Scholarship Search Sites

Tips for your scholarship search:

  1. Start early. Most scholarships are awarded six months to one year prior to the start of the semester or academic year of the award. Some awards are available even as early as elementary school.
  2. Apply, Apply, Apply! Each year, many scholarship funds are not awarded because no one applied for them. If you meet some or all of the eligibility criteria listed for a scholarship, apply! The more you apply for, the better your chances are at receiving external scholarship funds.
  3. Prepare your resume and personal statement. Many external scholarships require a resume or personal statement. Be sure to have a trusted individual, teacher, or tutor edit your documents prior to submitting them with your scholarship applications. 
  4. Track your applications. Use our scholarship game plan to help keep track of the scholarships that you are applying for. Download a copy of this document here.

Free Scholarship Sources

Note: Reference within this list to any specific scholarship or organization by trade name, trademark, manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by The Pennsylvania State University or the Student Aid Office. Links to external, or third party websites, are provided solely for visitors' convenience.

When visiting external websites, users should review those sites' privacy policies and other terms of use to learn more about the what, why and how they collect and use any personally identifiable information.

Community Resources

You may be eligible for outside scholarships from businesses or organizations in your local community with which you have affiliations.

  • Your local chamber of commerce
  • Your high school
  • Your parents' employers (dependent students only)
  • Your employer
  • Private foundations
  • Religious organizations
  • Professional associations

In most cases the awarding agency is responsible for selecting the recipient and determining the value of the scholarship.