Free College Scholarships for Teens
- If you enjoy writing, the American Foreign Service Association High School Essay contest might be a viable option for you. Each year, the organization chooses an essay topic for students. Students must use personal experience to expound on the topic to create an original essay. The scholarship winner receives $2,500 along with a free trip to Washington, D.C. Any sources used to complete your essay must be turned in with your application. This scholarship is awarded annually.
- High school students who are members of the Key Club are eligible to receive the Key Club International Scholarship. The scholarship is only available to teens in good standing who have been members for two years or longer. The club can check your eligibility using the Key Club International roster. If your name appears on the roster, you are a member in good standing. Student applicants must also have a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Only students planning to attend an accredited college or university are eligible to apply.
- Students in grades 9 to 12 can apply for the Best Buy @15 scholarship. The scholarship must be used toward a college education and is awarded to more than 1,000 students annually. In order to qualify, students must have community services experience, above-average grades and work experience. The scholarship awards selected students with a $1,000 college scholarship. Applications are only available online.
- Another scholarship option for teen writers is the Anthem Essay Contest. The scholarship contest is only open to high school freshmen and sophomores. Students select an essay topic based on the Ayn Rand novel "Anthem" for an opportunity to win $2,000 in scholarship money. Five second-place winners will receive $500. The contest is open to students worldwide. Essays can be submitted by mail, email or online. A formal application is not required.