EXCITING NEWS! The 2026 versions of the How to Win College Scholarships ebooks are now available!
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Cancer Scholarships – Awards for Students Affected by Cancer
Students affected by cancer face unique challenges. Find cancer-themed scholarships below and apply if you or your student qualifies.
The funds received from Cancer scholarships can be a huge help to families affected by cancer.
Let’s face it, cancer sucks. I lost my mom to cancer a few years ago, and one of my brothers is a cancer survivor. Cancer and everything about it has an incredible impact on students and their families.
Whether the student is a cancer survivor, currently fighting cancer, or has a loved one who has experienced cancer, there are several organizations that aim to help them pay for college.
Here are several scholarships for students affected by cancer. Bookmark this page and keep checking back, as I will continue to add awards as I find them.
If the deadline has passed, add the scholarship to your list to apply for when the new application opens for the following year.
[Be sure to use the Scholarship Toolkit Organizer to keep detailed track of all cancer scholarships, as well as other awards. Students need to apply SMART. This is so very important. Go here to learn more.]
“Using Monica SMART system, my daughter won over $135,000 in scholarships last year. None of them were need based and all of them were outside scholarships that were able to be applied to her university. Applying SMART really does work! She is able to stack them and receive a refund check every semester for spending money. Don’t give up! We applied to over 130 scholarships, none of them need based, none of them lottery.” Lynn, Scholarship Help and College Talk for Parents private Facebook group member
CANCER SCHOLARSHIPS
Open to students who have had any type of cancer.
My Hometown Heroes Scholarship
For young adult cancer survivors between the ages of 17 and 39 who are residents of the United States and are attending a community college, university, or trade school.
The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Scholarship
Open to graduating high school seniors who have lost a parent to colorectal cancer.
LLS Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors
Open to blood cancer patients or survivors diagnosed at age 25 or younger. Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or a U.S. territory.
The Cindy Kimbrell Scholarship
Open to students with a personal cancer story or the cancer story of a parent or immediate family member.
All of my winning scholarship strategies are found right here >>
The Lep Foundation for Youth Education Cancer Support Scholarship
The scholarship is designated for U.S. students who were diagnosed with cancer and whose disease and related treatments placed a significant financial burden on them and their families.
Northwestern Mutual Scholarship Program
Open to siblings of individuals affected by childhood cancer and also students who are cancer survivors.
There are two different scholarship opportunities, one for childhood cancer survivors and those currently in treatment, and one for siblings of childhood cancer patients.
Baron & Budd Mesothelioma Cancer Victims Memorial Scholarship
Open to students who have been affected by cancer. Students must write an essay (800-1250 words) or create a 2-3 minute video, students answering the question, “How has cancer impacted your life?” It can be any kind of cancer. These questions must also be answered: “How has receiving a cancer diagnosis for you or your loved one impacted your life? How did it impact you while your loved one was fighting their illness? What hardships did you or your family experience? How will this scholarship help you to reach your academic goals?”
Open to students who are brain tumor patients/survivors or closely related to someone diagnosed with a brain tumor. Relationships are limited to spouses, biological children, biological parents, and biological siblings. Must be entering or currently enrolled in an advanced educational program at a college, university, vocational school, or other setting within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia. Students must have at least a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a 4.0/5.0. and rank in the top half of their class and have at least an SAT score of 1000 or an ACT of 21. Applicants must demonstrate strong leadership and service in their community.
Michael A. Hunter Memorial Scholarship
The focus of the scholarship is supporting secondary education for Leukemia/Lymphoma patients and survivors and/or children of non-surviving Leukemia/Lymphoma patients.
Open to qualified, college-bound pediatric cancer patients.
Available to provide financial assistance to college students in their pursuit of a higher education who have previously or are currently diagnosed with cancer. High school seniors or current college students are eligible for these scholarships. Students must currently maintain residency in the State of California or be accepted into a two or four-year higher education institution located in the State of California.
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Scholarships
Open to students who are legal residents of the United States of America pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies and who have been diagnosed with or treated for cancer or a chronic disease.
Life Lessons Scholarship Program
This scholarship is for students who are between 17 and 24 years of age, have experienced the death of a parent or legal guardian, and will be attending college, university, or trade school in the US or Puerto Rico in the upcoming fall semester. The cause of death does not have to be cancer.
For students who have battled a form of cancer or witnessed a loved one receiving treatment.
Chalik & Chalik Cancer Survivors Scholarship
The scholarship will recognize a deserving student who not only survived a devastating illness but now demonstrates a commitment to helping others diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness.
Ambient Edge Scholarship for Students Affected by Cancer
Open to students who have been diagnosed with cancer themselves, as well as those who have stood by a loved one. Survivors, current cancer patients, and the allies of patients and survivors are welcome to apply.
The Pink Rose Foundation Scholarships
For U.S. students under the age of 25 who have lost a parent to breast cancer and are current college students or who have been accepted into college.
Do you know a student who has been affected by cancer? Please pass along these cancer scholarships!
National Collegiate Cancer Foundation Scholarships
Cancer scholarships for young adults whose lives have been impacted by cancer and who have continued with their education throughout treatment or after their treatment. Students must be cancer survivors, current patients, or have lost a parent or guardian to cancer.
Faith Hope and Love Jesus Scholarship
This award is open to childhood cancer or blood disorder survivors.
Open to High School Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors! APPLY NOW HERE
The John Foy & Associates Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship
Open to students who have been affected by leukemia (themselves or a loved one) and are enrolled in an accredited college or university as an undergraduate student, graduate student, or are an incoming freshman at an accredited institution in the United States.
The Samfund Grants and Scholarships
Provides grants and scholarships for young adult survivors of cancer between the ages of 21 and 39.
Sophie Malaviya Memorial Scholarship
Candidates must be young women who are graduating high school seniors with a cancer diagnosis, or cancer survivors, and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must also be enrolled in a 2- or 4-year undergraduate program or professional/trade school.
Cancer scholarships are such a blessing to students.
If you know of an award not on this list, please share it in the comments below.
Open to teens in the United States in grades 9-12 who have experienced a cancer diagnosis – their own or that of a loved one.
Here is a list of scholarships for students affected by cancer. Apply if you qualify! #college #scholarships #cancersucks Share on XApplicants must be college-bound U.S. childhood cancer survivors under the age of 25 and diagnosed before the age of 18 with cancer or a high grade or anaplastic brain tumor.
Stephen T. Marchello Scholarship Foundation
Available for current-year high school graduates who have had childhood cancer and are residents of Colorado and Montana.
Cancer for College Scholarships
High-achieving cancer survivors are encouraged to apply for these cancer scholarships.
Eligibility includes survivors of childhood cancer, their parents and siblings, as well as immediate family members of those who did not survive their cancer. These scholarships will be granted to students who have a tie to the state of Arizona. All applicants must reside in Arizona or have received cancer treatment in Arizona. Those who reside in Arizona may plan to attend schools outside of Arizona.
What are parents and students saying about the How to Win College Scholarships ebooks?
THIS! ⬇️
Kay/Moore Educational Scholarships
To receive a scholarship, the recipient has had to participate in at least one Special Love program. Open to young adults who have undergone treatment for cancer and are now ready to move past their cancer journey, attend college and trade schools. New applications open yearly in March.
Open to current pediatric cancer patients, childhood cancer survivors, AND/OR siblings under the age of 25 (bereaved siblings are welcome to apply).
George Bartol Memorial Scholarship Fund (To apply, reach out on Facebook HERE and ask for an application.)
Open to students who’ve lost a parent or have a parent battling a primary brain tumor. Applicants must be degree seeking students at a 2 or 4 year university in the USA, have a 2.5 GPA or higher and be 18-23 years old.
For the Survivor Scholarship, survivors of a form of pediatric cancer aged 16-26 with a home address in Iowa are eligible to apply. For the Sibling Scholarship, siblings of patients who have been diagnosed with a form of pediatric cancer aged 16-26 with a home address in Iowa are eligible to apply. A sibling includes a biological sibling and an adopted sibling, including half-blood and step-siblings.
Children’s Cancer Cause Scholarships
Open to childhood cancer survivors.
Open to students diagnosed with or recovering from cancer. Applicants must be incoming and/or current college students in all fields.
PCRF Scholarship Awards (Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation)
Open to survivors of pediatric cancer.
TRCF Scholarships (The Ruth Cheatham Foundation)
Open to U.S. survivors or those undergoing cancer treatment. Students must be aged 17-26 and enrolled or accepted in an accredited undergrad, graduate, or trade school.
Open to graduating seniors from a public or private high school planning to attend a post-high school institution (two or four-year college, vocational or technical school) within the United States in the fall after graduation. Students must have battled cancer themselves, helped a loved one or friend through their own fights, or have been leaders in their school and community in the fight against cancer.
Weinstein Firm Annual Cancer Survivor Scholarship
Open to students who are cancer survivors pursuing their desired degrees from any eligible college, university, graduate school, or law school. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in or committed to attending a college, university, or professional school during the current calendar year in which they apply for the scholarship. Additionally, applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application.
Monica Matthews is the author of How to Win College Scholarships. She helped her own son win over $100,000 in college scholarships and now shares her expertise with other parents and their students. She truly has “been there, done that” in regard to helping parents and students navigate the scholarship process.
Her method of helping students in finding college scholarships, writing unique and compelling scholarship essays, creating amazing scholarship application packets, and more have taught desperate parents to help their own students win thousands of scholarship dollars. She teaches them how to apply S.M.A.R.T. with outstanding results.
Monica’s scholarship tips have been featured on many prominent websites, and she has been dubbed the “Go-To” expert on college scholarships.
Hello my name is Hila Gilberd. I live in south Florida. My husband was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma, a grade 4 brain cancer. I have three amazing boys. My oldest is a 3rd year student at Rice University and my middle son just got accepted to Florida State University. Life has really thrown a curve ball at us this year with my husband having to stop working and get on disability. My boys have worked so hard towards their college careers and now I worry that I will not be able to support them financially through it all. Would love to hear your suggestions as we have tuition covered based on their merit awards but how do we get help to cover housing? Food? Thank you- any advice is appreciated.
Hi, Hila. I am so sorry about your husband’s cancer diagnosis. Contact the schools your boys are and will be attending and let them know of the change in financial circumstances for your family. They may have scholarship opportunities that allow students to use the funds for room and board. Also, make sure they apply for as many outside scholarships as possible, starting with this list of cancer-based scholarships. Many are open to students affected by cancer and not patients themselves. Your middle son should make sure he applies for local scholarships. These have much less competition.
Hi-My husband is a three-time cancer survivor and now has a plasma and blood disorder caused by the radiation he had as a teenager. He has to take chemo for the rest of his life, and as you can imagine, our medical bills are exorbitant. Our son is going to a Catholic School next year and affording the tuition is going to be very tough, but the charter school here have declined, and it’s our only choice.
Can you recommend any middle school grants or scholarships that we can apply for?
Hi, Susannah. I am so sorry about your husband’s cancer and medical bills. Unfortunately, I only help families with college scholarships and not those for high school or middle school. Check with the middle school. They may have an endowment that provides financial assistance to students in need.
Thank you so much for this list! I have battled stage 4 ovarian cancer for the last 5 years. I didn’t even think about having my girls apply for scholarships based on that, but it has certainly affected our ability to save for college. Super helpful list!
You are so very welcome, Jennifer! Please make sure you are on our scholarship email contact list (sign up here at no cost: https://how2winscholarships.com/10-best-college-scholarship-tips/) and a member of my Scholarship Help and College Talk for Parents private Facebook group found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ScholarshipHelpCollegeTalk) 🙂
Another scholarship for Childhood cancer survivors – Arizona residents https://childrenscancernetwork.org/programs/family-assistance/scholarships/
Thank you! I will add it to the list. 🙂
The Toby Merrill Scholarship doesn’t appear to be active any longer. The website doesn’t work and their facebook page hasn’t been active since 2019
Thanks for letting me know, Dan. I removed the scholarship. I just updated this list on November 6, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up! I really appreciate your comment. 🙂
Hello! My name is Erica Leslie and my husband was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2022. It is a grade 4 brain cancer diagnosis. Sadly, he passed in 2024. I have 2 sons: a soon to be senior and he is in the process of applying to colleges. Can you please direct me to scholarships that he can apply for? thank you so much for your time and information.
Hi, Erica. I am so very sorry for the loss of your husband. Look through this scholarship list: Scholarships For Students With Deceased Parents
Hello. I’m not quite sure where to start. I am a mother of two amazingly wonderful children that have had to witness their mother battle not only stage 4 liver cancer that is incurable but also other various diagnoses such as sever anxiety, debilitating spinal injuries that have caused me to live a life of medications, pain, sacrifice and financial hardship. Our daughter is a musical theater student who is self taught and trained due to us not being able to enroll her in programs yet landed herself in a prestigious college in New York City and I have an autistic son who is a junior in highschool and we are hoping he will be able to attend college as well bit in a smaller scale. Due to trying to survive one one income and my minimum disability income we are constantly struggling financially. There are multiple scholarships for students themselves fighting their battles yet I have such a difficult time finding scholarships for my children who suffer in different ways because of my diagnosis. We need any and all help we can get. We are on the edge of having to tell her she can no longer attend college and follow her dreams. If you have any suggestions please please offer any advice. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story.
Hi, Kristie. Did you go through this entire list? Many of the scholarships are open to students affected by cancer but do not have cancer themselves. Has your daughter been applying for scholarships? Is she using the SMART strategies found in my ebooks?