Paying for college can be especially challenging for families navigating medical conditions or disabilities. Fortunately, there are scholarships created specifically for students with unique medical needs, including conditions like dwarfism, Down syndrome, and chronic illnesses. This list highlights opportunities that can help your teen earn college credit and pursue higher education with the financial support they deserve.
Sponsor: Little People of America
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: April 6, 2025
Description: Scholarship is open to members of LPA who have a medically diagnosed form of dwarfism, immediate family members of dwarfs who are also paid members of LPA, and people with dwarfism who are not members of LPA. Applicant must be a graduating high school senior or current college student.
Candice’s Sickle Cell Fund Scholarship
Sponsor: Candice’s Sick Cell Fund, Inc.
Amount: $1,500
Closing Date: April 14, 2025
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors with sickle cell disease who will be pursing higher education.
Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship
Sponsor: Ruby’s Rainbow
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: April 14, 2025
Description: Scholarships are open to individuals with Down Syndrome who are 18 years of age or older and have a desire and intent to enroll or continue enrollment in a class or program that will enhance their life through employment, independent living or life skills, or interest in any other areas.
Jennifer Casey Alderman Legacy Scholarship
Sponsor: Twisted Pink
Amount: $10,000
Closing Date: April 15, 2025
Description: Open to young adults who have lost a parent to metastatic breast cancer or face financial hardship due to a parent currently living with metastatic breast cancer. Applicants must be pursuing higher education as a post-high school graduate. Open to residents of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, or Tennessee.
Scott & Kim Verplank Foundation Scholarship
Sponsor: Scott & Kim Verplank Foundation
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: April 15, 2025
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors who have a childhood diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes. Applicant must have a commitment to participating in athletics by actively participating on an organized team.
Susanna DeLaurentis Memorial Scholarships
Sponsor: The Susanna DeLaurentis Charitable Foundation
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: April 18, 2025
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors who have high academic achievement and extracurricular and community involvement through persistence, courage, and determination while coping with a life-threatening or chronic physical or mental condition.
Scholarships for Autistic Students
Sponsor: Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
Amount: $3,000
Closing Date: April 21, 2025
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming and current students attending two or four-year universities, life skills or post secondary programs, or vocational, technical, or trade schools. Applicant must face daily challenges related to autism and attend programs that assist in skill-building, job-readiness, and other transition-related skills.
#RAREis Scholarship
Sponsor: EverLife Foundation for Rare Diseases
Amount: $5,000
Closing Date: April 28, 2025
Description: Scholarship is open to anyone over the age of 17 who are residents of the United States and have been diagnosed by a physician as having any form of a rare disease regardless of treatment status. Applicant must plan to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical/trade school for the upcoming academic year.
Blinded Veterans Association Scholarships
Sponsor: Blinded Veterans Association
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: April 30, 2025
Description: Scholarships are open to spouses, dependent children, and grandchildren of blinded veterans who are incoming or current undergraduate or graduate students.
Snowdrop Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Snowdrop Foundation
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: April 30, 2025
Description: Scholarship is open to college bound pediatric cancer patients.
Education Reimbursement for Special Needs Families
Sponsor: The Mica Hammond Fund
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: April 30, 2025
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and current college students who have a rare or undiagnosed disease or students who are the immediate family of someone with a rare or undiagnosed disease.
Kay/Moore Scholarship
Sponsor: Special Love for Children with Cancer
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: May 2, 2025
Description: Scholarship is open to young people who have undergone treatment for cancer who are, or have been, participants of at least one camp-based program sponsored by Special Love, Inc.
Elizabeth Nash Foundation Scholarships
Sponsor: Elizabeth Nash Foundation
Amount: Up to $2,500
Closing Date: May 15, 2025
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students at an accredited U.S. based college or university who have Cystic Fibrosis. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
Diabetes Council Scholarship Program
Sponsor: The Diabetes Council
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: Scholarship window will open Summer 2025
Description: Scholarship is open graduating high school seniors who have Diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2). Applicant must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
Diabetes Scholars Foundation Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Diabetes Scholars Foundation
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: Scholarship window will open Summer 2025
Description: Scholarship programs are open to high school seniors with Type 1 diabetes seeking a higher education at an accredited four-year university, college, technical or trade school.
