The 8 Best Websites for College Scholarships in 2019 (and 3 Honorable Mentions)

There are a ton of scholarship websites out there and it’s hard to know which ones are legit and which are well-cloaked scams. So, I felt the need to put together a list of websites I’ve personally used and vetted (mostly as a recent grad student). Below is a list of my favorites for 2019.

Special Bonus: I give awards for the best scholarship site for grad students, international students, LGBTQ students , and minority students.

Bookmark these sites and check them early and often in your scholarship search since new scholarships can pop up every day

1. JLV College Consulting (Best for Grad Students)

JLV College Consulting is the top pick on this list. The site is updated frequently and has tons of different types of scholarships featured. A great part about the website is that in addition to grouping the 1000s of scholarships it features by category (minority, international, athlete), it also lists scholarships by (monthly) deadline, which helps applicants stay organized. This site is useful for a variety potential recipients including grad students, undergrads, and international students. JLV College Consulting is run by the founder, Jessica, who has over ten years of experience in higher education and has served as an admission officer and director.

2. Fastweb

Fastweb hosts more than 1.5 million scholarships and boasts having $3.4 billion in funding available to students. To access scholarships, users must create a profile through which the site helps you find scholarship matches. Maintaining a profile also allows you to organize and build a list of scholarships through Fastweb, and track which scholarships you’re not interested and which you have already completed. The site also features a database of helpful articles that walks you through the college admissions process as well as a page with “deals” from companies like Dell, Spotify, and Tom’s that are only available to college students.

3. Scholarships.com

Scholarships.com hosts one of the largest scholarship databases out there and is updated on a daily basis. According to the site, Scholarships.com has over 2.7 million scholarship and grant opportunities worth more than $19 billion available to students to apply for. Users can browse scholarships by category, or make a personal profile, which will help you find the opportunities that are the closest match.

4. Scholars4dev (Best for International Students)

Scholars4dev, short for Scholarships for Development, is an updated listing of international scholarships specifically for people from developing countries, people who would like to pursue development-related fields, and people who seek global and national development through further education. You can subscribe to the scholars4dev bi-weekly newsletter to get updates on the latest scholarship listings and tips on how to complete scholarship applications.

5. Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Foundation (Great for Minority Students)

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, or EAF, is the philanthropic arm of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, an organization founded in 1908 as means to create a support network for Black women. EAF’s mission is to support lifelong learning by providing scholarships, fellowships, and community grants. The deadline for EAF funding applications is April 15 of each year for undergraduate students, and August 15th for graduate students and community assistance grants. Endowed scholarships maintain a rolling deadline.

In 2016, the EAF distributed over $500,000 to over 3000 undergrads and grad students to attend colleges, including HBCUs. And while the AKA Sorority, Inc was founded as an organization to support Black women, the EAF provides funding for students regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.

6. Human Rights Commission (Great for LGBTQ Students and Allies)

The Human Rights Commision, or HRC, is the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization, and maintains a list of scholarships, fellowships and grants for LGBTQ and allied students at both the undergraduate and graduate-level. HRC’s scholarships list allows users to find scholarships by state and school, making it easier for users to find funding opportunities that are a close match.

7. CollegeBoard.org

While the College Board is primarily known for providing college readiness tests like the SAT, it’s website also has a scholarship section. Big Future, through which the scholarship search function operates, features scholarships, other financial aid, and internships from more than 2,200 programs, totaling nearly $6 billion. Users can search for scholarships by citzenship, state of residence, minority background, student’s disability, ethnic background, and other characteristics.

8. SallieMae

SallieMae is known for being a student loan provider, but also has a robust scholarship database for those looking for another way to pay for college. The site requires you to register for access to the more than 5 million college scholarships worth up to $24 billion dollars —— there’s even a whole section just for grad students.