take you long at all, but they're a good excuse to set up at your favorite cafe.
Essay Scholarships

The scholarships in this section ask students to submit short essays with their applications. Even though you'll have to write up an essay, the rest of the application (and the essay itself) should be easy and manageable for all these awards. In fact, I expect most of these applications should take no longer than one to two hours to complete.

This scholarship program is a bit different than most of the other awards included in this post-it's funded by a private law firm in Colorado. Students compete for a $2,000 award by writing a short essay (800 words) about the 7th amendment and how it affects their lives.

The award is open to high school students who have been accepted to a four-year university and university students with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

There are two application deadlines per year: one November 30 to win a scholarship for the spring semester, and one July 30 to win a scholarship for the fall semester.

This $500 award is given out to one lucky student every month. To compete for the award, applicants must explain in 250 words why they think they deserve the scholarship.

To compete for this $500 award, applicants must like the Odenza Facebook page and write two short essays (about 500 words each). One essay must be related to travel and your career, and the other must explain why you should receive the scholarship.

The award is open to those aged 16-25 who are either current high school students or people who have at least one year of college remaining. Applicants must also have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

The application deadline is September 30, 2017.

This $1,000 award is given out to a new student every month. Students compete for the scholarship by writing a short essay (700-1,500 words) addressing a prompt related to cancer treatment.
Some of these applications won't take you longer than a few minutes.
No-Essay Scholarships

When it comes to easy applications, you can't get much easier than the following scholarship programs. You'll still have to submit some information about yourself (and, in some instances, complete some brief activities or tasks), but you won't have to write any essays to qualify.

Here's one of those scholarships for which you have to complete a few unique activities to qualify. For the 2017 scholarship, students applied by reading about automatic fire sprinkler systems and then taking a 10-question quiz based on the information they read. Ten $2,000 awards are available each year.

This scholarship is open to high school seniors for the 2017-18 school year.

The application will open around September 2017 and close in April 2018.

Students can qualify to win $2,500, $20,000, or $100,000 in tuition money by writing a "story" about themselves in 350 characters or less-that's really short. Stories that get the most votes win prizes, so recruit your friends to vote for you!

This scholarship program gives out relatively small awards of $50, but the application process is particularly fun and easy. Students qualify by writing and submitting up to three original haikus.

This $2,000 award is given out monthly. To apply, students just submit an application with basic identifying information, GPA, and SAT/ACT scores. Winners are determined by random selection, and you can submit a new application every month.

Do you have a creative side and an eye for fashion? Students compete for 10 $1,000-$10,000 awards by designing and wearing prom outfits made out of duct tape. Applicants can enter as individuals or as part of a couple. Check out the website for fun pictures of past winners!

This competition is open to high school students in the US and Canada (excluding certain states and territories-refer to the official rules for details).

The application period opens around April 2018 and closes in late May 2018.

Three $5,000 awards, one $10,000 award, and one $20,000 award are available through this scholarship program. To qualify, students submit a simple application and complete five brief online learning modules on financial literacy. If you're heading off to college, it's not a bad idea to get some basic info on personal finance anyway, making this scholarship app a win-win!

As the name suggests, this quarterly award is meant for student athletes who plan to attend a four-year college or university. Applicants must submit some basic info about their sport and GPA to qualify.

3 Tips for Winning Easy Scholarships

Easy scholarships to apply for aren't necessarily the same as easy scholarships to win. Because these scholarship applications are so simple to complete, you'll probably have a lot of competition. Here are some strategies to help you submit your best applications possible:

If you have to write an essay, you're likely to be more successful if your views align with those of the entity that's awarding the scholarship. To prepare, do some research about the company or charity's mission statement.

Make sure your application is polished. You won't have the opportunity to make more than a first impression (remember, these apps are short and sweet!), so double-check for any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors.

Last but not least, make sure your application is complete and on time!

What's Next?

These scholarships are awesome options if you want to churn out as many applications as possible. As you might have noticed, though, the award amounts can be a bit underwhelming (although keep in mind that several smaller awards can be just as helpful as one big award).

You'll have to spend more time on your applications if you're gunning for a top scholarship, but the payoff can be more than worth it. To learn more about some of the best scholarships out there, check out our guides to the top scholarships for high school juniors and seniors.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

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The 12 Easiest Scholarships to Apply For

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Scholarships are awesome resources if you're checking out different ways to pay for college. It's free money-what's not to love? As it turns out, most scholarship programs have application processes that aren't exactly lovable. Students generally have to submit a lot of information about themselves: transcripts, GPAs, test scores, resumes, community service activities, and so on.

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18 scholarships to check out

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Applying to college and figuring out how to pay for it is a rite of passage for high school seniors.

But what about students who have been out of school for a while? There's no guidance counselor to show you the way, your parents may not be around to help you through the FAFSA, and Rodney Dangerfield is nowhere to be found to ensure you're not the oldest person in all your classes.

But there are scholarships to make going back to school as an adult easier on your budget.

They have various requirements - some are for vocational school, while others can go toward any degree - but all show an appreciation for making an investment in your education. Here's what you need to know.

College Scholarships Available for Adult Students

One tip before you read through these opportunities: Fill out the FAFSA! There's no age limit to receive federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, which you don't have to pay back after graduation.

The FAFSA doesn't just help you get financial aid from your school. Some financial-need-based scholarship applications require information from your FAFSA, as well.

Once you sign and submit your aid application, check out these scholarships for adult students:

1. AfterCollege Succurro Scholarship

Enter to win this $500 scholarship by completing a free profile at AfterCollege.

To qualify, you must be enrolled in an accredited, degree-seeking program with at least a 2.5 GPA. Applicants must submit a 200-word, "resume-style" personal statement highlighting their goals.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 30.

2. Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships

Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL), the honor society for nontraditional students, offers scholarships of varying amounts. Applicants don't need to be members of their school's ASL chapter, but they must submit their applications to their chapter councilor for review.

You must be enrolled in an associate's or bachelor's program and have completed 24 semester hours of coursework with at least a 3.2 GPA.

This scholarship requires a personal statement and a faculty recommendation, and applicants must demonstrate financial need.

3. CollegeAmerica Adult Student Grants

CollegeAmerica, which has career campuses in Arizona and Colorado, offers $5,000 grants to adults who've never attended college and those who've earned some college credits but not a degree.

For more information about the application process, you can contact the school at (800) 622-2894.

4. College JumpStart Scholarship

The College JumpStart Scholarship is open to nontraditional students and provides a $1,000 scholarship to a student "committed to using education to better [their] life and that of [their] family and/or community."

Applicants must submit a 250-word personal statement based on one of a handful of required prompts. You should be enrolled in a two- or four-year college or a vocational school, or plan to enroll in the next 12 months.

The fall deadline for applications is Oct. 17, and the spring deadline is April 15.

5. Courage to Grow Scholarship

Any college student with at least a 2.5 GPA may apply for this $500 scholarship that recognizes one winner each month. Applicants must explain why they deserve the scholarship in 250 words or less. The award is sent directly to the winner's school.

Some previous winners listed on the site mentioned they applied several times before being selected.

If you're a senior adult, you can take college courses for free or cheap, and many institutions offer the chance to earn credits toward a degree. Here's how to find them in every state.

6. Dr. Angela Grant Memorial Scholarship

Cancer survivors or students with family members affected by cancer may apply for a scholarship worth up to $5,000.

Applicants must write an essay outlining their personal achievements and career goals, and give two personal references. Undergraduate and graduate students may apply between Jan. 1 and May 1.

7. HotelPlanner.com Scholarship

Military vets and their family pursuing a degree related to technology may apply for one of these $1,000 scholarships from HotelPlanner.com. Applicants must submit a 500-word article describing how their military experience sparked their interest in technology, what they plan to achieve with their degree and their financial need.

The fall deadline is Dec. 15 and the summer deadline is Aug. 15.

8. Executive Women International ASIST Scholarship

Executive Women International (EWI) offers the Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) scholarship to women and men looking to improve their economic outlook through education. Applicants must apply through their school's chapter. Qualified applicants move to a national round where EWI awards 13 scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.

The application period opens each January.

EWI gives preference to applicants facing economic, social, or physical challenges.

9. Imagine America Adult College Grants

Nontraditional students already enrolled in an eligible Adult Skills Education Program (ASEP) can apply for a $1,000 award from the Imagine America Foundation. Interested students must complete the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) Student Success Assessment before submitting their application.

10. Niche "No Essay" Sweepstakes

Set up a free Niche account to enter this monthly sweepstakes with a $2,000 cash prize. If you're a U.S. resident enrolled in college or plan to enroll in the next year, you're eligible!

11. Return 2 College Scholarship Program

Anyone 17 and up who is starting college in the next year or is already enrolled can apply for this $1,000 scholarship.

You must submit a three-sentence essay that explains why you are getting your degree. If three sentences doesn't seem like enough, no worries - you can submit as many entries as you wish. Awardees can use the scholarship toward any level degree.

The deadline is Sept. 30.

12. Scholarship Detective Launch Scholarship

If you explain how you'd use this scholarship money in less than 140 characters, you can apply for one of two $1,000 scholarships - the deadline is Aug. 31.

13. SuperCollege Scholarship

Any student pursuing higher education or planning to start may enter this annual random drawing for $1,000 - only incomplete applications will be disqualified. The winner may use the money for tuition, books or any other education-related expense.

The deadline for the next scholarship is Aug. 31.

You have your own tuition to worry about, but do you also have college-bound kids? Here's how to help them pay for college without sinking your own financial ship.

14. Unigo $10K Scholarship

If you're enrolled in college or plan to do so by 2025, you can apply for this $10,000 award. Applicants must write a 250-word essay on the following topic: Imagine a historical figure is brought back to life. Who is it? What's their favorite mobile app?

The deadline is Dec. 31.

Visit Unigo for a list of the website's other scholarships. There's something for everyone, and the essay requirements are usually brief!

15. Walmart Associate Scholarship

Walmart associates have until Nov. 30, 2020 to apply for the last remaining scholarships available to them and their dependents.

Replacing those awards is the Live Better U program, which allows you to earn one of the 40-plus associate and bachelor degree programs for $1 a day. Similar deals are available for skilled trade diplomas and professional certificates.

Scholarships for Women Only

Here are three scholarships available to adult women.

16. Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund

Low-income women 35 and older who are working on a technical or vocational education, an associate degree or their first bachelor's degree are invited to apply for this scholarship fund.

The application cycle is open from November until February.

17. PEO Program for Continuing Education Scholarship

PEO offers a maximum $3,000 grant to a woman in the United States or Canada whose educational journey has been interrupted.

The need-based grant is open to any woman who has had at least 24 consecutive months as a non-student sometime in her adult life and is within 18 consecutive months of completing her degree.

Applicants must do an interview at the chapter level to qualify. Contact your local chapter to apply.

18. Society of Women Engineers Scholarship

Women studying full-time for their bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, technology, or computer science may apply for various scholarships from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

Nontraditional students and re-entering students who have been out of school for a minimum of two years prior to the beginning of the current course of study can apply. The scholarship is available to full- and part-time students entering any year, including graduate school.

Sophomores through graduate students typically apply between December and February, while first-year students apply between March and May.
Lisa Rowan is a former writer at The Penny Hoarder. Staff writer/editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors and former SEO analyst Jacquelyn Pica contributed to this post.

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Going Back to School as an Adult? Check Out These 18 Scholarships

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Applying to college and figuring out how to pay for it is a rite of passage for high school seniors. But what about students who have been out of school for a while?