63 Easy Scholarships for College (2026 - 2027)

Which Is the Easiest Scholarship to Get?

The easiest scholarships to get are typically local, niche, or no-essay scholarships that receive fewer applicants and have simple eligibility rules. Because these awards focus on small regions, unique interests, or basic participation, competition is significantly lower than nationwide programs. Students who target scholarships in their hometown, school district, or specific identity group often find these opportunities the most accessible. Many of these scholarships only require basic information, a brief explanation of goals, or a short form.

Examples of easy-to-win scholarships include:

• Community Foundation Scholarships: Local awards based on residency, high school district, community involvement, or chosen college major. These often have fewer than 50 applicants.
• Employer-Sponsored Scholarships: Offered by parents’ or students’ workplaces, unions, or professional associations with very limited competition.
• Niche $2,000 No Essay Scholarship: A monthly sweepstakes-style award that requires only a free Niche profile and attracts quick entries rather than long applications.

Tip: Always start your search locally—smaller applicant pools and specific eligibility requirements dramatically improve your odds of winning.

What Is the Easiest Way to Get a Full Scholarship?

Full scholarships are competitive, but the easiest way to secure one is by applying where you strongly exceed the eligibility criteria. Students who strategically target colleges that offer automatic or competitive full-ride awards—especially schools outside the most selective tier—often see the best results. Demonstrating excellence across academics, leadership, athletics, or the arts also increases your chances.

Common paths to earning full scholarships include:

• Academic Merit: Many universities automatically award full-tuition or full-ride scholarships to students with outstanding GPAs, test scores, or class rankings.
• National Merit Scholarships: High PSAT/NMSQT scores can lead to full-ride offers from partner institutions that recruit National Merit Finalists.
• Athletic Scholarships: NCAA Division I and II schools offer full athletic scholarships for exceptional athletes in high-demand sports.

Tip: Apply early and highlight your strongest achievements—colleges often reserve their highest awards for early applicants and standout leaders.

What Are Some Easy Scholarships and Grants for College Students?

Many scholarships for current college students are designed to be fast, simple, and low-effort. These awards appeal to busy students because they require minimal documentation and no lengthy essays. Although they are competitive, they take only minutes to enter, and many allow monthly reapplications, increasing your odds over time.

Some of the easiest scholarships for college students include:

• Sallie Mae $2,000 Scholarship: A monthly sweepstakes open to anyone who creates a free Sallie Mae account.
• Cappex Easy Money Scholarship: A $1,000 award requiring only a brief online profile—no essay or transcript needed.
• Tallo $1,000 Scholarship: A quick-entry scholarship where students simply build or update a Tallo profile highlighting their skills.

Tip: Many of these awards refresh monthly—set calendar reminders to enter them consistently for the highest chance of winning.

What Are Some Easy Scholarships to Win?

Some of the easiest scholarships to win feature creative, unusual, or humorous themes. These scholarships attract fewer applicants because they require a unique task or involve specific interests. Students who enjoy hands-on projects, humor, or creative writing can stand out easily in these contests.

Popular easy-to-win options include:

• Duck Tape Stuck at Prom Scholarship: Create a prom outfit made entirely from duct tape for a chance to win up to $10,000.
• Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship: Submit a short, fun essay describing how you would survive a zombie invasion—creativity is more important than writing skill.

Tip: Niche or unconventional scholarships attract far fewer applicants—making them some of the highest-odds opportunities for creative students.

Scholarships With Extremely High Win Rates (Local + Niche Opportunities)

Scholarships with the highest win rates are usually local, niche, or highly specific awards that receive very few applications. These scholarships often target small audiences—such as students in a single county, members of a specific club, children of certain workers, or people pursuing uncommon majors. Because fewer students qualify, your odds of winning can be dramatically higher than large national competitions.

Here are some of the easiest, highest-odds scholarships based on limited applicant pools:

• Local Community Foundation Scholarships: Nearly every county in the U.S. has a community foundation that administers dozens of small, local awards. Many receive fewer than 20 applicants per scholarship.
• Chamber of Commerce Scholarships: Local business associations often give scholarships to students in their city or region. These awards attract minimal competition and focus on leadership or community impact.
• Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions Club Scholarships: Civic organizations offer scholarships for service-oriented students but receive very small applicant pools—sometimes fewer than 10 applicants in smaller towns.
• High School Booster Club Scholarships: Many high schools offer small awards sponsored by PTO/PTA groups, athletic boosters, or alumni associations. These scholarships are only open to students at that school.
• Employer- and Union-Sponsored Scholarships: Companies and labor unions (such as UPS, AT&T, NEA, IBEW, or AFSCME) often offer scholarships exclusively to employees or their dependents, drastically limiting competition.
• Religious Organization Scholarships: Churches, temples, mosques, and faith-based organizations frequently award scholarships to members or local students. These often receive very few applications.
• Department- or Major-Specific Scholarships: Colleges often offer scholarships for specific majors like agriculture, nursing, actuarial science, or supply chain—fields with smaller student populations and higher chances of winning.
• Heritage, Cultural, and Ancestry Scholarships: Scholarships available to students from particular cultural backgrounds (e.g., Scottish Rite, Sons of Italy, Daughters of the American Revolution) often have low applicant numbers and strong win rates.
• Rural Student Scholarships: Awards targeted at students from rural counties or small towns typically receive far fewer applications than statewide or national programs.
• Unusual Talent or Hobby Scholarships: Scholarships for things like duck calling, knitting, left-handed students, or making a costume out of duct tape usually have small applicant pools due to their niche nature.

Tip: Students who invest time searching for hyper-local or very specific opportunities consistently win more scholarships. Apply to 10–20 niche scholarships for the highest possible chances of earning multiple awards.

What Are Some Easy Scholarships to Apply for With No Essay?

No essay scholarships are the simplest and fastest scholarships to apply for. Instead of writing essays, students just submit basic information, complete a short form, or create a student profile. Because these scholarships are sweepstakes-style or profile-based, applying regularly can significantly increase your odds.

Top no-essay scholarships include:

• $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship: Awarded to the boldest student profile on Bold.org—no writing required.
• Nitro College Scholarship: A monthly $2,000 award that requires a simple form and basic contact information.
• Niche No Essay Scholarship: A recurring $2,000 award that only requires a free Niche account.

Tip: Since winners are selected randomly, entering multiple no-essay scholarships each month gives you more chances to win.

What Are Guaranteed Scholarships?

Guaranteed scholarships—sometimes called automatic scholarships—are awards that colleges grant based solely on academic achievement. Students do not need to submit a separate application; instead, scholarships are awarded automatically when you apply to the college and meet certain GPA or test-score thresholds. These scholarships are excellent options for students seeking reliable, predictable financial aid based on academic performance.

Examples of universities offering guaranteed awards include:

• University of Alabama: Offers automatic merit scholarships to out-of-state students with high GPAs, strong ACT/SAT scores, or both.
• Arizona State University: Provides renewable, guaranteed scholarships based on academic performance and residency.

Tip: Many schools publish scholarship charts on their admissions pages—use these charts to find colleges where you already qualify for automatic awards.

What Are Some Easy Scholarships for High School Seniors?

High school seniors can apply for many easy scholarships that reward academic performance, leadership, or simple actions such as filling out short forms or completing college-planning steps. These awards often have straightforward requirements and attract large applicant pools, but the time required to apply is minimal.

Examples of easy scholarships for seniors include:

• Coca-Cola Scholars Program: A prestigious award with an initial short-form application and multiple advancement rounds.
• Burger King Scholars Program: Offers awards up to $50,000 for students demonstrating integrity, strong work ethic, and community service.
• College Board Opportunity Scholarships: No essay required—students qualify by completing college prep tasks like practicing for the SAT or building a college list.

Tip: Seniors should apply early and maintain all GPA or involvement requirements to stay eligible for multi-step scholarship programs.

What Are Small Scholarships?

Small scholarships—typically ranging from $500 to $1,000—are often overlooked but much easier to win than large national awards. Because many students skip them, the applicant pool is smaller and the chances of winning are higher. These awards are ideal for covering books, supplies, technology, or everyday academic expenses.

Examples of easy small scholarships include:

• Courage to Grow Scholarship: A monthly $500 award requiring a simple 250-word essay.
• Fastweb “Invite a Friend” Sweepstakes: Offers $1,000 for referring a friend to join the Fastweb scholarship platform.

Tip: Apply to several small scholarships each month—winning multiple small awards can add up to meaningful college savings.