Scholarships & Grants

Scholarship Highlight

Grand Rapids Community Foundation - General Application

Deadline: March 1st 2026

Apply for hundreds of scholarships through one general application at the Grand Rapid’s Community Foundation. The GR Community Foundation will use your answers in the application to see which Community Foundation scholarships the student qualifies for!

Anyone can apply!

Need help with your essay? Book an appointment with your college advisor or guidance counselor, and talk with your English teacher!

Scholarships

Scholarship Search Engines

Federal Grants

A source of financial aid that does not have to be repaid and is based on demonstrated need when you complete the FAFSA.

State Grants

A source of financial aid that does not have to be repaid and is based on demonstrated need when you complete the FAFSA. Many are listed below!

How can I receive state grants? To receive State of Michigan grants you must:

File for FAFSA
Attend a Michigan College
Meet the eligibility criteria for the grant
Some state grants may have additional applications and processes

Michigan Achievement Scholarship

Have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $30,000 or less.

Community College Guarantee

For all Michigan high school graduates. Must enroll within 15 months of graduation.

Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship

For all Michigan high school graduates interested in the trades. Must enroll in an eligible career training program.

Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)

Been on Medicaid 24 months out of a 36 month period sometime between the ages 9 through high school.

Fostering Futures Scholarships

Have been in Michigan foster care because of abuse or neglect on or after the student's 13th birthday.

Children of Veterans Grant

Be the natural or adopted child of qualifying Michigan veteran.

Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver

Be 1/4 or more Native American and be an enrolled citizen of a U.S. Federally Recognized Tribe as certified by your Tribal Enrollment Department.

Police Officers and Fire Fighter's Tuition Grant

Be the natural or adopted child of a police officer or fire fighter killed in the line of duty.

Institutional Aid

Many colleges and trade schools offer financial aid from their own grant and/or scholarship funds:

Visit the college's or trade school's financial aid page on their website, or contact the financial aid office
Fill out any applications your college or trade school requires for its aid programs, such as a CSS Profile
See if your college or trade school has an online scholarship search system that allows students to apply and accept many scholarship opportunities
Department scholarships: Colleges and trade schools can offer scholarships based on what you are studying or majoring in
Admissions Scholarships: You may be considered for other institutional scholarships based on your admissions application to a college or trade school

Scholarships

Scholarships help students pay for college and trade school. This type of financial aid does not need to be repaid and is sometimes based on:

Academic merit
Talent
Area of study
Identity (race, ethnicity, gender, etc.)
Where you are from or live

There is a scholarship for everyone!

Scholarships in red have passed their deadline. But remember them out for next year!

Scholarships for everyone

Anyone can apply! Including local and State scholarships.

Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Deadline: Opens December 1st and closes March 1st every year.

Community West Legacy Scholarship

Deadline: March 20th 2026

*Membership not required!

LMCU Hutt Scholarship

Deadline: December 15th 2025

Kelsey's Law Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st 2026

McDonald's Hacer® National Scholarship

Deadline: February 17th 2026

List of community service projects is required for the application.

Burger King Scholars Program

Deadline: December 15th 2025

Chick-fil-A Community Scholar

Deadline: October 28th, 2025

Be involved in community service, extracurricular activities and/or a leadership role in the 12 months prior to the application deadline.

Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship

Deadline: January 6th 2026

Video or short essay requirement

SET Educational Fund Scholarship

Deadline: May 1st 2026

For students attending a Michigan Public University.

Student View and Michigan Senior Scholarship Program

*Expecting to offer the scholarship for seniors graduating in 2026

Deadline: TBD for 2026 graduates

BBB® Trust Scholarship

Deadline: March 26th 2026

For students who demonstrate Trust and Ethics within their community and daily lives.

Identity Scholarships

Race, Ethnicity, Gender, etc.

Science Ambassador Scholarship

Deadline: December 15th, 2025

For women and non-binary students interested in STEM

Create a 3 minute video about a STEM topic you love!

Great Lakes Bay Pride Scholarship

Applications open November 1st and are due by the second Friday in February the following year.

Could receive this scholarship by applying to the Saginaw Community Foundation's single application process.

Kay Longscope Scholarship

Opens Spring 2026

Deadline: TBD

For LGBTQ+ students of color planning to pursue a career in journalism.

West Michigan Asian American Association Scholarship

Applications will open in January 2026

For Asian American Students

Advocates for Latino Student Advancement in Michigan Education

Deadline: February 28th 2026

For students who are Latino/a or Hispanic ancestry

Multiple scholarships available

Polish Heritage Scholarships

Deadline: April 10th 2026

For students of Polish descent and have a minimum 2.75 GPA.

Destiny M. Adams Scholarship

Deadline: April 30th 2026

For Black and African American students

Have a GPA of 2.7 or higher

Detroit Malayalee Association Scholarship

Deadline: Waiting to be updated

For students who have at least one parent be of Malayalee descent and Michigan resident

GR Trans Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: Waiting to be updated.

For students that identify as transgender (any non-cisgender)

West Michigan Minorities in Architecture / Engineering Consortium

Deadline: August 31st

Minorities and women in architecture or engineering

Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver

Be 1/4 or more Native American and be an enrolled citizen of a U.S. Federally Recognized Tribe as certified by your Tribal Enrollment Department.

Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: January 31st 2026

For female Michigan residents pursuing a tech-related degree.

Must be a U.S. citizen and have a 2.75 GPA or higher

GPA Scholarships

GPA Requirements & High Academic Achievements

Hagan Scholarship

Deadline: December 1st 2025

Must have achieved a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher

Great for students planning to work throughout college.

Rosa Parks Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st 2026

Have a 2.5 GPA or higher

MACAC Maggie Miller Scholarship

Deadline and availability: TBD

Have a 3.2 unweighted GPA or higher

Going to an eligible college

Pi Rho Zeta Scholarship

Deadline: TBD

have a 2.7 or higher GPA

DK Sprague Educational Scholarship

Deadline: TBD

Have a 3.75 GPA or higher

Marlene Dominguez-Hicks HBCU Academic Incentive Grant

Deadline: Waiting to be updated for 2026

For students with a 3.0 or higher and attending an HBCU

Kentwood Educational Secretaries Association Scholarship

Deadline: Waiting to be updated for 2026

Have a 2.5 GPA or higher

Bill and Donna Joseph Higher Education Scholarship

Deadline: Waiting to be updated for 2026

Have a 3.0 GPA or Higher

AKA Scholarship

Deadline: Waiting to be updated for 2026

Have a 2.75 GPA or higher

Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship Program

Deadline: November 12, 2025

Have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.75 or higher

Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship

Apply when you are in community college!

For students while attending community college seeking to transfer to university.

The David Warsen Service Scholarship

Deadline every year is the 1st Friday following spring break. (April 17th 2026)

Have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Played on a varsity sports team.

Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: January 31st 2026

For female Michigan residents pursuing a tech-related degree.

Must be a U.S. citizen and have a 2.75 GPA or higher

College Specific Scholarships

Admission Scholarships and Institutional Aid

Many schools have their own scholarship websites and search tools. If you don't see your school listed, look up your college and go to their website:

Go to the Admissions or Financial Aid tab
Look for a Types of Financial Aid or Scholarships tab
Bonus: Many schools have their own scholarship search engine tool
- Sometimes these search engines are called Scholarship Universe or myScholarships

Ferris State University Scholarships

Application window for the 2026-2027 academic year will open December 15th 2025

Must have applied to FSU

University of Michigan - Club of Grand Rapids Scholarship

Deadline: TBD for 2026

Must have applied to U of M

Can be used for room and board

Grand Valley State University Scholarship

Deadline: varies

Must have applied to GVSU

Michigan State University Scholarships

Deadline: varies

Must have applied to MSU

Athletic Scholarships

Athletic Involvement and Talent

The David Warsen Service Scholarship

Deadline: Every year by the 1st Friday following spring break. (April 17th 2026)

Have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Participated on a varsity sports team.

John Robert Keenoy Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: Every year by the 1st Friday following spring break. (April 17th 2026)

Have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Must have participated in football or golf at East Kentwood.

Kentwood Athletic Booster/Peppino's Scholarship

Deadline: Waiting for more information

STEM Specific Scholarships

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics: For students studying/majoring in STEM Specific Fields

Science Ambassador Scholarship

Deadline: December 15th, 2025

For women and non-binary students interested in STEM

Create a 3 minute video about a STEM topic you love!

Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: January 31st 2026

For female Michigan residents pursuing a tech-related degree.

Must be a U.S. citizen and have a 2.75 GPA or higher

Mary Jane Dockeray Scholarship

Deadline: February 23rd 2025

For graduating high school seniors from Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa Intermediate school districts.

Have an interest in pursuing a career in science to any college or university.

Roger B. Chaffee Scholarship

Deadline: February 24th 2026

Must be a graduating senior from Kent Intermediate School District

Must be planning to pursue a college career in engineering or the sciences.

Have a 3.5 GPA or higher.

WID Horizons Scholarships

Deadline: Waiting to be updated for 2026

West Michigan Minorities in Architecture / Engineering Consortium

Deadline: August 31st

for ethnic minorities and women pursuing careers in architecture, engineering, and scientific disciplines.

Art and Music Scholarships

For students studying, majoring, and performing in the arts and/or music

Norma Gray College Scholarship for the Visual Arts

Online applications are accepted from January 1st until March 16th every year.

Michigan full-time residents

Include 5 artwork samples and your artist's goal statement.

West Michigan Jazz Society Scholarship

Deadline: April 30th 2026

Students in pursuit of jazz education.

Must include a MP3 recording containing you singing or playing on song. The recording can contain one popular song, one jazz composition, or one blues number.

Nursing and Medical Scholarships

For students studying and majoring in nursing or other medical fields. These fields are also considered as STEM.

Thomara Latimer Cancer Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: Waiting to be updated

For African American Students in a medical-related field

American Association of Colleges of Nursing: Scholarships & Financial Aid

Deadline: varies

Discover financial aid opportunities for nursing students

Lake Trust: New Beginnings Scholarship

Deadline: TBD

For students who are interested in pursuing a skilled trade or technical career

Purdue Global: Scholarships for Nursing Students

Deadline: varies

Discover 25 financial aid opportunities for nursing students

Scholarships for other majors

Did not see your course of study or major? Check these out!

NALS of Michigan Scholarship

Deadline: February 15th 2026

For Michigan residents interested in a career in the legal field.

Circle Michigan Scholarship

Deadline: February 14th 2026

For Michigan Residents pursuing a career in tourism or hospitality.

Must have a 2.5 GPA or higher.

Antenore C Butch Davanzo Scholarship

Deadline: TBD

Students attending a Michigan college with an interest in a water environment field

Collin Rose Memorial Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: TBD

For students pursuing a career in mediation, dispute resolution, criminal justice, law enforcement, firefighting, or paramedic services.

Must have a 2.5 GPA or higher.

MOGA Energy Scholarship

Deadline: Application window is January 1st through June 15th each calendar year.

For students pursuing education in the oil or gas industry

Shelving.com Business Scholarship

Deadline: TBD for 2026

For students pursuing a major in business or business-related field

Trade Scholarships

For students interested in attending a Trade School

Lake Trust: New Beginnings Scholarship

Deadline: TBD

For students who are interested in pursuing a skilled trade or technical career in electrical, HVAC, construction, welding, plumbing, nursing, EMT

Stiger Technical Scholarship

Deadline: January 21st 2026

For students who are interested in pursuing a career in "hand-on skills" such as electric, welding, carpentry, HVAC, automotive restoration, etc.

Donald J. Campbell Scholarship

Deadline: February 28th 2026

For students interested in pursuing a skilled trade in metal casting or related field.

Discover Manufacturing Scholarship

Deadline: Marsh 15th 2026

For students pursuing a degree in manufacturing-related programs.

*Must attend a Michigan college.

SET SEG Skilled Trades Scholarship

Deadline: TBD

For students who have been enrolled in a Career and Technical Education Program with a CIP code – transcript required.

Students must be enrolled in, or plan to enroll in, an accredited two- or four-year college, technical school, or other accredited technical institute.

Michigan American Legion Skilled Trades Scholarship

Deadline: April 3rd 2026

For students pursing a career in construction/building, automotive, advanced manufacturing, or energy.

*Student must be pursuing a skilled trades career through post-high school trades training/apprenticeship OR through a 2-year college degree in a skilled trade.