Introduction

- Scholarships for High Schoolers Colleges and universities are only becoming more expensive in the U.

S.

A over time, and scholarships/financial aid that students attain in high school can be instrumental towards easing the financial burden and tremendously alleviating the pressure to perform during the late adolescent stages of college-bound pupils.

That is why today, we will be walking you through the top 10 BEST merit-based scholarships that students interested in STEM, humanities, arts, and more can apply for in high school, including eligibility, deadlines, comprehensive summaries, and rewards!

Let's begin.

Top 10 Scholarships for High Schoolers in 2024

1. Coca-Cola Scholarship Eligibility: The Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship is awarded to students in their final year of high school.

Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities.

Deadline: The submission deadline for the 2024 Coca-Cola Scholars Program was October 2, 2023, at 5:00 PM EST.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, the application will be available from August 1 to September 30, 2024 for high school students who will graduate in that academic year.

Amount of Money Available: The Coca-Cola Scholars Program awards 150 scholarships each year.

Each scholarship is valued at $20,00

0. Comprehensive Summary: The Coca-Cola Scholars Program recognizes outstanding high school seniors who demonstrate leadership, service, and a commitment to making a positive impact.

Since its inception, the Foundation has provided over 6,900 Coca-Cola Scholars with more than $84 million in educational support.

The program aims to empower young leaders who will contribute to their communities and create positive change.

Link to Apply: You can apply for the Coca-Cola Scholars Program on their official website:https://www. coca-colascholarsfoundation. org.

2. National Merit Scholarship Eligibility: The National Merit Scholarship Program is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a not-for-profit organization.

Students who qualify as Semifinalists based on their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) are the only program participants who have an opportunity to advance to the Finalist leveland compete for National Merit Scholarships.

Semifinalists are the highest scorers in each of the 50 states and represent less than one percent of each state’s high school seniors.

In addition to those designated in each of the 50 states, Semifinalists are also named in other selection units established by NMSC for the competition, including students from the District of Columbia, U.

S. territories and commonwealths, other countries, and U.

S. boarding schools with a significant proportion of out-of-state students.

Deadline: The completed National Merit Semifinalist Application was due to NMSC on October 11, 202

3. High schools may indicate a different date by which students should complete their part of the application.

Amount of Money Available: About 7,140 Merit Scholarship winners will be chosen in the 2024 competition.

The scholarships are of three types: Single-payment National Merit $2500 Scholarships: All Finalists are considered for these.

Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships: These are supported by approximately 320 independent corporate organizations.

Merit Scholarship awards: These are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds.

Comprehensive Summary: The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes academically talented high school students who demonstrate leadership, service, and a commitment to making a positive impact.

Since its inception, the program has provided over 6,900 Coca-Cola Scholars with more than $84 million in educational support.

By spotlighting Semifinalists, NMSC aims to increase general interest in academic excellence and encourage broader support for the education of talented young people.

Link to Apply: You can apply for the National Merit Scholarship Program through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s Online Scholarship Application (OSA) below:https://nationalmerit. imodules. com/s/1758/images/gid2/editor_documents/merit_about_leaflet. pdf?cc=1&sessionid=c8007b21-bca4-4177-86f3-d1f3992e5cfa.

3. Regeneron Young Scientist Award Eligibility: The Regeneron Young Scientist Awards recognize students who demonstrate a commitment to innovation in tackling challenging scientific questions.

Finalists are selected based on their use of authentic research practices and their ability to create solutions for tomorrow’s problems.

Amount of Money Available: Two First Place projects receive a generous award of $50,000 each.

Comprehensive Summary: The Regeneron Young Scientist Awards celebrate exceptional high school students who push the boundaries of scientific inquiry.

These young scientists employ innovative approaches to address complex problems, from understanding infectious diseases to optimizing insect survivability.

The program aims to foster a new generation of researchers and problem solvers.

Link to Apply: You can find more details and apply for the Regeneron Young Scientist Awards on the Society for Science website below:https://www. societyforscience. org/isef/awards/regeneron-young-scientist-awards/.

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4. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program Eligibility: You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you are: A citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom.

Applying to pursue one of the following courses at the University of Cambridge: PhD (full-time or part-time*) MLitt (full-time) One-year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions – see below.

Deadline: There are two selection rounds each year for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship: US citizens resident in the USA: This is the earlier round for applicants who are both US citizens and currently resident in the United States.

It is specific to Gates Cambridge.

Students meeting these criteria must apply by October 11, 2023, and submit all their documents by this date (including references).

They are not eligible for the later round.

All other eligible applicants: The large majority of applicants will apply in this round, which is aligned with the University’s postgraduate funding competition.

Application deadlines depend on the course to which you are applying.

Please apply by the Course Funding Deadline referenced in the University Course Directory (found on the right side of the web page).

All application documents should be submitted by 23:59 pm (midnight) UK time on the stated date.

Amount of Money Available: 100% tuition costs (~150k) covered for approximately 80 students who will be able to receive the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

Comprehensive Summary: The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a prestigious award for outstanding students from around the world.

It supports exceptional student leaders in pursuing advanced degrees at the University of Cambridge.

The scholarship aims to help recipients realize their maximum potential and contribute to positive global change.

Link to Apply: You can find more details and apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship on the official Gates Cambridge website below:https://www. gatescambridge. org/apply/timeline/.

5. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship Eligibility: The NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship is open to NSHSS members who are high school students graduating in 2024, 2025, 2026, or 202

7. Recently graduated 2023 seniors are also eligible to apply.

Amount of Money Available: There are three (3) $2,000 awards for the Fiction category and three (3) $2,000 awards for the Poetry category.

Comprehensive Summary: The NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship celebrates young writers who demonstrate creativity, technique, expression, and originality.

Students can submit their original work in either of the two categories: Poetry: Original poetry in any style, from formal verse to free verse to experimental.

Fiction: A piece of short fiction (up to 5,000 words) in any genre, including graphic novels or stories.

Winning literary entries will be published on the NSHSS website.

Link to Apply: You can apply for the NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship on the NSHSS website below:https://www. nshss. org/scholarships/s/nshss-creative-writing-scholarship-2024/.

Note: There are many other scholarships that you can attain from the NSHSS programs, but like we mentioned earlier, they are only open to NSHSS members.

The membership status is one which can only be achieved through invitation, so be on the lookout for that if you qualify.

6. Burger King Scholars Program Eligibility: The Burger King Scholars Program awards scholarships to deserving high school seniors and Burger King employees and their families.

It aims to help advance their education and provide opportunities for academic growth.

Deadline: The application period for the 2024 scholarship closed on December 15th, 2023, and it is the same day every year.

Students should have been notified in March 2024 regarding the scholarship results.

Amount of Money Available: Through the Burger King Scholars program, nearly $55 million has been awarded to over 47,000 deserving students across North America.

The goal is to grant one scholarship for every Burger King restaurant in North America, totaling more than $7 million each year.

Comprehensive Summary: The Burger King Scholars Program celebrates students who demonstrate excellence and commitment to education.

Recipients have the opportunity to pursue their academic goals and create positive change in their communities.

The program’s impact extends beyond financial support, empowering young scholars to thrive in their academic journeys.

Link to Apply: For more details and to apply, visit the Burger King Scholars Program website below:https://burgerking. scholarsapply. org.

7. AXA Achievement Scholarship Eligibility: Applicants to the AXA Achievement Scholarship must: Be United States citizens or legal residents living or claiming residency in one of the 50 United States, Washington, D.

C. , or Puerto Rico.

Be current high school seniors who plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the United States for the entire 2024-2025 academic year.

Demonstrate ambition and self-drive as evidenced by outstanding achievement in school, community, or work-related activities.

Amount of Money Available: Fifty-two (52) students will each receive a $10,000 scholarship.

One recipient will be selected from each U.

S. state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

From among these 52 recipients, ten (10) will be selected to receive an additional $15,000 scholarship.

These national AXA Achievers will each be awarded scholarships totaling $25,00

0. Approximately 300 students will be selected to receive a $2,500 scholarship.

These will be chosen per AXA Advisors branch office.

A student may only receive one AXA-sponsored scholarship.

Every AXA Achiever’s high school – no matter the amount of their scholarship – will receive a grant of $1,00

0. Application Deadline: The program will be accepting applications until February 1, 202

4. Link to Apply: You can apply for the AXA Achievement Scholarship through the link below:https://statelinecf. org/axa-achievement-scholarship/.

8. Freedom Foundation Scholarship Eligibility: The Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to senior students who are children of military personnel who have been killed or permanently disabled in an operational mission or training accident.

If your school received a scholarship check on your behalf in Calendar Year 2023, you will receive an email with instructions on how to renew your scholarship for Fall 202

4. Amount of Money Available: The specific amount of the scholarship is not mentioned.

However, viewing the official website may give you some information about it.

Application Deadline: Applicants are eligible to apply anytime before April, but as soon as possible is always the best approach.

Applications for renewals and new applications for Fall 2024 will begin being reviewed in late April 202

4. Link to Apply: You can apply for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund on their official website below:https://fascholarship. com.

9. Straight A Scholarship Eligibility: The Straight A Scholarship is not listed in the provided information.

However, I recommend checking scholarship databases and educational institutions for any scholarships that match your academic achievements and interests.

Amount of Money Available: The scholarship amount for the Straight A Scholarship is not specified in the provided details.

To find accurate information, please refer to the official scholarship website or relevant sources.

Application Deadline: The application deadline for this scholarship was February 28th, 2024, so you can reasonably expect a similar date in 202

5. Comprehensive Summary: Since there is no specific summary provided, I encourage you to explore other scholarship opportunities that align with your academic excellence and aspirations.

Link to Apply: To apply for the Straight A Scholarship, please visit the scholarship provider’s official website below:https://www. munozfoundation. org/straightascholarship/. 1

0. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship Eligibility: To be eligible to apply for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program, you must: Graduate from a U.

S. high school in spring 202

4. Intend to enroll full time in an accredited four-year college beginning in fall 202

4. Earn a minimum, cumulative unweighted GPA of 

3. 5 or above.

Demonstrate unmet financial need (applicants with family annual gross income up to $95,000 will be considered).

Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses, including tuition, living expenses, books, and required fees.

Awards vary based on individual circumstances and other grants or scholarships received.

Amount of Money Available: The scholarship provides last-dollar funding after all institutional aid and can provide as much as $55,000 per year to pursue a bachelor’s degree at any accredited undergraduate institution.

Comprehensive Summary: The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program is the largest undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need.

Cooke Scholars receive comprehensive educational advising, significant cohort-based programming, and graduate school funding.

The scholarship empowers students to graduate with as little debt as possible and pursue any area of study.

Link to Apply: The application for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program is currently closed.

For future opportunities, you can visit the official website below:https://www. jkcf. org/our-scholarships/college-scholarship-program/how-to-apply/.

BONUS: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Regardless of how your high school career went down, you should apply for FAFSA because it is the closest thing to free money without any caveats that there is.

Although in its purest form it isn't necessarily a merit-based scholarship, it is still something that can be nonetheless be very valuable for all seniors.

Eligibility: To be eligible for the 2024-25 FAFSA, you must: Be a U.

S. citizen or legal resident.

Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college beginning in fall 202

4. Have a minimum, cumulative unweighted GPA of

3. 5 or above.

Demonstrate unmet financial need (applicants with family annual gross income up to $95,000 will be considered).

Deadline: The federal deadline to submit the 2024-25 FAFSA form is June 30, 202

5. Some states and colleges may have their own deadlines, so it’s essential to check for updates at StudentAid. gov/fafsa-deadlines.

Amount of Money Available: The FAFSA determines your eligibility for various federal student aid programs, including grants, loans, and work-study.

The specific amount of aid depends on your financial need, cost of attendance, and other factors.

Comprehensive Summary: The FAFSA is a crucial application for students seeking financial assistance for college.

It helps determine your eligibility for federal and sometimes state-based aid.

Completing the FAFSA opens doors to grants, loans, and work-study opportunities.

Link to Apply: You can apply for the FAFSA on the official Federal Student Aid website below:https://studentaid. gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

How To Secure Scholarships Now that you know what scholarships you should actually apply for, how can you guarantee success and ensure that you don't waste your time?

Curated by a Harvard Undergraduate and past winner of many of the competitions above, the course below guides you through the scholarship process and makes sure that you can pay off your college funds and ensure post-secondary success:https://www. rishabacademy. com/rishab-s-scholarship-masterclass.

Congratulations!

Good luck on your applications.