Unique Scholarships for College Students
Are you great at duck calling? Really tall? Or talented at designing greeting cards? If so, you may qualify for a scholarship that helps cover the cost of college.
Unique scholarships reward specific interests, hobbies, backgrounds, or unusual talents. Since they apply to smaller groups of students, they often have less competition and can be easier to win than traditional awards.
Below, you’ll find a list of unique scholarships, including award amounts, eligibility requirements, and application deadlines.
Unique Scholarships to Help Pay for School
American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship Program
The ABFSE National Scholarship Program awards multiple scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students in mortuary science or funeral service programs. Application materials include official transcripts and two recommendation letters. Scholarships are between $1,500-$2,500. The deadline is March 1 or September 1.
American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship
The AFSA Scholarship offers 10 scholarships to high school seniors applying to college and high school graduates pursuing a degree. The $1,000 scholarships do not have any eligibility requirements. Instead, a computer program selects winners at random. Deadlines are in August and December.
Tall Clubs International Foundation
The TCI Foundation awards $1,000 scholarships to students who meet certain height requirements (at least 6 feet, 2 inches for men and at least 5 feet, 10 inches for women). Other eligibility criteria include being under the age of 21; being a first-year, first-time student; and enrollment at an accredited institution. The deadline for applications is March 1.
Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest
The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest awards up to $5,000 in scholarships to students ages 16-20 with duck-calling talent. The annual competition takes place at the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce in Stuttgart, Arkansas. Scholarship recipients may use the award to pay for tuition or education-related expenses at any U.S. institution.
Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
The Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest is open to high school and college students ages 14 and older with a talent for greeting card design and writing. A public vote determines finalists before the scholarship committee reviews the remaining submissions’ aesthetics, quality, and creativity. The winner receives $10,000. The deadline for submissions is March 9.
Debt.com Scholarship for Aggressive Scholarship Applicants
Debt.com rewards degree-seekers who apply for multiple scholarships for college with this unique $1,000 award. Required materials include other application confirmation
emails from other scholarships and a 500-word essay explaining why you need financial assistance. Applicants with more confirmation emails possess an advantage during consideration. The deadline is April 1.
DutchCrafters Amish Furniture Heritage Scholarship
The DutchCrafters Amish Furniture Scholarship awards three $500 scholarships to college students in any major. Application requirements include demonstration of academic achievement and financial need, a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and an essay. The deadline is May 1.
Foreclosure.com Scholarship
Foreclosure.com supports the next generation of real estate professionals with annual scholarships up to $4,000. Applicants submit an 800- to 2,500-word essay on a topical subject — for example, the 2025 essay focused on technology’s role in finding affordable housing opportunities. The deadline is December 15.
Gamers Helping Gamers Scholarship
The Gamers Helping Gamers Scholarship is open to high school seniors and college students with a passion for Magic: The Gathering. Up to two $5,000 scholarships are available annually. Application requirements include FAFSA results, official transcripts, a personal statement, and an essay detailing applicants’ interest in the game. The deadline is December 31.
Getting Real About Distracted Driving Scholarship
The Getting Real About Distracted Driving Scholarship asks students to create a humorous safe driving advertisement. Acceptable advertisements may include a commercial, poster, or mock radio ad. The scholarship committee does not consider applicants’ GPA or financial need. Applicants must be planning to enroll or be currently enrolled in college. The deadline is December 31.
How to Improve Your Chances of Landing an Unusual Scholarship
Applying for unusual scholarships starts with researching the latest college scholarships and determining how they affect eligibility for other financial aid programs. The following sections describe just a few ways learners obtain scholarships for college.
Don’t Be Deterred by Typical Scholarship Requirements
Learners should not disregard any scholarships for college just because of not meeting every application requirement. Some awards do not receive enough applications, so the scholarship committee may consider “unqualified” applicants. In other cases, candidates not meeting all criteria may impress a scholarship committee with their essay or recommendation letters.
Know How To Search
Finding unique scholarships requires researching sponsors, such as companies and organizations that award scholarships aligned with their industry, product, or service. Other avenues include researching clubs, hobby groups, and honor societies. Their application requirements may involve joining the organization and meeting a high school or undergraduate GPA cutoff.
Consider Applying for Scholarships That Don’t Match Your Skills
Some college student scholarships limit applications to candidates with a unique interest or talent. However, these awards may consider degree-seekers not highly skilled in that area. Applicants should demonstrate interest in their essay, such as describing how they only recently started learning the skill but plan to continue honing it.
Make Sure You Align Scholarships with Financial Aid
Scholarships for college may affect institutional financial aid. When researching unique scholarships, learners should explore their school’s financial aid policies and contact advisors with questions. Other steps include examining scholarships’ stipulations for recipients, such as maintaining a satisfactory GPA for renewal purposes. Determine whether aid goes to the recipient or the school.
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