[Page 6] The 210 Best Essay Scholarships in October 2026

This scholarship aims to honor the life of Susan Rita Murray by supporting undergraduate women in nursing with a 3.5+ GPA.

This scholarship aims to make college more accessible to students with no family background in higher education so they can have the same opportunities as their peers.

This scholarship aims to honor the life of Sue Murray by supporting students who share her passion for the culinary arts.

This scholarship aims to honor the life of David G. Sutton by supporting athletes who are pursuing higher education.

This scholarship will support a woman golfer.

This scholarship supports high school seniors and current trade/vocational school students pursuing a trade school program, helping cover tuition and related costs.

This scholarship aims to support students who are researching, writing, and advocating for the expansion of sexual assault and domestic violence legislation.

This scholarship aims to help first responder families while investing in the next generation in order to express gratitude and commitment to those who serve and protect us every day.

This scholarship honors LaVelle McCoy by supporting Arizona high school, undergraduate, and graduate students with prior aviation experience who are pursuing a career in aviation.

This scholarship seeks to honor the life and legacy of India Terrell by investing in the future of Black leadership in the fields of health sciences.

This scholarship supports low-income New York high school seniors, trade school and undergraduate students with a 3.0 GPA or higher who are dedicated to uplifting their communities.

This scholarship supports Filipino immigrant students (from high school through graduate school) as they pursue their education.

This scholarship supports Black/African American rising undergraduate freshmen who completed high school or their GED in 2026 and live in Metro Atlanta, Georgia (Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, Gwinnett, Douglas, or Henry County).

This scholarship honors Deena Collins by supporting female-identifying high school, undergraduate, and graduate students in Kansas or Nebraska with a 3.0+ GPA who are pursuing healthcare (including mental health) careers, with preference for those planning to practice in rural areas.

This scholarship supports Puerto Rican heritage, first-generation-college-bound high school seniors pursuing a two- or four-year degree in social work, psychology, sociology, political science, international relations, or criminal justice.

This scholarship honors Rose M. Jackson by supporting Detroit Public Schools Community District high school seniors as they pursue a two- or four-year college degree.

This scholarship supports first-generation undergraduate students at HBCUs who plan to pursue a career in music.

This scholarship honors Henry Walker Sr by supporting African American undergraduate students with financial need who attend an HBCU, maintain a 2.8+ GPA, and have volunteering experience.

This scholarship honors public health nurse Evelyn Blackwood by supporting nursing students in a four-year Bachelor's program at a university in Washington or Idaho.

This scholarship supports high school seniors and undergraduates who have personally overcome or are working to overcome a mental health challenge and are pursuing a degree in a mental health-related field like psychology, counseling, or social work.

This scholarship honors Jennifer Geisler by supporting undergraduate parents in Western Pennsylvania as they balance pursuing their education with raising their children.

This scholarship seeks to support and uplift Black girls who demonstrate academic promise, leadership potential, and financial need as they pursue education and career pathways in S.T.E.A.M.

This scholarship aims to support students who have had to overcome obstacles in order to pursue a college education.

This scholarship supports female high school, undergraduate, and graduate students pursuing fashion business, fashion design, merchandising, styling, marketing, entrepreneurship, or another fashion-related field.

This scholarship supports undergraduate students majoring in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies who hold at least a 3.0 GPA, encouraging them to pursue their diverse interests while serving their communities.

This scholarship honors Dickinson L. Howell by supporting University of New Hampshire undergraduate and graduate students pursuing STEM majors, with a preference for engineering students.

This scholarship supports Maryland and Virginia undergraduates with at least a 3.2 GPA who have lost a parent, guardian, or caregiver to cancer and are pursuing a service-oriented career.

This scholarship aims to continue Terry Masters’ legacy of giving by inspiring others to paint outdoors and to honor his memory through excellence in the arts for years to come.

This scholarship honors Henry Respert by supporting undergraduate students pursuing medical research, biomedical science, neuroscience, or psychology, with preference given to Michigan State University students.

This scholarship honors Edith Scarbrough by supporting Head Start teachers (high school graduate through graduate level) with at least one year of work experience who are pursuing further studies in education or child development, with preference for Michigan applicants.