[Page 4] The 210 Best Essay Scholarships in May 2026
Updated: May 4, 2026
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Writing scholarship essays shouldn’t feel like homework. Bold.org essay scholarships reward authenticity and creativity. Here, we rank top options by award amount, deadline, and eligibility so you can apply with confidence.
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100% free.Kathryn Graham "Keyport's Mom" Scholarship
Funded byThomas AntonucciThis scholarship seeks to honor the legacy of Kathryn Graham by supporting a high school senior in New Jersey going onto pursue post-secondary educationAmount$1,000Deadline:May 12, 20264 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes91Norman's Scholarship
Funded bySukhanov-tranThis scholarship aims to support students who are passionate about special education and making an impact on students.Amount$2,500Deadline:May 13, 20265 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes92Edna McGrowder Memorial Scholarship
Funded byFergusonThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Edna McGrowder by continuing her mission of helping the next generation pursue their academic dreams.Amount$2,500Deadline:May 13, 20265 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes93Faye Hilgart Women in Mathematics and Math Education Scholarship
Funded byHilgart FamilyThis scholarship seeks to encourage girls and women in Wisconsin and Minnesota who wish to pursue a career in mathematics or mathematics education.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 13, 20265 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes94Jeune-Mondestin Scholarship
Funded byEronel MondestinThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Jeune-Mondestin by supporting students who are passionate about making a difference in the world through health.Amount$500Deadline:May 14, 20266 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes95Bryent Smothermon PTSD Awareness Scholarship
Funded byBryent SmothermonTo honor the legacy of Bryent Smothermon, this scholarship exists to support military veterans or military family members who have suffered from PTSD.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 14, 20266 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes96Gilbert Tonkin Memorial Scholarship
Funded byTonkin FamilyThis scholarship aims to honor the memory of Gilbert Tonkin by supporting students who are preparing to embark on their lives.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 14, 20266 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes97C. Burke Morris Scholarship
Funded byMorris MountaineerThis scholarship seeks to support students who are preparing to transition to college so they have the resources necessary to succeed.Amount$5,000Deadline:May 14, 20266 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes98Thadford Dickerson and Paula Schuman Scholar Award
Funded byTemel Dickerson and Nadja VielotThis scholarship aims to honor the lives of Thadford Dickerson and Dr. Paula Schuman by supporting students who are pursuing public service careers.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 14, 20266 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes99Selective Mutism Step Forward Scholarship
Funded byBell FamilyThis scholarship seeks to support students with selective mutism who are pursuing higher education in spite of the obstacles they face.Amount$500Deadline:May 14, 20266 days left!Education LevelAnyTakes minutes100Pangeta & Ivory Nursing Scholarship
Funded byFergusonThis scholarship aims to honor the lives of Pangeta and Ivory by supporting students who are pursuing degrees in nursing.Amount$7,500Deadline:May 14, 20266 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes101Edward Bolton Arts and Education Scholarship
Funded byBoltonThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Edward Bolton by supporting students who are preparing to pursue higher education.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 15, 20267 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes102Donna Davis Memorial Scholarship
Funded byDavisThis scholarship seeks to honor the life and passions of Donna Davis by supporting students from her district as they prepare to pursue their collegiate dreams.Amount$10,000Deadline:May 15, 20267 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes103Diana Wagner Memorial Scholarship
Funded byWagner FamilyThis scholarship aims to honor the legacy of Diana Wagner by supporting students from her local community who share her passion for helping others.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 15, 20267 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes104Siv Anderson Memorial Scholarship for Education in Healthcare
Funded byAndersonThis scholarship aims to honor the life of Siv Anderson by supporting students who are passionate about pursuing careers in healthcare.Amount$500Deadline:May 15, 20267 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes105Maureen C. Pace Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Funded byThe Pace FamilyThis scholarship aims to honor the incredible life of Maureen C. Pace by supporting the next generation of change-making nurses as they pursue higher education.Amount$2,500Deadline:May 15, 20267 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes106Michele L. Durant Scholarship
Funded byHeidelThis scholarship aims to monetarily assist women of color in pursuing higher education to free up their time and resources and allow them to focus on obtaining leadership roles and effecting necessary change.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 15, 20267 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes107Grover Scholarship Fund
Funded byDeep GroverThis scholarship seeks to support students who are pursuing trade school programs by reducing the burden of tuition or other costs.Amount$2,500Deadline:May 15, 20267 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes108Peter T. Buecher Memorial Scholarship
Funded bySamantha NortonThis scholarship exists to support high school seniors or undergraduate students from Minnesota who swim, dive and/or synchronized swim.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 15, 20267 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes109Kyle Rairdan Memorial Aviation Scholarship
Funded byRairdanThis scholarship aims to honor the life of Kyle Rairdan by supporting students who are pursuing degrees in aviation.Amount$4,000Deadline:May 15, 20267 days left!Education LevelAnyTakes minutes110Curtis Holloway Memorial Scholarship
Funded byLesley HollowayThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Curtis Holloway by supporting a student who has lost a parent or lives in a single-parent household.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 15, 20267 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes111John D. Sherman Scholarship
Funded byFriends and Family of John D. ShermanThis scholarship aims to honor the legacy of John D. Sherman Jr. by supporting students in Vermont who have MS or a physical disability.Amount$12,000Deadline:May 15, 20267 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes112Lee and Elizabeth Mockmore Scholarship
Funded byMockmoreThis scholarship aims to support students who are living with transverse myelitis and demonstrating resilience and optimism.Amount$3,000Deadline:May 16, 20268 days left!Education LevelAnyTakes minutes113Dr. Tom Farrell Future Leaders of Maine Scholarship
Funded byThe Future Leaders of Maine FoundationThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Dr. Tom Farrell by supporting students who share his passions and skills.Amount$15,000Deadline:May 16, 20268 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes114DK Memorial Sports Broadcasting Scholarship
Funded byFriends of DKThe community that loved DK aims to honor DK by supporting undergraduate and graduate students pursuing Sports Broadcasting or Sports Journalism.Amount$2,500Deadline:May 17, 20269 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes115Legacy of Selfless Care Scholarship
Funded byAnand KumarThis scholarship aims to honor an incredible legacy and the vital role nurses play in our communities by supporting students who demonstrate a strong commitment to service, empathy, and patient care.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 17, 20269 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes116Tinkerer’s Path Scholarship
Funded byAnand KumarThis scholarship seeks to support students who enjoy tinkering, building, and experimenting, and who want to use those skills to help others.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 17, 20269 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes117Commitment to Excellence Scholarship
Funded byThe Natale Foundation IncThis scholarship aims to honor Joseph’s life by providing financial relief to qualified students who need help financing their pursuit of higher education.Amount$4,000Deadline:May 17, 20269 days left!Education LevelHigh School118Duane & Diane Whitmire Scholarship
Funded byHeather McGannonThis scholarship aims to honor the memories of Duane and Diane Whitmire by supporting the students they cared so much about.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 17, 20269 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes119Kindness in Action Scholarship
Funded byAnand KumarThis scholarship aims to honor a wonderful aunt’s optimistic outlook on life by supporting students who are pursuing higher education.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 17, 20269 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes120
