Need-based scholarships are scholarships that provide financial aid to students who cannot afford it and are in need of it, hence the name need-based scholarship.
There are really a lot of young people out there who have the drive and zeal to pursue their education and wish to see it through but are short on finances.
Truth be told, not everyone can afford a good education and that is where the need-based scholarship comes in.
We shall be discussing it in an attempt to understand what need-based scholarship is about and see a list of the ones that are available.
Let’s dive right into it.
What Are Need-Based Scholarships?
Need-based scholarships, as the name implies, are given out according to a student’s capacity to pay for college.
Many colleges, foundations, nonprofit organizations, and corporations also provide need-based scholarships, even though need-based aid is primarily associated with government programs like the Pell Grant.
Many colleges and organizations use the College Board’s CSS Profile application in addition to the Free Application for Student Financial Help (FAFSA) for determining need, although it is the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) that determines eligibility for federal aid.
Some need-based scholarships have requirements for the GPA of the beneficiaries or that they fall into a specific group, including underrepresented minorities, scientific majors, or art students.
In contrast to merit-based scholarships, need-based scholarships have financial requirements and are typically not available to students from households who make more than a specific amount of money.
To better understand need-based scholarship, let’s talk a bit about merit-based scholarship.
What Are Merit-Based Scholarships?
Merit-based scholarships do not take a student’s financial position into account, in contrast to need-based scholarships.
Instead, they are given to students based on a specific accomplishment, frequently in academics in academics, athletics, or extracurricular activities.
Scholarships are frequently given to high school graduates who are student-athletes or have a specific GPA.
Additionally, schools and organizations award merit scholarships to students who excel in particular subject areas or who have shown outstanding dedication to extracurricular pursuits like the arts or volunteer work.
Since these scholarships are given based on performance, it is frequently necessary for a student to keep up a strong GPA or to continue participating in their sport or activity in order to keep getting financing.
List of Top 20 Need-Based Scholarship
The following listed scholarships are the top 20 need-based scholarships available:
1. $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship
Eligibility: This is an easy scholarship that is open to all US-based high school, college, community college and graduate students.
2. $2,000 Nitro College Scholarship: No Essay
Eligibility: This is another easy scholarship that is open to all high school, college, community and graduate students.
Award: $2,000
3. $25,000 No Essay Scholarship
Eligibility: This funded scholarship is open to high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.
Award: $25,000
4. Jeannette Rankin Foundation National Scholar Grant
This scholarship is offered by Jeannette Rankin Foundation
Eligibility: The Jeanette Rankin Foundation National Scholar Grant is open to women aged 35 and up who are pursuing a technical/vocational, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree.
Award: $2,000
5. Fukunaga Scholarship
Eligibility: This academic scholarship is eligible for incoming and current college students from Hawaii hoping to pursue a career in business.
Award: $5,000
6. Dream.US National Scholarship
Eligibility: This scholarship is for high school seniors and college freshmen with or without DACA who came to the U.S. before age 16 and qualify for in-state tuition.
Award: Worth up to $8,250
7. AICPA Foundation Scholarship for Future CPAs
This scholarship program is offered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Eligibility: This scholarship is for college and graduate students pursuing a degree in accounting or a related major who are planning to pursue CPA licensure.
Award: Worth up to $10,000
8. Buckley Moss Endowed Scholarship
This scholarship is offered by the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education
Eligibility: It is open to college-bound high school seniors with a language-related learning difference who plan to pursue a career in the visual arts field.
Award: $1,000
9. Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship
Eligibility: It is eligible to current and incoming undergraduate students who have financial need.
Award: $12,000
10. Two Ten Footwear Foundation College Scholarship
This scholarship is offered by the Two Ten Footwear Foundation.
Eligibility: It is open to U.S. footwear employees and their children who need help affording a college education.
Award: $4,000
11. The $25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship
Eligibility: This is an easy scholarship that is open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.
Award: $25,000
12. Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship
This scholarship is offered by the Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship Fund
Eligibility: It is for graduating high school seniors from specific Washington state counties who will be pursuing non-music or art majors at in-state colleges.
Award: $2,000
13. Women in Transition Scholarship
This scholarship is offered by the Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting
Eligibility: The Women in Transition Scholarship is open to incoming female college freshmen who are the primary source of support for their families and are pursuing a degree in accounting.
Award: $4,000
14. Sharon Stephens Brehm Undergraduate Psychology Scholarships
The Sharon Stephens Brehm undergraduate Psychology scholarship is offered by the American Psychological Foundation
Eligibility: It is open to outstanding undergraduate psychology students who demonstrate financial need.
Award: $5,000
15. Vegetarian Charity Grants
Eligibility: This scholarship is open to vegetarian students (or vegetarian parents with a child) under the age of 26 who need help paying for school-related equipment.
Award: Worth up to $500
Deadline: Not specified
16. The promise of Nursing Faculty Fellowships
This scholarship is offered by The Foundation of the National Student Nurses Association (FNSNA)
Eligibility: It is open to registered nurses enrolled in graduate-level, degree-granting universities in the U.S. in hopes of becoming nurse educators.
Award: $7,500
Deadline: Not specified
17. Flatiron School Access Scholarship
Eligibility: Flatiron School students from underrepresented communities who are in need of financial assistance to afford their educational costs.
Award: $2,000
Deadline: Not specified
18. Macy’s Emergency Scholarship Fund
Eligibility: This scholarship is eligible for full-time university students residing in Puerto Rico who are experiencing emergency financial need.
Award: $500
Deadline: Rolling
19. $10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship
Eligibility: The CollegeXpress scholarship is open to all high school students.
Award: $10,000
20. Niche $2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
Eligibility: This easy scholarship from Niche is open to high school, college, and graduate students.
Award: $2,000
What’s the Difference between a Need-Based and Merit-Based Scholarship?
The main distinction is that a need-based scholarship will consider a student’s financial status and will prioritize helping the students who most urgently want financial assistance.
A scholarship that is merit-based will help students who have particular skills or “merits” as the scholarship committee defines them.
Merit scholarships often evaluate applicants using a range of criteria, such as GPA, test results, extracurricular involvement, and internships.
Remember that many scholarships choose their beneficiaries based on a combination of criteria based on need and merit.
Therefore, if you get strong grades and test scores and apply for need-based scholarships, your chances are better.
The need-based scholarship, like many other scholarships provided for talented or dependent students, is for those who need financial aid and cannot afford it.
As listed, you can see different need-based scholarships and choose to go for any of your choices.
