Merit Scholarships for High School Students
Awards for grades, test scores, leadership and achievement — no financial need required.
21 programs · up to $512,500 in combined top awards · updated Oct 14, 2026
- ✓ VerifiedMerit
VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay
Veterans of Foreign WarsAwardUp to $35,000DeadlineOct 31, 2026Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
Regeneron Science Talent Search
Society for ScienceAwardUp to $250,000DeadlineNov 5, 2026 · 20:00 New York timeGrade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-basedMerit
Cooke College Scholarship Program
Jack Kent Cooke FoundationAwardFull ride / full costDeadlineNov 11, 2026Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
Robertson Scholars Leadership Program
The Robertson FoundationAwardFull ride / full costDeadlineNov 15, 2026Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
Coolidge Scholarship
Calvin Coolidge Presidential FoundationAwardFull ride / full costDeadlineDec 1, 2026 · 17:00 Los Angeles timeGrade 11 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-basedMerit
Ron Brown Scholar Program
Ron Brown Scholar ProgramAwardUp to $10,000DeadlineDec 1, 2026 (unconfirmed)Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
DECA Scholarships
DECA Inc.Award$1,000–$2,500DeadlineJan 11, 2027Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library FoundationAward$1,000–$10,000DeadlineJan 11, 2027 · 23:59 New York timeGrades 9, 10, 11, 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-basedMerit
Upakar Indian-American Scholarship
Upakar: The Indo-American Community FoundationAward$1,000–$2,500DeadlineApr 30, 2027 (unconfirmed)Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
Cameron Impact Scholarship
Bryan Cameron Education FoundationAwardFull tuitionDeadlineMay 1, 2027Grade 11 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
Air Force ROTC High School Scholarship
U.S. Air Force ROTCAwardFull tuitionDeadlineDates for this cycle are not yet published on the official page — check back.Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Davidson InstituteAward$25,000–$100,000DeadlineOpens fall 2026; exact deadline not yet published.Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & InstituteAwardUp to $10,000DeadlineLast cycle ran Oct 13 – Jan 5. 2027 dates not yet published.Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) Scholar Program
Hispanic Scholarship FundAward$500–$5,000DeadlineLast cycle ran Jan 5 – Feb 15. 2027 dates not yet published.Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
National Merit Scholarship Program
National Merit Scholarship CorporationAwardAmount variesDeadlineEntry is the October PSAT/NMSQT of junior year — check your school's test date.Grade 11 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Alliance for Young Artists & WritersAward$500–$12,500DeadlineRegional deadlines vary (usually winter) — not listed on the scholarships page.Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
UNT College of Music Talent Scholarships
University of North Texas College of MusicAwardAmount variesDeadlineAudition dates for Fall 2027 not listed on this page; create an Eagle Scholarship Portal profile annually by March 1. Check the Deadlines page.Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
YoungArts National Arts Competition
National YoungArts FoundationAwardAmount variesDeadlineOpens Summer 2027; exact dates not yet published.Grades 10, 11, 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-basedMerit
QuestBridge National College Match
QuestBridgeAwardFull ride / full costDeadlineOct 1, 2026 · 23:59 Los Angeles timeGrade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedMerit
Coca-Cola Scholars Program
Coca-Cola Scholars FoundationAwardUp to $20,000DeadlineSep 30, 2026 · 17:00 New York timeGrade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-basedMerit
The Gates Scholarship
The Gates ScholarshipAwardFull ride / full costDeadlineSep 15, 2026Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial →
See which of these your child qualifies for
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Common questions
- How many merit scholarships does TryScholarships list?
- 21 programs right now, with top awards adding up to $512,500. 21 of them are fully verified against the sponsor's official site; the rest are marked so you know to confirm details before applying.
- What is the next merit scholarship deadline?
- VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay closes Oct 31, 2026. Deadlines are tied to the current award year, and unconfirmed dates are labeled.
- Do I have to pay to apply for these scholarships?
- No. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and none of the programs listed here should. TryScholarships charges only for its own matching, planning and reminder tools — never to apply.
- How do I see the full requirements and which ones my child qualifies for?
- A parent or guardian starts the free 3-day trial and adds a 5-minute profile for each child. TryScholarships then shows every program's full requirements and official application link, checks each eligibility rule — grade, GPA, state, major, test scores and more — and explains why your child matches or what's missing.