The 150 Best Scholarships for High School Students in January 2026

About scholarships for high school sophomores

Sophomore year can feel like the least important year of high school. Fresh out of your first year, it's hard to imagine life as a college student in a few short years.

Many students consequently fall into the dreaded sophomore slump. Your sophomore year can be very valuable if you use your time wisely by starting to apply for scholarships and preparing for the college admissions process early.

Between standardized tests and college applications, high school juniors and seniors often wish they did more as high school sophomores to prepare for their busy life in preparing for college.

Click here to view our full list of scholarships for high school students.

About scholarships for high school sophomores

When most students think about financing a college education, they're often only thinking about high school seniors and college freshmen. Since high school sophomores typically have a lot more free time on their hands than college students and high school seniors, they should start applying for scholarships as soon as possible.

Most high school sophomores are unaware that a ton of college scholarships are actually open to a majority of age groups, with many of them open to any and all high school students. This may include you!

This window is perfect to get a head start on scholarship applications; high school sophomores have familiarized themselves with the school environment without the added pressure of extra challenging classes and standardized testing that high school juniors endure.

You may still be wondering why high school sophomores should even worry about scholarship applications this early.

What a lot of university students end up realizing (a bit too late), is that the cost of a college education is astronomical, and it continues to increase each year. 

By getting an early start to funding their education, students can increase their projected award amount by accumulating funds over a longer period of time.

This means you should start applying as early as possible. Just click on any of the scholarships above to begin applying today!

Why are scholarships important for high school sophomores?

Higher education has become increasingly necessary in order to pursue many careers, but the high costs of tuition and living expenses have left almost 45 million college students in student loan debt. In fact, 69% of the Class of 2019 took out student loans, owing an average of $29,900.

Additionally, 14% of parents of 2019 graduates took out federal parent PLUS loans. These parents owe an average of $37,200 in federal debt. Overall, Americans carry $1.6 trillion in student loan debt, and this number continues to increase as the student loan crisis rages on.

College may still seem far away, but it’s approaching faster than you think, and so are the incoming expenses. To help set you up for success as college freshmen in the future, we've curated this list of college scholarships for high school sophomores looking to fund their college education. Be sure to make the most of your sophomore year by thinking about your college future.

Starting your scholarship hunt now will give you as much time as possible to reduce your college costs, so don’t wait! You can get started by creating a free account on Bold.org and applying to the scholarships below.

How to qualify for high school sophomore scholarships

Apply to scholarships for your specific location

Many scholarships have an applicant base specifically for high school students in the United States. This doesn't mean that there aren't scholarships for international students (because there most certainly are!), but make sure you're applying to scholarships in your own specific region. 

Often, these area-specific scholarships refer to your permanent residence or where you currently attend high school. If a scholarship has a required state or county for its applicants, make sure you qualify!

Apply to scholarships at your level

There are so many scholarships for high school sophomores out there; many students just need to know where to look. 

A lot of sophomores who are looking to attend college are unaware that the genre of 'high school students' also applies to them, not just their peers who are high school seniors.

When looking for scholarships, take note of ones that are specifically looking for applicants at the high school level, regardless of age group. Without knowing that these scholarships include them, high school sophomores tend to miss out on valuable chances to apply for financial aid early.

Apply to scholarships that fulfill your niche

Meeting the eligibility requirements of a scholarship is the very first thing you should be looking for, but after that, see if you can find scholarships that fulfill aspects of your own identity. These scholarships often include a given prompt and short essay where you can explain your connection to the scholarship subject.

These scholarships may look for writers, artists, musicians, students from single-parent households, minority students, etc. Apply to the scholarships that fit you and your identity! You're more likely to connect with the application reviewers and win some additional financial aid.

Types of scholarships available for high school sophomores

There is a wide variety of scholarships available for high school sophomores on Bold.org. No matter your background or goals, there are plenty of scholarships available for you.

Since sophomores aren't very far into the college application process, the scholarship types tend to be more broad than your typical scholarship application for university students, high school seniors, and graduate students.

To get started, research some scholarships from your local community and then branch out into the vast realm of online scholarship opportunities.

How to find scholarships for high school sophomores

The easiest way to find scholarships as a high school sophomore is to utilize a database that connects scholarship donors with students who have a financial need for higher education support.

At Bold.org, we compile lists of scholarships and let you know what scholarships are best tailored to your eligibility requirements and scholarship niches. Making a profile on Bold.org allows high school sophomores to apply to as many scholarships as they want while allowing a clear-cut view of what scholarships are a perfect fit for you.

When to start applying for scholarships

High school sophomores should start applying as soon as possible, preferably during their sophomore summer. Applying early will allow students to gather more funding by having more time to apply to a multitude of scholarships. 

This will give high school sophomores more time to craft meaningful essays for short response questions, and continue to apply for scholarships into their junior year, senior year, and into college.

However, if you're a little behind schedule, don't worry! There are plenty of scholarships available for college students, so it's never too late to begin applying.

What to consider when applying for scholarships

When applying to scholarships, make sure to consider your location, niches, and your scholarship level, but also remember that scholarships are competitions. Don't expect to win every scholarship you apply to, but also remember to not take scholarship losses as a sign of personal failure. If you don't win a particular scholarship, move on to the next application instead of getting discouraged.

How to apply for high school sophomore scholarships

Your local community has libraries, public spaces, education programs, and other organizations that hold their own scholarships for high school students. However, a lot of these local scholarships are meant specifically for high school seniors, so make sure your education level is correct when applying to any and all scholarships.

To apply for sophomore scholarships specifically, start by creating a free account and personal profile on Bold.org. Then, search for scholarships that are either open to a broad applicant base (no-essay scholarships) or search for scholarships based on your own identity. 

By applying on Bold.org, you can submit applications to numerous scholarships in a fast and easy way; simply fill in the essay section if the scholarship calls for one, submit a video file if the scholarship asks for one, then hit submit! 

High school sophomore academic success guide

To help you avoid the sophomore slump and stay on track with the college admissions process, we’ve created this comprehensive list of everything you should do to make your sophomore year as productive as possible!

Summer before sophomore year:

• Use your time wisely by getting involved in sports, music, or other extracurricular activities
• Engage in volunteer work to give back to your community and to make your applications stand out
• Make the most out of your free time and begin applying for scholarships. You can start with the list above!

Sophomore fall:

• Continue to be involved in extracurricular activities, including finding new activities to try or working towards leadership positions in activities you already participate in
• Plan out your schedule for the year as you may be able to start taking AP classes in order to raise your GPA and earn college credit
• You have the option to take the PSAT during your sophomore year, which will better prepare you for the junior year PSAT and the SAT

Sophomore winter:

• Continue applying to high school scholarships
• If you took AP classes during the year, begin preparing for any AP tests that you’ll have in the Spring

Sophomore spring:

• Plan out your summer activities, including finding volunteer work or getting a job or internship
• Your upcoming junior year will likely be a busy time, so start planning out your test prep schedule and your course schedule
• This is also a good time to start thinking about colleges you’re interested in so you can begin planning your college visits
• Reach out to current college students at your schools of interest to understand more about what you need to do in the coming years to set yourself up for success!

Tips for winning scholarships

Find scholarships that apply to your identity

What makes you unique? What are the hallmarks of your identity? You're more likely to win scholarships that you have a personal connection with. Make sure the scholarship’s purpose and interest align with you and your identity. Apply to scholarships that are best suited to you and your interests.

Apply to local and broad scholarships

Since local scholarships are less competitive, be sure to apply to as many community scholarships as you can. However, this often isn't enough. 

Make sure you search broadly when looking for online scholarships. This means that you’re applying to a mix of no-essay and essay scholarships with various prize amounts. Only applying to scholarships with a high award amount will make you less likely to win, since the competition is more fierce. 

Answer the prompt

Just like any homework assignment, make sure you are actually answering the question that the prompt is asking you. 

The scholarship question is the most important part of your application; not just because you get to show off your personality, but also because it gives you the chance to explain why you’re deserving of the scholarship award. Make sure your response matches what the application is looking for.

Tell your story

Scholarships are funded by donors who want to support students, just like you. These donors want to know about your life and passions in order to see if you're a good fit for their award. Show them who you are. Let your personality shine through in your bold.org profile and essays.

Reuse essays

The most efficient way to apply to multiple scholarships at once is to devise an essay concept that can be used for multiple different essay questions.

Many scholarship essays ask you to talk a bit about your past and then redirect the conversation and ask what you might want to do in the future. 

Reuse the same general ideas, plot points, and life lessons from essay to essay. This will save you time and make sure you’re not trapped in the planning stage for every scholarship you apply to. You’ll already have a great plan for what you want to say.

Continue applying

Don't stop once you've applied to your first scholarship...keep going! In order to save up the most amount of financial support possible, you should keep on applying to any and all scholarships that come your way. The more you apply to, the greater the chance you have of winning.

Frequently asked questions about high school sophomore scholarships

Who is eligible for high school sophomore scholarships?

Any and all high school sophomores are eligible for the vast majority of the scholarships meant for sophomore students.

When researching applications, make sure that the criteria aren't just for your education level! Take note of whether there are specific regions, identities, family situations, backgrounds, etc. that may not fit your exact profile so you can be sure you're applying for the best scholarships for you.

What is the best website to apply for scholarships?

Bold.org is the best website to apply for scholarships for high school sophomores! Bold.org allows you to create your own profile to showcase your greatest strengths and your personality to scholarship applications. Not only that, but the website lets you know what scholarships you're eligible for and which are the best fit for you.

How do I find scholarships for high school sophomores?

Search the internet for scholarships in your own area, but also search for scholarships across the country.

By signing up for scholarship websites, such as Bold.org, you can find scholarships meant for you at a quicker pace than by scrambling through google to see which ones you are and aren't eligible for based on their criteria. Bold.org already helps you out with this step by making it very clear whether or not you're eligible to apply for a specific scholarship.

Are scholarships taxable income?

It depends. A tax-free scholarship is 1) given to a degree candidate attending a regular educational institution, 2) used only on expenses that the IRS qualifies as relating to your classes, not including room and board, and 3) money that does not represent wages from other work.

As long as your scholarship is not a result of labor and isn’t being used to cover expenses that aren’t meant specifically for your classes, your scholarship award should be considered nontaxable income.