Top No-Essay Scholarships for 2025 and 2026
Why No-Essay Scholarships?
Paying for college is stressful enough without having to write a dozen essays. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best no-essay scholarships for students who want fast, legit opportunities to win free money—without the extra hassle.
These scholarships are open to high school seniors, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners alike. Whether it’s a sweepstakes, a quick survey, or a simple sign-up, each one on this list takes just minutes to apply.
💸 Top No-Essay Scholarships by Award Amount
These scholarships offer the biggest awards with no essays required—and they’re open now:
QuestBridge National College Match
Award Amount: Up to $325,000
Deadline: September 26, 2025
Overview: For high-achieving, low-income high school seniors. Winners receive full four-year scholarships to top colleges.
Apply here →
Tuition Exchange Scholarships
Award Amount: Up to $43,000
Deadline: Varies
Overview: Open to dependents of employees at participating colleges and universities. Tuition Exchange is a reciprocal program offering significant tuition benefits.
Apply here →
Youth Foundation Inc.
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: May 15, 2026
Overview: The Hadden Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors with strong academic achievement, character, and leadership who also demonstrate financial need. Renewable for up to four years.
Apply here →
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Award Amount: $40,000
Deadline: December 19, 2025
Overview: For high school seniors planning to major in computer science or a related field. Includes a $40K scholarship and a paid internship at Amazon.
Apply here →
CBCF Tracking Foundation Scholarship
Award Amount: $40,000
Deadline: March 15, 2026
Overview: Multi-year scholarship for Black students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to community service.
Apply here →
Helen Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards
Award Amount: $36,000
Deadline: December 20, 2025
Overview: For Jewish teens making a meaningful impact through leadership and community service. Celebrates efforts rooted in the value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world).
Apply here →
NSA Louis Stokes Educational Scholarship Program
Award Amount: $30,000
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Overview: For students pursuing degrees in STEM disciplines critical to national security. Includes internship opportunities at the NSA.
Apply here →
Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship
Award Amount: $29,600
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Overview: For Maryland veterans and their family members attending in-state institutions. No essay required; eligibility based on service-related criteria.
Apply here →
Golden Apple Foundation
Award Amount: $23,000
Deadline: March 1, 2026
Overview: The Golden Apple Scholars Program provides teacher preparation and tuition assistance to Illinois high school seniors and undergraduates who are committed to teaching in schools-of-need throughout the state.
Apply here →
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Inc.
Award Amount: $20,000
Deadline: September 30, 2025
Overview: The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors who demonstrate leadership, service, and academic excellence.
Apply here →
American Legion Department of Nebraska
Award Amount: $20,000
Deadline: October 15, 2025
Overview: The High School Oratorical Contest offers scholarships to students who give memorized speeches on the U.S. Constitution. Open to high school and homeschool students under age 20.
Air Line Pilots Association, International
Award Amount: $15,000
Deadline: April 1, 2026
Overview: This scholarship supports children of medically retired, long-term disabled, or deceased pilot members of the Air Line Pilots Association. Renewable for four years for students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs.
⚡ Easy-to-Apply Sweepstakes and Monthly Drawings
These take under 5 minutes to apply:
- No Essay Scholarship by Sallie — $10,000 — Apply now
- Be Bold No-Essay Scholarship — $25,000 — Apply now
- Smart Owl Scholarship — $2,222 — Apply now
🧑🎓 Scholarships for Specific Students
No essay—just eligibility.
Astronaut Scholarship Foundation
Award Amount: $15,000
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Overview: The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships to undergraduate students pursuing STEM degrees. Applicants must be nominated by one of the Foundation’s participating universities and plan to pursue research or advanced study in their field.
Apply here →
Society of Women Engineers
Award Amount: $19,000
Deadline: January 31, 2026
Overview: The Lillian Moller Gilbreth Memorial Scholarship supports female engineering students in ABET-accredited programs. The scholarship considers academic performance, leadership, and letters of recommendation.
Apply here →
Boettcher Foundation
Award Amount: $20,000
Deadline: November 1, 2025
Overview: The Boettcher Scholarship is a merit-based award for graduating Colorado high school seniors. It covers full cost of attendance or tuition and fees at eligible in-state colleges. Applicants are evaluated on academics, leadership, and service.
Apply here →
Inspired to Teach Scholarship – Oklahoma
Award Amount: $25,500
Deadline: Varies
Overview: For students enrolled in approved Oklahoma teacher preparation programs. Recipients commit to teaching in Oklahoma public schools.
Apply here →
Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance Scholarship
Award Amount: $28,000
Deadline: July 1, 2025
Overview: For Maryland residents serving as firefighters or ambulance/rescue squad members who are pursuing higher education.
Apply here →
🎉 Fun or Creative No-Essay Scholarships
Cards Against Humanity
Award Amount: $20,000
Deadline: December 16, 2025
Overview: The Science Ambassador Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate women and non-binary students in STEM. Applicants must submit a 3-minute educational video explaining a STEM concept. Funded by Cards Against Humanity.
Apply here →
Barbizon International LLC
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: December 31, 2025
Overview: Barbizon Modeling and Acting awards a college tuition scholarship annually. Open to U.S. residents (excluding Puerto Rico), the award covers four years of college tuition to an accredited U.S. college or university of the winner’s choice.
Apply here →
Milk Road Crypto and Web3 No-Essay Scholarship
Award Amount: $1,000
Deadline: August 16, 2025
Overview: Offered in partnership with The Milk Road newsletter, this scholarship awards students who stay engaged with crypto insights and share the platform. Open to any student interested in crypto/Web3.
BMI Foundation, Inc.
Award Amount: $20,000
Deadline: January 15, 2026
Overview: The John Lennon Award is an annual competition open to student songwriters and composers of contemporary genres like pop, rock, indie, and R&B. Works are judged by music industry professionals. Open to U.S. residents ages 17–24.
Apply here →
🔒 Are These Scholarships Legit?
Every scholarship listed here is verified and updated regularly. No scams, no spam—just real opportunities to help you pay for college.
🙋♀️ FAQs About No-Essay Scholarships
What is a no-essay scholarship?
A scholarship that doesn’t require a written essay. Most involve a quick form, short video, or automatic entry.
Are these scholarships open to high school juniors?
Some are! Many no-essay opportunities are open to students ages 13+ or any high school grade level.
Are sweepstakes-based scholarships worth it?
They can be—especially if they’re easy to enter. Just don’t rely only on these. Mix them in with targeted scholarships too.
