“How do I keep track of all these scholarships and what needs done for each?” Last month I gave you an idea for tracking scholarships with a spreadsheet. Within the past month I have found an online tool that does that, and a bit more, on Ready Set College by SAGE Scholars. First, let me briefly explain Ready Set College by SAGE Scholars. According to its website, it is a “comprehensive college and career planning website, designed to provide students with best practices and proven strategies to achieve successful college outcomes.” Ready Set College serves as a centralized hub connecting students, parents, and counselors with resources to navigate higher education. It works alongside the broader Tuition Rewards program, which grants points (1 point = $1 USD) through employers, financial institutions, and 529 plans to provide guaranteed minimum tuition discounts of up to 25% at over 435 participating private colleges and universities. As far as a scholarships go, what really got me excited was one particular tool on their site.
The helpful tool is called a “Scholarship Tracker” (of course you need to get an account to use this tool). On the page for the scholarship tracker, there are several sections that can be quite helpful. First it has 6 “Rules of the Game,” then an explanation of each section of the scholarship tracker and how it helps you apply for scholarships en mass and how it helps keep it all organized. As you scroll further down the page they provide a “Where to Start” for each year of high school. HINT: Don’t start the senior year – you can begin applying for scholarships and contests in middle school – or younger! (This road map begins in ninth grade.) In depth Guides have articles that focus on work-flow and methods, as well as a grade by grade timeline. Finally, the article gives you the advantages by explaining the pitfalls that the tracker helps you prevent.
Currently, I have my son using a paper tracker built from a spreadsheet. On it we are able to list the scholarships, deadlines, award amounts, any other pertinent information, and the date he submits the scholarship package. What I like about the Scholarship Tracker is that you can upload all your documents (test scores, transcripts, recommendation letters), the student builds their achievement log, and the four basic essays which are usually required for scholarships (Challenge, Leadership, Community, Future Goals). The essay requested for a scholarship can be copied and pasted into scholarship applications, then ‘tweaked’ to fit that specific application. On the dashboard of the tracker it identifies how many scholarships you have applied for, how much money you have won and where other scholarships are at in the ‘pipeline.’ Finally, there is a page that tells the student what need done and the deadline it needs completed by for each scholarship they have in their tracker. If you have your student use the Scholarship Tracker, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Here area some scholarships you can consider having your student add to their tracker (whatever format that they use):
ConnectHer Film Festival Awards
Sponsor: ConnectHer
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: High school and college filmmakers aged 13–25 submit short original films focusing on critical global women’s issues, including education, climate, and equal rights.
Handy Recovery Advisor Scholarship
Sponsor: Handy Recovery
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: High school seniors and college students write a brief essay on the importance of data protection, cybersecurity awareness, or technology maintenance.
Speak Write Play Heritage Scholarship
Sponsor: Speak Write Play
Amount: $500
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: High school students submit a creative piece or essay celebrating cultural heritage, multilingualism, or linguistic diversity in education.
Sports Gear Swag Scholarship
Sponsor: Sports Gear Swag
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to current undergraduate and graduate students who are legal residents of the United States or hold a valid student visa. Applicant must submit an essay on a one of three given topics related to playing sports.
AU Student Essay Contest
Sponsor: Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Amount: Up to $1,500
Closing Date: October 5, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school juniors and seniors in the United States. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to the separation of religion and government.
National YoungArts Competition
Sponsor: National Young Arts Foundation
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: October 6, 2026
Description: Open to high school artists ages 15–18 or in grades 10–12. Applicants submit digital portfolios, videos, or audio recordings across ten creative disciplines, including visual arts, dance, music, theater, design, and writing.
AES Engineering Scholarship
Sponsor: AES Engineers
Amount: $500
Closing Date: October 8, 2026
Description: Open to high school seniors and college students regardless of their intended major. Applicants write a brief 500- to 1,000-word essay reflecting on personal success, key accomplishments, and meaningful relationships.
ExtremeTerrain Student Scholarship
Sponsor: ExtremeTerrain
Amount: $2,500
Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Description: Open to graduating high school seniors and enrolled college students pursuing degrees in environmental studies, biology, parks and recreation, land use, or related fields.
AmericanMuscle Automotive Scholarship
Sponsor: AmericanMuscle
Amount: $2,500
Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Description: Open to high school seniors and undergraduate students who plan to pursue post-secondary education in automotive technology, trade schools, or mechanical engineering.
AmericanTrucks Student Scholarships
Sponsor: AmericanTrucks
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and students currently enrolled full-time in an accredited United States technical institute, secondary votech or tuition bearing apprenticeship program in he traditional building trades (e.g. carpentry, HVAC, electrical or related fields of study.
CJ Pony Parts Scholarship
Sponsor: CJ Pony Parts
Amount: $500
Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Description: Open to high school seniors residing in the U.S. who submit a short video answering a creative prompt about their passion for cars or the automotive community.
Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway
Sponsor: Dr Pepper
Amount: Up to $100,000
Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Description: Open to students aged 17 to 24 who submit a 60-second video describing their academic goals, impact, and personal goals for tuition funding.
NSCA Foundation Scholarships
Sponsor: National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) Foundation
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Description: Scholarships are open to high school seniors and college students who are or will be pursuing careers in strength and conditioning. The foundation offers multiple scholarships.
Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship
Sponsor: John Foy & Associates
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students who have been affected by leukemia, either by being diagnosed themselves or someone they loved being diagnosed with leukemia. Applicant must be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university as an undergraduate or is an incoming freshmen at an accredited institution in the United States.
Varsity Tutors College Scholarship Contest
Sponsor: Varsity Tutors
Amount: $200.00
Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 16 years of age or older. Applicant must submit an essay on the following prompt: “Reflect on a research question, experiment, or academic project that sparked your curiosity and deepened your understanding of a subject.”
VitalityMedical Disability & Health Scholarship
Sponsor: Vitality Medical
Amount: $500
Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Description: Open to high school seniors and college students with disabilities or students pursuing health-related careers that assist individuals with physical challenges.
Money Matters Scholarship
Sponsor: Bold.org / Financial Partners
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: October 16, 2026
Description: Open to high school juniors, seniors, and college students who write a short response detailing their financial literacy strategies and personal saving goals.
Innovation in Education Scholarship
Sponsor: LA Tutors 123
Amount: $500
Closing Date: October 20, 2026
Description: Monthly award for high school students who have created an innovative project, application, or organization that solves a problem in their community.
JUST POETRY!!! High School Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Live Poets Society
Amount: Up to $500
Closing Date: October 30, 2026
Description: Open to all U.S. high school students who submit an original, unpublished poem of 20 lines or fewer on any subject matter.
R2C Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
Sponsor: Road2College
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: October 30, 2026
Description: Open to high school seniors and college students who write a brief response on strategies to support mental health and reduce stress among high school students.
U.S. Bank Scholarship Program
Sponsor: U.S. Bank
Amount: Up to $20,000
Closing Date: October 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who is at least 17 years of age or older and are enrolled as a current undergraduate student as of September 1, 2027. Applicant must complete financial lessons to be entered.
$1,500 Easy Scholarship: Offline Mode
Sponsor: DoSomething
Amount: $1,500.00
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: No post, comment, or like is worth risking a life. Distracted driving claimed 3,208 lives in 2024, and you chose to Do Something about it! Share your story about why you chose to take the Offline Mode pledge, help your friends stay in #OfflineMode by sharing the pledge and toolkit, and show your community what it looks like to keep eyes on the road, and not on your feed. Submit your impact, and share why you took the offline Mode pledge and what going offline means to you. You’ll be eligible for the opportunity to earn up to a $1,500 scholarship.
Because College Is Expensive Scholarship
Sponsor: Cedar Education Lending
Amount: $500
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Open to high school juniors, seniors, and college students to help cover higher education costs by submitting a quick general contact entry form.
Build a Better Future Scholarship
Sponsor: Honor Society Foundation
Amount: $2,000
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Recognizes high school students with ambitious educational goals who demonstrate leadership in community building or volunteer initiatives.
CareerFitter Online Scholarship
Sponsor: CareerFitter
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students. Applicant must take a free career test and submit an essay on their perfect career.
Courage to Grow Scholarship
Sponsor: Courage to Grow
Amount: $500
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Open to high school juniors and seniors with at least a 2.5 GPA who submit a short 250-word essay explaining why they deserve the scholarship.
Delete Cyberbullying Beyond School Walls Scholarship
Sponsor: Delete Cyberbullying
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Open to high school and college students who write a brief response (up to 500 words) addressing the impact of online harassment and strategies to prevent cyberbullying.
Direct Textbook Essay Scholarship Contest
Sponsor: DirectTextbook.com
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Contest is open to graduating high school seniors, college, and postgraduate students in the United States. Applicant must submit an original essay of 500 words or fewer on the prompt: “The Skill I’m Teaching Myself That No Class Offers.”
FACT Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Federation of American Consumers and Travelers (FACT)
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Open to high school seniors and graduating students entering trade, undergraduate, or technical programs who demonstrate strong civic engagement.
GoodWall #BetterTogether Scholarship
Sponsor: Goodwall
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Open to youth ages 16–24 who share a short video, photo, or post on the platform showcasing a positive community service initiative or team accomplishment.
International High School Essay Contest
Sponsor: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to college-bound high school seniors. Applicant must submit an essay on the following prompt: “How can Young People use Leadership, Service, and Innovation to create Positive Change in their Communities?”
IvyPanda Video Contest Scholarship
Sponsor: IvyPanda
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Open to current high school, college, and university students globally who submit a creative video discussing creative study hacks, academic productivity, or student life balance.
Money Metals Exchange Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Money Metals Exchange
Amount: Up to $2,500
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming and current college and graduate students with an interest in economics, specifically the tradition of the Austrian school. However, students do not need to be an economic major to be eligible. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to the economy.
Shulman & Hill Reducing Drunk Driving in Our Community Scholarship
Sponsor: Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers
Amount: $2,500
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: The scholarship encourages students to think creatively about practical ways they can help reduce drunk driving in their communities. Applicants must submit a video less than three minutes long. The applicant may use editing tools to enhance their videos, but the content must reflect their own creativity and originality. Undergraduate and graduate students attending an accredited college, university, trade school, or graduate school in the United States, and incoming freshmen that have been accepted to a qualifying institution are eligible to apply.
SuperCollege $1,000 Scholarship
Sponsor: SuperCollege.com
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: A simple monthly award open to high school students of all grade levels, college students, and adult learners to support post-secondary education goals.
Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Competition
Sponsor: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Amount: Up to $35,000
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: Open to students in grades 9–12. Applicants record a 3- to 5-minute audio essay on an annual patriotic theme expressing their views on American history, democracy, and freedom.
Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $2,000
Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Description: A fun essay contest open to students 14 years of age and older who outline a short, creative plan to survive a fictional zombie outbreak at their school or hometown.
