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Featured Scholarships

Win up to $15,000 in college funds¹

You could win a Citizens Scholarship! Every month, we’re giving one student $2,500 for school expenses, and annually, we’re awarding a grand prize of $15,000 towards school expenses. No purchase necessary. Apply now to give your college fund a boost!

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$2,500 Scholarship²

To help students take a thoughtful approach to their college decision process and to help pay for college, College Raptor awards a $2,500 scholarship four times per year. No purchase necessary to apply.

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Scholarships for College

You can stack your scholarships so the amount of aid you receive isn’t capped, unlike student loans. Scholarships are a smart way to pay for your college education because they are free money.* Unlike student loans, you don’t have to repay your scholarships. You could use them for all your education-related expenses. For example:

Tuition
Meal Plans
Fill in the gaps of institutional aid
Out-of-pocket expenses
Student loans
And more

Scholarships could cover it all and are available to both undergraduate and graduate students. It’s important to note that higher education institutions do have outside (private) scholarship policies. For example, in cases where a student is receiving need-based aid and also receives an outside scholarship, institutions may eliminate some of the institutional aid they initially offered. So, make sure you contact your college’s financial aid office to see what their specific policies are and how best you can maximize your overall award.

“A primary goal of Raptor^® is to help students and families find great colleges they can afford. Scholarships and grants play an important role in filling the gaps of college cost. Our Scholarship Search Tool takes the frustration out of looking for awards. It saves students time, focuses on qualifying scholarships, and includes institutional, government, and private awards.”

William E. Staib President and CEO, Co-Founder

Types of Scholarships

Private Scholarships

These come from businesses, nonprofits, or even individuals, not the government. They’re usually based on achievements, like academics, sports, or community service.

Government Grants

Think of these as need-based scholarships funded by the federal or state government. A common one is the Pell Grant. To qualify, you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Institutional Scholarships

Institutional scholarships are offered by the college or university themselves. They can be based on financial need, accomplishments, or both!

Need-Based Scholarships

Need-based scholarships are financial aid awarded to students based on financial need. To be eligible for needs-based scholarships, you are required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Most of the time, you must be enrolled full-time and apply every academic year for this type of aid.

Merit Based Scholarships

Merit based scholarships are awarded to students who have achieved high honors in a certain area. That can include:

Academic accomplishments
Artistic talents
Community involvement
Athletic talent

Eligibility for merit-based scholarships varies by organization and institution. You can also find scholarships based on:

Your favorite hobbies
Your family’s military status
Other community-based opportunities

Explore more college scholarship resources

How to Apply for Scholarships

Always apply for FAFSA first.
Find scholarships that interest you and that you are eligible for and apply.
Make note of the deadlines.
Get your recommendation letters.
Write your scholarship essay. Here are some tips on writing the perfect scholarship essay.
Submit your completed application on time and check your inbox for winner announcements.

Ready to Find Scholarships That Fit You?

Use our Scholarship Search Tool to explore opportunities tailored to your background, interests, and goals. It’s quick, easy, and could help you uncover funding you didn’t know existed!

Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities

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Scholarship Search & Applications, Scholarships

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From classroom to career, the Citizens Student Hub offers tools, advice, and resources built around real-life stages — from high school through college and beyond.

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1 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.

2 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 of 2028. The Contest begins at 12:00 AM ET on 1/1/26 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 3/31/26. See Official Rules for details.