Sophomore year isn’t too early to think about college scholarships. In fact, it’s a great time to start your scholarship search. If you get started now, you’ll be incredibly organized by the time you’re applying to the major scholarships of junior and senior year. Plus, you’ll wind up with a treasure trove of essays you can repurpose for your college applications.
Have we convinced you yet? Here are 12 scholarships for high school sophomores to apply to now.
1. Rubicam Youth Writing Competition
Deadline: December 15 (annually)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 at the time of submission.
Requirements: Submit a genealogy in a biographical narrative format for one family line, including four generations. See the submission requirements for detailed instructions.
Scholarship Amount: One winner will receive $500 and a one-year NGS membership.
2. Spotless Cleaning Chicago Scholarship
Deadline: December 30 (annually)
Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate school students.
Requirements: Create a 2-4 minute video explaining why you think education is the key to a brighter future, and how you can shape society.
Scholarship Amount: One winner will receive $1,000.
3. Cedar Lending Because College Is Expensive Scholarship
Deadline: March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 (annually)
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, current college students, and anyone planning to attend college or graduate school within 24 months.
Requirements: No essay needed! Just fill out the registration form. Winners will be drawn randomly.
Scholarship Amount: One winner will receive $500.
*Note: This scholarship is offered four times per year, so if you miss the December deadline, you’ll have more opportunities to apply.
4. Delete Cyberbullying Social Media Scholarship
Deadline: February 28, 2026
Eligibility: Current high school or college student.
Requirements: Answer one of the following questions in one paragraph: Option 1: "Why is it important to work to delete social media cyberbullying?" Option 2: "How has social media cyberbullying personally affected you?"
Scholarship Amount: One winner will receive $1,000.
5. Apprentice Ecologist Awards
Deadline: August 31, 2026
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors.
Requirements: Conduct your own environmental stewardship project and submit an essay about it (along with photos of the project in action).
Scholarship Amount: Three scholarships totaling $1,750 will be awarded annually.
6. Gene and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
Deadline: July 31 and December 31 (annually)
Eligibility: All high school, college, and graduate students.
Requirements: 250 word essay describing why you deserve the scholarship, OR your academic/career goals, OR a topic of your choice.
Scholarship Amount: One first place winner receives $1,000.
7. Profile in Courage Essay Contest
Deadline: January 12, 2026
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12.
Requirements: Write a 700-1,000 word essay in response to this prompt: Describe and analyze an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born. Include an analysis of the obstacles, risks, and consequences associated with the act. The essay may concern an issue at the local, state, national, or international level.” See the contest requirements for detailed instructions.
Scholarship Amount: One first place winner - $10,000. One second place winner: $3,000. Three finalists - $1,000.
8. Digital Responsibility Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship
Deadline: January 30, 2027
Eligibility: All high school, college, and graduate students.
Requirements: Submit a 140-character statement in response to the prompt, “Instead of spending time with technology, I’d rather…”. If you’re selected as one of 10 finalists, you’ll be asked to submit a 500-1,000 word essay about technology addiction.
Scholarship Amount: One winner will receive $1,000.
9. National Ag Day Video Essay Contest
Deadline: February 6, 2026
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 in the 2025-2026 school year.
Requirements: Submit a two-minute video exploring American agriculture in the future. Consider the following angles as you craft your message: Big Picture: Imagine the world in the future. What role will American agriculture play in 250 years so that our country will thrive? How must it evolve over the decades to meet the challenges and fulfill the needs of the future? Innovation: How will science, technology, and innovation support and change American agriculture in the years ahead? What gaps must be filled, and how will agriculture address those gaps? Personal Connection: What role will agriculture play in your community, family, or state in the future? How do you see agriculture as a key part of America’s future?
Scholarship Amount: Three winners: first place $1,500; second place $1,000; third place $500.
10. DNA Day Essay Contest
Deadline: March 4, 2026
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12.
Requirements: Submit an essay up to 750 words in response to a prompt about genetics.
Scholarship Amount: First place (1): $1,000; second place (1): $600; third place (1): $400; honorable mention (10): $100.
11. Digital Responsibility E-waste Scholarship
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Eligibility: All high school, college, and graduate students.
Requirements: Submit a 140-character statement about why we should care about e-waste. If you’re selected as one of 10 finalists, you’ll be asked to submit a 500-1,000 word essay about e-waste.
Scholarship Amount: One winner will receive $1,000.
12. Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest (High School Division)
Deadline: June 1, 2026
Eligibility: All students enrolled at the high school level during the contest year.
Requirements: In Austen’s novels, we usually see the world through her heroines’ eyes. For this year's essay topic, we invite you to shift the focus and examine her male characters. Choose two or more from among her heroes, villains, friends, enemies, relatives, comic figures, young boys, etc. Your essay can explore their similarities and/or differences, whether their characters change during the novel, their relations with their siblings, how men tend to treat women, or focus on another area of your choosing.
Scholarship Amount: One first-place winner will receive $1,000 and free registration/lodging at JASNA’s Annual General Meeting. Second- and third-place winners will receive $500 and $250, respectively.