Need-Based Scholarships & Grants
Scholarships and state grants based on financial need. Most depend on the FAFSA, so file it early.
24 programs · up to $163,082 in combined top awards · updated Oct 14, 2026
- ✓ 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 → - ✓ Verified
Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship
Elks National FoundationAward$1,000–$7,500DeadlineNov 12, 2026 · 23:59 Los Angeles timeGrade 12 · 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 → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Dell Scholars Program
Michael & Susan Dell FoundationAwardUp to $20,000DeadlineJan 12, 2027Grade 12 · Texas residents🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Jackie Robinson FoundationAwardAmount variesDeadlineJan 14, 2027 · 17:00 New York timeGrade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
APIA Scholarship
APIA ScholarsAward$2,500–$20,000DeadlineJan 15, 2027 · 17:00 New York timeOpen nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Horatio Alger National Scholarship
Horatio Alger AssociationAwardAmount variesDeadlineFeb 15, 2027 (unconfirmed)Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Scholarship
Marine Corps Scholarship FoundationAwardAmount variesDeadlineMar 1, 2027 (unconfirmed)Grade 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 → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Aggie Assurance (Texas A&M)
Texas A&M UniversityAwardFull tuitionDeadlineMust meet the Texas state priority financial aid deadline (date for 2027–28 not yet confirmed).Texas residents🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Air Force Aid Society — General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant
Air Force Aid SocietyAwardAmount variesDeadlineDates for the next cycle aren't published yet — check the official page.Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Amazon (administered by Scholarship America)AwardUp to $10,000DeadlineDates for this cycle are not yet published on the official page — check back.Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ Verified
Communities Foundation of Texas — Universal Scholarship Application
Communities Foundation of TexasAwardAmount variesDeadlineUniversal application reopens January 2027; each fund has its own deadline (2026 deadlines ran Feb 13 – May 15).Texas residents🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Dallas College Promise
Dallas CollegeAwardFull tuitionDeadlineClass of 2027 dates not yet published.Grade 12 · Texas residents🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ Verified
DAR National Scholarships
National Society Daughters of the American RevolutionAwardAmount variesDeadlinePortal reopens November 1, 2026. Closing date not posted yet.Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Federal Pell Grant
U.S. Department of Education — Federal Student AidAward$740–$7,395DeadlineFile the 2027–28 FAFSA as early as possible; also meet your state's and colleges' priority deadlines.Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Hagan Scholarship
Hagan Scholarship FoundationAwardUp to $6,000DeadlineDates for this cycle are not yet published on the official page — check back.Grade 12 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant
Illinois Student Assistance CommissionAwardUp to $8,400DeadlineFile the FAFSA as soon as it opens — MAP funds run out; late FAFSAs were wait-listed last year (after April 23, 2026).Grade 12 · Illinois residents🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program
QuestBridgeAwardAmount variesDeadlineJunior application usually opens in spring; dates not yet published.Grade 11 · Open nationwide🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
Texas Advance Commitment (UT Austin)
The University of Texas at AustinAwardFull tuitionDeadlineTied to UT admission and financial aid deadlines — confirm on UT's financial aid site.Texas residents🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ VerifiedNeed-based
TEXAS Grant (Toward EXcellence, Access & Success)
Texas Higher Education Coordinating BoardAwardUp to $16,287DeadlineApply through FAFSA/TASFA before the Texas state priority deadline (2025–26 priority deadline was Feb 15, 2025). 2027–28 date not yet confirmed.Grade 12 · Texas residents🔒 See requirements & apply — free 3-day trial → - ✓ Verified
UNCF Scholarships
UNCF (United Negro College Fund)AwardAmount variesDeadlineDeadlines vary by program on the UNCF portal.Grade 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 → - ✓ 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 need-based scholarships does TryScholarships list?
- 24 programs right now, with top awards adding up to $163,082. 24 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 need-based scholarship deadline?
- Cooke College Scholarship Program closes Nov 11, 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.