Scholarships

Top Washington DC scholarships for you

Find Washington DC scholarships that can help you pay for college.

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What are Washington DC scholarships?

Washington DC scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for students living in Washington DC or looking to go to school in Washington DC. Washington DC scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.

Eligibility requirements for Washington DC scholarships

Before you apply for Washington DC scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements. To qualify for Washington DC scholarships, you’ll most likely need to prove you’re a resident or you’re attending school in that state. Some other common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®). Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!

Are Washington DC scholarships worth my time?

Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning.

Pro tip: Don’t skip over Washington DC scholarships with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!

How do I find Washington DC scholarships?

There are many resources to help you find Washington DC scholarships.

Scholarship resources

The financial aid office at a college or career school
Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
Federal agencies
Free scholarship search tools like Scholly Scholarships
Local libraries, businesses, or associations

Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”

Scholly Scholarships

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Easily search through thousands of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.

Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.

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Scholarships for Washington DC

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What types of scholarships are available for students?

Need-based scholarships

These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.

Merit scholarships

Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the FAFSA^® to be eligible.

Career-specific grants or scholarships

These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA^®. To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”

Community or nonprofit scholarships

Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.

Tips for successful scholarship applications

Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.

Here are more tips that can help you understand all there is to know about scholarships and up your chances of winning.

Frequently asked questions

These tips can help as you get ready to apply for Washington DC scholarships.

When are scholarship application deadlines?

There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.

Do you need to know which college you’re attending?

You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.

Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?

Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!

Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.

Does every scholarship application require an essay?

Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.

More resources to explore

Tips for writing scholarship essays

Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.

Find scholarship resources

Explore our scholarship resources, articles, and guide to get all the tips and tricks to help pay for college.

Fill out the FAFSA^®

Learn when and how to apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your chances of getting federal student financial aid. Get tips now.

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