Exclusive Scholarships for High School Freshmen to Apply for in 2025

About scholarships for high school freshmen

You may not be thinking too much about college as a high school freshman, but it is never too early to start preparing. High school freshmen typically have a lighter workload and more free time than later years of high school. You can put this extra time to good use by looking for college scholarships and getting ahead on your college expenses.

Have you moved on from your freshman year? Click here to view our full list of scholarships for high school students.

About scholarships for high school freshmen

With college tuition and living expenses only continuing to climb, paying for higher education can seem impossible. Many college students are becoming heavily reliant on student loans, with student debt reaching a record high of $1.6 trillion in 2020.

Financial aid can help reduce college costs, with 89% of college students receiving some type of aid. However, financial aid doesn’t go far enough for many college students, with 58% of 2018 graduates holding student debt, owing to an average of $29,000 each.

Luckily, there is an abundance of scholarships and grants available for students like you to help you manage your college expenses. You can get started by clicking on any of the scholarships below to start applying for free on Bold.org. It’s never too early to be winning scholarships.

Bold.org has many scholarships that are open to students of any education level, opening up many opportunities for high school freshmen to begin saving for college. High school freshmen are not expected to have their whole futures figured out yet, but Bold.org makes it easy for even the earliest high school students to start earning money for the future.

You don't have to know where you want to go to college yet nor what you want to pursue as a future career. No matter what career path you choose to do that requires a future college education, college expenses will be there. Current high school freshmen can begin preparing for higher education even without knowing what that exactly entails for them yet.

Why are there scholarships for freshmen in high school?

College expenses will be high no matter when you choose to go to college, so it can be helpful to start looking ahead as a high school student. For freshmen in high school, college is still quite distant. However, ambitious current high school freshmen may want to get ahead on saving for the cost of higher education.

Freshman year tends to be less busy than the later years of high school. While many high school seniors may want to apply for scholarships, they are also in the process of many other applications and arrangements. Because of this, many students may not be able to apply to as many scholarships during their senior high as they'd like to. Getting a start as a freshman student can be crucial in securing as many scholarships as possible. The earlier you begin applying, the more you will accumulate over time to cover the cost of college.

How to qualify for high school freshman scholarships

There are a few criteria students need to meet as they begin applying for different scholarships. These vary depending on the scholarship, but some requirements are consistent for scholarships for high school freshmen.

Be a current freshman

Some scholarships may request that a student is of a specific grade level, such as being a high school freshman. In those cases, this requirement will determine your eligibility, but the list provided focuses more on scholarships that are open to people of any education level. The scholarships above that are listed as being for any education level are open to current high school students and college students alike.

Plan to pursue higher education

The money earned through scholarships on Bold.org goes towards paying for future college education or for other students that seek out different educational opportunities. Bold.org will hold your earnings in an account until they can be transferred directly to your school. This means that you should apply to these scholarships with the intention of continuing your education after high school.

Check eligibility requirements

The eligibility requirements are different for different scholarships. Many scholarships have a wide range of eligibility so that students of any background, education, and interest can apply. At the same time, Bold.org hosts scholarships for individualized interests, specific education ranges, gender, and so much more. Make sure to check these requirements before applying for the scholarship in order to save time.

Types of scholarships available for high school freshman

Since freshmen aren't as far as upperclassmen in their educational journeys, there are fewer specific scholarships geared toward high school freshmen. Therefore, the types of scholarships available for high school freshmen tend to be for a wider range of people. Scholarships that encourage any educational level to apply are prime examples of this.

Luckily, there is a variety of scholarships open to high school freshmen. There are scholarships that don't require essays and are often simple to apply for. See Bold.org's page for No-Essay scholarships, many of which are open to any education level. There are other scholarships that ask for short essays about a topic. These scholarships may take more time to complete, but fewer people tend to apply to them than for the no-essay scholarships. Other scholarships showcase special talents: video-making, art, music, etc.

There is such a wide variety of scholarships out there for high schoolers that freshmen don't need to look far to find scholarships that are right for them.

How to find scholarships for high school freshman

After creating your free profile with Bold.org, you can start to search for scholarships that you meet the requirements for. On the scholarship search page, go to the education filter and choose 'high school.' This will filter the searches for high school students, but keep in mind that not every scholarship for high schoolers includes high school freshmen. Scholarships open for freshmen applicants are either open to all high schoolers or are open to any education level.

To make sure you are among the applicants eligible for a specific scholarship, check the descriptions of scholarships and their eligibility requirements to see if you are a good fit for the scholarship. You can begin your search by browsing the scholarships for freshmen listed on this page.

When to start applying for scholarships

It is never too early for high school freshmen to begin searching and applying for scholarships. Bold.org provides many scholarships for students of any level of education, so you can begin applying as soon as you create your Bold.org profile.

The earlier you apply for scholarships, the more time you will have later to focus on other aspects of college planning. By applying as a freshman in high school, you get experience in the scholarship application process and can begin saving for college.

What to consider when applying for scholarships

As a high school freshman, you are new to the scholarship application process. Because of this, you might not win as many scholarships as you'd like right away. However, just because you don't win the first couple of scholarships you apply for, doesn't mean you won't win scholarships in the future. Applying as a freshman helps give you experience with the application process, giving you a head start over upperclassmen who are looking at scholarship applications for the first time.

Apply to as many scholarships as you are able, for that will give you the best chance at winning one. For every scholarship you apply to, not only will you increase your chances of being chosen, but you will also get crucial experience that will benefit you throughout your high school scholarship experiences. Read on to learn tips for winning scholarships.

How to apply for scholarships

The scholarship application process on Bold.org takes only a few easy steps. First, create your free Bold.org profile. You can do this by clicking on any of the listed scholarships, which will take you to where you can create an account. You will then have access to hundreds of exclusive Bold.org scholarships.

From there, you can start browsing Bold.org's many scholarship opportunities. Easy-to-use features, such as various filters, help you with sorting through scholarships. Once you find the best scholarships for your interests and education level, you can use the bookmark feature to set aside scholarships you want to come back to later.

The scholarship application process on Bold.org is set up to make applying as stress-free as possible so that you can apply for many different scholarships.

Tips for winning scholarships

As a high school freshman, it can be intimidating to start applying for scholarships. However, that shouldn't stop you from applying. There are strategies used by application winners that increase their chances of being selected for scholarships. By following these tips, you can help set your application apart.

Apply for freshmen scholarships as early as possible

Bold.org posts new scholarship opportunities consistently, giving you many opportunities. Since some scholarships are introduced and then awarded over the span of just a few months, applying early will give you more scholarship options over the course of your high school scholarship search. Instead of applying for scholarships all at once, apply early and for many different scholarships to space out the deadlines.

Look to apply for scholarships with limited eligibility

When deciding which scholarships to apply to, look at the requirements for different scholarships. Those with more specific eligibility guidelines are open to fewer students and therefore aren't likely to have as many applicants. This helps give you a better chance of winning the scholarship, for there is less competition. Keep in mind your interests, home state, gender, race, education level, and other factors, for there are scholarships tailored to each of these specifics.

Make sure to put effort into your essays

Essays don't need to be long, pedantic, works of art in order to win a scholarship. However, if you put effort into how you write your essay, your application is more likely to stand out to donors as they select scholarship winners. Take some time planning out what you want to write before writing your essay. Once you have it written, proofread the essay before submitting it. Spelling and grammar errors aren't hard to spot if you take the time to review what you've written.

Apply to as many scholarships as you can

There isn't a limit on how many scholarships you can win through Bold.org. This means that you are able to apply to as many scholarships as you'd like to. Since you are unlikely to win every scholarship, it is helpful to apply to as many as you can. This way, you have somewhere to turn if you don't get the scholarships you were initially hoping for. Applying to more scholarships gives you experience in the process, but more importantly, it gives you the best chance of winning more scholarships.

Increase the strength of your Bold.org profile

Make sure to fill out your Bold.org profile and put in specifics that can help donors get to know who you are. This is especially important for scholarships that don't require essays because students with completed profiles often give helpful information about themselves that would usually come up in an essay question. By filling out your profile completely, you will receive more Bold Points, which will open up more exclusive scholarships for you to consider applying for.

High school freshman academic success guide

To set yourself up for success in high school, we’ve created this guide on how to use your freshman year to your advantage so that you can be as prepared for college as possible!

Summer before freshman year:

• Use your free time over the summer to read as much as possible in order to improve your vocabulary and comprehension as test prep for the SAT and ACT
• Get involved with volunteer work or other extracurricular activities, like sports or the arts
• High school can be a big adjustment, so use the summer to prepare yourself for the upcoming school year

Freshman fall:

• Establish a connection with your guidance counselor and ask them for college-prep resources
• Get involved with extracurricular activities at your school, such as clubs, sports teams, or other groups
• Create your class schedule for the year, making sure you’re enrolled in the necessary classes

Freshman winter:

• Work on maintaining your GPA and seek help from your counselor if you’re struggling with any classes
• Continue searching for scholarships you’re eligible for, such as those listed above, and work on your applications

Freshman spring:

• Create a resume that details your achievements and extracurricular involvement from the year
• Begin planning out your summer activities, including volunteering, working, or doing an internship
• Schedule any college visits you want to do during the summer

Frequently asked questions about scholarships for high school freshmen

Not everything about the scholarship process is easy to understand at first glance. Since high school freshmen don't have much experience with scholarship applications, this section will help answer some of the most frequently asked questions about high school freshman scholarships.

Who is eligible for high school freshman scholarships?

Different scholarships have different sets of eligibility requirements, so make sure to check that the scholarship you are applying to is applicable to you. Many of the scholarships listed don't have many requirements. Since there aren't as many scholarships specifically for high school freshmen, it is more common for freshmen to apply to scholarships with a wider eligibility range.

What is the best website to apply for scholarships?

There are many scholarship websites out there that you can look into throughout your search. However, not all of those other sites have the same user-friendly application process nor as many scholarships geared towards individual interests as Bold.org does. Bold.org has new scholarships opening up all the time, constantly giving new opportunities for scholarships. 

How do I find scholarships for high school freshmen?

Use the filters on the scholarship search page, specifically narrowing the search to students in high school. There are many scholarships open to students of any education level, but still, make sure to check eligibility requirements.

Are scholarships taxable income?

Scholarship money earned on Bold.org is sent directly to the college or institution you are attending and therefore is not considered taxable income. For students in high school, Bold.org holds scholarship earnings in an account until they attend college and then sends the money directly to the school.