Apply below to the best Difficult Scholarships in February 2025.
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California • Freshmen
High School Laptop Scholarship Contest in San Diego offers $250+ for a 750-word essay. Apply now!
Deadline Passed
Technology • Computer Science • Information Sciences • Design/Visual Communications • UX/Technical Design • High school • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
Microsoft Imagine Cup offers $100,000 to student founders using AI on Microsoft Cloud. Open to students globally.
Deadline Passed
Arizona • Test Scores • Freshmen
The Dorrance Family Scholarship offers up to $12,000 for Arizona first-gen seniors with a 3.0 GPA and specific test scores.
Deadline Passed
California • Cosmetology/Beauty • Family • Freshmen
The Kate Somerville + Foster Nation Scholarship offers $20,000 for California students in esthetics who were in foster care. Apply now!
Deadline Passed
Cosmetology/Beauty • Age • Freshmen • Sophomores
Apply for the $1,500 Sugarlash Pro Scholarship for Cosmetology/Esthetics students at partner schools. Submit a video to qualify!
Deadline Passed
Law • For Native American / American Indian students • For Pacific Islander students • For Asian students • For Hispanic and/or Latino students • For Black and/or African American students • Sophomores • Graduate Students
The Diversity Scholarship awards $25,000 to second-year minority law students, plus a summer program position. Apply with an essay and references.
Deadline Passed
Alpine County • Fresno County • Inyo County • Kern County • Kings County • Madera County • Mono County • San Luis Obispo County • Tulare County • California • Athletic • High school
The Central Section Scholar Athlete Award offers $1,000 to CA high school seniors who excel in sports and academics.
Deadline Passed
IT/Information Technology • Technology • UX/Technical Design • Health/Medical Technology • Food Sciences & Technology • Finance • For Black and/or African American students • Sophomores • Juniors
The Bank of America Power to Soar Scholarship offers $12,000/year to high-achieving Black undergraduates at HBCUs. Apply now!
Deadline Passed
Military
The Junior Member Loyalty Scholarship offers $2,500 to college students with a 3.0 GPA. Apply with an essay to win one of ten awards.
Deadline Passed
High school • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors
The Leaders Save Lives Scholarship offers $1,000 to $2,500 for students hosting blood drives with the American Red Cross. Apply now!
Deadline Passed
Dentistry • Freshmen • Sophomores
The ADHA offers scholarships up to $2,000 for dental hygiene students who are ADHA members. Apply online with an essay.
Deadline Passed
Dentistry • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors
ADHA offers up to $2,000 scholarships for dental hygiene students with one year completed. Membership required. Apply online.
Deadline Passed
Dentistry • Graduate Students
ADHA offers up to $2,500 scholarships for dental hygiene graduate students. Must be ADHA member and submit an application and essay.
Deadline Passed
High school • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
The VSA International Young Soloists Award offers $2,000 to young musicians with disabilities aged 14-25. Apply now!
Deadline:
January 8, 2026
Iowa • Arts • Studio Arts • Freshmen • Juniors • Sophomores • Seniors • High school
The Shirley and Kenneth Smith Memorial Scholarship offers $2,000 for art students in Polk County. Apply with a statement and recommendations.
Deadline Passed
Animal-Related • Graduate Students
The Louis Agassiz Fuertes Award offers $2,500 for avian research to WOS members, prioritizing graduate students and young professionals.
Deadline Passed
Nuclear Engineering • Graduate Students
The Saul Levine Memorial Scholarship offers $3,000 for graduate nuclear engineering students. Essay and recommendation required.
Deadline Passed
Maine • Horticulture • Agricultural Science • Conservation • Environmental Science • Urban Design • Marine Biology/Sciences • Animal Sciences • Freshmen • Sophomores
The Mary Lou Marks Smith Scholarship offers $1,000 to Maine community college students majoring in horticulture or floral design.
Deadline Passed
For Women • High school
The Harriet Fitzgerald Scholarship offers $10,000 to women attending undergraduate women's colleges in the US or Canada. Apply now!
Deadline Passed
Science • For Native American / American Indian students • For Pacific Islander students • For Asian students • For Hispanic and/or Latino students • For Black and/or African American students • Graduate Students
The Porter Physiology Development Minority Fellowship supports underrepresented students pursuing a PhD in physiological sciences with a $28,300 award.
Deadline Passed
California • Nursing • Community Service • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
The Richard J. Bea Scholarship offers $5,000-$7,500 for nursing students from Grossmont Healthcare District involved in community service.
Deadline Passed
History • World Studies • Graduate Students
The Bernadotte E. Schmitt Grant offers up to $1,500 for AHA members researching European, African, or Asian history.
Deadline Passed
Science • Technology • Engineering • Mathematics • For Women • Graduate Students
L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science awards $60,000 to five early-career women researchers annually.
Deadline Passed
Tennessee • Religious/Theological Studies • For Christian students • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
The Dora Maclellan Brown Ministry Scholarship offers up to $3,000 for conservative theology students in Chattanooga pursuing Christian service.
Deadline Passed
Illinois • Missouri • Environmental Science • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students
The Bo Koster Grant offers up to $5,000 for Missouri and Illinois students in nature studies. Apply with an abstract, summary, and recommendations.
Deadline Passed
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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