Outside Scholarships

Winning scholarship contests takes both luck and strategy. The USF Financial Aid Office regularly researches private scholarship opportunities for new and continuing students. Private scholarships can help you reduce the net cost of your education and limit student loan debt.

Deadline Description Amount
January Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity applicants must be registered undergraduate, full-time juniors and seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the U.S., and must submit an essay of 3000-4000 words on the chosen topic each year. $500 - $5,000
February Government Finance Officers Association Scholarships recognize and encourage outstanding performances by various students who are interested in a career in government finance. $8,000 - $13,000
February LAGRANT Foundation Scholarship undergraduate and graduate students who are attending four-year accredited institutions in the U.S. and majoring in advertising, marketing, or public relations. $2,500 - $3,750
March The Gilman Scholarship  is open to undergraduate students in good standing. Must be a Federal Pell Grant recipient. Participating in a program abroad that is at least 3 weeks and in the process of applying for a credit-bearing study abroad program. The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is also open to child dependents of an active duty military member.  $5,000 - $8,000
March Contra Cost Association of Realtors (CCAR) Scholarship is open to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students. Must be enrolled full-time and who have a cumulative 3.5 GPA (high school seniors) or 3.2 GPA (as a college student) or higher. Be a resident of Contra Costa County. Must submit most recent transcript, three letters of recommendations, and a personal essay.  Up to $10,000
March, June, September and December of each year The AfterCollege/AACN Scholarship is open to applicants seeking a baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degree in nursing who are already enrolled (not just accepted). Special consideration will be given to students in a graduate program with the goal of becoming a nurse educator, students completing an RN-BSN or RN-MSN program, and those in an accelerated program. $2,500
April The Teacher.org "Inspire Our Future" Scholarship is open to students who are 18 years of age or older, currently enrolled in certain teaching degrees at an accredited U.S. institution, and who have a 3.5 GPA or above. $500
June The Abbott & Fenner Scholarship is offered to high school juniors and seniors, as well as all students currently registered in any accredited post-secondary institution. Applicants must submit an essay of 500-1000 words. $1,000
July and November each year Auger & Auger Disabled Scholar Award applicants who are U.S. citizens and undergraduates with a minimum 2.8 GPA must submit their transcripts and write an essay of 500-1000 words on one of the topics provided on the application. $1,000
September The Finale Inventory Scholarship is intended for students who are enrolled full-time in a degree related to supply chain and operations management, inventory control, materials management, or procurement. $2,500
November The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is intended for students with Sophomore status by 1/1/2020 who plan to enroll full-time in an accredited baccalaureate program in Fall 2020, have a 3.50 or above GPA, financial need, and have not previously attended a 4-year institution. Varies
December TransgenderFirst National Scholarship is the first national scholarship exclusively dedicated to helping underserved Transgender students get affordable access to a college education. Applicants must identify as Transgender, plan to pursue a degree or currently pursuing a degree at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution. Must have a high school diploma or GED and be a U.S. citizen. Awards are annual and based on eligibility, financial need, personal hardship, academic merit, and other related considerations.  $2,500
20th of Each Month LA Tutors' Innovation in Education Scholarship is awarded to students who showcase their creativity and make positive impacts through creative fundraising, inventive new app, series of blog posts, or other ideas. Open to U.S. citizen or permanent residents, or hold a valid student Visa. Must be currently enrolled in high school or college with at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA. $500
Varies StudySoup Scholarships is offering multiple scholarships to both undergraduate and graduate students. Varies

Tips & Strategies

  1. A higher High School or College GPA will make you eligible for more scholarships and increase your chances of winning an award.
  2. Begin your search at least one year prior to the time when you will need scholarship funds to be paid.
  3. Consistently dedicate at least one-to-three hours per week to searching and applying for private scholarships.
  4. Search the internet with Google, using the keyword "scholarship" and different combinations of other keywords related to your heritage/ethnicity, background, extracurricular activities, intended major/career, etc.
  5. Review all eligibility and application requirements carefully and make sure to submit all required documents.
  6. Do not apply for scholarships that require application fees or payments of any kind. Learn more about scholarship scams.

Resources

Use the following resources and scholarship search engines to find awards that more closely match your background, major, and career aspirations. You may also find scholarship opportunities through your family's professional associations, local government, or religious institutions to which you belong.

International Student Resources