Updated on September 11th, 2024
Whether your student is going to begin college in the fall or is still in high school, many parents and students wonder exactly when most scholarship deadlines occur.
The short answer is scholarship deadlines happen all year round, but there are certain times of year when they are more prevalent.
By understanding when deadlines commonly occur, your student can plan their application-related activities more effectively, which is especially helpful if they are pressed for time during their senior year in high school or when already in college. This includes organizing deadlines for different types of scholarships, such as academic scholarships, to manage their applications efficiently.
Want to learn more about the scholarship process, including how to navigate deadlines? Sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! It’s an excellent way to find out about the application process and how to identify opportunities that help your student avoid debt while working toward their degree!
If your student is beginning to explore scholarship opportunities for higher education and is worried about potential deadlines, here’s what you both need to know.
When Do Scholarships Open for Applications?
Before diving into scholarship deadlines, it’s helpful to understand the broader scholarship timeline. First, awarding organizations plan for what they want to offer, selecting the amount chosen students will receive, the application and selection criteria, and other details. Next, they open for applications for a specific time period. Then, when the window to apply closes, the committee prepares to review applications, conduct interviews, and work through the entire process until they’ve selected winners.
Precisely when a particular scholarship opens for applications varies. Each organization can set its own timeline, ensuring its committee can navigate the steps and the award can be issued within the desired timeframe.
However, many begin accepting applications in the late summer or early to mid-fall. That usually gives the awarding organization enough time to consider the applicants and select a winner before the start of the next academic year. Additionally, it is important to apply for federal student aid in addition to scholarships to maximize your chances of receiving funding.
When Are College Scholarships Due?
Many students wonder, “When are scholarships due?” Regretfully, there isn’t necessarily a simple answer.
Understanding that scholarship deadlines can happen at any time during the year is critical. Each awarding organization can select its cutoff date, allowing it to set a deadline that works with its planned reviewing and issuing schedule.
However, when it comes to the question, “When are most scholarships due?” high school seniors typically see more scholarship deadlines occur in the same timeframe used for college admissions. That means you’ll usually see more scholarship applications due between October and March.
Many scholarship deadlines fall in that window because it gives scholarship committees enough time to select winners and issue awards before the start of the upcoming academic year. But that doesn’t mean organizations that accept applications longer can’t also award funds for the upcoming school session, as those that can support a longer scholarship timeline may choose to do so.
WHEN ARE SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED
Students (and parents) often ask, “When do scholarships get awarded?” The answer to that question is, “It can vary.”
Regardless of the application deadlines, scholarships are typically awarded with enough time to gather necessary information and make the funds available to students (or their colleges) in time for the designated academic period, such as a particular semester. Most scholarships clearly outline the academic year or period they’re designed to cover, allowing students to anticipate when funds may arrive if they’re chosen.
When it comes to notifying students that they’ve won, many committees announce the decision within three months of the application deadline passing. However, each award may have its own unique timeline, so it’s best to read any details provided by the awarding organization to get a more definitive idea of when winners are contacted.
SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES FOR FALL SEMESTER
If your student is wondering, “When do scholarships open for fall 2024?” the answer is that they’re already available. So, if your student is trying to figure out when to apply for scholarships for fall 2024, the answer is “Right now!”
Most high school students start college in the fall, and many college students return for the fall semester after taking the summer off. So, the majority of scholarship deadlines are oriented to ensure the organization can provide the award before the school year begins.
However, the amount of time they need to sort through the applications, conduct interviews, and announce a winner varies, hence why there aren’t hard and fast rules regarding when scholarship deadlines happen.
There are certain times of the academic year when scholarship deadlines are common, so understanding when these periods happen is practically guaranteed to be helpful.
A NOTE ON STARTING COLLEGE IN THE SPRING
While most scholarship awards are oriented to students starting in the fall, that doesn’t mean those who decide to begin their college research and experience in the spring (or even summer) are out of luck.
Some scholarships may provide funds at different points in the year, particularly if they select new winners every semester.
Additionally, if your student continues the education through the next fall semester, any awards not provided until that point will still be incredibly helpful! It’s important to know when the funds will be provided and applied to their expenses so your student can plan their budget accordingly. Seeking advice from counselors or advisors about various financial aid options, particularly local scholarships, can provide crucial information on due dates and enhance students’ chances of securing funding for college.
OCTOBER IS FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES (AND SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES)
The full fall scholarship season is from August through December, with awards directed to college expenses for the following school year. For example, scholarships that close to applications in December 2024 typically award funds for the 2025-2026 school year, likely with a disbursement in late summer or early fall in 2025.
While the entire period can be filled with critical application due dates, October is one of the most popular months for scholarship deadlines, so it’s worth keeping an eye out this time of year, especially. Scholarship application deadlines occur throughout the year, but the majority are from September through May, making it essential to prepare in advance.
With that deadline, awarding organizations have plenty of time to navigate the entire selection process, including reviewing applications, managing interviews, and choosing winners for this type of financial aid. Plus, they’ll be able to coordinate disbursements with a student’s school once they’ve connected with the winner and handled any additional paperwork.
MARCH IS HUGE
The next major scholarship season is spring, generally considered to include January through May, based on school schedules. However, March plays an unusually large role this time of year regarding scholarship application deadlines.
One bonus of this season is that students can take advantage of time off during the winter holidays and spring break – for those who have their week off during March – making it easier to find time to work on scholarship applications before the deadline passes.
Awards based on these applications are also generally funded for the fall semester, so a scholarship deadline in March 2024 can lead to money for the 2024-2025 school year.
SUMMER MAKES AN APPEARANCE
Any deadlines that fall between June and July can be considered part of the summer scholarship season. While there aren’t as many opportunities during this time of year, there is still money to be had!
One caveat about these scholarship deadlines is that the amount of competition may be higher. Most students are out of school during the summer, so they have more time to apply for scholarships. Plus, some will be scrambling to find additional funds, motivating them to dedicate more energy to the process.
While it is always worth tossing your hat in the ring for a scholarship, don’t be surprised if these are a bit harder to land. In some cases, it can make focusing on scholarships that aren’t as popular on a national level wise, as they usually involve less competition. However, students should explore any award they’re potentially eligible to receive, as any offered scholarship usually ends up a winner, and it could be them.
It’s also critical to note when summer scholarships award funds may or may not align with the upcoming academic year. For example, a scholarship with a summer 2024 deadline might provide funds for the 2024 fall semester, or it might not issue the award until the spring 2025 semester, depending on how it’s set up. As a result, students need to review the details carefully to know when they’ll receive the funds if they’re selected.
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES
While local scholarships can have deadlines throughout the year (just like any other scholarship), a surprising number of them choose to stop accepting applications in early spring, with award dollars being available for the fall semester during the same year. This means you and your student want to search for local scholarships – such as credit union scholarships from a nearby institution – in the fall so you don’t miss January or February deadlines. Some deadlines do go into March.
Often, local scholarships have less competition, so the decreased amount of time required to review applications and select a student for the award may play a role in determining their deadlines.
For students who plan to attend college this upcoming fall, seeking out local scholarships can be an excellent way to gather needed funds. Plus, if the deadline is after spring break, your student can use some time off to write and complete as many relevant applications as possible.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!
Since scholarship deadlines happen throughout the year, it is never too late (or too early!) to get started. There are a lot of opportunities out there, so starting the scholarship process now increases your student’s odds of finding the funds they need to graduate from college debt-free.
Helpful Scholarship Deadline Tips
Since scholarship deadlines vary, it’s helpful if students make a plan for their upcoming applications. Ideally, students should list any scholarship they’re interested in, including the award’s name, the amount awarded, the application submission website link, and the deadline. Then, they can tackle their applications based on the due date to ensure they complete those with upcoming deadlines before those that offer more time.
That approach can decrease a student’s odds of accidentally missing a cutoff date. Plus, it can prevent a last-minute crunch or help them feel less overwhelmed, as they can use the due dates to pace themselves.
Save Copies of Application Materials
If your student plans to apply for multiple scholarships, encourage them to save copies of submitted application materials. Letters of recommendation, scholarship resumes, and other documents they may send in may be reusable.
By saving any digital copies, students can resubmit them to other awards if those materials apply to another scholarship. Sometimes, they can even reuse scholarship essays or use them as inspiration for something new.
With this approach, students may easily prepare applications before deadlines. They’ll have less work to do by keeping these materials ready, ensuring they don’t have to recreate anything they must submit more than once.
Plus, saving copies helps students track what they’ve sent in and where. That can be incredibly helpful for refreshing their memories before attending a scholarship interview or engaging with committee members or other representatives of the awarding organization.
Avoiding Missed Opportunities
Missing scholarship deadlines can be a costly mistake. Here are some tips to avoid missing opportunities:
- Create a Calendar or Spreadsheet: Track scholarship deadlines and requirements in a calendar or spreadsheet. This visual aid can help you stay organized and ensure you don’t miss any important dates.
- Set Reminders: Use digital reminders or alarms to alert you of upcoming deadlines. Submitting applications well in advance can prevent last-minute stress and errors.
- Research Thoroughly: Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria before applying. Thorough research can save you time and increase your chances of success.
- Apply Early: Don’t wait until the last minute to apply. Many scholarships have early deadlines or limited funding, so early applications can give you a competitive edge.
- Seek Guidance: Consider working with a guidance counselor or mentor to help you stay on track and find scholarship opportunities. They can provide valuable insights and support throughout the application process.
By implementing these strategies, you can avoid missing out on valuable scholarship opportunities and increase your chances of securing financial aid.
Don’t Automatically Throw Out Scholarships If the Scholarship Application Deadlines Have Passed!
Even if your student misses some scholarship deadlines this year, that doesn’t mean they should forget about the opportunity!
Most scholarships are regularly offered, with annual awards being the most common. This means that when they spot a great option, they should note what they’ve found so they can apply for next year.
In most cases, the next year’s deadline (and when they begin accepting applications) will occur at a similar time to the previous one. So, make sure your student makes a note on their calendar to recheck the website near the time when the opportunity should open up again. That way, they can get a jump on awards for the following school year and increase their odds of getting applications submitted before those scholarship deadlines pass.
If you and your student would like to learn more about how to get started with scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! It’s a great way to learn about the process and how to identify opportunities that can help your student avoid debt while pursuing their education!
Recommended Reading for Scholarship Success:
- How to Win Scholarships with the Right Scholarship Essay Format
- How to Boost Test Scores with SAT & ACT Online Prep Courses
- How to Write an Amazing Scholarship Resume
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