Apply below to the best Difficult Scholarships in February 2025.
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Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
The TMCF Lockheed Martin Scholarship provides up to $1,500 for HBCU students facing financial challenges. Apply with a video and account statement.
Deadline:
December 6, 2025
Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
The TMCF Lowe’s Scholarship provides 45 scholarships up to $7,500 for HBCU students with a 3.0 GPA. Apply with a video submission.
Deadline:
December 6, 2025
Mississippi • Nursing • Nursing Assistant • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
Deadline:
June 6, 2025
California • Architecture • Electrical Engineering • Interior Design • Theatre/Performing Arts • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
The Alan Lucas Memorial Scholarships offer $1,500 for students in Northern California pursuing lighting education or research.
Deadline:
April 1, 2025
Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
The Iranian American Scholarship Fund aids students of Iranian heritage with academic excellence and community service. Awards start at $250.
Deadline:
June 2, 2025
California • Animal Sciences • Animal-Related • Veterinary • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
California Cattlemen’s Association offers scholarships up to $2,500 for ag students with a 3.0 GPA. Join CCA to qualify.
Deadline:
October 1, 2025
Oregon • Construction Engineering • Construction • Freshmen • Sophomores • Seniors • Juniors • Graduate Students
Oregon's Asphalt Pavement Association offers scholarships up to $3,500 for students in asphalt paving or related fields.
Deadline:
November 4, 2025
Kansas • Freshmen
The Rudd Scholar Program offers up to $40,000 for Kansas high school seniors with a 3.0 GPA attending select universities.
Deadline:
December 1, 2025
New York • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Freshmen
NYS Aid to Native Americans offers up to $2,000 for enrolled members of NY tribes. Visit the website for details.
Deadline:
January 4, 2026
Writing • Literature • Graduate Students • Seniors • Sophomores • Freshmen • Juniors
The L. Ron Hubbard Writers Of The Future Contest awards amateur writers for sci-fi and fantasy stories, offering up to $5,000 in prizes.
Deadline:
December 31, 2025
Advertising • Marketing • Food & Nutrition • Food Sciences & Technology • Restaurant/Culinary/Food Services • Graduate Students
Annual Richardson-Applebaum Award for graduate research in food distribution. $1,500 scholarship for outstanding essays.
Deadline:
April 12, 2025
Service • Freshmen
The John G. Brokaw Scholarship offers $10,000 over four years to children/grandchildren of sea service members for higher education.
Deadline:
April 15, 2025
Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Freshmen • Graduate Students
Apply for the $1,000 Berger and Green Heart Disease Scholarship for U.S. students living with heart disease. Transcripts and essay required.
Deadline:
June 14, 2025
Missouri • Kansas • Arkansas • Oklahoma • For Native American / American Indian students • Graduate Students
The Cherokee Nation Graduate Scholarship offers up to $2,000 for Cherokee citizens pursuing their first Masters or Doctorate degree.
Deadline:
June 14, 2025
For students with disabilities • Virginia • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
The James F. Nelson merit scholarship awards $2,500 to blind and visually impaired Virginia students based on merit and community involvement.
Deadline:
September 26, 2025
Psychology • Counseling • Graduate Students • Graduates
The Division 56 CHANGE Grant offers up to $1,866 for projects combating systemic racism and discrimination. Apply with an essay.
Deadline:
October 9, 2025
Florida • Oklahoma • Missouri • Wisconsin • West Virginia • Delaware • Minnesota • Washington • Ohio • Massachusetts • Colorado • Louisiana • North Carolina • Virginia • Iowa • Texas • Indiana • Illinois • Rhode Island • California • Arizona • Alabama • Georgia • New York • Pennsylvania • Fashion • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors
The Fashion Scholarship Fund offers $250+ scholarships for fashion students with a 3.20 GPA at FSF member schools.
Deadline:
October 17, 2025
American Studies • History • Graduate Students
The Louis Pelzer Memorial Award honors graduate essays on U.S. history, offering a $500 prize for outstanding work.
Deadline:
November 1, 2025
Washington • For Asexual students • For Bisexual students • For Gay students • For Lesbian students • For Pansexual students • For Queer students • For Transgender students • For LGBTQIA+ students
The Whidbey Island Giving Circle Scholarship aids LGBTQ+ leaders from Whidbey Island facing barriers. Apply with three essays for $250.
Deadline:
January 10, 2026
Mathematics • Criminal Justice • STEM
IALEIA Education Scholarship offers $1,500 to members and their families enrolled in accredited institutions. Apply with a 1,500-2,000 word essay.
Deadline Passed
Other Trades/Crafts • Design/Visual Communications • UX/Technical Design • High school • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
Enter the Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition for a chance to win up to $5,000 by addressing societal and environmental challenges.
Deadline:
March 27, 2025
Athletic
NCTTA offers up to $1,200 in scholarships for US table tennis athletes under 25 with a 2.0 GPA. Apply now!
Deadline:
May 14, 2025
Service • Military • Freshmen
The Wesley C. Cameron Scholarship offers $10,000 over four years for children/grandchildren of sea service members in higher education.
Deadline:
May 15, 2025
Healthcare-Related • Science • Graduate Students
The New Century Scholars Doctoral Scholarship offers $10,000 for doctoral students in communication sciences. Apply now!
Deadline:
May 15, 2025
For Asian students • For Black and/or African American students • For Hispanic and/or Latino students • For Middle Eastern students • For Native American / American Indian students • For Pacific Islander students • For Bisexual students • For Lesbian students • For Gay students • For Transgender students • For Queer students • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
The $3,000 Kay Longcope Scholarship supports LGBTQ individuals of color pursuing journalism. Apply with resume, work samples, and essay.
Deadline:
May 19, 2025
In your personal statement, include your academic achievements, career goals, relevant experiences, and why you are a strong candidate for the scholarship. Make sure to convey your passion and commitment to your field of study.
Difficult scholarships are often very competitive, with many applicants vying for a limited number of awards. This competition can be intense, so it's crucial to present a strong application.
Some difficult scholarships may require interviews as part of the selection process, especially if they are highly competitive. It's important to prepare for potential interviews by practicing common questions and articulating your goals.
To apply for difficult scholarships, you typically need to complete an application form, submit required documents such as transcripts and letters of recommendation, and sometimes write essays or personal statements. Check the specific application process for each scholarship.
To increase your chances, focus on maintaining a strong academic record, getting involved in extracurricular activities, crafting a compelling personal statement, and ensuring that your application is complete and submitted on time.
Many difficult scholarships do require a high GPA, as they are competitive and seek to reward students with strong academic records. However, some may consider other factors such as leadership or community service.
Eligibility criteria for difficult scholarships can vary widely but often include academic performance, specific fields of study, extracurricular involvement, and sometimes demographic factors. Always check the specific requirements for each scholarship.
Yes, difficult scholarships are legitimate and are offered by various organizations, institutions, and foundations. However, it's essential to research each scholarship to ensure its authenticity.
You can find difficult scholarships on platforms like Mos, which aggregates various scholarship opportunities tailored to your needs and qualifications.
Difficult scholarships are competitive financial aid opportunities that often have stringent eligibility criteria, a rigorous application process, and may require exceptional academic performance, unique talents, or specific achievements.
This guide explains what a niche scholarship is, how to get a niche scholarship, and the best niche scholarships for fall 2022.
Here are our absolute favorite big-money and largest scholarships, hand selected from tens of thousands, to help you pay for college without loans.
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