Most Scholarships are merit or needs based. Each individual college has there own merit based scholarships. For scholarship opportunities to a specific University/College please refer to the school's website.

• New Mexico Scholarship Directory, a list of 100+ vetted scholarships for students across the region, broken down by month. Here is the link https://www.standoutcollegeprep.com/new-mexico-scholarships/

 What do I need to know about scholarships?

 1. They’re worth the effort!  Applying for scholarships can be time-consuming, especially during your busy senior year, but there is a LOT of money available to students who make the effort to search and apply for scholarships.  Set aside time weekly to work on searching for scholarships, preparing requirements (writing essays, obtaining transcripts, requesting letters of recommendation) and turning in top-quality applications.

2. Pay attention to deadlines.  Some scholarships require online applications; some must be mailed/postmarked by a set date or even hand-delivered.  Be sure to apply well in advance of the deadline.  Give your recommenders at least 2-3 weeks’ notice to write you letters, and provide a stamped, addressed envelope (if appropriate) or clear directions about how and when you’ll follow up.  Be sure to thank your recommenders with a nice card or note of appreciation.

3.  Consider what they’re looking for.  Each scholarship has different requirements, possibly including GPA, community service/volunteer work, leadership experience, and/or an essay.  Be clear on the requirements and complete all parts of the application.  Remember: the students you’re competing against will also have strong records; ask yourself what sets you apart, and make sure that comes across!

4. Essays:  Topics vary dramatically, and you want your essay to stand out from the crowd.  Tailor each essay to the individual scholarship.  Be sure to check your spelling AND proofread well.  Ask a trusted person to read over your application and give constructive feedback before you send it off.

5.  Scholarship Types: Scholarships break into two different types: instructional and private. Institutional scholarships are funded by the college or university and usually have requirements such as test scores and GPS. Private scholarships are offered by non-profit organizations or companies who fund a scholarship. Remember these can be national or local, while local scholarships may be less in amount they may also have less competition.

6.  Beware of scams!  Never release your Social Security number, credit card or bank information, or fall prey to “phishing” e-mails you may receive.  If it sounds too good to be true...it probably is.

APS Education Foundation Varsity Award Scholarship 25-26 SY - Deadline to Apply, March 31, 2026

Seven scholarships will be awarded to students in the amount of $1,000 each. The APS Education Foundation Student Board Members have agreed upon the following criteria in order to enter a student’s name into the Varsity Award Scholarship Drawing: 

● A student must be a Senior who is graduating in May 2026 from an Albuquerque Public Schools traditional or magnet high school and planning to pursue post-secondary education in Fall 2026 

● Students will submit documentation electronically for the activities listed below that they have completed. They will do this by completing the APS Foundation Varsity Scholarship Entry Form and uploading documentation of completion. 

● A student’s name can be entered once for each category listed below that they complete. There are ten (10) categories which means a student who completes each item will receive up to 10 entries. 

1. Apply to a 2- or 4-year college or university, trade school, certification or apprenticeship program 

▪ Examples of documentation include an acceptance letter, email confirmation that you applied, etc. 

2. Complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service) Profile through College Board or if you are not eligible to fill out the FAFSA, you can complete a school-based financial aid form 

▪ Examples of documentation include taking a screenshot of the confirmation page once it is submitted or an email confirmation. 

3. Participate in a college or university visit with a tour (it can be virtual); you can also attend an online information session; you can also contact a recruiter directly or a member of admissions for more information 

▪ Examples of documentation include a confirmation letter or email showing you registered for a tour or information session or email confirmation from admissions 

4. Complete a Career Assessment through online programs such as YouScience, My Next Move, or NM Career Solutions (click on Work Interests Assessment) 

▪ Upload a copy of your results and/or career pathway 

5. Plan to take and complete an AP test your senior year 

▪ Acceptable documentation would be a screenshot of your myAP classroom showing you are signed up to take a test or a copy of your receipt for payment 

6. Participate in a job shadow, internship/mentorship, or pre-apprenticeship program 

▪ Examples of documentation would include a copy of an email or letter from the professional you shadowed, worked for or did the pre-apprenticeship with. 

7. Pass a Dual Credit Class with a “C” or above 

▪ You will need to provide a transcript or grade report that shows your final grade 

8. Take an ACT, SAT or ACCUPLACER Practice Test 

▪ Documentation should be a copy of your score report from your practice test 

9. Set up a Career Solutions Student account at www.nmcareersolutions.com and complete the “Why I Work” Financial Tool Activity (under the Career Exploration Tab). 

▪ Documentation required is a screenshot of the completion page 

10. Apply for a scholarship (other than this one) 

▪ Documentation could include an email confirmation of your application or a copy of your completed application 

The Best Scholarship Websites For Finding Money

Last updated September 4, 2025

There are millions - yes, MILLIONS - of dollars out there in scholarships right now - but knowing where and how to find them is key! To make your scholarship search easier, we did lots of research on free, trustworthy scholarship databases for you. Each of these scholarship websites have been carefully vetted by the Get Schooled to ensure they protect your information and show you the best college scholarships out there. Here are some of the best scholarship websites for finding money!

Websites that won't sell your data

JLV College Counseling Scholarships

Created by a former college admissions counselor, JLV College Counseling connects students and their families to scholarship opportunities, college application and admission resources, and more - all for FREE. She categorizes her scholarships by deadline, month, majors, and areas of interest. No sign up is required.

Scholarships360

Founded by two first-generation brothers, Scholarships360 is a free of charge (and spam!) platform for finding up-to-date scholarships. Scholarships listed on the site are vetted by members of the Scholarships360 team to ensure they're legit and not expired. The site also has helpful tips for finding and applying to scholarships, as well as essential FAFSA information. Sign up is required to be matched to scholarships.

Going Merry

Founded by graduates of Carnegie Mellon and Stanford who relied on scholarships to fund their college education, Going Merry aims to make finding and applying for scholarships easy for students. Scholarships are broken down by specific categories, including scholarships for women, minorities, and scholarships by state. Additional financial aid/FAFSA resources are available on the site to help you understand your financial aid options. Sign up is required to apply for scholarships directly on the website.

Get Schooled

Did you know Get Schooled can help you find scholarships? We offer some of the best-updated scholarship lists, including the large dollar, easy to apply, DACA & Undocumented friendly, LGBTQ+, and more. We also have a few state-specific scholarships. Find all our scholarship lists here. No sign up is needed to access our scholarship list. 

Bold.org

Bold.org enables individuals and companies to create targeted scholarships, fellowships, and grants on their platform. Scholarships are broken down by state, ethnicity, education level, major, and more, to make searching for scholarships that align with you and your interests easy! Sign up is required to apply for scholarships directly on their website. 

Websites that may sell your data unless you request they don’t:

Access Scholarships

Using Access Scholarship’s free Scholarship Search will lead you to thousands of available scholarships! Making a profile is recommended to tailor your search and match you to scholarships you are qualified for. In addition to scholarships, Access Scholarships offers free resources on health and wellness, navigating college during COVID, and more!

Fastweb

Fun fact: Fastweb was the very first college scholarship search website ever! For over 27 years, their team has helped students find and apply for all kinds of scholarships, learn more about financial aid, and help them search for part-time jobs. Sign-up is required to see and apply for the over 1.5 million scholarships Fastweb offers on its scholarship database.

Scholarships.com

Scholarships.com has a large database of scholarships, (over 3.7 million!) as well as free, printable resources for students preparing to apply to college. Sign up is required to begin searching for scholarships.

Websites that may sell your data

These scholarship websites and databases are legit and trustworthy, but are more likely to sell your information (age, address, email, etc.) to third parties. We urge you to be intentional about the scholarships you apply to and what information you share with them.

• Niche

• Scholarship Owl