Plan · Four paths
Four ways to find scholarships, and who each one suits
Quick answer
Search databases
Large lists of scholarships from many funders. You search, filter and apply to each one yourself.
Described by Appily, Fastweb and Scholarships.com; partly by Niche
Read about SearchPlatform-run awards
Scholarships hosted or funded on the platform itself, often short or no-essay, applied for inside the platform.
Described by Bold.org and Niche; partly by ScholarshipOwl
Read about Platform awardsApply-for-you services
One profile and one application reused across many scholarships, with the service submitting on your behalf.
Described by ScholarshipOwl
Read about Apply for youSchool and local sources first
Your school counselor, local foundations, employers, community groups and your college's aid office. No platform needed.
No platform needed
Read about Local first
Frequently asked questions
Can I use more than one path?
Yes, and most students should. A common mix is one search database plus your school's local list, with no-essay entries as a bonus.
Which path wins the most money?
We have no data on that, and no platform here publishes win rates. Local awards often have fewer applicants, and no-essay awards are usually random draws.