Are you worried about how the rising cost of college will impact your middle school-aged child’s ability to receive a good education? If so, now is the perfect time to start researching middle school scholarships.
Why Start Researching Middle School Scholarships?
Besides the rising cost of college, many great reasons exist for your child to apply for middle school scholarships.
Help Your Child Research Areas of Interest
Middle school is when young people first start exploring their academic and extracurricular areas of interest. Researching scholarships helps your child learn how their interests relate to potential majors, and how those majors can lead to a fulfilling career.
Build Self-Reliance
Applying for scholarships requires researching different opportunities, comparing them, preparing application materials, and submitting these materials by a deadline. Although you will no doubt provide your child with some support throughout this process, working on these tasks independently will help your child build valuable self-reliance skills.
Avoid the Student Debt Trap
Even in a booming economy, student debt handicaps many new professionals. Since no one knows what the economy will look like when your child graduates college in 10–15 years, scholarships are the best way to set them up for long-term financial success.
The Best Scholarship Opportunities for 2025
Now that we’ve covered why it’s a great idea to start exploring middle school scholarships, here are some of the best scholarship opportunities for 2025. Check the embedded links to learn more about application requirements and deadlines. Scholarship sponsors may have provided updated information since this article’s publication.
The Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku& Senryu Competition
About the Scholarship: The Haiku Society of America (HSA)invites 7–12th grade students to submit up to three of their best haiku or senryu poems. Winning poems will appear on the HSA website and Frogpond, the society’s literary publication.
Award Amount: $250 or more
Deadline: March 30, 2025
The Susan Howard Community Service Award
About the Scholarship: The British American Foundation ofTexas awards this scholarship to Texas or British residents ages 11–21. Application requirements include developing a community service project,earning good grades, and demonstrating financial need. Applicants must submit an essay, one recommendation letter, and school transcripts by the deadline.
Award Amount: $5,000
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project (KSCPP) 17th Nationwide Essay Contest
About the Scholarship: KSCPP awards this scholarship to middle and high school students who write the best essay about Chung Hyo Ye, Tales of filial devotion, loyalty, respect, and benevolence from the history and folklore of Korea.Applicants submit a 2–3-page essay based on one of two prompts.
Award Amount: $50–$500
Deadline: April 27, 2025
Young Scholars Program
About the Scholarship: The Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars Program invites academically gifted seventh-grade students to apply. The application portfolio must include a student application, parent application, sixth- and seventh-grade report cards, and two academic recommendation letters.Program benefits include personalized academic and college counseling, summer enrichment programs, and specialized academic support throughout high school.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 30, 2025
My Impact Challenge
About the Scholarship: The Bill of Rights Institute considers applications from US citizens ages 13–18. Applicants must have completed or be working toward finishing a civic engagement project. Required materials include an essay, a project report, and a video or images detailing the project’s impact. Groups of up to five students may collaborate on a single project.
Award Amount: $1,500–$10,000
Deadline: May 18, 2025
We The Future Contest
About the Scholarship: Constituting America awards this scholarship to middle school students who write the best 500–700-word essay on one of two government-related topics. Applicants may also develop a STEM project, write/perform a song about the Constitution, or develop a PSA advocating civics education.
Award Amount: $200
Deadline: May 31, 2025
Open Awareness Art Contest
About the Scholarship: Bow Seat’s Open Awareness ArtContest lets students ages 11–18 express their views on climate change and earn money for college. Applicants may submit a piece of visual art, creative writing, film, or interactive multimedia. Other application materials include a100–300-word personal reflection and a parent consent form. Bow Seat will announce contest winners in November 2025.
AwardAmount: Upto $1,000
Deadline: June 9, 2025
Questions and Answers
What year should my child start researching middle school scholarships?
The end of the second year of middle school is the best time to start exploring relevant scholarships. By that point, your child will know which classes and extracurricular activities interest them the most. Use their passion for these things to start the scholarship discussion.
How can I get my child excited about applying for scholarships?
You can get your child excited about middle school scholarships by emphasizing opportunities where they can use their creativity. Receiving recognition for their creativity can boost their confidence and encourage them to further improve their creative skills throughout high school and beyond.
What should I do if my child is unsuccessful?
Like applying to college, applying for scholarships is a competitive process. If your child does not receive a scholarship before entering high school, remind them that applying was good practice for what lies ahead. They still have four years of high school ahead of them to find new passions, improve their skills, and research more scholarship opportunities.
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