The Best Journalism Scholarships in 2025

There isn't a "right" time to apply for scholarships since everyone's personal journey is a little bit different. However, it can be helpful for students to begin applying for scholarships as soon as they're able in order to get used to the process of applying as well as to give them extra opportunities to earn scholarships. Students enrolled in high school and any education level above are eligible to sign up, starting at the age of 14. It is also important to note that there is not a time where you should stop applying to scholarships. College juniors and seniors seeking financial aid should continue to apply to scholarships regardless of how close their graduation date is.

The first step in getting a journalism scholarship is applying for many scholarships. The more opportunities you put yourself in the running for, the more likely you are to be successful in at least a couple. Don't be discouraged if you don't win every scholarship you apply for. Instead, keep your options open and apply for as many as you are able to. There are several factors to consider to have the best chance of winning a scholarship. First, keep in mind that the more eligibility requirements there are on a scholarship, the fewer people will apply. This will give you a better chance of being successful since fewer students are vying for the same award.

Each scholarship has a list of eligibility requirements that shows what is required of the students applying. This can include education level, race/ethnicity, GPA, major, interests, state, and so much more. The more eligibility requirements listed for a scholarship, the fewer students are eligible. Therefore, finding scholarships with many requirements that you meet will help give you your best chance of earning that specific scholarship. For instance, a scholarship for college juniors studying journalism with a 4.0 GPA will have fewer applicants than a scholarship open to all college students.