Do you love frogs, ferrets, or fluffy cats? Whether you hope to work with animals for your career or you just simply enjoy them, you will find plenty of scholarship opportunities that offer financial aid for college-going animal lovers like yourself. Check out these interesting scholarships for animal lovers and apply to those you qualify for. We’ve covered six to get you started:
- One for those whose dog made a lasting impact on their life.
- One for writers and creatives who want to speak up for animals.
- One for veterinary students who are passionate about research.
- One for students pursuing a career in pet care.
- One for pet owners in financial need.
- One for inventors whose ideas could replace animal use.
1. Rover Scholarship
- Award Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: May 1
Do you love dogs and writing short essays? Great! You could win $2,500 through Rover. All you need to do is fill out this form and answer the following question in 400-500 words: How did growing up with a pet in your life (could be a friend’s or family member’s) impact the person you are today? Eligible applicants include graduating high school seniors or current freshman, sophomore, or juniors in college.
2. A Voice for Animals Essay Contest Scholarships
- Award Amount: $200-$500
- Deadline: May 31
This scholarship is open to high school students, ages 14-18. Applicants will need to submit one of the following: an essay, photo essay, or video. Your project must be original and fall into one of these categories: Companion Animals, Farm Animals, Wildlife on Land, Wildlife in the Oceans, or Protecting Marine Life from Human Impact.
All project submissions should address one of the following:
- The mistreatment of a specific animal species
- A major cause of animal suffering
- Solutions to protect an endangered species
3. Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Student Scholar Program
- Award Amount: $5,500
- Deadline: June 4
Are you currently a veterinary student looking for a paid chance to improve the health of dogs, cats, horses, and wildlife through research? This opportunity awards $5,500 to vet students so they can conduct hands-on research and gain experience in animal health. This program is highly selective, and applicants must be enrolled in an accredited veterinary program.
4. John D. Spurling OBE Scholarship
- Award Amount: $2,000
- Deadline: July 1
The John D. Spurling OBE Scholarship is funded by the AKC Humane Fund. The aim of this award is to provide financial aid to students pursuing programs related to pet ownership. This includes students studying animal care, pet grooming and behavior, veterinary medicine, animal physical therapy, and veterinary technology.
Note that preference is given to students who can demonstrate their dedication to pet care through volunteer work. A strong academic record and outstanding recommendation letters will help boost your chances of winning this scholarship.
5. Waggle Human-Pet Bond Scholarship
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: November 1
Have you ever seen a pet parent in desperate need of money so that they can get the medical help necessary for their pet? Waggle is a crowdfunding platform that allows pet guardians to raise the funds they need. This scholarship is for any full-time college student who owns a pet and is under financial strain when it comes to taking care of their pet. To enter, you’ll need to write a 400-600 word essay that addresses the following: “outlining steps pet guardians can take to prepare for a veterinary emergency so they’re not forced to surrender their pet, deprive them of essential care, or worse, have them euthanized due to financial limitations.”
6. Future Without Speciesism
- Award Amount: $1,000-$10,000
- Deadline: Ongoing
Do you think you have what it takes to invent something that prevents animals from being exploited? If so, you could win up to $10,000 for it. Here’s what you have to do: come up with an original idea or prototype that can replace animal use—that’s it! You will need to describe your invention in detail, which means you can’t forget to include the blueprints and pictures!
RELATED >> 20 Pet Friendly Colleges
If you’re passionate about animals and looking for ways to fund your education, these scholarships are a great place to start. And if you want to find even more scholarships tailored to you, use College Raptor’s Scholarship Search Tool to discover more opportunities.
