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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.
[2023 Edition]
Let’s face it, cancer sucks. I lost my mom to cancer 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 next year.
[Be sure to use the Scholarship Toolkit Organizer to keep detailed track of all scholarships.]
Open to students who have had any type of cancer.
Open to students who excel in the areas of academics, athletics, and leadership and demonstrate high character traits such as kindness and strength during times of adversity. Special consideration will be made for candidates who are experiencing personal or family issues related to cancer or bereavement.
My Hometown Heroes Scholarship
For young adult cancer survivors who are between the ages of 17 and 39, a resident of the United States, and attending a community college, university, or trade school.
All my winning scholarship secrets are revealed 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.
Brian Morden Memorial Scholarships
Awarded to childhood cancer survivors who are pursuing a post-secondary school degree. These scholarships are open to childhood cancer survivors nationwide.
Northwestern Mutual Scholarship Program
Open to siblings of individuals affected by childhood cancer.
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?”
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 that 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 – 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 or current patients.

Open to High School Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors! APPLY NOW HERE
Faith Hope and Love Jesus Scholarship
This award is open to childhood cancer or blood disorder survivors.
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.
Rexanna’s Foundation Scholarship (Not offered for 2023/2024)
All high school seniors who have personally been impacted by cancer or had a form of cancer are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Cancer Pathways Cancer Unwrapped Scholarship
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 Click To TweetApplicants 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 highly encouraged to apply for these cancer scholarships.
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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).
Doran & Murphy Canceling Cancer Scholarship
The scholarship is open to any current high school senior, college student, or graduate student who is a legal resident of the United States residing in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia and who is enrolled in a two to five-year post-secondary institution for the upcoming semester.
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.
This scholarship program is open to college-bound high school seniors and current college students who are cancer patients or cancer survivors.
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.

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.