A scholarship essay is an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their strengths, experiences, and aspirations that are captivating and compelling. There are many scholarship essay contests for college students across the world. However, Winning a scholarship essay contest can be quite challenging and competitive.
However, Not everyone can boast of an excellent GPA, top marks on their standardized tests, and a scroll of extracurricular activities. That Should not stop you from applying for a scholarship essay contest for college students. It only means you need to put in more effort and be more creative to ace this essay scholarship for college.
Therefore, this article will list the best scholarship essay contest for college students.
Table of Contents
What Are The Benefits Of Scholarship Essay?
Scholarship essays provide a significant opportunity to help reduce educational debts and allow you to pursue your desired goals without any financial difficulties or burdens. Scholarship essays help you build your skills and also fund your degree. The following are the benefits of a scholarship essay:
1. Provision For Financial Aid
The most relevant benefit of a scholarship essay is to access financial aid to cover living expenses, tuition costs, and other educational expenses, which can significantly remove student debt upon graduation.
2. Career Opportunities
Scholarship Essays provide a good platform that allows students to express their career aspirations and future goals, and also how the scholarship will help them achieve their goals.
3. Talent Showcasing
Scholarship Essays will allow students to showcase their academic accomplishments, leadership roles, community involvement, and extracurricular activities and provide students with a comprehensive academic of their potential. Also, a well-written scholarship essay can help you stand out and increase your chances of being considered for a scholarship.
4. Connections
scholarship Essay provides students with personal connections. By sharing personal stories and experiences, you can create a great connection with a scholarship committee.
5. Improves Skills
Scholarship essays will help you refine your writing skills and also encourage you to reflect on your motivations, values, and the impact you want to make in your career field.
Are Scholarship Essays Worth It?
Yes! Scholarship essays are very worth it. It provides great opportunities to showcase your skills, motivation, abilities, and potential to scholarship committees and also increases your chances of winning financial aid by allowing students to understand that they are beyond just grades and scores.
Writing a scholarship essay is an important part of many applications as a way for the scholarship committee to get familiar with and learn more about the applicant and their potential.
Top 11 Scholarship Essay Contest For College Students
Here is a list of top scholarship essay contests for college students:
1. Cohen Leadership Scholarship

Cohen Leadership Scholarship is awarded to multiple college, university, high school, and vocational students of registered organizations. It is one of the best Scholarship Essay contests for College Students.
Recipients are selected for their academic standing and demonstration of leadership through Work, community, and school activities. Since awarding its first $500 scholarship in 1887, the Saginaw Community Foundation has awarded over $8 million in scholarships.
The amount of this scholarship varies depending on the title of the winner.
2. National AG Day Essay Contest
The National AG Day Essay Contest scholarship is open to students from 9th to 12th grade for a chance to win $1000 for the best essay and video. It is among the best scholarship essay contests for college students
College students are invited to participate in the National AG Day Essay contest, sponsored by the Agricultural Council of America. The scholarship contest awards $1,500 to qualified candidates.
National Ag Day aims to celebrate agriculture and to help consumers better understand how farmers and the companies serving them produce abundant, nutritious, and healthy foods.
3. Arts for life! Scholarship
Arts for life! Scholarship is a scholarship contest that awards $1,000 scholarships to 25 graduating high school seniors in Florida who demonstrate excellence in drama, writing, dancing, visual arts, and music. It is among the best scholarship essay contests for college students.
Arts for life! Recognizes the creative of artistic talent of high school students throughout Florida. The application process for this scholarship contest is currently open until February.
4. Daughters of the Cincinnati Scholarship
Daughters of the Cincinnati Scholarship scholars are selected based on academic achievement and excellence in extracurricular activities. It is among the top scholarship essay contests for college students.
This scholarship organization has contributed generously to the scholarship fund for over a century. Applicants applying for this scholarship must be daughters of career commissioned officers in the United States military.
The application process includes an Essay, a secondary school report, and a letter of recommendation from a member of the applicant. The scholarship awards $20,000 to qualified applicants.
5. George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest
George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest is among the best scholarship essay contest for college students.
It is open to all US Citizens and legal residents students attending home school, public, parochial, and private high schools in the grade range of 9th through 12th grades. The scholarship awards $6,000 to all qualified recipients.
6. Mercatus MA Fellowship
Mercatus MA Fellowship offers two years competitive fellowship program for students pursuing a master’s degree in Economics at Mason.
It is among the top scholarship essay contest for college students. The fellowship award is $80,000 over two years, which covers tuition, monthly stipends, and practical experience.
7. Meg Graham Scholarship

The Meg Graham Scholarship is pro-founded by the Junior League of Washington (JLW) and is designed for high school seniors in Washington DC who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer experience. The scholarship supports students matriculating to a four-year post-secondary institution. Meg Graham Scholarship awards $10,000 to qualified students.
8. Millie Brothers CODA International Scholarship
Millie Brothers CODA International Scholarship is an annual scholarship awarded to hearing children of deaf adults to assist them in finances during their post-secondary studies. These are one-time scholarships.
Also, The scholarship can be used for undergraduate studies at any accredited institution of higher education in the world.
9. Selby Scholarship
The Selby Scholarship is only available to residents of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, or DeSoto counties. It is one of the best scholarship essay contest for college students
To participate in this scholarship contest, you must be a graduating senior from any high school in the aforementioned counties, plan to attend an accredited college or university full-time to complete a bachelor’s degree, and be planning to enroll in a state college.
The Selby Scholarship selects 40 to 45 local students to receive a renewable scholarship, as well as professional development/ networking opportunities.
10. SEMA Memorial Scholarship Funds

SEMA Memorial Scholarship Funds award $5,000 to qualified candidates every year, to assist students pay for their college tuition and SEMA members pay off their student loans.
Students from all academic and technical disciplines that lead to careers in the automotive industry are welcome to participate in the contest.
11. TACTYC Scholarship
TACTYC Scholarship is strictly for accounting majors and it is among the best scholarship essay contest for college students.
Two types of awards are being offered by this foundation, for two-year college students transferring to a four-year college, and two year college students continuing at a two-year college.
What Is a Word Essay For Scholarships?
While applying for colleges or scholarships, you will most likely be required to write a personal essay which is referred to as a personal statement. A personal statement/statement of purpose are persuasive essay that highlights your ability, skill, and interest in the scholarship offered.
What Are The Top Scholarship Essay Contest for College Students?
Some of the best scholarship essay contests for college students include the George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest, Daughters of the Cincinnati Scholarship, Arts for Life, National AG Day Essay Contest, Cohen Leadership Scholarship, and others.
Conclusion
A scholarship essay allows you to showcase your academic achievements, future goals, and personal experiences, showcasing the reasons why you deserve financial support. Therefore, this article has list some of the best scholarship essay contests for college students, and we hope it is helpful to your search.
REFERENCE
- bold.org
- scholarships.com