They say that there is a scholarship for pretty much anything and there are thousands of scholarships available to students. But who said that searching for financial aid had to be boring? There are countless funny, silly, and unique scholarships out there waiting for you to apply for them.
If you’re looking for something a little different, or want a break from essay scholarships, we’ve rounded up some of the most unique, out-of-the-box, interesting scholarships out there. Below you’ll find various scholarships, including ones for:
- Creating a prom dress or tux entirely out of duct tape.
- Describing your personality as an ice cream flavor.
- Tall people applying to college.
- Writing a survival plan for a zombie apocalypse.
- Designing an original greeting card.
- Creating an original crossword puzzle.
- Writing a funny or embarrassing story.
- Describing how you would use a superpower.
- Fans of Taylor Swift’s 1989 album.
- Skilled marble shooters.
1. Duck Brand Stuck at Prom Scholarship
- Amount: $15,000 grand prize; $1,000 runner-up prizes
- Deadline: Check website for details
Over the past few years, the number of colors of duct tape has increased dramatically. Where there once was simple muted silver or black, we now have leopard print, hot pink, green, tie-dye—the list goes on. Now, students can take advantage of the advances in duct tape coloring with the Duck Brand Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest.
There are two categories: one for tuxes and one for dresses. Create an original outfit and take a picture of your masterpiece to enter their scholarship contest. You must be 14 years or older and enrolled in high school. Your creations will be judged on workmanship, originality, use of colors, accessories, and use of Duct Tape. Two first-place winners will be named, one in the tux category and the other in the dress category, and both will receive a $15,000 scholarship. Even if you don’t make first place, eight runner-ups will still receive $1,000 each. Head to your nearest craft supply store and start taping!
2. WGA Evans Scholarship
Amount: Full tuition
Deadline: January 15
Caddies at WGA clubs are eligible for full tuition and a housing scholarship, which can be renewed for up to four years! Each caddie must show a strong caddie record, exemplary academics, financial need, and demonstrate outstanding character and leadership skills. If chosen as a finalist, you will participate in an interview.
3. Flavor of the Month Scholarship
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: July 31
Ben and Jerry are famous for their incredibly unique ice cream flavor combinations and unique flavor names. For this scholarship, applicants over 13 years old can give Ben and Jerry a run for their money by describing their personality as an ice cream flavor. In 250 words or less, you’ll need to describe your personal flavor in detail. Want a sweet tip? The more unique the flavor, the better!
Prompt: “Summer and ice cream go hand-in-hand. In fact, July is National Ice Cream Month, and that’s the inspiration behind this award. We think people are very similar to ice cream; some are nutty, others a little exotic, while some are very comforting. If you were an ice cream flavor, which would you be and why?”
4. Tall Clubs International Foundation Scholarship
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: Coming soon in 2025
Being tall has its advantages and disadvantages. You can reach items on the top shelf at the grocery store or in the kitchen, but wearing heels isn’t always an option and doorways may cause you to duck. When it comes to scholarships, being tall does have a particular advantage though. For women over 5’10” and men over 6’2”, a $1,000 scholarship is available through the Tall Club. Students must be under 21 years old, entering their first year of college, and have a member of a local Tall Club chapter sponsor them.
5. Fifth Month Scholarship
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: May 31, 2025
The number five is a very useful number. For example, it makes counting to 100 much less time-consuming, helps you learn addition and subtraction when you’re growing up, and most importantly in this instance—it could be your way to a scholarship.
Students who are 13 and older can write a letter to the number five, explaining its importance in 250 words or less. They’ll be entered in the running for $1,500 towards their college education. Entries do not have to be serious and the only other requirement is that the work is original.
Prompt: “May is the fifth month of the year. Write a letter to the number five explaining why five is important. Be serious or be funny. Either way, here’s a high five to you for being original.”
6. Zombie Apocalypse Survival Scholarship
- Amount: $2,000
- Deadline: Coming soon in 2025
Debating the best way to survive a zombie apocalypse is no longer just a conversation to have over lunch. Applicants of at least 13 years of age are encouraged to detail their survival plan for the possibility of winning a scholarship. Simply respond to the zombie situation in this year’s prompt in 250 words or less and you may be the winner of $2,000 towards your college education.
Prompt: “Imagine that your high school or college has been overrun with zombies. Your math professor, the cafeteria ladies, and even your best friend have all joined the walking dead. Flesh out a plan to avoid the zombies, including where you’d hide and the top-five things you’d bring to stay alive.”
7. Create-a-Greeting-Card Scholarship
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: March 3
You could receive a $10,000 college scholarship and $1,000 for your school by creating an original greeting or holiday card. After you create your card, enlist your friends and family to vote for you as the public decides the top ten finalists. From there, the final winner is decided by judges. This is a great scholarship opportunity if you are a high school or college student wanting to tap into your creative side. The final winner’s card will be made into an actual greeting card by The Gallery Collection.
8. The Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
- Amount: $10,000; $5,000
- Deadline: February 20
For five lucky vegetarians, their commitment to not eating meat could lead to a sizable scholarship. To enter, applicants must be seniors in high school who have worked actively to advocate for vegetarianism in their schools. Four $5,000 scholarships and one $10,000 scholarship will be given yearly.
9. Doodle 4 Google
- Amount: $5,000 – $30,000
- Deadline: March 21
Each year, Google hosts a scholarship opportunity for kindergarten students through high school seniors to design artwork to be featured on Google.com for a day. There’s always a different theme and prompt. This year’s theme is “My Wish for the Next 25 Years.” Wondering how to enter? You’ll doodle! Artists are given freedom over their choice of materials.
One national winner will be selected, and they will receive a $30,000 college scholarship and have their artwork displayed on Google.com for a day. They will also receive Google hardware, fun Google swag, and a $50,000 technology package for their school. Five additional national finalists will also be chosen to receive a $5,000 college scholarship.
10. Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway
- Amount: $2,500 – $100,000
- Deadline: Check website for details
Are you a Dr. Pepper fan? Regardless of if you are or aren’t, their tuition giveaway is a great scholarship opportunity. It is available for college students aged 18-24, and they task you with creating a video in 60 seconds or less that is all about you.
Include details about your academic goals, professional aspirations, and even personal dreams. Five winners will be selected to win $100,000 each, five will win $25,000, and ten more will win $2,500. They are looking for originality and creativity, so get your cameras out, think outside of the box, and start recording!
11. My Crossword Maker Scholarship
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: May 2025
Calling all puzzle enthusiasts! If you’re someone who loves solving brain teasers and enjoys crafting word puzzles, then this unique scholarship is for you! My Crossword Maker is hosting a scholarship opportunity for current or incoming undergraduate students. The application consists of creating a 15×15 original newspaper-style crossword puzzle on their website. One winner will be selected and receive a $1,000 scholarship and five finalists will receive a lifetime subscription to My Crossword Maker. If you’re ready to put your crossword-creating skills to the test while pursuing your academic goals, don’t miss out on this unique opportunity.
12. Make Me Laugh Scholarship
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: August 31
In an attempt to make the scholarship hunt a little more fun, this scholarship is asking exactly what the title suggests: Make the committee laugh. For you class clowns out there, now is your chance to tell a funny or embarrassing life story (with some embellishments if you want) for the chance to earn college money. You must be at least 14 years of age at the time of application and your essay must be 250 words or less.
Prompt: “OMG… finding and applying for scholarships is serious business, but it’s time to lighten things up a little. We don’t want to know why you deserve $1,500 or how great your grades are, we simply want to LOL. Describe an incident in your life, funny or embarrassing (fact or fiction), and make us laugh!”
13. Superpower Scholarship
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: March 31
What would you do if you could trade places with your favorite superhero (or supervillain)? Now you have a chance to earn a scholarship based on your answer! In 250 words or less, the scholarship committee wants to know who you would switch places with and how you would use your superpowers.
14. United States Bowling Congress Scholarships
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Varies
When you think of high school sports, bowling might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, the folks over at the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) have a passion for the sport and want to encourage students who love bowling to seek their higher education. The USBC offers a multitude of scholarships: From the $6,000 USBC Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow Scholarship for gifted female bowlers, to the $1,000 USBC Gift for Life scholarships that honor firefighters, emergency responders, and police officers.
15. National Dairy Shrine Scholarships
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: April 15
Do you remember the famous “Got Milk” campaign? Many celebrities posed with big milk mustaches all to promote drinking milk! Now, the National Dairy Shrine wants to promote the dairy industry and specifically students who are interested in pursuing a career in a dairy-related field. They offer a number of scholarships to students—both at the undergraduate and graduate levels—who are majoring in animal industry, agricultural journalism, agri-business, animal science, and the like. Note that even if you apply for multiple scholarships, you’ll only need to submit one transcript.
16. Optimist International Scholarship Contests
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Varies
If you find yourself saying “Look on the bright side” or “There’s always a silver lining” then chances are you’re an optimist. And, believe it or not, there’s a dedicated group of people who want to promote optimism the world over! They even created some scholarships to encourage students to pursue higher education, including an essay contest, an oratorical contest, and a communication contest for the deaf and hard of hearing! Doling out some financial aid is definitely enough to make anyone smile.
17. UNIMA-USA Puppetry Scholarship
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: December 1, 2024
Remember Sesame Street and The Muppets? If you were an avid fan of Jim Henson’s beloved furry creatures, you probably can appreciate the amount of hard work that went on behind the scenes to make the puppets come to life. Many of these puppeteers got their start at schools like UNIMA-USA, the American chapter of the “Union Internationale de la Marionettes” (International Marionettes Union).
Now, UNIMA-USA offers aspiring puppeteers a chance to make their bones in the industry in a school outside the US. The UNIMA has locations in London and Prague, among other international city centers. Applicants should have a desire to study puppetry outside the US, and either must have some professional experience or have a puppetry degree. The recipients receive a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn under the masters of marionettes. Let’s just say that if you pull the right strings, this scholarship can be yours.
18. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) Fan Scholarship
- Amount: $1,989
- Deadline: October 31 (Operates on a rolling deadline)
Are you a fan of Taylor Swift? Or more specifically, her hit album 1989? To apply for this scholarship, you’ll need to tell the committee what song(s) from 1989 have moved, inspired, or resonated with your year. Get creative! The only real requirement here is that you are a fan of Taylor Swift.
19. National Marbles Tournament Scholarships
- Amount: $1,000; $2,000
- Deadline: Apply by April 6
When it comes to these scholarships, you really don’t want to lose your marbles. There are two scholarships hosted by the National Marbles Tournament—the National Champion and Sportsman scholarships. Each year one girl and one boy are named the King or Queen of Marbles over the course of four days of marble matches. To be eligible, students must be between the ages of 8 and 14 and be the regional champion. Additionally, the NMT invites eligible students and dedicated mibsters (marble shooters) to be considered.
20. NIRA Scholarships
- Amount: $500; $1,000
- Deadline: Awarded in June annually
Many scholarships target a specific skill. This skill can either be common or extremely rare and specific. In this case, if rodeo is in your blood, this scholarship is for you. Additionally, students who rodeo definitely need to check out the multitude of scholarships from the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.
There’s a scholarship for just about every rodeo event. Events include Bareback Riding, Tie Down Roping, Breakaway Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Barrel Racing, Team Roping, Bull Riding, and even more. To be eligible, students must compete on the collegiate level and be an NIRA member.
Unique College Application Questions
It’s not just scholarships that have interesting topics. Who said writing a college application essay had to be boring? Here are six bizarre college essay questions and prompts, that were part of real applications:
1. BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
“If you could choose to be raised by robots, dinosaurs, or aliens, who would you pick? Why?”
2. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
“What do you hope to find over the rainbow?”
3. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
“You have just finished your 300-page autobiography. Please submit page 217.”
4. UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
“You have 150 words. Take a risk.”
5. TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
“Take a blank sheet of paper. Do with this page what you wish. Your only limitations are the boundaries of this page. You don’t have to submit anything, but we hope you will use your imagination.”
6. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
“Have you ever walked through the aisles of a warehouse store like Costco or Sam’s Club and wondered who would buy a jar of mustard a foot and a half tall? We bought it, but it didn’t stop us from wondering about other things, like absurd eating contests, impulse buys, excess, unimagined uses for mustard, storage, preservatives, notions of bigness…and dozens of other ideas both silly and serious. Write an essay somehow inspired by super-huge mustard.”
Know that you’ll get your fair share of standard questions like “Why do you want to attend this college” or “Who is someone you admire,” but every now and then you might just come across an application that allows you to tap into the more creative side of your brain!
There’s also no such thing as applying for too many scholarships, as long as you meet all the qualifications. There are lots of fun and unusual scholarships out there just waiting for you! Don’t just focus on your school subjects when searching for scholarships. Look around, and you’ll find many scholarships that match your creative side, sense of humor, or personality.
Looking for even more scholarship opportunities? Use our FREE scholarship search tool now.
| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
5.34%-15.96%* Variable
3.99%-15.61%* Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CITIZENS |
 |
4.92% - 15.08% Variable
3.99% - 15.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT SALLIE MAE |
 |
4.50% - 17.99% Variable
3.49% - 17.99% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CREDIBLE |
 |
6.00% - 13.75% Variable
3.99% - 13.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT LENDKEY |
|
|
5.50% - 14.56% Variable
3.69% - 14.41% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ASCENT |
 |
3.70% - 8.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ISL |
 |
4.99% - 16.85% Variable
3.47% - 16.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT EARNEST |
 |
5.00% - 14.22% Variable
3.69% - 14.22% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ELFI |
