[Page 6] The 210 Best Essay Scholarships in October 2026
Updated: October 19, 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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Shaffer Foundation of Delaware First Responder Scholarship
Funded byThe Shaffer Foundation of Delaware, Inc.Open to Delaware high school seniors who are children of first responders and plan to attend college or trade school.Amount$2,000Deadline:Nov 30, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes151
LaVelle McCoy Memorial Aviation Scholarship
Funded byMcCoy FamilyOpen to Arizona high school, college, and graduate students pursuing careers in aviation.Amount$4,000Deadline:Dec 2, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes152
Bright Lite Scholarship
Funded byBright Lite CharityOpen to low-income high school seniors, college, and trade school students in New York with a 3.0 GPA or higher.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 3, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes153
India Terrell Memorial Scholarship
Funded byTerrell CroomsOpen to Black high school seniors and undergraduate students in North Carolina.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 3, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes154
It Takes A Village “Bayanihan” Scholarship
Funded byTinidor FoodsOpen to Filipino students from immigrant, refugee, or asylee families in high school, college, or graduate school.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 4, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes155
Deena Collins Memorial Scholarship
Funded byCollinsOpen to female students in Kansas or Nebraska pursuing careers in healthcare, including mental health.Amount$2,000Deadline:Dec 5, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes156
"The Porter" A Star Will Shine Scholarship
Funded byReyna PorterOpen to Black college freshmen and recent high school graduates in Metro Atlanta, Georgia.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 5, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate157
Velazquez Social Sciences Scholarship
Funded byJorge VelazquezOpen to first-generation high school seniors of Puerto Rican heritage pursuing social work, psychology, or other social sciences.Amount$1,100Deadline:Dec 6, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes158
CML Music Scholarship
Funded bySherie McArthurOpen to first-generation undergraduate students at HBCUs who plan to pursue music.Amount$2,000Deadline:Dec 8, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes159
Rose M. Jackson Memorial Scholarship
Funded byEric JacksonOpen to Detroit Public Schools Community District high school seniors planning a two- or four-year degree.Amount$2,000Deadline:Dec 8, 2026Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes160
Private (PVT) Henry Walker Minority Scholarship
Funded bySteven FranklinOpen to Black undergraduate students at HBCUs who have volunteer experience.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 9, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes161
Bright Lights Scholarship
Funded byBria AlexanderOpen to students of color or first-generation students in high school, college, or trade school.Amount$1,100Deadline:Dec 10, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes162
Blackwood Memorial Scholarship For Nursing
Funded byAnonymousOpen to bachelor's nursing students at four-year universities in Washington or Idaho.Amount$20,000Deadline:Dec 10, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes163
Jennifer Geisler Memorial Scholarship
Funded byAround the House RepairsOpen to undergraduate students in Western Pennsylvania.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 10, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes164
Mental Health Profession Scholarship
Funded byWorldwide Mental Health FoundationOpen to high school seniors and undergraduates who have faced a mental health challenge and study psychology, counseling, or social work.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 10, 2026Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes165
Black Girls Go Global S.T.E.A.M. Scholarship
Funded byBlack Girls Go GlobalOpen to low-income Black female high school seniors pursuing STEAM.Amount$5,000Deadline:Dec 10, 2026Education LevelHigh School166
'The Edgy Prepster' Scholarship
Funded byMelissa RogersOpen to female students pursuing fashion design, fashion business, merchandising, styling, or other fashion fields.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 13, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes167
Deraleau Family Multidisciplinary Scholarship
Funded byDeraleau FamilyOpen to undergraduate students majoring in multi/interdisciplinary studies with a 3.0 GPA or higher.Amount$5,000Deadline:Dec 13, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes168
Dickinson L. Howell Memorial Scholarship
Funded byChristopher HowellOpen to University of New Hampshire undergraduate and graduate students pursuing STEM.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 14, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes169
Terry Masters Memorial Scholarship
Funded byMasters FamilyOpen to high school seniors, college, and graduate students pursuing the fine arts.Amount$1,500Deadline:Dec 14, 2026Education LevelAnyTakes minutes170
Dr. Steve Aldana Memorial Scholarship
Funded byWellSteps, LLC.Open to undergraduate students pursuing wellness, employee wellness, or public health.Amount$500Deadline:Dec 14, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes171
Lavender Ribbon Cancer Scholarship
Funded byVenne Zimmer FamilyOpen to undergraduates in Maryland or Virginia who have lost an immediate family member to cancer.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 14, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes172
Henry Respert Alzheimer's and Dementia Awareness Scholarship
Funded byShawn RespertOpen to undergraduate students pursuing medicine, medical research, neuroscience, or psychology.Amount$7,500Deadline:Dec 14, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes173
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 minutes174
Vernon Hawkins Memorial Scholarship
Funded byGood Trouble FoundationOpen to undergraduate golfers with a 2.5 GPA or higher at one of the listed universities.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 14, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes175
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 minutes176
Ellen Randolph Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Funded byRandolph FamilyOpen to undergraduate and graduate students studying nursing.Amount$3,320Deadline:Dec 17, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes177
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 minutes178
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 minutes179
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 minutes180
