[Page 5] The 210 Best Essay Scholarships in May 2026
Updated: May 11, 2026
Written by:
Elise


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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.Special Needs Advocacy Inc. Kathleen Lehman Memorial Scholarship
Funded bySpecial Needs Advocacy IncorporatedThis scholarship aims to honor the life of Kathleen Lehman by supporting students who are hoping to make a difference in the special needs community.Amount$3,500Deadline:May 28, 202613 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes121Special Needs Advocacy Inc. Teresa Politano Memorial Scholarship
Funded bySpecial Needs Advocacy IncorporatedThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Teresa Politano by supporting students as they pursue their dreams in journalism.Amount$2,500Deadline:May 28, 202613 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes122Salt Lick on Salt Creek Dream Big Scholarship
Funded bySalt Lick on Salt Creek, LLCThis scholarship aims to support students who dream big and are passionate about their creativity and future careers.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 29, 202614 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes123Heather Brown Sports Information Scholarship
Funded byHodgson and Brown FamilyThis scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Heather Brown by supporting students who share her interest in sports information.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 29, 202614 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes124Sgt. Albert Dono Ware Memorial Scholarship
Funded byUnited African OrganizationThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Sgt. Albert Dono Ware by supporting students who share his commitment to helping others.Amount$10,000Deadline:May 29, 202614 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes125Tom LoCasale Developing Character Through Golf Scholarship
Funded byLoCasale Family and FriendsThis scholarship seeks to honor Tom LoCasale’s life by supporting students who have learned valuable life skills through the sport of golf.Amount$3,000Deadline:May 29, 202614 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes126Larry Jackstien Jazz Piano Community Impact Scholarship
Funded byJill Jackstien AngerbauerThis scholarship aims to honor the life of Larry Jackstien by supporting young jazz pianists and inspiring them to create lifelong positive impacts in their communities through performances, education, and mentorship.Amount$6,000Deadline:May 29, 202614 days left!Education LevelAnyTakes minutes127Eddie L. Smith Sr. Memorial Scholarship
Funded bySmith FamilyThis scholarship will support high school seniors in Louisiana who want to make a positive impact on the world through their career.Amount$500Deadline:May 29, 202614 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes128Enders Scholarship
Funded byShaun EndersThis scholarship aims to support students who have lost a parent(s) to violence, drugs, or alcohol so they can better their lives and heal through meditation.Amount$7,500Deadline:May 29, 202614 days left!Education LevelAnyTakes minutes129Ray W Bausick Green Industry Memorial Scholarship
Funded byKevin KossThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Ray W Bausick by supporting high-achieving students who are pursuing careers in the green industry.Amount$8,000Deadline:May 29, 202614 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes130Deborah Stevens Pediatric Nursing Scholarship
Funded byDeborah StevensThis scholarship seeks to support nursing students who are interested in pursuing careers in pediatric nursing.Amount$3,000Deadline:May 29, 202614 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes131Pastor Thomas Rorie Jr. Christian Values Scholarship
Funded byFamily and Friends of Pastor Thomas Rorie Jr.This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Pastor Thomas Rorie Jr. by supporting students who share his strong sense of faith.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes132Anderson Women's Rugby Scholarship
Funded byHeather AndersonThis scholarship aims to help women’s rugby players pay for college so they can afford the costs of higher education.Amount$25,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes133Trudgers Fund
Funded byC.Louis GableThis scholarship will support undergraduate students who have struggled with addiction and are currently sober.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes134Scorenavigator Financial Literacy Scholarship
Funded byScoreNavigator IncThis scholarship will support high school junior and senior students from low-income backgrounds, who have a 3.0 GPA or higher.Amount$7,500Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes135Woodbridge VA State Burner's MC College Scholarship
Funded byWoodbridge VA State Burner's MCThis scholarship seeks to support students who are preparing to graduate from high school and pursue their dreams of higher education.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes136Sharra Rainbolt Memorial Scholarship
Funded byShred Cancer AssociationThis scholarship seeks to support students who have been personally impacted by cancer so they can continue working toward their dreams.Amount$25,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes137Jersey Johnny Memorial Scholarship
Funded byJill CimaskoThis scholarship seeks to support students who are known by their communities to show up and help their neighbors, in the spirit of Jersey Johnny.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes138Homeschool Students Service Scholarship
Funded byMichelle MooreThis scholarship seeks to support students who are homeschooled but planning to continue their education through college.Amount$500Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes139Jacob Goodfriend Memorial Scholarship
Funded byJana BrownThis scholarship aims to honor the life and memory of Jacob Goodfriend by supporting students who are preparing to embark on their futures.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes140Matthew J. Kauffman Memorial Scholarship
Funded byKauffman FamilyThis scholarship will support a healthcare major in Ohio.Amount$1,500Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes141Andrew Karode Scholarship for Nerds (Willoughby South High School)
Funded byKarode FamilyThis scholarship aims to support students from Willoughby South High School as they pursue their educational ambitions.Amount$10,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes142Let Your Light Shine Scholarship
Funded byAshley ThackerThis scholarship seeks to support motivated students who dream of becoming entrepreneurs after completing their college education.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes143Stuart Air Show IDOT Scholarship in Memory of Steve Bednarz
Funded byStuart Air ShowThis scholarship seeks to honor the incredible life of Steve Bednarz by supporting students who share his passion for STEM and aviation.Amount$3,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes144Harold Lee Treadway Memorial Scholarship
Funded byTreadwayThis scholarship seeks to support students who will carry forward Harold Lee Treadway’s values in their own journeys and honor his legacy of Christian love, resilience, and compassion.Amount$500Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes145Zachary Scheppat Memorial Science Scholarship
Funded byScheppatThis scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Zachary Scheppat by supporting students who want to become research scientists and/or science teachers.Amount$6,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes146Jeffrey J. Douglas First Amendment Scholarship
Funded byFree Speech CoalitionThis scholarship seeks to honor the work of Jeffrey J. Douglas by supporting students who share his interest in First Amendment law.Amount$5,000Deadline:May 30, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes1471000 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship
Funded byBold.orgThis scholarship will be awarded to the student whose Bold.org profile is the most bold, and who has earned at least 1000 Bold Points.Amount$10,000Deadline:May 31, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes148$25,000 "Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship
Funded byBold.orgThe world will be shaped by the bold—the fighters, the risk-takers, the earnest overachievers who won’t take no for an answer. The $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile.Amount$25,000Deadline:May 31, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes149400 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship
Funded byBold.orgThis scholarship will be awarded to the student whose Bold.org profile is the most bold, and who has earned at least 400 Bold Points.Amount$4,000Deadline:May 31, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes150