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ScholarshipsBy TypeMerit-Based Scholarships2.5 GPA Scholarships2.5 GPA Scholarships

[Page 2] The 60 Best Merit-Based Scholarships in October 2026

Updated: October 19, 2026

Written by:Elise
4.9/5 by 27,447 students

If you’ve worked hard in school, scholarships should reward that effort. This page highlights merit-based scholarships on Bold.org, ranked by award amount, effort, and eligibility — built to recognize your achievements.

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  1. Hakim Mendez Scholarship

    Funded by
    Hakim Mendez Scholarship Fund
    This scholarship will support students attending or planning to attend an HBCU.
    Amount
    $1,150
    Deadline:
    Dec 4, 2023
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    31

  2. Manuela Calles Scholarship for Women

    Funded by
    Dr. Sandra Calles
    This scholarship aims to support female undergraduate, graduate, trade school, or bootcamp students with at least a 2.5 GPA studying or pursuing a career in business or mental health
    Amount
    $1,000
    Deadline:
    Aug 26, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate, Graduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    Takes minutes
    32

  3. Grand Oaks Enterprises LLC Scholarship

    Funded by
    Grand Oaks Enterprises LLC
    This scholarship seeks to help students who need financial assistance in order to pursue their dreams of higher education.
    Amount
    $1,655
    Deadline:
    Apr 14, 2026
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    33

  4. Alcide Thomas Jr. Scholarship

    Funded by
    Thomas Family
    This scholarship seeks to support students who are passionate about pursuing higher education and need financial assistance to do so.
    Amount
    $1,320
    Deadline:
    Apr 15, 2023
    Education Level
    High School
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    34

  5. Brinley Heckermann Empowering Spirit Scholarship

    Funded by
    Heckermann
    This scholarship aims to honor the memory of Brinley Heckermann by supporting students who share her background in athletics.
    Amount
    $4,600
    Deadline:
    May 31, 2024
    Education Level
    High School
    Scholarship is awarded to
    3 winners
    Takes minutes
    35

  6. Valerie Rabb Academic Scholarship

    Funded by
    All Val's Children Foundation
    This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Valerie Rabb by supporting students who will pursue higher education.
    Amount
    $1,800
    Deadline:
    Apr 21, 2026
    Education Level
    High School
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    36

  7. Veterans Writing Group of San Diego Ernie Pyle Award

    Funded by
    Veterans' Writing Group of San Diego County
    This scholarship seeks to support military veterans who are pursuing their education and those who are active military to cover their college expenses.
    Amount
    $1,500
    Deadline:
    Sep 30, 2023
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    37

  8. Sewing Seeds: Lena B. Davis Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Nekia Davis
    This scholarship aims to support underrepresented students.
    Amount
    $2,000
    Deadline:
    Apr 12, 2026
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    4 winners
    Takes minutes
    38

  9. Walking In Authority International Ministry Scholarship

    Funded by
    Walking in Authority International Ministry
    This scholarship will support a student who is passionate about making a difference in their community.
    Amount
    $550
    Deadline:
    Nov 8, 2024
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    Takes minutes
    39

  10. Tia Lukeya Woods from Books Pages to Boarding Passes Scholarship

    Funded by
    Tanika Cabral
    This scholarship aims to honor the life of Tia Lukeya Woods by supporting students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, a love of learning, and a desire to expand their worldview.
    Amount
    $6,500
    Deadline:
    Jul 8, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    40

  11. Julius Quentin Jackson Scholarship

    Funded by
    This scholarship seeks to support students who have financial need so they can afford to pursue their collegiate dreams.
    Amount
    $4,000
    Deadline:
    Apr 10, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    3 winners
    Takes minutes
    41

  12. Second Chance Scholarship

    Funded by
    Ceri Goff
    Open to low-income undergraduates with a 2.5 GPA or lower who are first-generation, parents or caregivers, disabled, or affected by mental health.
    Amount
    $11,250
    Deadline:
    Oct 12, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Scholarship is in review
    Takes minutes
    42

  13. Arnetha V. Bishop Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Austin/Bishop Family
    This scholarship will support BIPOC students pursuing a career in the mental health field.
    Amount
    $1,000
    Deadline:
    Jun 21, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate, Graduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    43

  14. Jackie Hudson Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Lapatra Bowen-Harbison
    This scholarship aims to honor the memory of Jackie Hudson by encouraging students to continue her legacy of service and helping young people achieve their goals.
    Amount
    $850
    Deadline:
    Dec 31, 2024
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    Takes minutes
    44

  15. Charlotte Emery Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Keia Carter
    This scholarship seeks to honor the legacy of Charlotte Emery by uplifting Black girls and women so they can succeed in life and flourish.
    Amount
    $1,100
    Deadline:
    Jul 1, 2022
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    45

  16. Good Vibes Only Scholarship in Memory of C. Spoon

    Funded by
    Shawn Witherspoon
    This scholarship seeks to support BIPOC students so they can succeed in all of their endeavors and advocate for the importance of mental health in overcoming generational trauma.
    Amount
    $2,500
    Deadline:
    Mar 17, 2025
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    Takes minutes
    46

  17. Eunice Richardson Scholarship for Girls

    Funded by
    Richardson Family
    This scholarship aims to honor the life of Eunice Richardson by supporting young girls pursuing higher education.
    Amount
    $1,565
    Deadline:
    May 10, 2024
    Education Level
    High School
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    47

  18. Ray W Bausick Green Industry Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Kevin Koss
    This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Ray W Bausick by supporting high-achieving students who are pursuing careers in the green industry.
    Amount
    $13,000
    Deadline:
    Jun 30, 2026
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    4 winners
    Takes minutes
    48

  19. Gwendolyn M. Sanders Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Sharon McGregor
    This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Gwendolyn M. Sanders by supporting students who are pursuing degrees in nursing.
    Amount
    $4,000
    Deadline:
    Apr 10, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    8 winners
    Takes minutes
    49

  20. Brent Haines "Make it Happen" Scholarship

    Funded by
    Haines Family
    This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Brent Haines by supporting motivated, community-minded students who are following in his footsteps.
    Amount
    $4,000
    Deadline:
    Jun 23, 2023
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    50

  21. Johnnie M. Parris Public Service Scholarship

    Funded by
    Johnnie M. Parris Foundation
    This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Johnnie M. Parris by supporting African American students who are pursuing degrees in public service or related fields.
    Amount
    $760
    Deadline:
    Nov 1, 2023
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    Takes minutes
    51

  22. Ambition Scholarship "ii"

    Funded by
    Life Empowerment Ministries
    This scholarship aims to honor the memory of Paitriq Ante' Jeffreys by supporting students who share his ambition.
    Amount
    $625
    Deadline:
    Jun 5, 2026
    Education Level
    High School
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    Takes minutes
    52

  23. Jeffrey A. Mattos Memorial Nursing Scholarship

    Funded by
    Gifted Scholars Leadership Program
    This scholarship seeks to support young women of color who are following Jeffrey’s path and pursuing careers in nursing.
    Amount
    $3,198
    Deadline:
    Apr 16, 2022
    Education Level
    Undergraduate, Graduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    3 winners
    Takes minutes
    53

  24. Greer Innovation, A Scholarship For Creatives

    Funded by
    Rachel Greer
    This scholarship seeks to support undergraduate students who are bringing creativity to their pursuit of higher education.
    Amount
    $1,031
    Deadline:
    Jun 10, 2025
    Education Level
    High School, Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    Takes minutes
    54

  25. Betty and Louie Dicks SCSU Scholarship

    Funded by
    Augustus Dicks
    This scholarship seeks to honor Betty & Louie Dicks by supporting an undergraduate male student at South Carolina State University.
    Amount
    $1,500
    Deadline:
    Aug 3, 2025
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    55

  26. Etherine Tansimore Scholarship

    Funded by
    Ollie Tansimore
    This scholarship is perfect for high school seniors from low-income backgrounds who want to make a difference through a career in the medical field.
    Amount
    $1,010
    Deadline:
    Dec 12, 2024
    Education Level
    High School
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    56

  27. Beacon of Opportunity Scholarship

    Funded by
    Hannah Pence
    This scholarship aims to support underserved students who may not have the resources or guidance they need to reach their full potential.
    Amount
    $1,000
    Deadline:
    Aug 23, 2025
    Education Level
    High School
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    Takes minutes
    57

  28. Kevin David Special Education Scholarship for Montgomery County Public Schools

    Funded by
    Kevin David
    This scholarship seeks to support students who have received special education services and are devoted to continuing their education.
    Amount
    $3,025
    Deadline:
    May 3, 2026
    Education Level
    High School
    Scholarship is awarded to
    3 winners
    Takes minutes
    58

  29. CW4 Savidge Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Jennifer Rucker
    This scholarship seeks to honor the legacy of CW4 Savidge by shining a light on mental health challenges among active-duty service members and veterans.
    Amount
    $775
    Deadline:
    Apr 5, 2026
    Education Level
    Undergraduate
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    Takes minutes
    59

  30. Barbara A. Walker Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Family and Friends of Barbara A. Walker
    This scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Barbara A. Walker by supporting students who wish to pursue higher education.
    Amount
    $1,055
    Deadline:
    Mar 17, 2026
    Education Level
    High School
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    Takes minutes
    60
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[Page 2] Top 2.5 GPA Scholarships to Apply for in October 2026 | Bold.org