College Scholarships for Students With Disabilities

Worrying about paying for school should be the last thing on your mind as you pursue an education that can have lifelong implications. Unfortunately, paying for college is difficult for many students. And, if you have a disability or a chronic illness, there can be additional academic challenges, making finances seem that much more daunting a hill to climb.

Fortunately, disability scholarships can help ease the financial burden of attending college. This guide offers helpful information on financial aid for people with various disabilities. Explore details like eligibility, application materials, and other available sources of aid.

As you research disability scholarships, you can look to various sources that provide financial aid. Before covering scholarships, it’s important to know the differences between this form of assistance and grants.Though scholarships and grants are both forms of “free money” that do not require repayment, they differ in their eligibility requirements. Grants are provided by the government and typically awarded based on financial need, though states also offer them based on disability. Scholarships are offered by private organizations, schools, and nonprofits, among other providers, based on merit, need, and other characteristics.

Start your search for disability scholarships by contacting your prospective schools’ financial aid departments. Ask if they offer scholarships for your specific disability or any more general scholarships.

Next, use your favorite search engine to find disability organizations, businesses, and nonprofits that provide scholarships and begin to take notes on their individual eligibility requirements. Then, when you apply, you can tweak each application to the provider’s stipulations.

Schools, nonprofits, and organizations do not simply hand out disability scholarships — you must apply for them. Follow the step-by-step checklist below to ensure that you have the strongest chance of getting the aid you deserve.

We have organized the following list of scholarships by type of disability, allowing you to focus on the section that best aligns with your needs. The list below is not exhaustive, however — make sure to research available disability scholarships based on your degree level and other personal needs.

Physical and mobility disabilities include spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, limb differences, and other related conditions.

Amount: $1,501

Deadline: July 1

Basic Eligibility: Each applicant must have a physical disability and be under the age of 25 to qualify for this disability scholarship.

Amount: $5,000

Deadline: July 15

Basic Eligibility: To qualify, a candidate must demonstrate financial need, have a physical disability, demonstrate a history of leadership in their community, and possess a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Sensory disabilities are those that affect how your body responds to sensory stimuli. Examples include blindness, deafness, or a sensory processing disorder.

Amount: $2,000-$7,500

Deadline: February 14

Basic Eligibility: Each applicant must be legally blind, submit transcripts, provide two letters of acceptance, and submit an acceptance letter from their school.

Amount: Varies

Deadline: March 31

Basic Eligibility: To be eligible, an applicant must have a minimum 40db bilateral hearing loss, American citizenship, a cumulative 3.2 GPA, and current enrollment in a bachelor’s program.

Learning disabilities, like dyslexia or dysgraphia, affect your ability to process information.

Amount: $10,000 ($2,500 annually for four years)

Deadline: April 20

Basic Eligibility: Applicants must have a documented learning disability and be enrolled in an upcoming bachelor’s program. Students with ADHD who also have a learning disability can also apply.

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: March 21

Basic Eligibility: To qualify for this disability scholarship, an applicant must have a learning disability, such as dyslexia.

Amount: $500-$2,500

Deadline: Varies

Basic Eligibility: Eligible applicants must have dyslexia or another language-based disability, such as dyscalculia or dysgraphia and be majoring in a STEM field.

A mental health condition is not always a disability, but it can be if it affects your ability to participate in daily activities. Some mental health conditions include anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Amount: $500

Deadline: June 30

Basic Eligibility: A candidate must have experienced mental health challenges personally or in loved ones.

Amount: $2,200

Deadline: January 1

Basic Eligibility: To qualify, each applicant must have been affected by mental health challenges, either in themselves or their family members.

A chronic illness or other health condition can be a disability if it affects your ability to perform daily activities over an extended period of time. Common chronic illnesses include Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Amount: Up to $1,000

Deadline: Varies

Basic Eligibility: Though anyone can apply for this disability scholarship, BMF gives preference to cancer survivors.

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: October 1

Basic Eligibility: To qualify for this award, an applicant must have diabetes, which can be Type 1, 2, gestational, neonatal, or other forms.

Along with scholarships, there are other ways to pay for college with a disability. All college learners, regardless of their disability status, can benefit from submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

This form considers you and your family’s income, among other factors, to calculate your eligibility for various forms of aid, like federal loans and Pell Grants. Other sources of aid can come from state grants and programs like work-study, which gives you an on-campus, part-time job so you can earn money while you study.