The Best Writing Scholarships to Apply for in 2025

Many high school students interested in writing choose to hone their craft through a college or university education. Whether they are aspiring writers or are pursuing a different field, studying writing can help build a foundation of valuable skills that prove useful in a wide range of career fields.

Writing skills can help students in many different sectors, from computer science to business and financial journalism. Students entering a variety of fields can benefit from studying writing, and writing scholarships are an excellent way to fund that education.

About writing scholarships

There are many financial aid resources available for high school seniors and college students who want to study writing in college.

Students interested in scholarships for music education should research scholarship opportunities and visit their school's financial aid office for more financial aid resources. It's also very important that students apply for federal student aid via FAFSA to secure as much financial aid as they can.

Federal aid can be a good place to start, but it often doesn't cover students' total expenses, leaving a significant gap which can be made up by outside scholarships.

What is a writing scholarship?

Writing scholarships are a form of financial aid available to aspiring writers or students pursuing careers in writing-intensive fields. These scholarships can also help support students in different fields of study who want to study writing as a minor or are even pursuing writing as a hobby.

Writing scholarships are a great source of financial aid for any student interested in advancing their craft.

Can you get a scholarship for writing?

Yes, there are many writing scholarships available to college students pursuing careers in writing. These scholarships are a good financial aid resource for students who want to hone their writing skills through higher education.

Some writing scholarships are only open to students in certain courses of study, like creative writing majors and English majors. There are also awards for any student with a passion for writing so long as they submit a writing sample.

Students at varying levels of education can apply for writing scholarships, meaning that high school students and current college students are all encouraged to apply for scholarships throughout their academic careers.

Writing students may also be eligible for more general scholarships, and their writing skills may give these students a leg up on writing scholarship essays.

How to apply for writing scholarships

Each writing scholarship has different eligibility requirements, so always check the scholarship description before spending time on your application.

The applications for these scholarships may require some sort of scholarship essay or writing sample. The specific posting will always have the requirements for that scholarship application, so make sure to reference it before submitting it.

How to get a writing scholarship?

Always check application deadlines and eligibility requirements before applying for scholarships to give yourself the best chance at success and avoid wasting your time.

There are scholarships specific to writers who wish to enter a particular field; some scholarships are open to all students and awarded based on a writing sample. There are also writing scholarships that are only available to applicants who demonstrate financial need.

Narrow and specific scholarships have smaller applicant pools and thus give each applicant a better chance at winning.

Students should also look for scholarships geared toward their strengths; for example, students with a specialty in a specific genre should consider applying for scholarships whose applications call for particular types of writing samples like poetry, essays, or short story.

Best writing scholarships

There are many scholarships on Bold.org for which writing students can apply. These writing scholarships are great for students studying writing or those who just have a passion for the craft.

Writing scholarships for high school students

High school students, especially high school seniors, should apply for scholarships and get a head start on gaining financial aid for college. Below are some writing scholarships to help make the most of this time and begin applying for — and perhaps win — scholarships.

Jean Allison Memorial Scholarship

This $4,000 scholarship will support graduates or recent students of Muleshoe High School. To continue her loving and determined legacy, the Jean Allison Memorial Scholarship exists and will support one student who has faced tremendous adversity but continues to persevere through it all toward a better future. Eligible students should apply by June 2, 2022 for consideration.

Tam and Betsy Vannoy Memorial Scholarship

This $1,500 writing scholarship will financially support high school seniors from West Virginia who want to further their writing education. Any high school senior in West Virginia who is planning on studying journalism or English may apply for this scholarship. Eligible students should apply by July 1, 2022 to be considered.

Richard Neumann Scholarship

The rising generation is full of creative students who will undoubtedly change the world. This scholarship aims to support high school students who are creative so they can find innovative solutions to today’s problems. Any creative high school senior who likes to make things or find solutions to problems may apply for this $1,000 scholarship.

Writing scholarships for college students

There are many scholarship opportunities for college students at many levels of education, including undergraduate and graduate school. It's never too late for students to start finding scholarship aid.

Matt Preziose Creative Scholarship

This $1,000 scholarship aims to honor the life of Matt Preziose by supporting students attending the State University of New York at New Paltz. Any undergraduate student pursuing an art-related major at the State University of New York at New Paltz may apply for this scholarship by September 5th.

Miscellaneous writing scholarships

There are also scholarships for which any writing student is available. Though they are not exclusively available to individuals in the field, these scholarships can help students seeking financial aid.

Bold Wise Words Scholarship

In an effort to allow students to reflect on the wise words they’ve been told, the Bold Wise Words Scholarship will go to award students in any field of study who have heard some profound and life-changing words they’d like to share. This $500 award will help financially support five students; the application deadline is June 12, 2022.

Bold Deep Thinking Scholarship

As one way to encourage more thinking, the Bold Deep Thinking Scholarship exists to support any student who is passionate about thinking deeply and making a positive impact on the world. The application deadline for this $500 scholarship is June 5, 2022.

Writing is a form of art. Check out these art scholarships today!

Frequently asked questions about writing scholarships

How to find writing scholarships

Students can find writing scholarships by searching the Bold.org scholarships page or by browsing the "Writing" category.

Writing students may also be eligible for arts scholarships and programs for fields with a heavy emphasis on writing.

Some schools offer writing scholarships for their students, so remember to check your university's financial aid office for more information.

When can I start applying?

Students over 14 years of age are eligible to begin applying for scholarship aid. It's never too early to begin funding your higher education. High school students, especially students in their junior year or senior year, should begin researching and applying for writing scholarships as soon as possible.

It's also never too late! College students — both undergraduate students and graduate students — can apply for writing scholarships throughout their college careers.

The sooner you begin applying for writing scholarships, the more you will be able to apply for; this will help boost your chances of success!

How do I know if I'm eligible for a scholarship?

Each writing scholarship will have different eligibility requirements, so it's important to closely read the scholarship description to avoid applying for scholarships you won't be considered for.

Some writing scholarships require that students be studying a field with an emphasis on writing, while others welcome anyone with a passion for writing. Some scholarship programs award students based on a writing submission, while others may require you to attend a particular university.

Always check the eligibility requirements listed in a scholarship description.

What do I have to do to apply?

Different writing scholarships will have different application processes, so always follow the specific instructions in the description of that scholarship.

Some scholarships may require an essay or a submission of previous work, while other scholarships may require additional forms and documentation.

Give yourself the best chance you can by always checking the details listed in the description for the particular writing scholarship in which you are interested.

Are scholarships counted as income?

Generally, scholarship money is not counted as income, as long as the money goes to qualified expenses and doesn't exceed your total costs.

The scholarship award must be used for school-related expenses, like tuition and fees, books, and school supplies. Scholarship money is taxable if it is used for indirect colsts, even if they're college-related, such as room and board, food, or travel.

Scholarships from Bold.org are sent directly to the school of the winner and applied towards qualifying educational costs, so you don't need to worry about reporting it as income or paying taxes on it.