The best scholarships for online students provide monetary awards for qualified degree seekers to earn a degree in a flexible format. Online learning opportunities have become more available to keep up with the current tides of technology and the demanding lives of many Americans.
There is a lot of discourse that explores if online education is as respected as one that requires you to be physically present. We’ll let you make that decision. Many accredited colleges and universities are offering virtual classrooms and even hybrid programming. These days, you can get a degree online that doesn’t even mention that you never stepped into a physical classroom. Online education can be less expensive than in-person degree programming.
As web-based learning opportunities have expanded, so have scholarships for online students. You can find many free online scholarship applications on this list of awards we have sourced for you. Though not every opportunity listed below are specific scholarship for online courses, online students are eligible to apply for all of them. Take your time and see what speaks to you from the top 20 best online scholarships. Some of these applications are easy, so why not apply for scholarships online now?
1. Get Educated Scholarship Program
The Get Educated Scholarship Program recognizes online learning is the only option for many students. They make learning opportunities accessible, including to those that choose to study online.
As long as applicants choose college programs that are both online and based in the United States, they are eligible to apply. You will not only need to prove financial need but scholarships are also based on merit. Awarded funds must go towards the recipient’s distance or online education. But, it does not matter which institution they choose. There is a required 500-word essay for the application. The topic is What does an online education mean to me?
Award Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 15 or March 15
2. Arizona State University (ASU)
Arizona State University offers extensive online education opportunities for students all over the country. There are a variety of scholarship opportunities, including the Ann E. Buman scholarship.
This award is for students from Pawnee County in Nebraska. Applicants must be able to prove that a financial disparity is making it hard to complete postsecondary education. Online and residential students may apply for this award by first filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). ASU offers other scholarships that may apply to online students.
The Douglas L. Conley Fellowship award is another option for ASU online students. This is specifically for those who are studying online for a degree in physical fitness and health.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies
3. Bright Futures Scholarship
The Bright Futures Scholarship, from the Bright Horizons Foundation, gives teachers-in-training a little extra support. This particular award is for students who already have 30 or more credit hours of their bachelor’s with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, or 15 credit hours of an associate’s degree.
Students can apply even if accepted into a master’s degree program. The scholarship is for expenses related to education, such as books, hardware, software, or other school-related supplies. Applicants must have the goal of working with students under the age of 6 years old.
Award Amount: $250-$1,000
Deadline: Fall
4. Bill Kane Undergraduate Scholarship
The Bill Kane Undergraduate Scholarship, supported by SHAPE America, is for students in health sciences. Applicants must enroll in an academic program in the United States with full-time student status.
A minimum GPA is 3.25 to qualify for application. Applicants must be rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors, and have not received the award in a previous year. The winner not only receives $1,000 to go towards their education but also a one-year membership to SHAPE America, which comes along with many perks. The application requires a double-spaced essay that outlines health education career goals. Also required are two professional letters of recommendation.
Award Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 15
5. Bemidji State University Distance Learning Scholarships
Though Bemidji State University is in Minnesota, students from all over the globe can take online classes. The university offers five scholarships for online students.
Most of the scholarships are for $1,000 with the exception of the Niganawenimaanaanig Program Grant which is for the amount of $2,000 and comes with additional benefits. This particular grant supports nursing students of American Indian descent. One of the offerings is The Michael McKinley Distance Learning Scholarship, which is for online students in pursuit of a degree in business.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies
6. Lenza “Better than a Loan” Scholarship
As far as scholarships and grants online students can benefit from, this one is pretty sweet. Lenza “better than a loan is for students who have an entrepreneurial spirit. If you have an agenda to carve out a path as an innovator, this could be a great opportunity for you. Lenza wants you to submit your application essay in the form of a tweet!
The essay topics vary from year to year, and this round they are asking you to respond to a complicated employment scenario as if you were the manager. Certainly, $500 is not going to tip the scales too much, but this is an opportunity that will look great on any resume, and offer financial support for education-related expenses.
Award Amount: $500
Deadline: December 31
7. General Marketing Education Scholarship
Marketing is such a lucrative and in-demand field. If you are pursuing an education in marketing, an award from the highly acclaimed Sachs Marketing Group could only look good on your resume.
The Sachs Marketing Group has received a variety of honors and accolades for its work in online marketing and SEO wizardry. Their application asks that you write an essay of 1,000 words highlighting your future career goals as well as the reasons why you deserve this award. The scholarship money is for education-related expenses.
Award Amount: $1,000
Deadline: December 31
8. Giving to Change the Future
Many people that choose an online education are students attending school later in life for a variety of reasons. The Arizona Business and Professional Women’s Foundation recognizes the struggles many women, in particular, have in terms of juggling their education and life circumstances.
This can include family obligations and financial strain. The Giving to Change the Future award is for women over the age of 21 who are pursuing some form of education to better their career options. All recipients of the scholarship must attend a BPW Foundation event in Arizona each year.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: May 1
9. Army Women’s Legacy Scholarship
The Army Women’s Legacy Scholarship supports women soldiers in their education. Applicants must have a record of honorable service. However, they do not need to be enlisted at the time of the application.
Their children are also eligible to apply for this scholarship. Applicants must be seeking scholarships for online courses and/ or community college, bachelor’s, or master’s degree programs. It is also an option to apply if you are seeking support with a certificate program. Letters of recommendation, community service, merit, and academic potential are all important aspects of the application.
Award Amount: $1,000-$2,500
Deadline: January 10
10. Berklee Online
Berklee College of Music is an accredited and notable college for music students from a variety of disciplines. Not only do they offer undergraduate education, but they have extensive undergraduate certificate programming. Such distance opportunities allow students to pursue music at such an esteemed institution, but from wherever they are in the world.
They have many celebrity partnerships, and therefore offer a celebrity online scholarship for students who are attending a non-degree program online. Applicants must have a 3.7 GPA minimum to apply and a strong letter of recommendation from an instructor. Students must use the scholarships toward tuition expenses.
Award Amount: $1,497
Deadline: January 10
11. Cancer for College General Scholarship
Having cancer can uproot someone’s life and plans for the future. The Cancer for College General Scholarship honors those who have experienced this life setback by encouraging survivors to attend college and plan ahead.
Applicants for this scholarship must have experienced some form of cancer and have the intention of enrolling in a higher education program, which can include community college or online coursework. Recipients of the award must-attend events organized by the foundation, and also participate in media opportunities as well as a variety of interviews. The application essay is highly weighted in the selection process.
Award Amount: $5,000
Deadline: February 19
12. Brentwood Open Learning College (BOLC)
The Brentwood Open Learning College is an accredited online postsecondary school based in the UK. These trailblazers take pride in their online education designed for successful career preparation. BOLC Distance learning scholarships make education more accessible to all students, especially those who need a financial boost to make academia possible.
These robust awards cover up to 80% of course expenses. Students must be at least 16 to qualify and be fluent in the English language. In the application essay, they must show passion for an education that will benefit their career goals.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies
13. College Greenlight
College Greenlight gives students access to a digital platform called Cappex with several scholarship opportunities for online Master and PhD students. This direct portal serves underrepresented students, especially those who are first-generation learners.
One of the perks of the majority of these awards is that they come with mentoring offerings that enable students to have support throughout their academic endeavors. Not only do students have access to mentorship, but so do their parents. The scholarships all have different amounts and deadlines.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies
14. Columbia Southern University
One of the offerings from Columbia Southern University is the Knight Scholarship. This award is named for the school’s mascot. Columbia Southern is an online institution of higher learning, with its headquarters in Orange Beach, Alabama.
This award is for ambitious students who enroll in online courses at Columbia Southern University, with the intention of matriculating in the next 90 days. Applicants must have a minimum of a 2.0 GPA for undergraduate scholarships, and 3.0 for graduates. There is one award per year in the amount of $13,500, which covers three years of coursework or 60 credit hours.
Award Amount: $13,500
Deadline: June 5
15. AFCEA Washington DC
As far as online scholarships for engineering students go the AFCEA Washington DC chapter award could be a real find. AFCEA stands for the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association. It is an organization that focuses on US intelligence, national security, and military health.
This DC-based award is specifically for graduating high school seniors who are in pursuit of post-secondary education in STEM. This can include engineering, science, math, information systems, chemistry, or physics. Students from 112 different high schools in the area receive scholarships.
Award Amount: $12,000
Deadline: Varies
16. AAUWs Re-Entry Scholarship
The AAUW Re-entry Scholarship is from the American Association of University Women’s Poway-Penasquitos branch in San Diego, California. The goal of AAUW is to support women to achieve academically, personally, and professionally.
This opportunity supports adult women over the age of 23 returning to school. Applicants must already have completed either a high school education or GED, though they may not have a bachelor’s degree or above. Living in the northern section of San Diego County is one of the requirements of the award.
Award Amount: $1,800
Deadline: Varies
17. eQuality Scholarship
The eQuality Scholarship is granted to a student in the state of California who deserves recognition for their leadership in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Applicants who identify as gender nonconforming and of all sexual orientations are especially encouraged to apply.
The primary application criteria are that students are able to demonstrate the ways that they’ve worked within the LGBTQ community in service of advocacy, visibility, and change. Applicants must live in Northern California and be accepted to any trade or postsecondary school, which may include online learning. This must be the first time they have begun higher education.
Award Amount: $6,000
Deadline: January 31
18. Fnga National Foliage Foundation
The James H. Davis Memorial Scholarship, supported by the FNGLA National Foliage Foundation supports Florida-based students in pursuit of a horticultural degree.
The horticultural field in Florida is important to the state, and this foundation wants to ensure that this career path will continue to flourish. Applicants must be entering some form of postsecondary or graduate school. This can include community college or online higher education programs. Other requirements are a GPA of 2.0 and full-time enrollment. Students must have the intention of graduating with a horticultural studies degree.
Award Amount: $3,500
Deadline: January 15
19. Colorado Garden Show Scholarship
The Colorado Garden Show Scholarship offers a few scholarship opportunities for students who are in a variety of post-secondary programs that center on plant studies. Students must enroll in an accredited school in Colorado state.
Disciplines can include landscape horticulture, floriculture, plant pathology, landscape architecture or design, botany, entomology, or turfgrass management. A prerequisite for the application is the completion of a course in horticulture or botany, as well as two classes that may include turf culture, greenhouse management, floriculture, plant sciences, or arboriculture. Applicants must have a minimum of three semesters under their belt (which may include online classes) and a 3.0 or above.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 15
20. Marie A Calderilla Scholarship
The Marie A Calderilla Scholarship supports education for women with limited educational opportunities due to financial disparity. This award is for women attending a community college in San Mateo, California.
The two schools that it specifically serves are the College of San Mateo and Skyline Community College, both of which have extensive online course offerings. Personal integrity, honesty, and a hard-working nature weigh heavily in the selection process, as well as the potential for academic success.
Award Amount: $20,000
Deadline: April 24
Finding Your Scholarship
As web-based learning opportunities expand, so do scholarships for online students. You can find many free online scholarship applications on this list of awards we have sourced for you. Though not every opportunity has a specific scholarship for online courses, online students can apply for all of them.
Take your time and see what speaks to you from the top 20 best online scholarships. Some of these applications are easy, so why not apply for scholarships online now?
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