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[Page 7] The 210 Best Essay Scholarships in October 2026

Updated: October 19, 2026

Written by:Elise
4.9/5 by 27,485 students

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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  1. RonranGlee Special Needs Teacher Literary Scholarship

    Funded by
    Ronne Gleason
    Open to high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students pursuing special education.
    Amount
    $10,000
    Deadline:
    Dec 20, 2026
    Education Level
    Any
    Takes minutes
    181

  2. Courageous Ministry Scholarship

    Funded by
    Matthew Brewer
    Open to Christian students in Western Illinois pursuing pastoral or evangelistic ministry in college or graduate school.
    Amount
    $13,000
    Deadline:
    Dec 23, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate, Graduate
    Takes minutes
    182

  3. Andrew Tipikin's Handy Dandy Legacy Scholarship

    Funded by
    Elizabeth Ward
    Open to trade school students in the skilled trades who have experienced foster care, adoption, or being orphaned.
    Amount
    $1,800
    Deadline:
    Dec 23, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    183

  4. Vision of Music Scholarship

    Funded by
    Makenna Wayman
    Open to female high school seniors and undergraduates pursuing careers in music.
    Amount
    $500
    Deadline:
    Dec 24, 2026
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    184

  5. No Limits Athletic Scholarship

    Funded by
    Kai Wayman
    Open to East Coast high school seniors with a physical or mental health disability who play sports.
    Amount
    $500
    Deadline:
    Dec 24, 2026
    Education Level
    High School
    Takes minutes
    185

  6. RonranGlee Literary Scholarship

    Funded by
    Ronne Gleason
    Open to high school seniors and undergraduates with a passion for close reading.
    Amount
    $10,000
    Deadline:
    Dec 26, 2026
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    186

  7. Kitchen to Campus Scholarship

    Funded by
    Jeromy Ko
    Open to high school seniors, undergraduates, and trade school students who have worked in a family-owned restaurant.
    Amount
    $3,000
    Deadline:
    Dec 27, 2026
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    187

  8. Lost Dreams Awaken Scholarship

    Funded by
    Benjamin Bozworth
    Open to college, trade school, and graduate students in recovery from or affected by their own addiction.
    Amount
    $1,000
    Deadline:
    Dec 28, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate, Graduate
    Takes minutes
    188

  9. Rose Browne Memorial Scholarship for Nursing

    Funded by
    Marie Browne-Lileika & Meredith Jose
    Open to undergraduate and graduate nursing students working toward an RN, BSN, or MSN degree.
    Amount
    $500
    Deadline:
    Dec 29, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate, Graduate
    Takes minutes
    189

  10. Lotus Scholarship

    Funded by
    Fiona Chen
    Open to BIPOC high school seniors, college, and graduate students from low-income or single-parent households.
    Amount
    $500
    Deadline:
    Dec 29, 2026
    Education Level
    Any
    Takes minutes
    190

  11. Filipino-American Scholarship

    Funded by
    Lee Cortez
    Open to Filipino-American undergraduate and trade school students with community service experience.
    Amount
    $1,500
    Deadline:
    Dec 29, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    191

  12. LegalMatch.com's Legal Futures Initiative Scholarship

    Funded by
    LegalMatch.com
    Open to four-year college juniors and seniors with a 3.75 GPA or higher who plan to attend law school.
    Amount
    $1,000
    Deadline:
    Dec 30, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    192

  13. SrA Terry (TJ) Sams Jr. Civil Engineering Scholarship

    Funded by
    TJ Sams Memorial Foundation Inc.
    Open to high school and undergraduate students pursuing civil engineering who serve in or plan to join the military.
    Amount
    $500
    Deadline:
    Dec 30, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    193

  14. Maggie's Way- International Woman’s Scholarship

    Funded by
    David Gaskill
    Open to female international high school and undergraduate students studying in the U.S.
    Amount
    $5,000
    Deadline:
    Dec 30, 2026
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    194

  15. Bill E. Wood Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    The Wood Family
    Open to Arkansas students pursuing careers in civil service, government, or ministry.
    Amount
    $1,000
    Deadline:
    Dec 30, 2026
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    195

  16. Tanya C. Harper Memorial SAR Scholarship

    Funded by
    Gail Saunders
    Open to Black high school seniors and undergraduates pursuing careers in medicine.
    Amount
    $500
    Deadline:
    Dec 31, 2026
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    196

  17. Early Childhood Developmental Trauma Legacy Scholarship

    Funded by
    Jesus Perez
    Open to undergraduate students studying psychology, social work, or a related social science.
    Amount
    $1,000
    Deadline:
    Dec 31, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    197

  18. Elizabeth Schalk Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Brian Schalk
    Open to high school seniors, college students, and graduate students affected by mental illness, personally or in their family.
    Amount
    $2,000
    Deadline:
    Dec 31, 2026
    Education Level
    Any
    Takes minutes
    198

  19. John Dowling Odom Welding Scholarship

    Funded by
    Lisa Vaughan
    Open to high school and trade school students pursuing welding with at least a 2.5 GPA.
    Amount
    $1,000
    Deadline:
    Dec 31, 2026
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    199

  20. Brian Chellios Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Stacie Streicher
    Open to high school seniors, undergraduates, and trade school students with a 3.0 GPA pursuing fire science or EMS.
    Amount
    $2,000
    Deadline:
    Jan 1, 2027
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    200

  21. Al Luna Memorial Design Scholarship

    Funded by
    Luna Family
    Open to BIPOC high school students pursuing careers in art, design, or other creative fields.
    Amount
    $1,000
    Deadline:
    Jan 1, 2027
    Education Level
    High School
    201

  22. Stephen LeCornu Routh Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Anonymous
    Open to Tennessee high school seniors and undergraduates pursuing engineering.
    Amount
    $2,000
    Deadline:
    Jan 1, 2027
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    202

  23. CF Boleky Scholarship

    Funded by
    Benjamin Lague
    Open to undergraduate students at community colleges and four-year schools in California.
    Amount
    $3,000
    Deadline:
    Jan 2, 2027
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    203

  24. David Goodnight Scholarship

    Funded by
    David Goodnight
    Open to undergraduate students at four-year colleges studying or pursuing careers in engineering.
    Amount
    $1,000
    Deadline:
    Jan 3, 2027
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    204

  25. Louis (Grizz) Scafetta Sr Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Michelle Gillard
    Open to New York high school and undergraduate students studying forestry, conservation, wildlife biology, or environmental science.
    Amount
    $2,000
    Deadline:
    Jan 3, 2027
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    205

  26. Fredrick W O'Neal III Skilled Trades Scholarship

    Funded by
    Ashley Banks
    Open to Chicago-area high school seniors and college or trade school students pursuing careers in the skilled trades.
    Amount
    $1,000
    Deadline:
    Jan 5, 2027
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    206

  27. Frontier Scholarship

    Funded by
    John Rodgers
    Open to high school seniors and undergraduates who are immigrants, refugees, or children of immigrants.
    Amount
    $2,500
    Deadline:
    Jan 5, 2027
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    207

  28. Pete and Consuelo Hernandez Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Hernandez Family
    Open to first-generation, underrepresented minority high school seniors and college freshmen in California.
    Amount
    $6,100
    Deadline:
    Jan 11, 2027
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    208

  29. Kibbe-Palmer Scholarship

    Funded by
    Roberta Kirsopp
    Open to Crosby High School (Texas) seniors with a 2.5+ GPA planning to attend college or trade school.
    Amount
    $30,000
    Deadline:
    Jan 12, 2027
    Education Level
    High School
    Takes minutes
    209

  30. Dave Cross Design Arts Scholarship

    Funded by
    Dave Cross
    Open to undergraduate students pursuing graphic design, media arts, digital design, or photography.
    Amount
    $500
    Deadline:
    Jan 15, 2027
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Takes minutes
    210
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