18 College Scholarships for Students from Low-Income Households

The cost of college is often the number one reason many high school graduates don’t pursue a college degree, and we get it. Fortunately, grants and low-income scholarships are available for students to win and use for their education expenses.

Scholarships for low-income households change the lives of thousands of students each year. We’ve created a list of low-income college scholarships to help fill that financial gap for students everywhere.

18 Need-Based Financial Aid and College Scholarships for Low-Income Households

1. The Gates Scholarship

Eligible Students: Minority high school seniors from low-income households
Amount: Full cost of attendance*
Deadline: September 15, 2023

*According to The Gates Scholarship, the funding received (that is, the full cost of attendance) will be the amount of monies not covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university.

2. Hagan Scholarship Foundation

Eligible Students: Public high school students with a 3.5 GPA (grade point average) and family income under $85,000
Amount: $7,500 each semester
Deadline: December 1, 2023

3. Cooke College Scholarship Program

Eligible Students: Class of 2024 high school senior with a 3.5 GPA attending an eligible four-year college with an annual family income of less than $95,000
Amount: Up to $55,000
Deadline: November 16, 2023

4. Dell Scholars

Eligible Students: High school students in college readiness programs with a 2.4 GPA
Amount: $20,000
Deadline: December 1, 2023

5. Patsy Mink Foundation Education Support Award

Eligible Students: Mother, at least 17 years of age, pursuing a first degree/credential
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: August 1, 2023

6. Elks National Foundation Scholarship

Eligible Students: Current high school seniors
Amount: $1,000 to $12,500 each year
Deadline: N/A; Application opens August 1, 2023

7. Horatio Alger National Scholarship

Eligible Students: High school juniors with household income less than $55,000
Amount: $25,000
Deadline: N/A; Application opens December 1, 2023

8. Hilliard L. “Tack” Gibbs Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Eligible Students: High school seniors or undergraduate students who are studying math or science
Amount: $500
Deadline: November 15, 2023

9. WCEJ Thornton Foundation Low-Income Scholarship

Eligible Students: High school seniors and current college students from low-income households
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: August 3, 2023

10. DRIVE an IMPACT Today Scholarship

Eligible Students: High school or undergraduate student, underrepresented minority that has financial need
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 31, 2023

11. Robert F. Lawson Fund for Careers that Care

Eligible Students: High school seniors or undergraduate students from low-income households who are studying healthcare, social work, government, education, or a related field
Amount: $500
Deadline: April 15, 2024

12. Hearts on Sleeves, Minds in College Scholarship

Eligible Students: High school senior or undergraduate student from a low-income household who is Black or Native American with a 3.0 GPA or higher
Amount: $501
Deadline: September 1, 2023

13. Cyrilla Olapeju Sanni Scholarship Fund

Eligible Students: African students from low-income households with a 3.0 GPA or higher
Amount: $500
Deadline: September 12, 2023

14. Williams Foundation Trailblazer Scholarship

Eligible Students: BIPOC high school seniors from low-income households with a 2.5 GPA or higher
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 20, 2024

15. Liv for the Future Scholarship

Eligible Students: High school seniors from low-income households accepted into a two or four-year program that has a background in community service and leadership
Amount: $500
Deadline: November 1, 2023

16. Henry Bynum, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Eligible Students: High school, undergraduate, and graduate students from low-income households who are African American with a background in volunteering
Amount: $600
Deadline: August 23, 2023

17. Lauren Czebatul Scholarship

Eligible Students: High school seniors or college freshmen, sophomores, or juniors from low-income households with a 3.0 GPA or higher and extracurriculars in sports and volunteering
Amount: $5,590
Deadline: August 4, 2023

18. Ethan To Scholarship

Eligible Students: Undergraduate or graduate students from low-income households studying psychology and/or counseling with a GPA of 3.5 or 3.2, respectively
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: February 16, 2024

Tips on Winning Low-Income College Scholarships

1. Fill out your FAFSA

The financial aid process can be tricky to navigate. Filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form ensures your federal aid and other financial aid will be awarded.

Even if you don’t apply for any low-income college scholarships, filling out your FAFSA form makes you eligible for other funding like grants and scholarships. Low-income and need-based grants help thousands of students afford college each year. Need-based scholarship aid is only available when you fill out your FAFSA form and get a Student Aid Report (SAR).

2. Don’t miss a deadline

Filling out the form for low-income college scholarships and writing the essays won’t do you any good if you don’t turn them in on time. Create a calendar or add the deadlines to your planner so you don’t forget it. We suggest turning them in at least a week before the low-income scholarship is due to ensure no issues. You can even set a reminder to apply for the same low-income college scholarships yearly since many are awarded annually.

3. Follow the scholarship rules

Each low-income college scholarship has its own set of rules, eligibility, and guidelines each applicant must follow. Keep the odds in your favor and follow the low-income scholarship rules so you can have a better chance of winning. You’ll be surprised how many applicants don’t win simply because they didn’t follow the rules.

4. Don’t stop applying

It’s discouraging to apply for many scholarships and not get any. Tens of thousands of students apply for scholarships, so don’t let it get to you when you don’t get the ones you want. Keep applying to every scholarship you’re eligible for, not just the low-income college scholarships.

Use College Raptor’s Scholarship Search Tool to find more scholarships you may be eligible to apply for.

Rates (APR)	Eligibility
5.50%-16.12%* Variable 3.99%-15.61%* Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT CITIZENS
5.54% - 15.70% Variable 3.99% - 15.49% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT SALLIE MAE
4.63% - 17.99% Variable 3.49% - 17.99% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT CREDIBLE
6.00% - 13.75% Variable 3.99% - 13.75% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT LENDKEY
5.66% - 14.72% Variable 3.69% - 14.56% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT ASCENT
3.70% - 8.75% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT ISL
5.62% - 16.85% Variable 3.69% - 16.49% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT EARNEST
5.00% - 14.22% Variable 3.69% - 14.22% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT ELFI

College Raptor is not a loan lender and does not assume responsibility for suggesting a loan to a user who may not be eligible for it. Rates, terms, conditions, eligibility, approval, and other considerations are the decisions of the lenders and may vary depending on which lender or marketplace the user selects. We urge users to carefully consider and review all loan options and terms before committing to taking out a loan.