Scholarships
SCHOLARSHIPS = FREE MONEY
Scholarships and Grants are money you don’t pay back! Main reason people don’t win scholarships? They don’t APPLY!!
Scholarships are not just for those with outstanding grades. There are scholarships for all students, based on interests, activities, community involvement, career goals, financial need, and more.
Types of Scholarships
Local
Local scholarships are your best chance to receive a financial aid because you are competing with less students. Always apply for the Oceana Community Foundation Scholarships! Check out other local organizations for scholarship opportunities. Here are some examples:
- Bank or Credit Union
- Employer
- Non-profits
Institutional
Institutional scholarships are awarded by colleges. If you are a high school senior who is certain on which college they will attend, apply for additional scholarships through that college! Those funds can only be applied to that specific college.
- Look at your school’s website.
- Ask faculty in your academic department
- Financial aid office may know of more scholarships.
- Colleges with TRiO programs may offer scholarship opportunities as well!
National
National scholarships are more competitive because you’re applying alongside students from across the country. Some are “lottery-style,” while others may require essays. use national scholarship search sites to create a profile and get matched with opportunities that fit you.
APPLY NOW!
The scholarships below are organized by earliest deadline first. Each opportunity is color‑coded as local, state, or national to help you navigate quickly. We strongly encourage students to apply for LOCAL scholarships first (yellow) — the applicant pools are smaller, which increases your chances of earning awards.
Scholarship Myths
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| You need a 4.0 GPA | Scholarships exist for all types of students |
| Only athletes get scholarships | Most scholarships are NOT sports-related |
| It’s too competitive | Local scholarships have fewer applicants |
| It takes too much time | Many take less than 20 minutes to fill out |
| I don’t have enough activities | Jobs, family responsibilities, and hobbies all count |
| I won’t get anything so why try | Every application increases your chances, unclaimed scholarships are more common than you think! |
| Only big national scholarships matter | Local awards add up fast and are easiest to win. |
What Is "College"?
College is all post-secondary education including certificate programs, trade schools, community colleges and 4 year colleges and universities. Learn More
