26 Easy Scholarships for Busy Students

For high school students, balancing coursework and applying to college can feel like a full-time job. The last thing you want to worry about is filling out lengthy scholarship applications. Plus, the more time you spend applying for college scholarships, the fewer scholarship applications you’ll have time to submit. Ultimately, that leaves you unable to win as many awards.

Applying for a bunch of “easy scholarships” is one way to maximize your chances of winning free money to put toward your tuition. Another is to sign up for a platform that can help you streamline your scholarship application process.

With Going Merry, you can keep all your application materials in one place, get matched to scholarships, reuse documents, learn about financial aid, and apply to multiple scholarships at once. Added bonus: You can even switch on “auto-apply,” and we’ll automatically submit an application to any future No-Essay scholarships you’re eligible for. One of the best parts of Going Merry is that we only feature free scholarships, so it’ll never cost you even a dollar to apply. 

Sign up to simplify your scholarship search.

26 Easy scholarships for higher education

From no-essay scholarships to scholarships with easy application processes, these 28 awards are quick and painless to apply for. None require long essays, and very few require test scores, community service hours, or letters of recommendation. So take a look, find the ones you’re eligible for, and start applying with just a few simple clicks. 

1. Burger King James W. McLamore Whopper Scholarship Award

Amount: Up to $50,000

Provider: Burger King Foundation

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
  • Planning to enroll full-time in a college or university
  • Graduating high school senior 

Application Requirements: Transcript, relevant work experience, list of extracurricular activities, tax return

Each year, the Burger King James W. McLamore Whopper Scholarship Award gives out over $7 million dollars in free money to academically qualified college students across the United States. Winners can receive between $1,000 and $50,000. The scholarship application is straightforward and takes very little time — you only have to list your previous work experience and community involvement.

2. Doodle for Google

Amount: Up to $30,000

Provider: Google

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade 

Application Requirements: Essay, drawing

If you’re a student with artistic flair, the Doodle for Google scholarship program could send you to college with money in your pocket. This scholarship competition includes multiple tiers, which means one winner gets the grand prize of $30,000, and five national finalists receive awards of $5,000. To apply, you’ll need to create a creative, original doodle to be featured on Google.com. Incorporate the Google logo in a unique way, then write a few sentences about what you’ve drawn. 

3. VFW – Voice of Democracy National Audio Essay

Amount: Up to $30,000

Provider: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled in high school

Application Requirements: Audio essay

All high school students are eligible to apply for the VFW – Voice of Democracy National Audio Essay scholarship competition. It’s an award created by Veterans of Foreign Wars, the oldest U.S. organization supporting U.S. vets. To apply, record a three- to five-minute audio file that speaks to the scholarship’s annual theme. Applicants will be judged based on originality, content, and clarity. 

4. “Be Bold” No Essay Scholarship

Amount: $25,000

Provider: Bold.org

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university

Application Requirements: None

An organization dedicated to fighting student debt, Bold.org created the “Be Bold” No Essay Scholarship giveaway for students who demonstrate boldness and determination. All you need to do to apply is create a profile on Bold.org and explain what makes you unique. This scholarship fund is available to everyone from high school juniors to grad students. There are monthly scholarship deadlines, so check back frequently and re-enter as needed. 

5. Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship

Amount: $25,000

Provider: Taco Bell

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university
  • Between 16 and 26 years old 
  • Not an employee of Taco Bell

Application Requirements: Video essay

Do you love making TikTok videos? Are you passionate about something? If you answered yes to both questions, check out the Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship. This scholarship award has one simple application step: create a video. Use your film to express your passion and explain how you plan to utilize it to improve your community. Also be sure to describe how higher education will help you achieve your goals. The video can be no longer than two minutes and thirty seconds, so keep your answers short and sweet.

6. National GEM Consortium Fellowships

Amount: $16,000 minimum stipend + full tuition and fees 

Provider: The National GEM Consortium

Eligibility Requirements

  • Minimum GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale
  • Graduate student
  • Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Native American 
  • Declared study in engineering or computer science 
  • Availability to intern with the sponsoring company for two summers

Application Requirements: Transcript, resume

The National GEM Consortium Fellowships are for graduate students pursuing engineering or computer science degrees. Unlike many graduate school scholarship applications, this one is pretty simple. The selection committee wants to see your grades and previous work history. This generous award includes coverage of full tuition and fees. Scholarship winners are also offered internships with a sponsoring company for two summers, which means it could lead to future job opportunities, too. 

7. Sprout Social UNCF Scholarship Program

Amount: Up to $11,000

Provider: Sprout Social

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Black/African American
  • College senior
  • Declared field of study in computer science or software engineering

Application Requirements: Transcript, resume 

The Sprout Social UNCF Scholarship Program is a fantastic option for Black college seniors. All you need to do to apply is submit your transcript and resume. On your resume, be sure to list your extracurricular activities, awards, and level of proficiency in different programming languages. Winners will also get the chance to apply and interview for a full-time position at Sprout Social upon graduation. Students can attend any university in the U.S., but Sprout Social gives some preference to applicants from Howard University, North Carolina AT&T, and Georgia Tech.

8. For A Bright Future Global Scholarship Program

Amount: Up to $10,000

Provider: For A Bright Future Foundation

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Asian American, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Native American
  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university
  • Declared field of study in a STEAM-related field 

Application Requirements: Transcript, essay, tax return

The For A Bright Future Global Scholarship Program is a prestigious scholarship fund that supports students of color pursuing undergraduate degrees. The award is merit-based but also takes financial need into account. That means you’ll need to submit your family’s financial information to apply. Otherwise, the only application component is a short, 250- to 500-word essay. Write about overcoming adversity and how education will help you give back to your community. (To take your essay to the next level, check out some of Going Merry’s helpful tips.)

9. Unigo $10K Scholarship

Amount: $10,000

Provider: Unigo

Eligibility Requirements:

  • 14 years old or older

Application Requirements: Essay

To apply for Unigo’s $10k Scholarship opportunity, you’ll need to write a 250-word essay answering this question: Would you rather be funny, smart, or rich? Unigo wants to hear what skill you prioritize and how it can help you in your future. The selection committee will judge your application based on the quality of your answer as well as your creativity and originality, so have fun with it.

10. Scholarship4Moms

Amount: $10,000

Provider: Scholarships4Moms

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university
  • 18 years old or older
  • A mother or an expectant mother

Application Requirements: None

If you’re a mother or expectant mother with plans to pursue higher education, the Scholarship4Moms has an application that’s easy enough to squeeze into your busy schedule. While this award is a bit niche, the sweepstakes occur five times per year and the only requirement is your contact information. This is one of the easiest scholarships to apply for on our list, and winners can use the cash for any education-related expenses. 

11. No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship

Amount: $7,000

Provider: ScholarshipOwl

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a high school, college, or university
  • 16 years old or older 
  • Residing in any state except for Rhode Island or Michigan

Application Requirements: None

The ScholarshipOwl platform helps students apply for many scholarships at once. It charges a fee for this service, but its scholarship sweepstakes is totally free. To apply for the No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship, applicants must register for the ScholarshipOwl website. Anyone who registers is automatically entered into the scholarship contest, which chooses winners at random. The only fine print is that Rhode Island and Michigan residents are not eligible for this award. 

12. The Excelsior Scholarship

Amount: Up to $5,500

Provider: State of New York

Eligibility Requirements:

  • New York State resident 
  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate program at a SUNY or CUNY college
  • Combined federal income of less than $125,000 

Application Requirements: Proof of acceptance or enrollment, tax returns

The State of New York sponsors the Excelsior Scholarship. Its goal is to help college-bound students from lower-income families pay for education-related expenses. The application process is easy and just requires students to prove their residency in New York state; their intention to attend a SUNY, CUNY, or otherwise affiliated state school; and proof of high school graduation or equivalency. This award is open to students of all ages, though students who have previously enrolled in a college or university are not eligible. 

13. The Earnest Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Provider: Earnest, LLC

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a college or university

Application Requirements: None

Earnest offers low-interest student loans to help students fill in gaps in their financial aid as dictated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Recently, the company launched the Earnest Scholarship, which it awards to 50  students annually. To apply, students must complete a simple application that includes their email, mailing address, and college or university name. The competition is open to high school students as well as current college students.

14. Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarships

Amount: $5,000

Provider: Stop Hunger Foundation

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a primary school, secondary school, or college or university
  • Between ages 5 and 25 

Application Requirements: Community service history

Named for the passionate founder of the Stop Hunger Foundation, the Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarships reward students committed to community service. To apply, you must demonstrate that you’ve been doing unpaid volunteer work for a minimum of twelve months. If you win, you’ll also get free money for a nonprofit of your choice: winners receive $5,000 to put toward education-related expenses and $5,000 for their favorite nonprofit. 

15. Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Provider: American Association of Colleges of Nursing and CastleBranch

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale
  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university at an AACN member institution
  • Declared field of study in nursing 

Application Requirements: Essay

Sponsored by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarship is a great opportunity for both current college students and those pursuing graduate school in nursing. To apply, you must study or plan to study at an AACN member institution affiliated with CastleBranch, an HR platform for healthcare services. (Applicants can find an extensive list of qualifying schools here.) The only application requirement is a quick, 250-word essay about your future goals and aspirations in nursing. 

16. ABA Diversity Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Provider: American Bus Association

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Asian American, Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Native American 
  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university
  • Declared field of study in tourism or hospitality

Application Requirements: Essay

This easy scholarship application is open to undergraduate and graduate students alike. Sponsored by the American Bus Association — which supports the bus and travel industries — the ABA Diversity Scholarship is for students from underrepresented groups interested in pursuing a career in the tourism industry. To apply, write a 500-word essay about your future goals in travel and tourism. If this scholarship sounds niche, don’t discount yourself: the travel industry encompasses everything from hospitality to transportation. 

17. Jungle Scout Scholarship Program

Amount: $2,500

Provider: Jungle Scout

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university

Application Requirements: Video essay, proof of acceptance or enrollment

Jungle Scout provides data to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses on Amazon. As part of that mission to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs, it created the Jungle Scout Scholarship Program. If you have an innovative idea for a new company or want to study business in college, this easy scholarship is worth a look. The only application requirement is a three-minute video expressing your passion for innovation and e-commerce. 

18. Christian College Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

Provider: The Christian Connector, Inc.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Planning to enroll in a Christian college or university
  • 13 years old or older

Application Requirements: None

The Christian Connector assists students around the U.S. as they explore Christian colleges. To help combat the rising cost of student loans, the organization has sponsored the Christian College Scholarship, which awards multiple $2,500 prizes via a random drawing. All you have to do to apply is fill out a short survey about your college aspirations. 

19. Future Designer Scholarship

Amount: $2,000

Provider: CardsDirect

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university
  • 17 years old or older 

Application Requirements: Piece of art

If you’re the kind of student who always finds yourself doodling in the margins, the Future Designer Scholarship could put those artistic skills to use. CardsDirect is on the hunt for its next best-selling holiday card design. All you have to do to apply for this scholarship program is submit one piece of original artwork and the name of the college or university where you’re enrolled or planning to enroll. 

20. Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

Amount: $2,000

Provider: Unigo

Eligibility Requirements:

  • 14 years old or older

Application Requirements: Essay

Do you love science fiction? Have you ever fantasized about surviving a zombie apocalypse?? If so, Unigo wants to hear about it. The Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship will award one lucky applicant $2,000 to help pay their college tuition. Just write a 250-word essay about how you’ll creatively escape a zombie takeover, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win.

21. Wize USA High School Scholarship 

Amount: $1,000

Provider: Wize Prep

Due on: June 29th 

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled in high school 

Application Requirements: None

The Wize USA High School Scholarship is open to high school students of all ages, and it has one of the easiest scholarship applications on our list. To apply, just create a profile on Wize Prep, an online education platform, and fill in some basic contact information. That’s it! You’ll be entered to win a $1,000 scholarship you can use to help pay for any education-related expenses, including tuition, textbooks, and school supplies.

22. Going Merry Refer-A-Friend Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Provider: Going Merry

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university

Application Requirements: Email addresses

The Going Merry Refer-A-Friend Scholarship has two perks. First, it’s a super easy scholarship to apply for. Second, scholarship winners get to share the wealth with a friend. This scholarship contest works like a raffle, which means winners are selected at random. To apply, you just have to refer a friend to Going Merry and encourage them to sign up. Once they do, you and your bud each receive an entry into the scholarship drawing. This competition is open to high school and current college students alike.

23. CareerFitter Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Provider: CareerFitter

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Minimum GPA of 2.4 on a 4.0 scale
  • Enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a college or university

Application Requirements: Transcript, essay

The CareerFitter Scholarship is open to both undergraduate and graduate students — and all you have to do to apply is write a 900-character essay about your dream career. (That’s fewer than 300 words.) Not sure what your dream career is? Try CareerFitter’s career test. The quiz isn’t required for your application, but it could help spark some good ideas.

24. Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Provider: Digital Responsibility

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a high school, college, or university

Application Requirements: Personal statement

Texting while driving is extremely dangerous and extremely common. To help raise awareness of its risks, Digital Responsibility created the Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship. To apply, students must write a 140-character statement about texting and driving. This contest is open to students from high school to graduate school. If you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll be asked to expand on your original statement. 

25. Going Merry Community Service Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Provider: Going Merry

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university

Application Requirements: Essay

As a scholarship search and application platform, Going Merry is focused on supporting students.  That’s why we created the Going Merry Community Service Scholarship. This award recognizes students who have dedicated themselves to local community service. To apply, write a compelling 600-word essay about your work and how you plan to continue volunteering in the future. This award is open to current high school seniors and undergraduate students alike.

26. Perfecting The Craft Annual Scholarship

Amount: $500

Provider: Fintech Abrasives

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university

Application Requirements: Transcript, video, or written essay

This scholarship application is another fun and easy one. Fintech Abrasives wants to help students in their journey to pursue higher education through its Perfecting The Craft Annual Scholarship. To win this scholarship money, you’ll need to get creative: The selection committee wants to hear about your passion for your craft in whatever way you want to share it. Feel free to submit a written essay, video, artwork, or whatever format fits your expertise.

Get more easy scholarships on Going Merry 

Applying for scholarships doesn’t have to be overly time-consuming. In fact, there are a ton of easy scholarships out there (like those listed above) that don’t require test scores, letters of recommendation, or super long essays. Some have application processes that take as few as five minutes. The only trick is finding them — which is where Going Merry comes in.

Unlike other scholarship websites, Going Merry makes it easy to apply for scholarships like these. We help students fill the gap between financial aid and student loans with lucrative, high-quality scholarships. With an extensive database, you can also find niche scholarships with less competition to give you a greater chance of winning free scholarships. Going Merry takes the legwork out of the scholarship search process: The platform automatically matches you with relevant awards. All you have to do is create a profile, and we’ll generate a personalized list of scholarship opportunities you’re eligible for.

If you want to win free money to help you pay for your higher education, sign up for Going Merry and complete your profile today. 

Allyson
Latest posts by Allyson (see all)

Ready to find scholarships that are a match for you?