10 Scholarships You Can Apply for Without an Essay
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by long scholarship applications and essay prompts, you're not alone. Luckily, there are plenty of scholarships out there that don’t require an essay. That’s right—no 500-word personal statements, no creative writing, no hours spent editing.
In this guide, we’ll cover 10 scholarships you can apply for quickly and easily—many in under 10 minutes. Whether you're a high school student, current college student, or even returning to school, there’s likely something here for you.
Top Scholarships for Minority Students
(1) Niche “No Essay” Scholarship
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Award: $2,000
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Deadline: Monthly
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Eligibility: Open to all students (high school, college, grad school)
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How to Apply: Create a free Niche.com account and click to enter.
Why it’s great: You can enter every month. It’s a true sweepstakes-style scholarship with zero strings attached.
Tip: Set a calendar reminder to reapply every month.
( 2) College Board “BigFuture” Scholarship
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Award: Up to $40,000
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Deadline: Varies depending on task
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Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
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How to Apply: Earn entries by completing college prep tasks like building a college list or exploring scholarships.
Why it’s great: You’re rewarded just for taking steps toward college readiness. No essay, no GPA requirement.
Tip: Complete multiple tasks to boost your chances.
( 3) $10,000 Scholarship from ScholarshipOwl
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Award: $1,000–$10,000
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Deadline: Monthly
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Eligibility: Legal U.S. residents age 16+
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How to Apply: Create a ScholarshipOwl account and submit one simple form.
Why it’s great: One entry puts you in the running for multiple scholarships, and it takes less than 5 minutes.
Tip: Be careful with upsells—basic access is free, and that’s all you need to enter.
( 4) Tallo “No Essay” Scholarship
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Award: $1,000
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Deadline: Monthly
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Eligibility: Ages 13+ in the U.S.
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How to Apply: Create a free Tallo profile and apply through their platform.
Why it’s great: It's perfect for younger students building their profiles and exploring careers.
Tip: Use your Tallo profile as a digital resume—colleges and companies may view it.
( 5) Pettable Pet Lovers Scholarship
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Award: $1,000
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Deadline: Varies
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Eligibility: U.S. high school seniors and college students
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How to Apply: Quick form about your love for pets—no essay needed.
Why it’s great: A fun and easy opportunity for animal lovers.
Tip: Share a photo or story to stand out (optional but fun!).
( 6) Bold.org No-Essay Scholarships
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Award: Varies ($500–$25,000)
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Deadline: Rolling
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Eligibility: Varies, often broad
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How to Apply: Create a Bold.org profile and apply with one click.
Why it’s great: Bold.org has tons of no-essay options. Their platform is user-friendly and constantly updated.
Tip: Focus on “newest” or “popular” no-essay listings for better odds.
( 7) DoSomething Campaign Scholarships
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Award: $1,000–$5,000
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Deadline: Varies by campaign
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Eligibility: Ages 13–25, U.S. or Canada
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How to Apply: Complete an easy action (like texting friends or recycling). No essays required.
Why it’s great: You help your community and get a chance to win a scholarship.
Tip: Choose campaigns that resonate with you—some take just minutes to complete.
(8) Nitro College Scholarship
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Award: $2,000
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Deadline: Monthly
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Eligibility: High school seniors, current college students, parents of students
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How to Apply: Fill out a brief form—no essay required.
Why it’s great: Fast and inclusive, especially if you’re a parent helping with tuition.
Tip: Reapply monthly. It’s easy to forget, so use a reminder app.
( 9) Cirkled In “No Sweat” Scholarship
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Award: $2,500
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Deadline: Quarterly
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Eligibility: Students aged 13+
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How to Apply: Sign up and complete your Cirkled In portfolio.
Why it’s great: Show off your achievements without writing an essay. Great for visual learners.
Tip: Fill out your profile completely to maximize your odds.
( 10) Cappex Easy Money Scholarship
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Award: $1,000
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Deadline: Monthly
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Eligibility: High school and college students
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How to Apply: Create a Cappex account and click to apply.
Why it’s great: Simple and repeatable. No strings, no GPA requirements.
Tip: Cappex also helps with college search—use it to explore schools while you’re there.
✅ Final Thoughts: Apply, Reapply, Repeat!
Scholarships without essays are an easy win—but that doesn’t mean you should apply once and forget about it. Many of these are monthly or rolling, so staying consistent is key.
📌 Action Steps:
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Bookmark this list and set calendar reminders to reapply monthly.
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Create a scholarship-only email to stay organized.
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Track your applications with a spreadsheet or app.
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Mix in a few essay-based scholarships if you have the time—they usually have fewer applicants.