The Best Poetry Scholarships for High School Students with Upcoming Deadlines in 2024

Good news for high school writers and college poets everywhere: you can get scholarships for writing poetry!

It seems too good to be true, but it is: you can apply for poetry scholarships to fund your college education.

If you’re new to the world of scholarships, let’s review the basics: Unlike federal student loans or private student loans, scholarships offer students debt-free funds to apply toward college tuition and other education-related costs. Most students apply for scholarships in their senior year of high school, but you can actually apply for scholarships throughout high school and college.

For more information about the many types of scholarships, browse our scholarship categories at bold.org. 

What can you get a scholarship for? Most people think of two main types of scholarships. One is need-based scholarships, which offer funds to students from low-income students. The other is merit scholarships, which reward all those long hours of studious toil in high school with sweet, sweet college money. 

Luckily, there’s no limit to the number or type of scholarships you can apply for. A few minutes spent creating a free bold.org profile will quickly match you to scholarships you qualify for. 

There are also scholarships for specific majors and extracurricular activities, including poetry! At bold.org, we’ve compiled a list of scholarships for everyone from high school seniors to college students so you can find a poetry scholarship perfect for you. 

Which poetry scholarships to apply for

Scholarship applications for poetry (no application essays)

If you’re applying for a poetry scholarship, it’s safe to assume that you enjoy writing. Much like a no-essay scholarship, some poetry scholarships don’t require a personal essay. Instead, the application process requires you to submit your best poems. If your journals are filled with original poetry, and every edition of your high school literary or poetry magazine features work with your name on it, these are the scholarships for you. 

• Share Your Poetry Scholarship (Award amount: $500): This scholarship is open to high school students and college students. You can be any major, so if you hope to grow as a poet while studying another subject, no sweat! This scholarship asks only that you do what you love anyway: to apply, just submit an original poem. 
• Application deadline: March 15th, 2023

• Freddie L. Brown, Sr. Scholarship (Award amount: $1,000): Are you a fan of Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, and a good limerick? Does your work explore the funny side of life? Apply to this scholarship and you just might laugh your way to college. This scholarship is open to high school and undergraduate students who express their wit and humor through creative work, including short stories and poetry. Apply by submitting your best original creative writing or art.
• Application deadline: March 1st, 2023

Scholarships for Creative Writing

Creativity can take many forms: some ideas want to be poems, while others work better as short stories, plays, or more experimental forms of creative writing like graphic novels. Some scholarships are open to writers of creative writing more generally. If you write both poetry and prose, consider applying for these scholarships!

• Nick Huffman Memorial Scholarship (Award amount: $500): This scholarship hopes to honor the memory of Nick Huffman, who was both a TV and radio personality as well as a bestselling author. Suppose you’re a school student of any grade and interested in mass media or creative writing. In that case, you’re welcome to apply. 
• Application deadline: April 1st, 2023

• Alicea Sperstad Rural Writer Scholarship (Award amount: $500): The literary field has often failed to reflect the diversity of writers who want to share their work. This scholarship is one piece in the effort to increase representation by helping one female writer get the education that will help her succeed. Any female high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student is welcome to apply. 
• Application deadline: April 10th, 2023

Scholarships for English majors and other avid readers

According to Stephen King, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” If you’re a writer, you’ll benefit from reading widely and deeply, too. Check out scholarships for English majors and other types of literature lovers. 

• Olivia Woods Memorial Scholarship (Award amount: $1,050): Do you remember the book that made you fall in love with reading? Writers tend to be drawn to writing because they remember the profound story, transformative poem, or other pieces of writing that opened their eyes to the power of literature. Any low-income high school, college, or undergraduate student can apply to this scholarship by writing about a book that had a special impact on them.
• Application deadline: March 1st, 2023

Many scholarships are designed for students pursuing a specific major. You can browse our collection of scholarships by major to find scholarships for English majors, creative writing, or other literary-minded subjects.

Not finding the scholarship that you were hoping for? Keep in mind that new scholarships are getting funded all the time, and the rotation of available scholarships will change as the application deadlines come and go. For the latest and most relevant information about scholarships, follow our scholarship blog at Bold.org. We’ll comb through the scholarship updates and deadlines so you have one less thing to worry about during application season. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Poetry Scholarships 

What are my odds of getting a scholarship for writing poetry? 

Your odds of receiving a scholarship for your poetry, your grades, or any other criteria depend on the scholarships you apply for, the number of competing applicants, and the strength of your scholarship applications. Several of these scholarships ask for your original work as part of the application process. That means pouring all of your creative energy and effort into producing the best work possible.

Research how to write a scholarship application essay that’s irresistible, and ask your teachers to review your work. Even if the feedback is hard to hear, remember your end goal: to grow as a writer and hopefully win the scholarship!

What should I major in if I want to be a poet? 

It’s not always easy choosing what to major in. English, literature, and creative writing seem like the obvious majors for applicants to poetry scholarships. First, clarify your long-term goals. Do you want to write poetry for personal and emotional fulfillment while pursuing something else as your professional career? Or do you want to make writing both your calling and your career? Consider applying to both poetry scholarships as well as scholarships for other majors you might be interested in.

How can young poets build their writing careers?

Poetry doesn’t just live inside the classroom. While you’re researching scholarships that you qualify for and working on your application essays, consider non-academic venues for your work, too. Follow national poetry magazines and publications to see the latest artistic developments. Try submitting your work to student publications and poetry magazines. Many high schools and colleges publish literary magazines that welcome students’ creative writing. 

You can also search for poetry contests and other writing competitions for student writers. Look for state and national writing contests as well as contests specific to your school or university. For example, the creative writing faculty at Princeton University awards the Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize every year to an 11th-grade student.

Once you’ve collected a portfolio of your poetry, you can also apply to poetry fellowships such as the Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship. The Poetry Foundation awards the $25,800 fellowship prize to U.S. poets between the ages of 21 and 31. If you’re a college junior or senior committed to your poetry career, take this one seriously: it’s one of the largest poetry grants available to young poets! 

You don't need to be a famous poet to talk with other writers and build your network. Try looking for a writing conference or meetup group in your area.

Of course, one of the best ways to grow your poetry network is to attend college and meet professors and visiting poets who can mentor you and help grow your career. Make your college education more affordable by creating a free bold.org profile today and see how you can get there.