Top Undergraduate Scholarships to Apply for in 2024

About undergraduate scholarships

Undergraduate scholarships are a form of financial aid offered to students pursuing a bachelor's degree, associate degree, and sometimes even trade certificates.

Here at Bold.org you can apply to exclusive scholarships just for you. Sign up here and check which scholarships you are eligible to apply for right now.

Why apply for scholarships?

Unlike student loans, scholarship awards are a form of gift aid, meaning they don't have to be paid back and are free money, that can offset the costs of your education. Undergraduates often lack the necessary funds to cover their college costs, including full tuition, books, room, and board.

Undergraduate scholarships seek to offset these financial burdens so that all students can afford to pursue higher education, regardless of financial status. Scholarship funds can make up the difference, helping students reduce or eliminate the need to take out student loans.

The costs of a college education

College expenses have risen at a rapid pace in recent decades, making college degrees much harder to afford than they used to be. Since 2001 alone, tuition at private national universities has grown by 144%. Even more significant, out-of-state costs at public national universities have grown 171% in the same timeframe.

In-state tuition used to be a solution for lower-income students due to the lower rates. While in-state tuition is still cheaper than out-of-state costs, in-state tuition at public national universities has grown by a staggering 211% just since 2001.

These tuition hikes are vastly outpacing inflation. From 2001 to 2021, consumer price index inflation rose by only 54%, showing that college is truly becoming more expensive as time goes on.

Private tuition now costs an average of $43,775 per year. While public options are cheaper, costing $28,238 for out-of-state students and $11,631 for in-state students, they're still difficult for lower and middle-class families to afford.

The student debt crisis

Due to rising tuition and comparatively stagnant wages, the average student cannot afford college without taking on student debt. An increasing amount of students are turning to loans to finance their degrees.

As a result, the student debt crisis has surpassed a record amount of $1.7 trillion. This debt affects people of all ages and can take decades to pay off. Only 17.7% of borrowers are under the age of 25 while 68.6% are between 25 and 50 years old.

Borrowers who attended public colleges owe an average of $30,030 while non-profit private college borrowers owe $33,900 on average. For-profit college students have the highest average debt at $43,900. Altogether, there are 45 million borrowers in the US alone.

College is becoming increasingly necessary in order to pursue many career fields and can be a great investment as a result. However, student debt follows many borrowers for decades, especially due to high interest rates, which can make it difficult for borrowers to become homeowners or to save for retirement.

What's the solution?

Financial aid through grants and scholarships can help cover the costs of your education. You can apply for government aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which can provide you with Pell Grants or federal loans. Scholarships can make up the gap to cover the rest of your tuition.

Many organizations, families, and companies choose to give back by funding scholarships to help students access higher education. $100 million of this scholarship money goes unclaimed every year due to a lack of applicants. Applying for scholarships can significantly reduce your expenses and can make higher education much more accessible.

Discover undergraduate scholarships by grade

Many undergraduate scholarships are open to students regardless of grade level, but some are only open to undergraduate students of certain years. Your progress towards your degree may also make different types of scholarships more relevant for you, so keep reading for our recommendations on which scholarships to apply for based on your education level.

Scholarships for college freshmen

As a college freshman, you're just beginning your college journey, which comes with many opportunities but also many expenses. Applying for scholarships and other financial assistance is a great way to start taking charge of your education. Most undergraduate scholarships are open to all undergraduates, regardless of grade level.

College freshmen should consider browsing scholarships by category to find the best available scholarships for them. Depending on your background and experience, you can look into options like athletic scholarships and scholarships for women.

You can find more opportunities for college freshmen on this list!

Scholarships for college sophomores

By sophomore year of college, you may be settling into the responsibilities of college and flourishing in your classes and extracurriculars. It may be a good time to look for merit scholarships. Contrary to what you may think, merit scholarships are not just open to students with outstanding academic achievement.

Some merit scholarships are geared towards students who demonstrate achievement in academics, such as by having a minimum GPA requirement. However, whether you're thriving musically, athletically, or in another way, you can check out merit-based scholarships to find options for talented students.

College sophomores can also apply for exclusive opportunities like the ___ and can find more options on category pages such as scholarships for minorities and scholarships for nurses.

To find more scholarships for college sophomores, check out this guide!

Scholarships for college juniors

By junior year, most college students have finalized their program of study. As a result, junior year is a great time to begin looking for scholarships based on your major or desired career field. You can check out scholarship categories to find options based on your field of study, such as scholarships for future teachers.

You can also look into local scholarships to find options available exclusively to students in your state or city, such as scholarships for Ohio students and scholarships for North Carolina students.

Scholarships for college seniors

As a college senior, it's possible that you've accumulated student debt over the years. If you have, you should look into scholarships to pay off student loans. Recent graduates with debt can also look into student debt scholarships. Unlike regular scholarships that go directly to your tuition and education costs, student debt scholarships can be applied directly towards your student debt.

Are you a high school senior? Check out this list of scholarships tailored to high school seniors!

Frequently asked questions about undergraduate scholarships

Which group of undergraduate students is typically offered scholarships?

Most undergraduate scholarships are available for college students of any grade level, though some may target college seniors or incoming freshmen. Undergraduate scholarships are usually also open to all types of undergraduate degree-seeking students, including those pursuing a bachelor's degree and an associate degree. Some undergraduate scholarships are also open to those pursuing trade school.

In addition to searching by degree type and education level, undergraduate scholarships may also be limited to students of certain majors or groups. For example, there are undergraduate scholarships specifically for women, BIPOC students, and first-generation students as well as scholarships for students pursuing specific majors or career fields, like law or medicine.

Seeking out these scholarships gives you a better chance of winning due to the smaller applicant pool, but there are also plenty of opportunities that all undergraduate students qualify for.

Can college students get scholarships?

College students are the target group for many scholarship awards. While you can begin applying for financial aid and scholarships while in high school, many students begin or continue their scholarship search while in college. There are undergraduate and graduate scholarships available for each type of degree and for each grade level.

Can graduate students also get scholarships?

There are scholarships available for all different kinds of students, including graduate students, high school seniors, high school underclassmen, and even recent graduates who have student debt. Starting your search as early as possible gives you more time to find and accumulate scholarship funds, but you can continue applying while pursuing a graduate degree.

How can I find scholarships for undergraduates?

You can find scholarships for college students in many different places. To begin, consider applying for federal student aid through the FAFSA. You can also apply for scholarship funds through your college, as they may have merit-based scholarship opportunities, such as for students who demonstrate academic excellence. Your school may also offer financial assistance for students with demonstrated financial need.

The government and your college may be able to help reduce your expenses, but private scholarship programs like Bold.org can help make up the gap. You can find available scholarship awards by checking out the list above or browsing the hundreds of other available scholarships on Bold.org.

You can also seek out scholarship funds from local businesses, organizations, or even your employer, as many companies offer scholarships to employees or community residents. By searching for opportunities in all of these different places, you can maximize your financial aid so you can afford the costs of higher education.