[Page 6] The 210 Best Essay Scholarships in October 2026
Updated: October 26, 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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Edith Scarbrough Memorial Early Childhood Education Scholarship
Funded byScarbroughOpen to Head Start teachers continuing their studies in education or child development.Amount$1,200Deadline:Dec 14, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes151
Equan Bedenfield Legacy Scholarship
Funded byErnest, Bolin, Turner, and Bedenfield FamilyOpen to high school seniors in Genesee County, Michigan, with a 3.0 GPA or higher.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 16, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes152
How She Works Scholarship for Women's Education
Funded byRachel JaffeOpen to female-identifying undergraduate students at two- and four-year colleges.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 17, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes153
Ellen Randolph Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Funded byRandolph FamilyOpen to undergraduate and graduate students studying nursing.Amount$3,320Deadline:Dec 17, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes154
Sharon L. Smartt Memorial Scholarship
Funded byDebrah Smartt HenryOpen to first-generation, low-income female high school and undergraduate students in California, Oregon, or Washington studying the humanities.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 19, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes155
Bre Hoy Memorial Softball Scholarship
Funded byRachel Vogt VogtOpen to high school senior and undergraduate softball players with a 3.2 GPA or higher.Amount$2,000Deadline:Dec 19, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes156
Dr. Shuqiao Yao Memorial Scholarship
Funded byShuqiao Excellence AwardOpen to Asian graduate students studying psychology or psychiatry with a 3.0 GPA or higher.Amount$2,000Deadline:Dec 19, 2026Education LevelGraduateTakes minutes157
RonranGlee Special Needs Teacher Literary Scholarship
Funded byRonne GleasonOpen to high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students pursuing special education.Amount$10,000Deadline:Dec 20, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes158
Courageous Ministry Scholarship
Funded byMatthew BrewerOpen to Christian students in Western Illinois pursuing pastoral or evangelistic ministry in college or graduate school.Amount$13,000Deadline:Dec 23, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes159
Vision of Music Scholarship
Funded byMakenna WaymanOpen to female high school seniors and undergraduates pursuing careers in music.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 24, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes160
No Limits Athletic Scholarship
Funded byKai WaymanOpen to East Coast high school seniors with a physical or mental health disability who play sports.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 24, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes161
RonranGlee Literary Scholarship
Funded byRonne GleasonOpen to high school seniors and undergraduates with a passion for close reading.Amount$10,000Deadline:Dec 26, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes162
Kitchen to Campus Scholarship
Funded byJeromy KoOpen to high school seniors, undergraduates, and trade school students who have worked in a family-owned restaurant.Amount$3,000Deadline:Dec 27, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes163
Lost Dreams Awaken Scholarship
Funded byBenjamin BozworthOpen to college, trade school, and graduate students in recovery from or affected by their own addiction.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 28, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes164
Filipino-American Scholarship
Funded byLee CortezOpen to Filipino-American undergraduate and trade school students with community service experience.Amount$1,500Deadline:Dec 29, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes165
Rose Browne Memorial Scholarship for Nursing
Funded byMarie Browne-Lileika & Meredith JoseOpen to undergraduate and graduate nursing students working toward an RN, BSN, or MSN degree.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 29, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes166
Lotus Scholarship
Funded byFiona ChenOpen to BIPOC high school seniors, college, and graduate students from low-income or single-parent households.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 29, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes167
LegalMatch.com's Legal Futures Initiative Scholarship
Funded byLegalMatch.comOpen to four-year college juniors and seniors with a 3.75 GPA or higher who plan to attend law school.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 30, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes168
Bill E. Wood Memorial Scholarship
Funded byThe Wood FamilyOpen to Arkansas students pursuing careers in civil service, government, or ministry.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 30, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes169
SrA Terry (TJ) Sams Jr. Civil Engineering Scholarship
Funded byTJ Sams Memorial Foundation Inc.Open to high school and undergraduate students pursuing civil engineering who serve in or plan to join the military.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 30, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes170
Maggie's Way- International Woman’s Scholarship
Funded byDavid GaskillOpen to female international high school and undergraduate students studying in the U.S.Amount$5,000Deadline:Dec 30, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes171
Tanya C. Harper Memorial SAR Scholarship
Funded byGail SaundersOpen to Black high school seniors and undergraduates pursuing careers in medicine.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 31, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes172
Elizabeth Schalk Memorial Scholarship
Funded byBrian SchalkOpen to high school seniors, college students, and graduate students affected by mental illness, personally or in their family.Amount$2,000Deadline:Dec 31, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes173
Early Childhood Developmental Trauma Legacy Scholarship
Funded byJesus PerezOpen to undergraduate students studying psychology, social work, or a related social science.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 31, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes174
John Dowling Odom Welding Scholarship
Funded byLisa VaughanOpen to high school and trade school students pursuing welding with at least a 2.5 GPA.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 31, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes175
Stephen LeCornu Routh Memorial Scholarship
Funded byAnonymousOpen to Tennessee high school seniors and undergraduates pursuing engineering.Amount$2,000Deadline:Jan 1, 2027Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes176
Al Luna Memorial Design Scholarship
Funded byLuna FamilyOpen to BIPOC high school students pursuing careers in art, design, or other creative fields.Amount$1,000Deadline:Jan 1, 2027Education LevelHigh School177
Brian Chellios Memorial Scholarship
Funded byStacie StreicherOpen to high school seniors, undergraduates, and trade school students with a 3.0 GPA pursuing fire science or EMS.Amount$2,000Deadline:Jan 1, 2027Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes178
CF Boleky Scholarship
Funded byBenjamin LagueOpen to undergraduate students at community colleges and four-year schools in California.Amount$3,000Deadline:Jan 2, 2027Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes179
Louis (Grizz) Scafetta Sr Memorial Scholarship
Funded byMichelle GillardOpen to New York high school and undergraduate students studying forestry, conservation, wildlife biology, or environmental science.Amount$2,000Deadline:Jan 3, 2027Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes180
