Elks National Foundation (Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks) · 500 four-year scholarships awarded annually, ranging from $1,000/year to $12,500/year. The top 20 scholars attend a Leadership Weekend in Chicago and receive $30,000 toward a four-year education; the other 480 scholars receive $4,000 each. Elks membership not required.
Grade level: 12 (high school seniors)
Eligibility: High school seniors who are U.S. citizens, enrolling full-time in a four-year undergraduate program at a U.S. college/university. Judged on scholarship (academics), leadership, and financial need.
Deadline: 2027 cycle: applications available August 1, 2026; must be submitted (to a local Elks Lodge) by November 12, 2026.
Parent/guardian: Applicant seniors may be minors; application is submitted through a local Elks Lodge. No parental co-signature noted.
Also in: Merit & General Official page →
Bryan Cameron Education Foundation · Four-year full tuition, fees, and books at any accredited U.S. college; 15 scholars/year
Grade level: High school senior
Eligibility: HS Class of 2027; U.S. citizen; min 3.7 cumulative unweighted GPA; demonstrated leadership, community service, and extracurricular excellence
Deadline: Class of 2027 cycle CLOSED — deadline was May 1, 2026, or upon reaching 3,000 completed applications. Next cycle (Class of 2028) not yet announced as of July 2026.
Parent/guardian: Student self-applies; finalist interviews conducted at the applicant’s own high school
Verify details Official page →
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation · $20,000 scholarship; 150 scholars selected each year
Grade level: High school senior
Eligibility: High school seniors graduating during the 2026-2027 academic year, enrolled in a U.S. high school; U.S. citizen/national/permanent resident/refugee/asylee; minimum 3.0 GPA
Deadline: Application window August 3 - September 30, 2026, 5 PM ET (Class of 2027)
Parent/guardian: Student self-applies; no parental action required
Official page →
Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation · Full-ride: tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years; three to five scholars selected annually
Grade level: High school junior
Eligibility: Current high school JUNIORS only, intending to enroll full-time for the first time in fall 2028; U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents; need-blind; no stated GPA minimum
Deadline: 2026-27 cycle deadline not yet published as of July 2026 (prior cycle closed December 16, 2025; expect ~mid-December 2026 — verify at coolidgescholars.org in fall 2026)
Parent/guardian: Student self-applies during junior year
Verify details Official page →
Davidson Institute for Talent Development · $100,000, $50,000, or $25,000 (tier assigned by judges)
Grade level: Age-based (any grade, 18 or younger)
Eligibility: Age 18 or younger as of the deadline (no minimum age); U.S. citizen or permanent resident residing in the U.S. (or stationed overseas on active U.S. military duty); must submit a substantial completed work in STEM, literature, music, philosophy, or ‘outside the box’; two-person teams allowed
Deadline: 2026 cycle CLOSED (deadline was February 18, 2026); 2027 application opens Fall 2026 (deadline ~mid-February 2027)
Parent/guardian action required. Both applicant and a parent/guardian must sign a commitment to attend the Washington, DC award reception if named a Fellow
Verify details Also in: STEM & Computing, Younger Students (K-8) Official page →
Equitable Foundation / Scholarship America · $5,000 per year, renewable up to 4 years ($20,000 total); 100 recipients/year
Grade level: High school senior
Eligibility: High school seniors; residents of 50 states + DC + Puerto Rico; min 2.5 GPA; demonstrated financial need; enroll full-time at an accredited 2-year or 4-year U.S. college
Deadline: 2026 cycle CLOSED (recipients announced); next cycle expected to open November 2026 (verify at reopening)
Parent/guardian: Student self-applies; no parental action required
Verify details Official page →
Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans · National Scholarship $25,000; 105 National awards. (Association also runs separate state scholarships $10,000 with their own criteria; combined programs award 600+ annually.)
Grade level: High school senior (juniors eligible via separate junior deadline)
Eligibility: High school seniors (juniors eligible via a separate junior deadline); critical financial need with household adjusted gross income of $100,000 or lower; integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity; plan to enroll full-time at a U.S. college; awarded across all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico
Deadline: Seniors: application open December 1, 2025 through February 15, 2026 (annual; 2026 senior cycle has passed). Confirm current dates on the official page.
Parent/guardian action required. Student self-applies; requires household income documentation; parental-data consent applies
Also in: Need-Based & First-Generation Official page →
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation · Up to $55,000 per year (last-dollar funding after institutional aid), renewable up to 4 years; includes advising and a graduate-school funding pathway
Grade level: High school senior
Eligibility: High school seniors; min 3.75 cumulative unweighted GPA; must submit SAT/ACT/AP/IB scores; max household gross income $95,000/year; intend to enroll at an accredited 4-year college beginning fall 2027
Deadline: Application open August 19 - November 11, 2026 (Class of 2027)
Parent/guardian action required. Student self-applies; parental income documentation required; parental-data consent applies
Also in: Need-Based & First-Generation Official page →
National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) · NMSC-funded award $2,500 (one-time); plus college-sponsored and corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships (amounts vary widely)
Grade level: High school junior (entry) / senior (finalist)
Eligibility: Take the PSAT/NMSQT in 11th grade at a U.S. high school; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; high school principal endorsement required to become a Finalist; plan full-time enrollment at a U.S. 4-year college
Deadline: Entry automatic via PSAT/NMSQT (October of junior year); Semifinalists notified September of senior year; Finalist materials due fall of senior year
Parent/guardian: School principal endorsement required (not parent); student self-applies for Finalist stage
Verify details Official page →
QuestBridge · Full four-year scholarship (full cost of attendance: tuition, room, board, and fees) at one of 50+ partner colleges; value varies by institution
Grade level: High school senior
Eligibility: High school seniors from low-income backgrounds; households typically earning under $65,000/year (family of 4) with minimal assets, reviewed holistically with no absolute cutoff; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA students
Deadline: Application due September 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. PT); Match Rankings/Match Agreement Forms due October 16, 2026; Match notifications December 1, 2026.
Parent/guardian action required. Student self-applies; requires parental income/tax documentation; parental-consent handling of a minor’s financial data applies
Also in: Need-Based & First-Generation Official page →
Society for Science (sponsored by Regeneron) · Top award $250,000 (1st place); top 10 finalists $40,000-$250,000; remaining 30 finalists $25,000 each; 300 Scholars receive $2,000 each (+$2,000 to their school). More than $1.8 million awarded in top honors.
Grade level: High school senior
Eligibility: 12th grade / final year of secondary school; residing in the U.S. or listed territories (or U.S. citizen at select overseas schools); applicants 13+; under-18 require parental/guardian consent; original independent scientific research project required; self-submit (no school nomination)
Deadline: November 5, 2026, 8 PM ET
Parent/guardian action required. Parental/guardian consent required for applicants under 18; if named a Finalist, both student and a parent/guardian must attend Finalist Weekend in Washington, DC
Also in: STEM & Computing Official page →
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · Last-dollar full cost of attendance not covered by other aid (tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, personal expenses); ~300 scholars/year
Grade level: High school senior
Eligibility: High school seniors; U.S. citizen/national/permanent resident; Pell-eligible; min 3.3 GPA; must be African American, Hispanic American, American Indian/Alaska Native (tribal-enrollment proof), or Asian & Pacific Islander American; plan to enroll full-time at accredited U.S. institution
Deadline: Opens July 15, 2026; closes September 15, 2026
Parent/guardian action required. Student self-applies; requires parental financial data; parental-consent handling applies
Also in: Need-Based & First-Generation Official page →