20 Generous Scholarships for Low-Income Students in 2025

What’s Covered:

• Where Can Low-Income Students Get the Most Scholarship Money?
• 20 Scholarships for Low-Income Students

 

College provides students from low-income families with an excellent opportunity to move up the socioeconomic ladder. Because of this, schools have seen a rise in the number of students from financially disadvantaged families on their campuses. Unfortunately for these students, the amount of federal financial aid has not kept pace with the rising cost of college. 

 

One of the ways students can make up the difference between the financial aid available and the cost of college is with scholarships—in particular, scholarships for low-income students. 

 

Where Can Low-Income Students Get the Most Scholarship Money? 

 

Merit aid rewards students for academic or extracurricular achievements, rather than financial need. This presents an awesome opportunity to earn money for college! External organizations are often where students focus their scholarship-seeking energy, but colleges have substantially more funds available, and students should target them too. 

 

Tips for winning merit aid from colleges include:

 

• Apply to schools where your profile is especially strong or if you possess a quality or skill the school is seeking.
• Don’t make college decisions based on sticker price—expensive private schools are often the schools that most generously award merit aid. CollegeVine found that the top 50 colleges awarding merit aid in 2019 were all private.
• Apply early! Whether it’s for a school scholarship or for one from an outside organization, the earlier a student starts, the less likely they are to miss a deadline and the more scholarships they can apply for.

 

Another great strategy for students looking to reduce the cost of college is to apply to schools that offer free tuition for low-income students. Numerous colleges meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need, and some even do so without the use of student loans. There are also some colleges that do not charge tuition to students from families below certain income levels—these colleges include prestigious institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford.

 

20 Scholarships for Low-Income Students

 

1. Horatio Alger National Scholarship

 

Amount: $25,000

Deadline: March 1

Eligibility:

• High school junior
• Commitment to pursuing a bachelor’s degree
• Demonstrate a critical financial need ($65,00 or lower adjusted gross family income)
• Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities
• Demonstrate integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
• Minimum 2.0 GPA
• US citizen

Application Requirements:

• Support from someone over 21 years old who is familiar with the challenges the applicant has faced
• Certification form from a high school counselor 
• Proof of citizenship
• Financial information

 

The renowned author Horatio Alger, Jr., made a name for himself by writing books about young boys who overcame poverty through hard work and determination—a motif modeled after his own life experience. Today, the Horatio Alger Scholarship Program is one of the largest need-based college scholarship programs in the country—it awards 105 $25,000 national scholarships annually, honoring the spirit of Alger’s life.

 

2. Gates Scholarship 

 

Amount: 100% of costs not covered by financial aid 

Deadline: September 15

Eligibility:

• High school senior
• US citizen or permanent resident
• Pell Grant eligible
• Minimum 3.3 GPA
• Planning to enroll full-time in a four-year degree program

Application Requirements:

• In the top 10% of their graduating class
• Demonstrated leadership through extracurricular activities like community service and volunteering
• Possesses characteristics such as emotional maturity, motivation, and perseverance

 

The Gates Scholarship is a highly selective award aimed at outstanding high school students from low-income households. This generous scholarship program funds all college expenses not covered by financial aid.

 

3. Hagan Scholarship

 

Amount: $60,000

Deadline: December 1

Eligibility:

• Attend high school in the US 
• Planning to enroll at an eligible four-year college or university
• Work 240 hours annually
• Gross household income less than $100,000

Application Requirements:

• Minimum 3.50 GPA
• FAFSA SAR showing EFC 

 

The Hagan Scholarship is both a merit- and need-based award. It intends to allow recipients to obtain a four-year college education and graduate debt-free. In addition to scholarship money, this program includes workshops, investment account management services, and free study abroad—enabling recipients to gain valuable life skills that are generally not covered in a college curriculum.

 

4. Ron Brown Scholarship 

 

Amount: $40,000

Deadline: December 1

Eligibility:

• High school senior
• Black/African American
• Exceptional academics
• Excellent leadership
• Participate in community service
• Demonstrate financial need
• US citizen or permanent resident

 Application Requirements:

• Transcript
• Two letters of recommendation
• Two 500-word essays 

 

The Ron Brown Scholarship honors its namesake by providing financial support for community-minded, academically gifted, and financially challenged African American students. This highly selective scholarship is awarded to high school seniors with an interest in the four pillars of Ronald Brown’s mission to uplift people of all races, cultures, and ethnicities—public service, community engagement, business entrepreneurship, and global citizenship.

 

5. QuestBridge College Match Scholarship

 

Amount: Over $325,000

Deadline: September 30 

Eligibility:

• High school senior
• Planning to enroll in college
• Ranked in the top 5-10% of the graduating class
• Engaged in challenging classes such as AP, IB, or honors
• SAT scores between 1280-1460
• ACT composite scores between 26-33
• Demonstration of strong writing ability, intellectual spark, and determination
• Finalists typically are from households earning less than $65,000/year for a family of four

Application Requirements:

• Two essays and short answers
• Two teacher recommendations
• School Report from current high school counselor
• High school transcript
• School Profile (optional, but recommended)

 

One of the most generous scholarships for low-income students is the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship. QuestBridge partners with some of the most prestigious colleges in the country for this award, which covers the full cost of college—including tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and travel. The scholarship does not require parental contribution or student loans, but it may entail student contributions via work-study, a summer job, or student savings.

 

6. Davis-Putter Scholarship

 

Amount: Up to $15,000

Deadline: April 1

Eligibility:

• Enrolled at a college or university, or in a trade or technical program
• Active and emerging organizers in progressive movements for liberation, self-determination, and social and economic justice in their communities
• Demonstrated financial need
• Strong preference is given to those who plan to stay in the U.S. to work on such issues after completing their degrees

Application Requirements:

• Personal statement
• Transcript
• Two letters of recommendation
• Student Aid Report (SAR) and/or Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA)

 

Davis-Putter Scholarships are need-based awards given to students who are actively involved in the movements for social and economic justice. The maximum award is $15,000, but scholarship value is determined by the financial need of the applicant and the amount of funding available.

 

7. Dell Scholars

 

Amount: $20,000

Deadline: December 1

Eligibility:

• Pell Grant eligible
• Participate in and complete a program-approved college readiness program 
• Plan to enroll full-time in a bachelor’s degree program
• Demonstrate purpose, perseverance, and a career-driven mindset

Application Requirements: Minimum 2.4 GPA

 

The Dell Scholars Program provides a support system for the challenges students face while pursuing a college degree. In addition to monetary support, Dell Scholars also receive:

 

• A laptop with a four-year warranty
• Annual credits for textbook purchases or rentals
• Access to the resources for managing stress, debt, child care, and life circumstances
• Teletherapy sessions connecting students to professional counselors 

 

Dell Scholars are highly motivated and driven-to-succeed students from low-income families. Ideal candidates possess a special “GPA”—one representing their Grit, Potential, and Ambition.

 

8. Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship Program

 

Amount: Up to $55,000 annually

Deadline: November 14

Eligibility:

• High school senior
• Enrolling in a four-year college
• Demonstrated financial need (applicants with a family annual gross income up to $95,000 are considered)

Application Requirements: Minimum 3.75 GPA

 

This scholarship program aims to help high-achieving students with financial need attend and succeed at some of the nation’s most prestigious schools. These generous awards cover a substantial amount of a student’s college expenses, including tuition, room and board, meals, books, and fees. 

 

In addition to a financial award, recipients are also provided with personalized college advising and programming focused on transitioning from high school to college.

 

9. Tzu Chi USA Scholarship 

 

Amount: $1,500

Deadline: Varies regionally 

Eligibility:

• High school senior
• Enrolling in a four-year college
• Demonstrated financial need

Application Requirements:

• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Transcript
• Documentation demonstrating financial need
• Autobiography
• Essay
• Two teacher recommendations

 

This need- and merit-based scholarship program is funded by the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. The award provides financial support to outstanding college-bound high school seniors.

 

10. Bezos Scholars Program

 

Amount: $1,000 in funding to launch a community change project

Deadline: January 21

Eligibility:

• High school junior
• US citizen, permanent resident, or have received nonpermanent legal status, like DACA 
• Attend a high school with a 30% or greater overall free and reduced lunch rate
• Taken at least one advanced course (for example, Honors, AP, or IB)

Application Requirements:

• Short video responding to application prompts
• Written short answers

 

The Bezos Scholars Program isn’t a scholarship per se; however, it presents an excellent opportunity to improve its recipients’ local communities and bolster their college profiles. Just 17 scholars are chosen annually from across the U.S. and Africa to participate in skill-building workshops, receive college advising, and earn $1,000 in funding to implement a project that makes a difference in their community. Recipients also get an all-expenses-paid trip to Aspen, Colorado, to participate in the Aspen Ideas Festival.

 

11. Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Support Awards

 

Amount: Up to $5,000

Deadline: N/A

Eligibility:

• Must be a woman
• At least 17 years old
• Pursuing a first degree at a postsecondary level of education

Application Requirements:

• Must be low-income with an annual family income less than:
  • $21,150 for a family of two
  • $26,650 for a family of three
  • $32,150 for a family of four

 

This award, named after Patsy Takemoto Mink—the first woman of color elected to the U.S. House of Representatives—provides financial support and helps ensure educational access to low-income women, particularly mothers. Recipients are chosen based on financial need, educational path, vocational or occupational goals, and service, activist, or civic aspirations.

 

12. Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) Scholars

 

Amount: Up to $35,000

Deadline: January 23

Eligibility:

• High school senior
• Enrolling in a four-year college
• US citizen
• Demonstrated financial need
• Academically excellent
• Proven leadership potential
• Dedication to community service

Application Requirements:

• Transcript
• Recommendation
• Four essays
• Test scores (AP, IB, PSAT, ACT, or SAT) 

 

JRF Scholars receive more than simply a generous scholarship to help offset college costs; they are also provided with guidance to help them navigate the process of higher education, including internship and job placement, career counseling, study abroad, and skill development. JRF Scholars have proven highly successful in college, with a whopping 98% graduation rate.

 

13. Engebretson Foundation Scholarship 

 

Amount: $10,000

Deadline: March 1

Eligibility:

• High school senior
• Enrolling in a four-year college
• In need of financial assistance to attend college

Application Requirements:

• Scored 1240 or higher on the SAT or a 28 composite score or higher on the ACT
• Minimum 3.75 GPA and/or in the top 5% of graduating class
• Transcript
• Resume
• Teacher recommendation
• Two essays
• Student Aid Report (SAR) 

 

The Engebretson Foundation awards one graduating high school senior with a $5,000-per-semester scholarship. Recipients have proven themselves to be exceptionally talented academically and have demonstrated financial need.

 

14. Elks National Foundation’s Most Valuable Student Competition

 

Amount: $1,000–$30,000

Deadline: N/A

Eligibility: Enrolling in a four-year college

Application Requirements: N/A 

 

More than 500 scholarships are awarded annually through the Elks National Foundation’s Most Valuable Student Competition. Male and female students compete separately, and awards are based on leadership, academic achievement, community involvement, and financial need.

 

The top 20 national finalists are selected to attend MVS Leadership Weekend in Chicago, Illinois, where they’ll receive a $30,000 scholarship.

 

15. TheDream.US National Scholarship for High School Students 

 

Amount: Up to $33,000

Deadline: February 28

Eligibility:

• Have graduated or are about to graduate from high school
• Are a first-generation immigrant and came to the United States before November 1, 20919, and have continuously lived in the United States since then, or have DACA or TPS status
• Came to the U.S. before age 16 (not eligible if you were born in the U.S.)
• Have significant unmet financial need

Application Requirements: Minimum 2.5 GPA 

 

TheDream.US National Scholarship for High School Students is kind of like a Pell Grant for highly motivated undocumented students with significant unmet financial need. The program is open to students who qualify for in-state tuition at a partner college—awards range from up to $16,500 for students working toward an associate’s degree to a maximum of $33,000 for students working toward a bachelor’s degree. 

 

Awards are based on several factors, including GPA, extracurriculars, a commitment to community service, and the ability to overcome the barriers facing undocumented students.

 

16. New York State Excelsior Scholarship Program

 

Amount: Free tuition at a SUNY or CUNY school

Deadline: August 31

Eligibility:

• New York State resident
• Combined family adjusted gross income under $125,000
• US citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Agree to reside (and if employed, work) in New York for as long as the award is received

Application Requirements: Attend a SUNY or CUNY school

 

This generous college award is only for New York State residents—it provides free tuition at SUNY and CUNY colleges to students from families making less than $125,000 per year. While the scope of the scholarship may seem limited, almost 1 million families and individuals qualify for this considerable award.

 

17. Next NC Scholarship

 

Amount: Minimum between $3,000 and $5,000

Deadline:

• UNC System Schools: June 1
• NC Community Colleges: August 15

Eligibility:

• North Carolina resident enrolled in an eligible undergraduate curriculum
• From a household with an annual Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $80,000 or less
• Pell eligible

Application Requirements: FAFSA

 

Here’s another state-run scholarship program for in-state low-income students—this one is from North Carolina. It offers residents scholarships of at least $3,000 for community college and $5,000 for one of the 16 UNC System schools. The program is open to Pell-eligible students from households with Adjusted Gross Incomes of $80,000 or less.

 

18. Burger King Scholars Program

 

Amount: $1,000–$60,000

Deadline: December 15

Eligibility:

• High school senior
• Burger King employee, spouse/domestic partner, or child of an employee
• Commitment to community service
• Financial need

Application Requirements: Minimum 2.5 GPA

 

Burger King provides scholarships to its employees and their immediate family members to advance their educations and cut the cost of college. Recipients are chosen based on a number of factors, including their academic performance, work experience, extracurricular activities, community service, and financial need.

 

19. McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship

 

Amount: Up to $100,000

Deadline: N/A

Eligibility:

• High school senior
• US citizen, legal resident, DREAMER, or DACA recipient

Application Requirements:

• Minimum 2.8 GPA
• Academic achievement
• Demonstrated financial need
• Community involvement

 

One of the ways the fast-food giant McDonald’s gives back to the communities it serves is through the McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship Program, which awards scholarships to 30 outstanding Hispanic and Latino students annually. Three levels of awards are available:

 

• Tier 1: Up to $100,000
• Tier 2: Between $10,000 and $20,000
• Tier 3: $5,000

 

Recipients are chosen based on their academic achievement, community involvement, personal statement, and financial need.

 

20. CollegeVine Scholarships

 

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: Quarterly

Eligibility: High school student and US resident

Application Requirements: Create a free CollegeVine account or fill out your chancing profile if you already have an account.

 

CollegeVine provides a quarterly, no-essay scholarship of $2,000. All you have to do is sign up for a free account, which allows you to see your chances of acceptance at 1,600+ schools, get your essays reviewed by a peer, ask questions in our community forum, and more. If you already have an account, just make sure your chancing profile is filled out.

 

Awards will be paid out directly to students to help them cover any educational costs. Learn more about the CollegeVine scholarships.

 

How to Calculate Your Odds of Acceptance

 

In addition to determining how much you’ll pay for college, you may also be wondering how you stack up at your top choice schools. To answer that question, check out CollegeVine’s free chancing engine.

This tool takes into account just about every element of your application (other than your interview, letters of recommendation, and essays, which aren’t quantifiable), including your grades, course rigor, SAT/ACT scores (if you have them), and extracurriculars, to give you personalized odds of acceptance at all of your top choice schools. You’ll also receive suggestions for how to boost your odds!