People with college aspirations often despair over whether or not they will be able to afford it. They have been turned down for grants and scholarships, government funding only goes so far, and college costs far more money than a minimum wage job can pay for.
If you’re one of the many people with college dreams but little money, don’t fret! There are many unusual college scholarships available, and with hard work and determination you just might land one of them.
Here are 57 of the most unusual college scholarships you can apply for today.
1. David Letterman Telecommunications Scholarship
Students interested in attending David Letterman’s university, Ball State, can apply for this award with a creative project.
2. Prom Guide’s Cutest Couple Contest
Your prom picture may be the key to this award. If it receives the highest amount of Instagram votes, you’ll win the scholarship.
3. Hiram College Hal Reichle Scholarship
This award goes to students who do community service, and is awarded by the Secret Society of Serendipitous Service to Hal for anonymous good deeds.
4. Clowns of America International Scholarship
These awards are granted to those planning to attend clown college.
5. American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship Program
Students planning on a career in mortuary services are eligible for this scholarship.
6. Collegiate Inventors Competition
Eligible students will have invented something unique by themselves or with a team.
7. Common Knowledge Challenge Scholarships
Being a whiz at trivia can help you qualify for these unusual scholarships.
8. Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
If you’re creative, penning a clever greeting card can win you this scholarship.
9. Debt.com Scholarship for Aggressive Scholarship Applicants
This scholarship is for students who have applied to the most scholarships overall.
10. Doodle 4 Google Scholarship
Students can submit a Google doodle to qualify for this scholarship.
11. American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship
Reading an essay and taking a quiz is all that is necessary to qualify for this scholarship.
12. CoffeeForLess.com Hit the Books Scholarship
Qualify for this scholarship by writing an essay about how education has been a part of your life related to coffee.
13. Little People of America Scholarship
Students who have been diagnosed with any form of dwarfism are eligible for this award.
14. Miller Electric International WorldSkills Competition Scholarship
Future welders are eligible for this scholarship.
15. National Potato Council Scholarship
Agribusiness related to potatoes and the advancement of the industry is the topic of choice in order to qualify for this award.
16. Charlie and Kathy Barnhart and Ken Haynes, Jr. Manufactured Housing Association Scholarship Program
Students who grew up in a mobile home are eligible for this award.
17. Illuminating Engineering Society Scholarships
Students who wish to pursue a career in lighting can apply to this award, showing their illumination ability.
18. ScholarshipRed
Natural born redheads can apply for this scholarship.
19. Shout It Out Scholarship
Write a short essay about what you’d like to shout to the world and why to qualify for this scholarship.
20. Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck on Prom Contest
Make a fashion statement with duct tape to compete for this award.
21. Tall Clubs International Scholarship
Tall people can apply for this scholarship. The requirements are that students must be over 5’10 for women and over 6’2 for men.
22. Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
Vegetarian advocates for animal rights are eligible for this award.
23. Wholesale Halloween Costumes Scholarship
Creative memes about Halloween costumes can be submitted to qualify to compete for this award.
24. Zolp Scholarship
If your last name is Zolp and you are attending Loyola University, this scholarship is as good as yours.
25. Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship
Students with a failsafe plan to stop the zombie apocalypse are eligible for this award.
26. Michigan Llama Association Scholarship
Students belonging to the Michigan Llama Association qualify for this award.
27. National Beef Ambassador Program
Students with an interest in the beef industry and educating the public about it will qualify for this scholarship.
28. National Marbles Tournament Scholarship: $2,000
Young students who are proficient at marbles can compete for this award.
29. Parapsychological Association Research Endowment
Researchers in the field of parapsychology will qualify for this award.
30. Pokemon World Championship Scholarship
Winners of the Pokemon World Championship take home a scholarship that is good for 10 years after winning the game.
31. Society of Vacuum Coaters Foundation Scholarship
Students with an interest in vacuum coating qualify for this award.
32. UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette-USA) Scholarship
Puppeteers with some experience can apply for this scholarship.
33. Alice Mcarver Ratchford Scholarship
All the single ladies in financial need can apply for this scholarship if they are attending UNC Greensboro.
34. The Helen McCloy/MWA Scholarship for Mystery Writing
Writing a strong mystery story will make students eligible for this scholarship.
35. Brilliance Scholarship
Designing a unique diamond ring will make students eligible for this scholarship.
36. Discover Scholarship Award
Anyone can apply for this award, and social media mentions equal more chances to win.
37. DoSomething’s Easy Scholarships
These are various different scholarships with creative themes. There is always a new scholarship to try, so creative students will enjoy the challenge of the application.
38. The Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Left Handed Scholarship
These scholarships are for left-handed students.
39. Lake Erie College Twins Scholarship
Twins can qualify for this scholarship, which is split 50/50 if both twins are attending college.
40. Sheep Heritage Foundation Memorial Scholarship
Any studies that help advance the wool industry and are related to sheep will qualify for this award.
41. American Association for Nude Recreation Education Foundation
Students who are practitioners of nudism and have concerns about issues relevant to the nudist community are invited to apply for this award.
42. The Gertrude J. Deppen Scholarship
Bucknell University rewards students who abstain from drugs and alcohol as well as students from Mount Carmel, provided they have not been involved in any strenuous athletic activities.
43. Gamers Helping Gamers Scholarship
Students with an intense love of Magic: The Gathering can qualify for this scholarship.
44. Mycological Society of America Scholarships
Students studying fungi are eligible for this scholarship.
45. American Association of Candy Technologists John Kitt Memorial Scholarship
Food science students with an interest in confectionery qualify for this scholarship.
46. American Society for Enology and Viticulture Scholarship
Students interested in pursuing a winemaking career are eligible for this award.
47. The Asparagus Club Scholarship
Students with an interest in becoming independent grocers can apply for this scholarship.
48. Branson Shows Inspired Scholarship
An essay on how a particular show in Branson inspired the dreams of the student is the path to winning this award.
49. Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest
Students with a particular talent for duck calling are invited to enter this contest.
50. Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship
Golf caddies with good grades are eligible to apply for this award.
51. Flavor of the Month Scholarship
A short essay on what kind of ice cream flavor you would be and why is the requirement to apply for this scholarship.
52. New Look Laser Tattoo Removal Semiannual Scholarship
Anyone studying to be a nurse or other healthcare professional can write an essay on the social impact of tattoo removal in order to qualify for this award.
53. School Band and Orchestra Magazine Scholarship
Taking part in SBO’s annual essay contest is the way to apply for this award.
54. Rolex Scholarship
Underwater-based subjects will qualify students for this generous award.
55. Starfleet Academy Scholarships
Members of the Star Trek fanclub Starfleet can apply for this scholarship.
56. Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry William L. Cullison Scholarship
Students interested in the corrugated cardboard, pulp or paper industries can apply for this scholarship.
57. Lambert and Annetje Van Valkenburg Memorial Scholarship Award
Students with an interest in researching water bugs are welcome to apply for this prize.
There are countless scholarships out there and it’s a good idea to try applying for as many as you can. This list proves that there is really a scholarship for everybody, you just have to put in the time and hard work to research the ones that work best for you. Somewhere out there is the perfect scholarship with your name on it.
