Key Takeaways
- You don’t have to have a perfect GPA or a long list of extracurriculars to earn scholarship awards.
- Many scholarships are quick to apply for—some take minutes and don’t require essays.
- Apply early and often; small awards can add up and help reduce your overall college costs.
- There are many scholarship opportunities. Look for scholarships that match your interests, background, or goals to boost your chances.
When it comes to paying for college, scholarships are one of the best ways to cut costs without taking on debt. The best part? Unlike loans, the award you earn is yours to keep—no strings attached. While some scholarship applications can feel overwhelming, not all of them require essays, recommendation letters, or hours of your time. In fact, many are quick, simple, and open to just about anyone.
Below are 11 scholarships that are easy to apply for. Some of them take just minutes. Whether you’re a high school senior, current college student, or somewhere in between, these options are worth a look.
What makes these scholarships “easy to apply for”?
These easy-to-apply-for scholarships earned their place on our list by meeting one or more of the following criteria:
- absence of minimum GPA prerequisites
- easily achievable eligibility criteria
- and/or a streamlined application process that can be completed in just a few minutes.
Check out these “easy to apply for” scholarships now!
1. $10,000 CREATE A GREETING CARD SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 1
Open to students 14 and older, this scholarship invites you to design an original greeting card. Submissions can be artwork, photography, or computer graphics, and the winning design will be used in The Gallery Collection. It’s a creative way to receive a major scholarship—no academic requirements or essays needed.
2. CITIZENS SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $15,000 grand prize; $2,500 monthly and quarterly prizes
Deadlines: March 31 (annual) + monthly and quarterly prizes throughout the year
This scholarship works like a sweepstakes where you enter your info and could be randomly selected for money to use towards college expenses. There’s no essay or complicated application process. It’s an easy way to potentially earn a scholarship just by showing your commitment to going to college. Plus, there are multiple chances to win throughout the year. No purchase necessary.^
3. COLLEGE RAPTOR SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $2,500
Deadline: March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31
College Raptor offers this scholarship four times a year to students actively searching for colleges. To apply, register on the site, use the College Search tool, and submit a short essay about your college plans. It’s a great chance to get an award by showing you’re serious about picking the right college. No purchase necessary*.
4. $500 BECAUSE COLLEGE IS EXPENSIVE SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $500
Deadlines: March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31
This scholarship helps students by awarding four $500 scholarships every year. It’s open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, college students, and graduate students. To apply, you just need to fill out a quick form with some basic personal and school information. No essays or extra work needed!
5. $10,000 “NO ESSAY” SCHOLARSHIP – SCHOLARSHIPS360
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: June 30
Open to a wide range of students, this scholarship requires no essay or minimum GPA. Applicants create a Scholarships360 account and apply via the app. Finalists are interviewed before the winner is chosen.
6. $25,000 “BE BOLD” NO-ESSAY SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $25,030
Deadline: September 1
Feeling bold? This award goes to students who demonstrate determination and boldness in reaching their goals. Instead of writing an essay, you create a profile on bold.org that shows your character and drive. The judges select winners by looking at these profiles. It’s open to students of all education levels and doesn’t require a minimum GPA.
7. $2,000 NO ESSAY COLLEGEVINE SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: September 30
Open to high school students, this scholarship is awarded through a lottery system. To enter, all you need to do is create a free CollegeVine account and use it to explore college-related resources. No essay, GPA requirement, or lengthy application—just a quick way to potentially earn extra funding for school.
8. $2,000 ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: October 31
What would you do if your campus were overrun by zombies? This is your chance to get creative—no essay required, just a short response (250 words or less) explaining your survival plan. Whether you’re strategizing an escape or organizing a rescue mission, it’s a fun way to show off your imagination and receive a college scholarship.
9. COLLEGE BOARD BIGFUTURE SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: Monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000
Deadlines: The deadline for the “strengthen your college list” step is October 31st. You can find the deadlines for the other steps here.
You can enter to win up to $40,000 just by staying on track with your college goals. BigFuture scholarships reward high school students for doing things like building a college list, practicing for the SAT, or applying for financial aid. The more steps you complete, the more chances you have to win—no essay or minimum GPA required. Drawings are happening monthly, so it’s worth jumping in early.
10. $2,500 SCHOLARSHIPPOINTS MONTHLY SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Last day of every month
This monthly sweepstakes-style scholarship is open to members of ScholarshipPoints. Once you sign up at ScholarshipPoints.com, you can start earning points by completing activities like surveys, quizzes, and reading blogs. Each point acts like an entry to a monthly drawing, so the more points you earn, the better your odds. There’s no essay, no GPA requirement, and no financial need criteria. It’s a quick and easy opportunity to potentially receive $2,500 toward your college costs with minimal effort.
11. $2,000 SALLIE MAE NO ESSAY SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Last day of every month
Entering is quick—just fill out a short form for a chance to win. There’s no essay, GPA requirement, or long application. It’s open to high school and college students, and winners are selected through a random drawing each month.
Kick off Your Scholarship Search and Keep Going
Applying for scholarships doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Starting with quick, no-essay applications can give you a head start, helping you stay motivated as you discover more ways to fund your college education.
Use College Raptor’s Scholarship Search Tool to find scholarships that match your interests, skills, and future plans. Stay motivated, apply online safely, and find out how much you can receive to make your college education more affordable.
^No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The Citizens Scholarship Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, D.C., and U.S. Territories, who are 18 years of age or older, are students, or prospective students, or parents or legal guardians of students intending to enroll or enrolled at least half-time in an accredited undergraduate/graduate post-secondary institution. To be eligible for a chance to win the Citizens Building the Workforce of the Future Scholarship entrants must be from an underrepresented or a low-income community as described in the Official Rules. Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 AM ET on 4/1/25 and ends at 5:00 PM ET on 3/31/26. Sponsored by Citizens. See Official Rules for details.
*No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The $2,500 College Raptor Scholarship Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, D.C., and U.S. Territories, who are 16 years of age or older, and are students or prospective students who are enrolled or intending to enroll in an accredited undergraduate/graduate post-secondary institution no later than Fall 2027. The Contest begins at 12:00 AM ET on 7/1/25 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 9/30/25. See Official Rules for details.
