Guide/11 Paying for College
Scholarship Calendar 2026–27
The major national scholarships for high school seniors, with 2026–27 deadlines, who can apply, what each asks for, and a one-click way to add them to your tracker.
The biggest national scholarships for high school seniors, in deadline order. Filter by type, open each program's official site, and (with full access) add any of them to your Application Tracker in one click.
Full cost of attendance (last-dollar), 300 scholars
September 15, 2026
Closed for this cycle
- Who:
- Pell-eligible seniors with a 3.3+ weighted GPA; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
- What they ask:
- Online application with essays; semifinalists submit more; finalist interviews
$20,000, 150 scholars
September 30, 2026
Closed for this cycle
- Who:
- Seniors graduating in 2026–27 with a 3.0+ GPA; U.S. citizens, nationals, permanent residents, and certain other statuses
- What they ask:
- Phase 1 online application (activities, honors); semifinalists submit essays and recommendations; finalist interviews
Full four-year scholarship plus summer enrichment
October 1, 2026
Closed for this cycle
- Who:
- Seniors applying to UNC Chapel Hill (eligibility paths differ for NC and out-of-state students)
- What they ask:
- Separate Morehead-Cain application; you must also apply to UNC (Early Action by Oct 15)
Full four-year scholarship at a partner college
October 1, 2026
Closed for this cycle
- Who:
- High-achieving seniors from low-income households (typically under about $65,000 for a family of four)
- What they ask:
- QuestBridge application with essays, recommendations, and financial information; finalists rank partner colleges
$25,000, about 106 scholars
October 25, 2026
In 23 days
- Who:
- Seniors with financial need (family income around $55,000 or less preferred), 2.0+ GPA, U.S. citizens, involved in service
- What they ask:
- Online application with essays about overcoming adversity, financial information, and a recommendation
$2,000 to 300 scholars; finalists $25,000 up to $250,000
November 5, 2026
In 34 days
- Who:
- High school seniors with an original research project
- What they ask:
- Research report, essays, transcript, and three recommendations (all due by the deadline)
Up to $55,000 per year (last-dollar)
November 11, 2026
In 40 days
- Who:
- Seniors with strong academics and financial need (family income up to $95,000) attending four years of high school in the U.S.
- What they ask:
- Online application, essays, test score (no minimum), recommendations, financial information
$4,000 to $30,000 over four years, 500 scholars
November 12, 2026
In 41 days
- Who:
- Any high school senior who's a U.S. citizen (no Elks connection needed)
- What they ask:
- Application judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need; essays and recommendations
Full four-year scholarship at Duke or UNC, with summer funding
November 15, 2026
In 44 days
- Who:
- Seniors applying to Duke or UNC Chapel Hill
- What they ask:
- Separate Robertson application (an earlier early-notification deadline is also offered)
$40,000 over four years, about 20 scholars
December 1, 2026
In 60 days
- Who:
- Black/African American seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with leadership, service, and financial need
- What they ask:
- Application with essays, recommendations, and transcript
Usually about $1,000; three $60,000 McLamore WHOPPER Scholarships
December 15, 2026
In 74 days
- Who:
- Seniors in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or Canada with a 2.5+ GPA
- What they ask:
- Online application (activities, work, financial need)
- Note:
- Opens October 15 and closes early if it reaches 30,000 applications
$5,000 renewable up to $20,000, 100 scholars
December 18, 2026
In 77 days
- Who:
- Seniors with a 2.5+ GPA who show drive and give back to their communities
- What they ask:
- Online application with a short essay about your impact
- Note:
- Only the first 10,000 applications are considered, so apply early
Up to $25,000
January 6, 2027
In 96 days
- Who:
- Ages 16–26, including high school seniors; no grades or test scores required
- What they ask:
- A 30-second to 2-minute video or a 250–500 word written response about your passion
Up to $40,000 plus a paid Amazon internship, 400 scholars
January 15, 2027
In 105 days
- Who:
- Seniors with financial need planning to major in computer science (2.3+ GPA, CS coursework)
- What they ask:
- Online application with essays and financial information (opens around December)
$20,000 plus a laptop and ongoing support, 500 scholars
February 15, 2027
In 136 days
- Who:
- Pell-eligible seniors in an approved college readiness program, 2.4+ GPA
- What they ask:
- Online application (opens mid-December) with essays and financial information
$500 to $5,000
February 15, 2027
In 136 days
- Who:
- Students of Hispanic heritage with a 3.0+ GPA who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients
- What they ask:
- Online application (opens around January) and the FAFSA
Up to $35,000 over four years, plus mentoring
Check site
- Who:
- Graduating seniors of color with academic excellence, leadership, service, and financial need
- What they ask:
- Application with essays, recommendations, and financial information
- Note:
- Usually early January (sources list January 7–11, 2027); confirm on the site
$25,000, $50,000, or $100,000
Check site
- Who:
- Students 18 or younger with a significant completed project in STEM, literature, music, philosophy, or 'Outside the Box'
- What they ask:
- Project documentation, essays, a video, and nominator forms
- Note:
- Usually mid-February; confirm the exact 2027 date on the site
How to approach national scholarships
- Start early. Several of the biggest deadlines fall in September and October of senior year, before most college applications are due. Juniors: put them in your calendar now.
- Reuse your writing. Many scholarships ask about leadership, service, adversity, or your goals. Adapt essays you've already written for college applications. See Planning Your Supplements.
- Ask for recommendations once. Give recommenders a list of scholarships and deadlines along with your college list and brag sheet.
- Pick your battles. National awards are extremely competitive. Apply to the ones that clearly fit you, then spend the rest of your time on local scholarships.
Don't skip local scholarships
Your odds are much better close to home, where far fewer students apply:
- Your school counselor's scholarship list
- Community foundations in your city or county
- Employers (your parents' workplaces, your own job)
- Religious organizations, cultural groups, and civic clubs (Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, local Elks lodges)
- Credit unions and local businesses
University merit scholarships and full rides
Many colleges award their biggest merit scholarships through separate applications or earlier deadlines. Examples include the Robertson Scholars program (Duke and UNC) and the Morehead-Cain Scholarship (UNC), listed above. Many other universities require you to apply by an early date (often around December 1) to be considered for top merit awards. Check each school's scholarship page and add the dates to your tracker.
Watch out for
- Scams. Never pay to apply for a scholarship or to "find" scholarships for you. Legitimate scholarships are free to apply to.
- Scholarship displacement. At some colleges, an outside scholarship can reduce your need-based grant instead of reducing what your family pays. Ask each college's financial aid office how they treat outside awards. See Comparing Financial Aid Offers.
- Fine print. Some awards are renewable only with a minimum GPA or a full-time course load.
Related chapters
- Merit & External ScholarshipsInstitutional merit aid versus outside scholarships, where each is worth your time, and why starting early pays off.
- Financial Aid, FAFSA & CSS ProfileHow need-based aid works, what the FAFSA and CSS Profile are, and why filing early matters.
- First-Generation & Low-Income StudentsFee waivers, QuestBridge, Posse, free-tuition income thresholds, fly-in programs, and how colleges read your context, for first-generation and lower-income applicants.
This resource reflects personal experience and general educational information. Admissions policies and requirements change, and nothing in this guide guarantees admission to any institution. Always verify current requirements with individual colleges and official sources.