[Page 5] The 210 Best Essay Scholarships in May 2026
Updated: April 27, 2026
Written by:
Elise


4.9/5 by 20513 students
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.
LIVE
May 02
,,
Awarded to Bold.org users
Why trust Bold.org?
100% free.Elijah Espy Memorial Scholarship
Funded byLorrie EspyThis scholarship aims to honor the life of Elijah by supporting students who are interested in learning a trade and furthering their education.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 12, 202610 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes121Christina Taylese Singh Memorial Scholarship
Funded bySingh FamilyThis scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Christina Taylese Singh by supporting students who are following in Christina’s footsteps.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 12, 202610 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes122Faye 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, 202611 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes123Edna 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, 202611 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes124Norman'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, 202611 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes125Bryent 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, 202612 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes126C. 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, 202612 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes127Pangeta & 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, 202612 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes128Gilbert 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, 202612 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes129Thadford 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, 202612 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes130Jeune-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, 202612 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes131Selective 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, 202612 days left!Education LevelAnyTakes minutes132C6 Scholarship
Funded byCorrêaThis scholarship seeks to honor and support Gold Star families by uplifting students who are preparing to finish high school and pursue further education.Amount$2,500Deadline:May 14, 202612 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes133Curtis 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, 202613 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes134Peter 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, 202613 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes135Kyle 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, 202613 days left!Education LevelAnyTakes minutes136Maureen 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, 202613 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes137Donna 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, 202613 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes138Grover 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, 202613 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes139Diana 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, 202613 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes140John 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, 202613 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes141Lee 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, 202614 days left!Education LevelAnyTakes minutes142Dr. 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, 202614 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes143Duane & 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, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes144Tinkerer’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, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes145Kindness 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, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes146Commitment 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, 2026Education LevelHigh School147Jon Cook Work Hard and Go Forth to Serve Scholarship
Funded byJon Cook FamilyThis scholarship aims to honor the life of Jon Cook by supporting self-sufficient students pursuing ongoing education in the healthcare field who have work experience as a CNA, paramedic, EMT, firefighter, home health caregiver, personal care attendant at a nursing home, or with home health and emergency services.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 17, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes148DK 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, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes149Legacy 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, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes150