A scholarship is free money given to a student to pay for college. Some students win scholarships for their academic performances; others are awarded based on financial need. Whatever the case, every scholarship has requirements, which are qualifications that a student must have in order to win.

Before applying for scholarships, check all of the requirements for a scholarship to ensure you’re qualified. The more qualified you are for a scholarship, the better your chances of actually winning.

Scholarships with No Requirements

There are many scholarships with no requirements. These scholarships typically look like sweepstakes, meaning there is a short form to fill out. All that is required to enter the scholarship is a name as well as contact information. You also may be required to sign up for emails from the scholarship sponsor.

Scholarships with no requirements usually have many applicants because it takes very little time to actually complete the application. Additionally, because there are no scholarship requirements, more students are qualified to apply. These types of scholarships do not take into account academic performance, financial need or extracurricular involvement.

Scholarships with Academic Requirements

There are many scholarships with academic requirements. This means that GPA and/or test scores are the main requirement to win the scholarship. While a majority of academic scholarships require students to hold a high GPA, there are a few scholarships that award students for less-than-stellar academic performance.

When students apply to academic scholarships, they often have to show proof of their achievement in the classroom. Sometimes, this may require a transcript or test scores. Other times, students my need to include an essay in their scholarship application. The application pool for scholarships with academic requirements is smaller, partly because of those stricter requirements but also because there is more work entailed in the actual application process.

Scholarships with Financial Requirements

Given that scholarships are free money to pay for school that doesn’t have to be paid back, many students flock to scholarships with financial requirements. A majority of these scholarships require that applicants be able to demonstrate financial need. These financial scholarships can help to bridge the gap between what students can pay and what they were offered in terms of financial aid.

The application for scholarships with financial requirements will oftentimes ask students for their – as well as their parents’ – income. Sometimes, there are other requirements, like academic or extracurricular involvement.

Scholarships with Extracurricular Requirements

Students can also find scholarships with extracurricular requirements. These are scholarships awarded to students for specific organizations of which they are a part. Extracurricular activities range from athletic teams to academic organizations to school clubs.

Scholarships with extracurricular requirements require proof that students are involved in that particular organization. Oftentimes, a letter of recommendation or essay is required. Students can ask coaches, mentors or sponsors for a letter of recommendation.

Students that find scholarships with extracurricular requirements for which they qualify should absolutely apply. The pool of other applicants is usually smaller given the niche of the athletic team, club or organization. These scholarships usually take a little bit more to apply to as well.

Scholarships with Other Requirements

Finally, there are scholarships with other requirements that fall into a more miscellaneous category. These scholarships are awarded for things like last name, citizenship status or place of employment. The requirements for these types of scholarships vary greatly.

Sometimes, the applications for scholarships with other requirements denote that students only have to fill out a form, while others need an essay or letter of recommendation. Those that have an easy scholarship application process will likely have a larger application pool, unless it’s a very niche scholarship. Like the above scholarships, those that require more work will have less applicants, making the chances of winning a scholarship greater.

Requirements for a Scholarship After You Win

Not only are there requirements for scholarships before you apply, but there are also requirements for scholarships after you win. Students must maintain a certain standing in order to continue to be eligible for a scholarship. The requirements for a scholarship after you win typically involve keeping a certain GPA, continuing to demonstrate financial need or staying involved in an extracurricular sport or organization.

Scholarships can be awarded every year that a student is in college or they can be awarded for just one year. Before applying, students should read the fine print on how much is being awarded and for how long. They should also review the requirements for a scholarship after winning to ensure that they can maintain good standing in order to keep the scholarship.

Nevada State Treasurer's Office Scholarship List

The Public Education Foundation (PEF)

• The Public Education Foundation provides an extensive variety of scholarships to increase student access to post-secondary opportunities in support of their educational goals.

• Many scholarship opportunities are limited to our students - this can increase chances of being awarded!

• Search Arbor View for the excluse list

CCSD Scholarship List 

Families and students can access this same information online at http://www.ccsd.net/departments/guidance-counseling/scholarship-information?parents 

Scholarship Search Tools

These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the Clark County School District (CCSD) of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. CCSD bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.

Scholarships.com | Fastweb | US Federal Student Aid 

Collegeboard.org | Unigo.com | Chegg.com 

Cappex.com | Studentscholarships.org | Supercollege.com

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE and WICHE)

• The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is an agreement among WICHE’s 16 member states and territories, through which 160+ participating public colleges and universities provide steep nonresident tuition savings for Western students.

• Through WUE, eligible students can choose from hundreds of undergraduate programs outside their home state, and pay no more than 150 percent of that institution’s resident tuition rate. 

• Michael T. Martin Scholarship 

The Michael T. Martin Memorial Scholarship is open to all individuals who have a keen interest in pursuing a career in the construction industry. Whether you are a high school graduate, a current college student, or someone looking to transition into the construction field, this scholarship provides an excellent opportunity for support. We welcome applicants who are passionate about building a successful future in the construction industry.