EXCITING NEWS! The 2026 versions of the How to Win College Scholarships ebooks are now available!
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Parents, please join my private Facebook group, Scholarship Help and College Talk for Parents, found here.
College Scholarships for High School Seniors
There are a TON of scholarships open to high school seniors!
Most people assume that ALL scholarships are open to college-bound high school seniors, and while there are TONS open to them, be aware that there are college scholarships open to students in all grade levels, from kindergarten to grad school! Did you know this?
Because there are SO MANY scholarships open to high school seniors, this is not a specific list. Rather, it is a list of places to look for scholarships to add to your list. If you need a list with current links, be sure to join my scholarship email contact list here. I send out monthly lists at no cost, and many of the scholarships are open to high school seniors.
There are several ways high school seniors can find scholarships.
Start by looking in these places:
- Credit unions
- Banks
- Restaurants
- Community foundations
- Utility companies
- Big scholarship listing books like this one
- Engineering firms
- Places of worship
- Hospitals
- Employers (student and parent)
- Cable and internet companies
- Clubs (Lions, Eagles, Elks, Masons, Knights of Columbus, Rotary, etc.)
- Political offices
- College websites
- Other area high school websites
- Plus MANY other places, which can be found in the How to Win College Scholarships ebooks for parents and students
Finding scholarships is only one part of the scholarship process. To greatly increase their chances of winning them, students need to learn what it means to apply SMART. This is how I have helped so many students find scholarship success. Take it from this happy mom:
“I just want to take a moment and say ‘Thank You!’ to Monica Matthews for all of the support you give to families like mine. It has made such a difference in helping my children stay focused, motivated, and confident throughout their scholarship journeys. The guidance you and your ebooks provide has helped them go from writing unsure essays to creating strong, clear, and compelling ones that have truly stood out. There is no doubt applying SMART has played a huge role in turning their applications into winning opportunities. This experience has shown how powerful the right tools and community support can be. I truly appreciate being part of a community that lifts each other up and helps our kids succeed.” – Pam, Scholarship Help and College Talk for Parents private Facebook group member
High school seniors also need to make sure they get a list of local scholarships from their high school counselor. They can stop by the office or check their school’s website. It is important to know that not all local businesses notify area high schools of their scholarships. My boys won several scholarships that were not found on the lists they received from their counselors.
Use the tips in this short video to find more local scholarships for high school seniors:
FAQ: Are there scholarships for seniors planning to take a gap year?
Students who are taking a gap year after high school need to focus on scholarships open to college-bound students that do not require applicants to be graduating seniors. Students can also email organizations offering scholarships open to high school seniors, asking whether those taking a gap year are eligible to apply. Many parents in my Scholarship Help and College Talk for Parents Facebook group have shared that their students have had great success with these methods.
Don’t stop searching and applying!
Open to High School Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors! APPLY NOW HERE
If you are a high school senior or the parent of one, keep searching for scholarships. Students, apply apply apply, but make sure to apply SMART. This is so important. Learn more about what this means right HERE.
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How to Find College Scholarships for High School Seniors from the #ScholarshipMom #ApplySMART ✅ Share on X
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.
