[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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"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 LevelUndergraduate151
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 minutes152
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 minutes153
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 minutes154
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 minutes155
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 School156
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 minutes157
Jennifer Geisler Memorial Scholarship
Funded byAround the House RepairsOpen to undergraduate students in Western Pennsylvania.Amount$1,000Deadline:Dec 10, 2026Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes158
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 minutes159
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 minutes160
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 minutes161
'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 minutes162
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 minutes163
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 minutes164
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 minutes165
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 minutes166
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 minutes167
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 minutes168
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 minutes169
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 minutes170
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 minutes171
Ellen Randolph Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Funded byRandolph FamilyOpen to undergraduate and graduate students studying nursing.Amount$3,320Deadline:Dec 17, 2026Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes172
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 minutes173
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 minutes174
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 minutes175
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 minutes176
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 minutes177
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 minutes178
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 minutes179
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 minutes180
