External Scholarships for College

Scholarships are financial aid awards that are designed to help college students pay for their education. They can come from various sources, including external ones that come from outside academic institutions.

External scholarships are awarded to degree-seeking students by private companies, non-profit organizations, community groups and others.

According to a report by US News, only around 4% of all financial aid scholarships received by college students in the country are external scholarships.

There are many names that external scholarships also go by:

• Private scholarships
• Non-institutional scholarships
• Outside scholarships
• Third-party scholarships

External Scholarships vs. Institutional Scholarships

Practically any scholarship from outside a college or university can be referred to as an external scholarship.

On the other hand, institutional scholarships are scholarships and grants from the institution itself.

Either way, scholarship money awarded to you can be used to pay for college — which college expenses you can use the award for can vary from one provider to the other, depending on the terms and conditions.

As to which is best for you, between an external scholarship and an institutional scholarship, it’s on a case-to-case basis.

First, institutional scholarships are far more common than external scholarships.

As mentioned earlier, only 4% of all scholarships that college students enjoy are from external sources.

Compared to institutional aid where 44% comes from the federal government, and 36% from academic institutions themselves.

In other words, it’s a good idea to focus more on winning scholarships from the college you are or will be attending.

Second, there’s the so-called scholarship displacement — the reduction (or, in some instances, even elimination) of institutional scholarship awarded to an undergraduate student after receiving an external scholarship.

For example, according to Mark Kantrowitz, a personal finance guru, around 50% of college students who win external scholarships experience scholarship displacement.

How to Find and Apply for External Scholarships

Finding external scholarships is harder than finding scholarships from the federal government and colleges and universities.

In most instances, you will have to depend on your online searching skills just to come across external scholarships worth considering.

Applying to them can be challenging, too, as each one has a different application process.

Decided to take advantage of external scholarships to bring down the cost of an undergraduate degree?

Consider meeting with your high school counselor or your college’s Financial Aid Office.

Online, you can use scholarship search engine sites, and some examples include:

• BigFuture
• Cappex
• Fastweb
• Guaranteed-scholarships.com
• Niche
• Peterson’s
• Scholarships.com

When it comes to applying for external scholarships, you can rest assured that each one has a different application form as well as eligibility requirements and documents to submit.

Of course, different external scholarships have different application deadlines, so you must keep track of important dates to avoid missing good opportunities.

Top 20 External Scholarships

In this part of the post, we’ll check out 20 external scholarships worth looking into.

Scholarship Name	Amount Awarded
1. Boren Scholarships	up to $25,000
2. Burger King Scholars	almost $60 million in total to over 49,000 students
3. Coca-Cola Scholars Program	$20,000
4. Dell Scholars Program	$20,000
5. Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship	from $1,000 to $7,500
6. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes	up to $20,000
7. Gates Scholarship	full cost of attendance
8. Google Scholarships	from $2,500 to $5,000 per year
9. Harry S. Truman Scholarship	$30,000
10. HOPE Scholarship	varies
11. Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship	up to $40,000 per year
12. James Beard Foundation National Scholars Program	$20,000
13. Live Mas	varies
14. National Merit Scholarship Program	$2,500
15. No Essay Scholarships (Niche)	$2,000
16. QuestBridge National College Match	more than $200,000 (full four-year scholarship)
17. Ronald McDonald’s Scholarship	$1,000 (most chapters)
18. Society of Women Engineers Scholarships	over $1,500,000 in total awards
19. TEACH Early Childhood Scholarship Program	up to 90% of tuition and books
20. UNCF Scholarships	more than $100 million in total

1. Boren Scholarships

Interested in studying less commonly taught languages in areas that are not only underrepresented in study abroad but also critical to US interests?

Consider applying for a Boren Scholarship.

The scholarship program annually provides up to $25,000 to eligible undergraduate students.

The length of programs that Boren Scholarships support can last anywhere from eight weeks to an entire academic year.

However, there is one requirement in exchange for being a Boren Scholar: you should commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduating from college.

2. Burger King Scholars

There’s no need to be in college to look for an external scholarship for your postsecondary education, as some of them are available for senior high school students to apply to, including the Burger King Scholars program.

It was established in 2000 to honor the co-founder of Burger King, James “Jim” W. McLacmore.

Since it came into being, the Burger King Scholars program has awarded almost $60 million in scholarships to more than 49,000 high school students and Burger King employees and their families.

Those who reside in the US, Puerto Rico and Canada are eligible to apply for the Burger King Scholars program.

3. Coca-Cola Scholars Program

The vast majority of scholarships, external and institutional alike, are merit-based.

To be eligible, you must display academic success by meeting a minimum GPA or a particular SAT or ACT score.

However, there are also merit-based scholarships that are also more focused on achievements.

An example of an achievement-driven scholarship is the Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship, which requires applicants to have a recognized capacity to lead and serve as well as make a substantial impact in the school and community, too.

Every year, 150 high school seniors win a $20,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Program.

4. Dell Scholars Program

The Dell Scholars Program, which was founded in 2004, awards money to low-income students, each one receiving $20,000 that they can use for various related college costs.

The program also provides personalized, multifaceted support.

This means that the Dell Scholars Program scholarship winners also receive support for emotional life challenges that may keep undergraduate students from completing college.

By the way, this particular scholarship program is exclusive to first-generation students.

5. Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship

One of the Elks National Foundation scholarship programs is the Most Valuable Student (MVS).

Every year, the said foundation awards a total of 500 four-year scholarships, whose amount can range anywhere from $1,000 to $7,500, to the highest-rated applicants.

And speaking of which, applicants are judged based on the following criteria: financial need, leadership experience, community involvement, and academic achievement. There is also no need to submit SAT or ACT scores.

Remember, though, that students in their senior year of high school are the only ones eligible to apply.

6. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes

Considered a star athlete in your high school for your sporting excellence and achievements?

Then consider sending an application to the Foot Locker Foundation to qualify for the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program.

As the external scholarship’s name suggests, it’s designed to support student-athletes financially.

Up to 20 Foot Locker Scholar Athletes are chosen every year, each one receiving up to $20,000.

The award can be used to pursue an undergraduate program at a two-year or four-year institution.

Other than being a good student-athlete, students must also display academic success and community involvement.

7. Gates Scholarship

The Gates Scholarship is one of the most selective external scholarships for college students, which is perfectly understandable since it takes care of a student’s full cost of attendance.

However, to be considered an ideal candidate for the scholarship program, you should have a minimum GPA of 3.3 and be in the top 10% of your graduating high school class.

Demonstrating leadership ability and personal success is an eligibility criterion, too.

Also, you must be an African-American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American to be eligible to apply for the Gates Scholarship.

8. Google Scholarships

Believe it or not, Google, a search engine you can use to look for external scholarships, has a scholarship program for students who wish to pursue a technology-related degree.

There are numerous Google Scholarship programs available, some of which are designed for specific types of students, including women, minority students, individuals with disabilities and veterans.

Scholarship awards vary, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 per year.

In addition, Google Scholarships also provide travel and conference allowances.

9. Harry S. Truman Scholarship

There are a couple of things to remember if you are interested in winning a Harry S. Truman Scholarship award, which is named after the 33rd president of the US, and get your hands on the $30,000 cash award.

First, you must be majoring in anything that can lead to a career in public service.

Second, you must plan on attending graduate school in the US or abroad.

Of the more than 800 applications annually, 55 to 65 students win the Harry S. Truman Scholarship award.

However, to qualify for the competitive external scholarship program, you must be one of the four students nominated by your school.

10. HOPE Scholarship

HOPE stands for Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally, and the scholarship program, established in 1993, is designed to help Georgia residents pay for a portion of their college tuition costs.

There are a couple of ways to be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship: demonstrate academic success in high school become a Hope Scholar and meet merit-based selection criteria as a college student.

Since its founding, more than $3 billion in scholarships has been awarded.

In addition, the Hope Scholarship program has helped approximately 1.8 million students in Georgia go to college.

11. Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship

The Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship program is intended for high-achieving students in their senior year of high school seeking to attend some of the best four-year postsecondary institutions in the US.

Other than being merit-based, the said scholarship program is also the need-based kind.

So, in other words, it’s not enough that you excel academically — you should also demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship program and win up to $40,000 per year.

To date, there are 3,300 Jack Kent Cooke scholars and $282 million in scholarship money has been awarded.

12. James Beard Foundation National Scholars Program

Also referred to as the JBF National Scholars Program, the James Beard Foundation National Scholars Program awards $20,000 to ten winners yearly, each selected based on academic merit and recommendations.

However, to be eligible, you must be pursuing a food-related discipline.

No matter where you are in the US, you are eligible for the JBF National Scholars Program award if you can demonstrate leadership roles in culinary arts, agriculture, food studies, hospitality management and many other related studies.

Various other scholarships are also available, such as those related to wine and caviar cooking.

13. Live Mas

The name of the scholarship program may not ring a bell.

Still, the provider of this external scholarship is familiar to many individuals — it’s none other than Taco Bell.

Simply put, Live Mas is intended for students who are seeking a college degree.

Unlike most other scholarship programs where students are eligible to apply only if they meet certain academic requirements, the only requirement for you to apply for a Live Mas scholarship award is to demonstrate passion.

To apply, submit a video (30 seconds to 2 minutes long) discussing your passion and education plan.

14. National Merit Scholarship Program

Established in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Program is a yearly competition among high school students for college scholarships and recognition.

Around 8,600 scholarships are awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Program every year, and each of them is considered one of the 2,500 winners of scholarships worth $2,500.

But there’s a very important step to take if you want to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

It’s none other than taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in your junior year of high school.

So, in other words, you have one chance to compete for it.

15. No Essay Scholarships

Unlike most external scholarships, Niche’s No Essay Scholarship program requires no essay to be submitted.

Many individuals are eligible to apply, from high school teens undergraduates to graduate students.

Winners each receive $2,000, which can cover tuition and fees, room and board, books, and other college-related expenses.

To qualify, all you have to do is fill out the application form.

But it’s worth noting that No Essay Scholarship winners are selected by random drawing of names.

16. QuestBridge National College Match

At its core, the QuestBridge National College Match is an application process that allows you to apply to certain colleges and universities and makes you eligible to win QuestBridge’s Match Scholarship.

Winning means getting a full four-year scholarship award worth more than $200,000.

Additionally, it allows you to enjoy early admission to one of QuestBridge’s partner colleges — there are 50 liberal arts and research university partners.

To qualify, however, you must have primarily As in your core courses and demonstrate financial need.

17. Ronald McDonald’s Scholarship

Courtesy of the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), the Ronald McDonald’s Scholarship is a one-time award.

Most chapters award $1,000 to winners, which they can use to pay for various college costs.

Those eligible to apply are teens in their senior year of high school who plan on attending a two-year or a four-year institution. It’s also a must for them to have a minimum GPA of 2.7.

Alas, only those residing within participating chapters’ geographic boundaries can qualify.

18. Society of Women Engineers Scholarships

Those identifying as women can apply for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Scholarship awards.

However, it’s also a must for them to be planning to pursue an ABET-accredited program in engineering or fields related to engineering. So, in other words, they must be interested in STEM fields.

Last year, more than 330 new and renewed SWE Scholarship awards were disbursed.

What is the estimated value of all awards distributed?

Over $1,500,000.

19. TEACH Early Childhood Scholarship Program

The Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (TEACH) Early Childhood Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to undergraduate students planning to become early care educators.

Over 60 technical schools, community-based training centers, colleges and universities have collaborated with the TEACH program, making education affordable to eligible students.

Up to 90% of tuition and up to 90% of books are covered by the TEACH program.

The said program provides a bonus, too, for every coursework completed.

20. UNCF Scholarships

According to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) itself, it is the largest private scholarship provider to minority group members in the US.

Since its founding, it has helped over 500,000 students complete their college degrees.

More than $100 million in scholarships are awarded to students each year.

Recipients of the UNCF Scholarships are studying at over 1,100 postsecondary institutions in the nation, including the 37 historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs) in the scholarship provider’s network.

UNCF also has other programs, including for K-12 and STEM students.