The 20 Best Merit-Based Scholarships in January 2026

Scholarships for 2.0 GPA may sound unheard of, but they're not! Financial aid is available in many forms to help students even if their GPA is 2.0. If you're a High school senior or a current college student, scholarships can help you afford tuition and education-related expenses.

With the national average GPA being 3.0, students with lower GPAs looking for college scholarships might be frustrated that many scholarships have high minimum GPA requirements. But, fret not! High school, undergraduate, and graduate students with a 2.0 GPA are still eligible for scholarships. You just have to find the right eligibility criteria.

Create a free profile now to access exclusive scholarships to help fund your college career.

What Is a 2.0 GPA?

A 2.0 is a C average grade. High school seniors looking to attend college will have run out of time to increase their GPA. And college students may or may not have time to boost their GPA. Regardless, there are opportunities for college students and high school graduates who have had difficulty keeping their GPA up.

In fact, in many states and high schools, a 2.0 is the minimum grade point average students may have to graduate. Some students with a 2.0 GPA have just celebrated their triumph of receiving their high school diploma.

If students know where to look, there are many scholarships that provide aid to students who have financial need even if their GPA is on the lower end. These scholarships are available to both high school and college students who are looking for ways to pay for their bachelor's degree or other higher education such as vocational school.

These scholarships tend to not focus on academics, and instead ask average students to discuss other things they are passionate about. Scholarship prompts may ask students to demonstrate leadership or talk about their dream careers.

Additionally, a scholarship program with no GPA requirement or a lower GPA requirement is often aimed toward students who tend to struggle to afford a degree program. While some scholarships available on Bold.org have high grade point average requirements, others don't have any GPA requirements!

What Is a 2.0 GPA Scholarship?

A 2.0 GPA scholarship is a scholarship program intended for students who have a minimum GPA of 2.0. These scholarships are usually aimed at students who have a GPA in the range of 2.0 - 3.0 and are intended to provide scholarship funding to students aren't able to apply for scholarships with higher minimum GPA requirements.

Can You Get a Scholarship with a 2.0 GPA?

There are 2.0 GPA scholarships that are open to any undergraduate, graduate, and high school students who want to apply so they can attend their accredited college. Furthermore, numerous scholarships have no minimum grade point average requirements and are open to all students.

Some scholarship opportunities are easy application, no-essay scholarships, while others require an essay. Essay requirements can vary in length and topic, and sometimes ask students to write about their major, future career, hobbies, sports, volunteer work, and more.

Anyone can make an account on Bold.org and begin applying for scholarships. Just make sure you meet the eligibility requirements. Moreover, make sure each essay you write answers the prompt given, and follow our writing tips for creating a great essay.

To increase your chances of winning a scholarship, make sure you apply early and often. Keep in mind that you can easily find a scholarship program that has no GPA requirement and instead looks at other types of application materials. There are plenty of opportunities for students with 2.0 GPAs to win scholarships, so start applying for scholarships today!

How to Apply for 2.0 GPA Scholarships

With a Bold.org profile, you can browse and apply for any scholarships you are eligible for. Search scholarships and use the filters to find scholarships that have a 2.0 minimum GPA requirement or no GPA requirement to apply, and use any other categories you fit in to find scholarships to apply for. Check all the eligibility requirements and the description of the scholarship to make sure you qualify.

As you apply for your scholarship program of choice, be sure to complete all of the application requirements in a timely fashion. This could include an application essay, an art portfolio, a letter of recommendation, or something else entirely. Once you submit everything correctly, upon acceptance, you can receive the funds you need to attend your accredited college.

How to Get a 2.0 GPA Scholarship

In order to be the best candidate possible, there are several ways you can craft your applications. When you put time and effort in, the people reviewing your applications can tell and will appreciate your passion.

Be Enrolled at a University or Trade school

The first and most important requirement for many scholarships is that applicants are students enrolled in a degree program, or are planning to be in the future.

Check Scholarship Requirements

Some scholarships have many requirements, such as gender, education level, extracurriculars, etc. Applying to scholarships that have several requirements makes your chances of winning greater because fewer people can apply.

When to Apply

It is never too early to start applying for scholarships! There are even scholarships available to high school seniors. The earlier you start planning for the cost of college the better prepared you will be. It's also never too late to start applying - there are scholarships available to current college students and graduate students.

Tips for Winning Scholarships

While winning a scholarship is never guaranteed and can be difficult due to the competition for scholarship aid, there are many things you can do to improve your chances of winning funding.

Make the Most of Your Bold Profile

Your profile on Bold.org is a great way to supplement your application. Make sure your profile is polished, free of errors, and shows off all the great things about you! Also, make sure to start collecting Bold Points so your profile stands out when donors are reviewing applications.

Apply Early and Often

The more scholarships you apply for the more chances you will have to win! Donors also often note the first few applicants, so applying early is a great way to catch some attention.

Put Time and Effort Into Your Applications

You can make your application stand out from others by checking out scholarship essay examples for inspiration. Below are some writing tips for your scholarship essay:

First, grab your readers from the first sentence and make your essay personal and unique so it's memorable.

Second, stay focused on the prompt and answer all aspects of the question. Even a well-written and unique essay won't be a winner if it doesn't answer the question(s) the donors asked.

Third, write your essay in multiple paragraphs. Scholarship essays generally have to be a few hundred words or more, so readers will be able to focus more easily if the essay is broken up into smaller pieces rather than a single block of text.

Finally, use correct grammar! Proofread your application once you are done to make sure you didn't miss any errors.

How to Find 2.0 GPA Scholarships

With a Bold.org profile, you can browse and apply for the many scholarships you are eligible for. Search scholarships and use the filters to find 2.0 GPA scholarships, as well as any other categories that you fit in, to find the best scholarships to apply for. Be sure to check all of the eligibility requirements and the description of the scholarship to make sure you qualify.

What Do I Have to Do to Apply for Scholarships?

To apply, create an account at Bold.org, click on any of the links to the featured scholarships in this article to find the prompts, and start writing! You can also browse through all available scholarships. Once your essay is done and polished, just copy and paste it into the application and click submit!

Are Scholarships Counted as Income?

Generally, scholarships are not considered income. Scholarship money can be used for tuition, fees, and the cost of books and required materials. For these school-related purposes, scholarships are not taxable, unless you use them to pay for room and board or other expenses, or if you receive more scholarship money than your total eligible costs.