Top 5 Scholarship Websites for Students (And How to Avoid Scams)
When it comes to finding scholarships, a lot of us just want an easy website that we can go to, and it'll just give us a perfect list of scholarships for our student to apply to.
Now, while I would love to say that's usually the best way to do it, it can be challenging because some search engines have a lot of junk on them. So, what I wanted to do was update you with a list of our five best scholarship websites for this year so that you and your family can streamline the process a little bit.
Make sure you hit subscribe because every week I have a new strategy for you and your family to work towards a debt-free degree.
Just a quick note—this is for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. We are not familiar with how it works for international students.
Our Unique Search Method
Before I get into the list of search engine websites, I do want to say that at The Scholarship System, we actually have our own method of finding scholarships that are typically not on those search engines.
The reason we go for those is because they're less competitive. If people don’t know how to find them, they don’t apply. So, the chances of winning are higher.
Using our search method, we can also ensure that they’re legitimate and that they pertain to your student. Yes, it takes a little more work than just plug-and-play with a search engine, but in the long run, it saves time and boosts your chances.
I invite you to our free webinar. You can find the link in the description or go to thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to register. But stick with me for the rest of this article—just make sure you register for that next!
How Parents Can Help Without Overdoing It
When using these search engines, we have to know whether a scholarship is legitimate or not. This is where parents can be incredibly helpful.
Finding scholarships and building the list is one of the best ways parents can influence the scholarship process without getting too involved. We don’t want parents writing essays or doing everything, but helping find scholarships lets students focus on applying.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
- Avoid sweepstake scholarships—ones based on luck.
- Never pay a fee to apply for a scholarship.
- Paying for a course like an SAT prep or our scholarship training is different—you're paying for knowledge, not access.
- If it’s a club membership that offers scholarships, make sure your student is benefiting beyond just the scholarship (e.g., honor societies, fraternities).
- Never enter Social Security or banking details on an application. That info is only needed if the student wins, and even then, usually just a student ID is sufficient.
- If someone offers you money out of nowhere and you didn’t apply—scam alert.
We also have a video on how to spot legitimate scholarships versus scams. Check the description for the link or click in the video.
Top 5 Scholarship Websites
1. BigFuture by College Board
This is a tried and tested brand. College Board organizes the SAT, AP classes, and other college planning resources. Their scholarship database is large and the tool is easy to use.
They also offer guidance on careers, financial aid tips, and college application advice. Just a great resource overall.
2. US News Scholarship Finder
Powered by US News and World Report, a trusted name in college rankings. This site allows students to search and filter through thousands of scholarships based on criteria or eligibility.
They also offer insights on admissions and financial aid.
3. Appily (formerly Cappex)
Appily helps students find scholarships and colleges that fit their needs. They also show the best merit aid offers—merit aid is based on your student's credentials like test scores, leadership, and community service.
Appily also gives advice on admissions, career paths, and financial aid. It’s a helpful all-around platform.
4. JLV College Counseling
This has been a favorite of ours for years. It’s free and filled with legitimate scholarships. It’s not a plug-and-play engine—you’ll need to sift through listings—but that’s a good thing. Less competition!
Founded by a former admissions counselor, this site offers scholarship lists by major, deadline, and more. You can’t filter by GPA or test scores, but the scholarships are more vetted and less spammy.
5. Unigo
Unigo.com has fun, unusual, academic, need-based, and career-specific scholarships. They do offer a match tool based on your student’s profile, which helps narrow the list.
They also have college comparisons and reviews, which help when selecting a school.
Final Thoughts on Scholarship Searches
With any search engine, it’s important to know what to look for and what to avoid. Again, I’ve linked a video below on how to avoid scholarship scams.
Comment below—are there any websites you’ve found that you like or dislike? Share them and we’ll let you know what we think!
You may have noticed I didn’t include some of the big names like Fastweb or ScholarshipOwl. That’s intentional. Sites that let students submit one application for 50 scholarships are extremely competitive.
Sites like Fastweb also include a lot of sweepstakes, which we don’t recommend. That’s why I strongly suggest starting with our method to find hidden gems and then turning to search engines to supplement the list.
Get Started with Our Free Webinar
Check out our free webinar where I teach our full search method. You can register at thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar.
In Summary
We just covered five of the top scholarship websites along with key tips on how to find legitimate opportunities and avoid scams. I hope this was helpful!
If it was, give us a thumbs up and make sure to subscribe. Every week we post a new strategy to help you and your family secure a debt-free degree.
Remember, you can’t expect to apply for 5-10 scholarships and get a full ride. But with our six-step system, you can be more efficient, do less work, and get better results using proven tools and processes.