Scholarship Picks
Real programs worth applying to, sorted so you can jump straight to what fits you. No gimmicks, no "enter to win" contests, just legit money for what's next.
Award amounts and deadlines change often. Always double check the current details on each organization's site before applying.
Louisiana-Specific
State money, built for Louisiana students.
TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students)
Louisiana's flagship state award. Covers tuition at eligible in-state colleges for students who meet GPA and test score requirements. Run by LOSFA.
mylosfa.la.gov →TOPS Tech Award
A TOPS award built for students going into technical and career-focused programs, not just four-year universities.
mylosfa.la.gov →Louisiana GO Grant
Need-based state grant for Louisiana students, stackable on top of other aid like TOPS or the Pell Grant.
mylosfa.la.gov →LELA "I Completed My FAFSA" Scholarship
A quick scholarship through the Louisiana Education Loan Authority (LELA) for Louisiana seniors who've completed their FAFSA. One of the easiest ones on this list, most of our students can knock this out in a few minutes.
lela.org →LELA Scholarship Registration
Register with the Louisiana Education Loan Authority to be considered for their other scholarship opportunities throughout the year. Quick to sign up for.
lela.org →Building on a Legacy
National organizations with a long track record of opening doors.
UNCF (United Negro College Fund)
The nation's largest resource for Black students pursuing higher education, with a wide range of scholarships and support programs.
uncf.org →Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Scholarships and support for students attending public HBCUs and other historically Black institutions.
tmcf.org →Ron Brown Scholar Program
A competitive, long-running award for African American high school seniors with strong academics and community involvement.
ronbrown.org →The Gates Scholarship
A highly selective, full scholarship for outstanding minority high school seniors, covering unmet need through graduation.
thegatesscholarship.org →Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
A four-year scholarship with mentorship support for students with financial need and strong leadership potential.
jackierobinson.org →National Urban League Scholarships
A long-standing civil rights organization with scholarship programs and career resources for students and young professionals.
nul.org →Hispanic Scholarship Fund
The largest organization supporting Hispanic and Latino students with scholarships, mentoring, and career resources.
hsf.net →American Indian College Fund
Scholarships and support built specifically for Native American and Indigenous students in higher education.
collegefund.org →Investing in Women's Futures
Funding built around real barriers women face in education.
AAUW Educational Funding
The American Association of University Women offers fellowships and grants for women pursuing degrees and career advancement.
aauw.org →Society of Women Engineers Scholarships
One of the largest scholarship programs for women pursuing engineering, tech, and computing degrees.
swe.org →P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education
Need-based grants for women whose education got interrupted and who need support finishing a degree or certification.
peointernational.org →Soroptimist "Live Your Dream" Award
Awards for women who are the primary financial support for their families and are pursuing education to improve their job prospects.
soroptimist.org →Skilled Careers, Real Pathways
For students headed into trades and technical training instead of a four-year degree.
mikeroweWORKS Foundation
Work Ethic Scholarships for students pursuing skilled trades and technical careers that don't require a four-year degree.
mikeroweworks.org →SkillsUSA
A national organization for students in career and technical education, with competitions, recognition, and scholarship opportunities.
skillsusa.org →Home Builders Institute
Career training in construction trades, with programs built to help students enter skilled trade careers directly.
hbi.org →Job Corps
A free federal career training program for young people, with hands-on training across dozens of skilled trades.
jobcorps.gov →Paid Internships & Work Experience
Real work experience, and a paycheck while you're at it.
Bank of America Student Leaders
A paid summer internship and leadership program for rising high school seniors, including a trip to a national leadership summit in Washington, D.C.
bankofamerica.com →Louisiana Jump Start
Louisiana's statewide career and technical education initiative, connecting high schoolers directly to real workplace experience alongside coursework. Ask your Career Compass coach if your school participates.
louisianabelieves.com →Ask About Work-Based Learning
If your school partners with Career Compass, we help coordinate job shadows, internships, and work experience directly. It's one of our core services, not just a scholarship search tool.
Learn more →National Programs Worth Knowing
Big scholarships, open to students from any background.
QuestBridge National College Match
Connects high-achieving students with limited financial resources to full four-year scholarships at top colleges nationwide.
questbridge.org →Dell Scholars Program
Support for students who've overcome significant obstacles and show financial need, including scholarship funds and ongoing mentorship.
dellscholars.org →Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
A well-established, achievement-based scholarship open to graduating high school seniors nationwide.
coca-colascholarsfoundation.org →Working While You Learn
Real employers who'll help pay for school while you work for them.
Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship
Tuition assistance for eligible Chick-fil-A team members pursuing higher education.
chick-fil-a.com →Chipotle Cultivate Education
Tuition assistance and debt-free degree programs for eligible Chipotle employees.
chipotle.com →Starbucks College Achievement Plan
Tuition coverage for eligible partners pursuing an online bachelor's degree through Arizona State University.
starbucks.com →UPS Earn & Learn
Tuition support for eligible part-time UPS employees pursuing higher education.
upsjobs.com →Walmart Live Better U
A tuition benefit helping eligible Walmart associates pursue degrees and certificates at reduced or no cost.
livebetteru.walmart.com →Home Depot Tuition Reimbursement
Tuition reimbursement for eligible Home Depot associates pursuing approved degree or certificate programs.
careers.homedepot.com →Application Tips That Actually Help
A few things worth knowing before you start applying.
Start with a spreadsheet. Track every scholarship's deadline, requirements, and status in one place. Deadlines sneak up fast.
Write one strong essay, then adapt it. Most scholarship essay prompts overlap. A well-written core essay can be tweaked for multiple applications instead of starting from scratch each time.
Be specific, not impressive. A real story about one moment says more than a list of accomplishments. Specific beats general every time.
Apply to smaller, local scholarships too. National scholarships get thousands of applicants. Local ones (through your school, community foundations, or employers) often get far fewer.
Ask for recommendation letters early. Give teachers or coaches at least a few weeks' notice, not a few days.
Watch for scams. A real scholarship never asks you to pay a fee to apply, and never asks for your bank account or Social Security number upfront.
Keep Looking
Free tools to keep finding new scholarships on your own.
Fastweb
A long-running, free scholarship search engine that matches you to opportunities based on your profile.
fastweb.com →Scholarships.com
A large, established database of scholarships searchable by background, major, location, and more.
scholarships.com →BigFuture by College Board
A free tool for exploring careers, colleges, and scholarship opportunities based on your interests.
bigfuture.collegeboard.org →Want help finding scholarships that fit your situation? Talk to your Career Compass coach, or email us at careercompass@careercompassla.org.