Scholarships for
Juniors in College

What are College Junior Scholarships?

Marking the halfway point in the college journey, your junior year is a big moment. At this point, you have roughly half of your course requirements completed, and you’ve likely chosen a major. It’s both crunch time and the year when you hit your stride. Your studies may get harder and more specific, but your skills and experiences are up to the challenge. The final piece to the puzzle? A junior-year scholarship.

Awarded to juniors in college, junior year scholarships help students start the second half strong. They’re offered by public and private institutions, including individual foundations, third-party organizations, and schools themselves. They vary widely in terms of compensation and criteria for application—with many being awarded only to those with specific majors—so it’s crucial to do your research before applying. On this page, we’ll help you get started.

How Do I Qualify for Scholarships for College Juniors?

Are you a current or rising college junior? Congratulations: you’re one step closer to qualifying for a college junior scholarship. For many scholarships awarded to college juniors, being a rising college junior or current college junior is all that’s needed to apply. (You’ll want to be clear on which one of those two it is, however. Depending on the answer, it may be too early or too late to apply.) There are also many college junior scholarships awarded to juniors with certain majors. These may be awarded by certain college departments, STEM- or humanities-focused initiatives, or foundations set up with specific stipulations. 

Beyond these general criteria, many college junior scholarships require applicants to submit extra materials. These materials help committees differentiate applicants to choose the best one. They may include essays, GPA minimums, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular projects related to the scholarship. As you begin compiling your list of potential scholarships for your junior year, be sure to make a note of what’s required for each scholarship, as extra materials can take time to put together. (Remember: they’re what set you apart from other applicants, so you want to spend time and energy on them to stand out.) 

Why Are Scholarships for Juniors in College Important?

College is a marathon, not a sprint. For rising and current juniors, dedicated scholarships are a great boost during the second half of a 4-year race. Many students only have the funds to complete a year or two of college, with others are just barely scraping by. Even for those who can afford college, an incentive to pick a major or continue down the path of higher education at all isn’t always apparent. In all cases, college junior scholarships provide a solution. They give students extra funding, which helps them stay on track to complete their degrees. Further, college junior scholarships provide a second (or third) chance to college students who may have missed or not qualified for scholarships earlier on in their academic careers. For students turning the corner in college, these late-game scholarships can make all the difference.

Find College Scholarships for Juniors in College 

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