8 College Scholarships for Middle School Students
When they hear "college scholarships," most people think these are just for high school seniors or college students. However, there are plenty of scholarships for younger students, including middle schoolers. These scholarships offer funds that you can use towards your studies, and some specifically earmark funds for college. In addition to giving you a head start in saving for college, these scholarships provide motivation to do well in school.
Most of these scholarships target students with existing academic or extracurricular accomplishments, while others focus on helping you find new avenues of interest. Awards for middle school students vary from program to program. The 8 best college scholarships for middle school students are listed below, with important details:
The Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars Program is a highly competitive scholarship developed for exceptional middle school students with financial need. This scholarship offers full funding and counseling to pursue academic and extracurricular opportunities in high school, such as summer programs, tutoring, and internships. Counseling support for the college admissions process is provided to ensure that scholars are prepared to apply to the nation's best colleges. This scholarship offers students from low to middle-income families the chance to realize their potential and prepare for competitive college admissions.
Prize: Financial support for tuition, summer programs, and other educational expenses
Eligibility:
7th graders with outstanding academic achievements
Family income below $95,000
Application Deadline: Opens on February 6, 2025
Result Timeline: August 2025
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is an award intended for middle school and high school students who have made significant contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, or philosophy. The projects or work to be presented should be original and exemplary in a particular field. Scholarships range from $10,000 to $50,000 and provide considerable financial support towards college tuition. This scholarship awards not just academic or creative excellence but also encourages young people to express their intellectual curiosity and make a positive impact on the world.
Prize: $10,000 to $50,000
Eligibility: Students under 18 who demonstrate outstanding work in one of the eligible categories
Application Deadline: February 12, 2025
Result timeline: July 15, 2025
The NSTA Angela Award is awarded yearly to female middle school students who have a deep interest in science. It allows girls to pursue careers in STEM fields by celebrating their early success by awarding prizes that include $500, which should be used for other science-related educational activities. Focusing on nurturing young girls in the STEM environment, the Angela Award builds confidence and motivation in the next generation of female scientists.
Prize: $500
Eligibility: Middle school girls
Application Deadline: December 21, 2024
Result timeline: April 2025
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is one of the most esteemed creative competitions for middle and high school students. It recognizes young artists and writers across various categories, such as poetry, photography, and digital art. The scholarships awarded to students range from $500 to $10,000, depending on the level of recognition. Winners also gain exposure through exhibitions and publication. This competition is an excellent launching pad for creative students.
Prize: Scholarships range from $500 to $10,000
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-12
Application Deadline: December or January 2025, depending on the region
Result timeline:
April 2025: Regional results are announced
June 2025: National results are announced
The Thermo Fisher Scientific JIC is a STEM research competition for middle school students. Finalists receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they present their projects. The program includes workshops, science and innovation challenges, and networking with STEM professionals. Winners are awarded scholarships, with a grand prize of $25,000. The event promotes STEM career interest, connecting participants with mentors in science and technology.
Prize: Up to $25,000 in scholarships and various awards for innovation
Eligibility:
Be in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade
Complete an original science or engineering project
Application Deadline: June 12, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Result timeline: September 2025
DoSomething.org Scholarships recognize students who are creating a difference in their communities. Unlike regular scholarships, this award has no essay or GPA requirement. Students complete volunteer campaigns, and there is a potential to win up to $2,500 in scholarships. There are many causes you can work on, such as climate change or mental health awareness. DoSomething.org encourages citizen engagement while providing funds for future education.
Prize: Up to $2,500 in scholarships
Eligibility:
Students aged 13-25 who complete a DoSomething campaign
Must be a U.S. Citizen
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the campaign
Result timeline: 3–4 weeks after a campaign ends
The Carson Scholars Fund recognizes students who show academic excellence and a commitment to community service. This fund awards $1,000 to be invested in a college savings account for future use. In this program, students are awarded for their efforts to drive positive change. The program aims to encourage Caron Scholars to become role models for their peers.
Prize: $1,000, which is invested into a college savings account
Eligibility:
Students in grades 4-11 with a GPA of 3.75 or higher and involvement in community service
Students must attend an accredited K-12 school in the United States
Application Deadline: January 13, 2025
Result timeline: March 2025
The NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award was instituted to recognize the achievement of middle school students who excel in academics, leadership, and service. Winners will receive $500 in a college savings account that can be used for future educational expenses. This award recognizes the holistic accomplishments of NJHS members, emphasizing the importance of academic success combined with leadership and service. Through the large and extensive NJHS network, recipients are also offered more leadership opportunities, assisting college applications and preparing students for future academic challenges.
Prize: $500 in a college savings account
Eligibility: Members of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) in grades 6-9
Application Deadline: January 22, 2025
Result timeline: April 2025
One more option - The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure!
To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year; you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2024, you can refer to this page!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.