20+ Scholarships Due In May: Apply Now!

The end of the school year is nearing, and your student’s attention is probably focused on finishing up the school year, BUT students who plan to attend college should focus on scholarship deadlines that are flying by! Great news, though… It’s not too late! NOW is the opportunity for your child to use these final weeks of school to crank out some scholarship applications and earn some much-needed money for college this fall.

Many scholarships are available for high school seniors who are preparing to attend college.

Here is a list of 20+ scholarships to apply to by the end of May. These next few weeks are major deadline weeks, so you don’t want to miss out!

And if you are curious as to how we found these, check out our free training on how to uncover legitimate scholarships, “6 Steps to Quickly Secure Scholarships for College.” This training is geared towards teaching parents what they need to know about paying for college so that they can help their child avoid student loan debt. To see when we are holding our next training, go to https://thescholarshipsystem.com/webinar.

Scholarships Due in May

Bryan Cameron Education Foundation Scholarship

Amount: Full Tuition
Deadline: Will close the application when they reach 3,000 OR on May 1, 2026 – whichever occurs first.
Eligibility: Be in the high school graduating Class of 2027, planning to enroll in a full-time course of study towards a degree at an accredited four-year U.S. college or university for the full academic year following high school graduation
GPA Requirement: 3.7 or Higher
Requires an interview if selected

Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation

Amount: Varies
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Eligibility: A student who is, or will be, enrolled in a printing or graphics program at a technical school, college or university within the United States.
GPA Requirement: 3.0 or Higher
Requires Essay

Melissa A. Stoneberger Scholarship

Award: Varies
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Eligibility: Scholarship is open to highly motivated, full-time students who are involved in community, possess strong leadership skills, and follow a personal drive for positive change.
GPA Requirement:No GPA Requirement
Requires Essay

Rover Scholarship

Amount: $2,500
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Eligibility: Scholarship is open to U.S. residents who are graduating high school seniors, or students pursing an associate/bachelors/masters degree
GPA Requirement: 3.0+
Requires Essay

1st Place Spiritwear School Spirit Scholarship

Award: $1,500
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Eligibility: The scholarship is open to all high school seniors in the United States who plan to attend a university or community college in 2026
GPA Requirement: No GPA requirement
Requires Essay

LM Scholarship Program

Amount: $500
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Eligibility: Scholarship is open to students who will be enrolled in a degree program (two years in length or greater) by September
GPA Requirement: 2.5 or higher
Requires Essay

DutchCrafters Heritage Scholarship

Amount: $500
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Eligibility: Scholarship is open to students enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student at an accredited four-year undergraduate institution located in the United States
GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher
Requires Essay

Hayley Rayburn Nursing Scholarship

Award: $1,000
Deadline: May 8, 2026
Eligibility: Applicants must be planning to attend, or are currently attending, an accredited post-secondary institution or technical vocational/trade school to pursue a degree in nursing.
GPA Requirement: 3.0
Requires Essay

Mometrix College Scholarships

Award: Up to $1,000
Deadline: May 15, 2026
Eligibility: Scholarships are open to current high school seniors through college juniors
GPA Requirement: No GPA requirement
Requires Essay

Got a Spine Scholarship

Award: $500
Deadline: May 2, 2026
Eligibility: Be a US or Canadian resident attending college or university on a full-time basis by October of 2026
GPA Requirement: 2.5 or Higher
Requires Essay

Innovation in Education

Award: $500
Deadline: May 20, 2026
Eligibility: Must currently be enrolled as a high school, college/university, or graduate student
GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher
Requires Essay

Trey Porter Law Scholarship

Amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Eligibility: Scholarship is open to current college students attending Canadian and American college and universities (incoming freshman may submit admission acceptance).
GPA Requirement: No GPA requirement
Requires Essay

vCISO Cybersecurity Scholarship | Fractional CISO

Amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Eligibility: Must be a student studying cybersecurity as your major in the United States. You may be an undergraduate or graduate student and over 18 years old.
GPA Requirement: None
Requires Essay

C.I.P. Scholarship

Award: $1,000
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Eligibility: Scholarship is open to students age 17 years of age and older who plan to start a program of higher education within the next 12 months or who are currently enrolled in a program of higher education
GPA Requirement: No GPA requirement
Requires Essay

Girls for Gaming Scholarship

Award: $2,000
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Eligibility: Must be a full-time undergraduate student or a graduate student attending an accredited college or university during the 2026-27 academic school year, or working as an early professional (within their first four years in the industry) in the United States of America.
GPA Requirement: 3.3 or higher
Requires Personal Statement

AIAS Foundation Scholarship

Amount: Up to $2,000
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Eligibility: Must be a full-time undergraduate student or a graduate student attending an accredited college or university during the 2026-27 academic school year, or working as an early professional (within their first four years in the industry) in the United States of America.
GPA Requirement: 3.3 or higher
Requires Personal Statement

College is Power Scholarship

Amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Eligibility: Students age 17 years or older who plan to start a program of higher education within the next 12 months or who are currently enrolled in a program of higher education.
GPA Requirement: None
Requires Essay

Visionary Scholarship Program

Amount: Varies
Deadline: June 1, 2026
Eligibility: Scholarship is open to high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are United States citizens or eligible non-citizens.
GPA Requirement: None
Requires Essay

JASNA Scholarship

Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: June 1, 2026
Eligibility: Contest is open to students worldwide who are enrolled in high school, college/university, or graduate school
GPA Requirement: No GPA Requirement
Requires Essay

Terry Bryant Scholarship

Amount: $2,500
Deadline: June 1, 2026
Eligibility: Scholarship is open to high school seniors
GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher
Requires Video Submission

Niche No Essay Scholarship

Amount: $25,000
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Eligibility: Open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school. Must have U.S. citizenship or a valid U.S. visa/passport.
GPA Requirement: None
No Essay Required

CINTAS Foundation Fellowship

Amount: $25,000
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Eligibility: Open to creative artists of Cuban citizenship or direct lineage
GPA Requirement: None specified

Don’t Let These Deadlines Pass You By

For graduating high school seniors, this is a crucial time to secure funding for your education. Many May scholarships have deadlines throughout the fifth month, including significant awards due on May 31, 2026. As a reminder, the scholarships listed here all have May deadlines, so now is the time to finalize your applications, double-check your materials, and submit your best work before time runs out.

Even if you’ve already chosen a school, incoming college freshmen, current college students, and undergraduate students can still apply for many of these college scholarships to help with paying for college, including tuition, fees, and living expenses at a college or university, community college, or technical school. Every dollar earned through scholarships is money you don’t have to borrow, making a huge difference in reducing the need for student loans.

Remember, winning scholarships takes persistence, effort, and attention to detail. Many scholarships require a minimum GPA, an essay (essay required), or demonstration of financial need, and may be open to high school students, undergraduate students, or graduate students. Applying for multiple scholarships increases your chances of success, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t win right away. Keep refining your essays, gathering strong recommendation letters, and staying organized with deadlines.

Scholarship awards can range from $500 to $25,000, with examples such as the Niche No Essay Scholarship ($25,000, open to all high school and college students, May 31, 2026 deadline), the CINTAS Foundation Fellowship ($25,000 for creative artists of Cuban citizenship or lineage, May 1 deadline), the Rover Scholarship ($2,500 for U.S. residents, May 1, 2026), and the LM Scholarship Program ($500 for students enrolling in a degree program, May 1, 2026).

There are countless scholarships available for students of all backgrounds, interests, and career goals—you just have to take the time to conduct a thorough scholarship search. Scholarships are open to students of all ages, backgrounds, and degree programs, including those pursuing associate degrees, college degrees, or careers in fields like STEM, nursing, culinary arts, and more. Scholarships are open to applicants who are accepted or enrolled as full-time students at an accredited college or university within the United States, and may be available to current high school seniors, current college students, or those who have graduated from high school. Some scholarships are open to residents of specific states or communities, and may require applicants to demonstrate financial need, community service, or a clear plan for how the scholarship will support their higher education goals. Types of scholarships include academic awards, creative competitions, and no-essay sweepstakes, and deadlines for state aid and full tuition scholarships often fall on May 1 or May 15. Only about 0.1% of undergraduate students secure awards of $25,000 or more, but even smaller awards can help reduce student loan debt. Staying organized with tuition deadlines and planning ahead for the upcoming school year is essential.

Scholarships are available for high school juniors, seniors in their final year, undergraduate and graduate students, disabled students, and those pursuing careers in a variety of fields. In 2025–26, the average published tuition and fees for in-state students at a public four-year college is $11,950, while private nonprofit four-year colleges average $45,000 — a stark reminder of just how important financial assistance and scholarships are when it comes to paying for college.

For more resources on finding and winning scholarships, check out our other guides, tips, and expert advice. Stay proactive, stay determined, and best of luck in your scholarship journey!