The Best Scholarship Search Sites, Books, and More

Do you want to win college scholarships? There are literally billions of dollars out there but you need the right resources to find them. We found them for you!

Wondering where you can find college scholarships? Well, lucky for you, there are tons of resources with literally billions of dollars in awards out there. Sure, finding and winning those scholarships will take some work. But don’t worry—you’ve got this. And these scholarship sites, books, and other resources will help.

Scholarship search sites

You’re probably going to do most (if not all) of your scholarship searching online. Use these sites—and, yes, use more than one. Scholarship databases can vary a lot from site to site!

  • CollegeXpress: A great place to start your scholarship search is the site you’re on. Sure, we’re a little biased, but CollegeXpress has $7 billion in scholarships listed in its database. And all you have to do is enter a little bit of info to get a list of awards that fit you. (Plus, you can enter our $10,000 scholarship giveaway just for registering—for free!)
  • College Board: Ah, the people who brought you the SAT, PSAT, AP tests, and the most popular college search tool (even we can admit that) can hook you up with scholarships too! They conduct their own scholarship survey, and they’ve collected $6 billion in awards from 2,200 scholarship providers.
  • Fastweb: Once you sign up with this free site, you can access info on scholarships worth more than $3.4 billion. The site allows you to develop matches between your own interests and abilities and possibilities drawn from 1.5 million scholarships. Along with guidelines and application details, there are specially featured scholarships, application tips and even helpful videos.
  • Peterson's: Peterson’s has a simple and straightforward scholarship search tool, with links to 5,000 scholarship providers and 1.5 million awards. These include scholarships, grants, fellowships, sweepstakes/prizes, and even some favorable loans. They also have a bunch of easy-to-win featured awards.
  • Scholarships.com: It may come as no surprise that the scholarship search service that managed to nab the best site name also happens to be on top of the scholarship search game. They have 3.7 million awards totaling around $19 billion. That’s billion with a B. Dang.
  • StudentScholarships.org: Along with providing scholarship management services for companies, the site maintains an extensive database of scholarship opportunities, which anyone can search for free. You can also sign up for updates on new awards that become available during the year.
  • And if these aren’t enough, other scholarship search sites worth checking out include Cappex, CollegeNET, and Unigo.

Scholarship guide books

While you can’t beat the convenience of scholarship search websites, printed directories can also be great for browsing, getting ideas, and making notes. Several publishers produce annual editions offering 600–800 pages packed with scholarship listings. These are some of the best:

  • The Ultimate Scholarship Book (published by SuperCollege): Thiss guide somehow manages to squeeze in over a million scholarship profiles. (Of course, the book is massive, but still.) The awards are organized by pretty standard scholarship search criteria: majors and academics, jobs, artistic talent, sports, religion, ethnicity, and more. They also offer some helpful advice for searching and applying to awards.
  • Scholarships, Grants & Prizes (published by Peterson's): This collection of “privately funded awards” provides details on hundreds of scholarships. They too are categorized by common search criteria, like academics, career interests, athletic and other talents, military experience, and more. They also have a “quick-reference chart” with awards over $2,000, as well as general scholarship search advice.
  • Scholarship Handbook (published by College Board): With “the most complete and authoritative facts about more than 1.7 million awards” (according to their Amazon listing, at least) and every entry verified to be accurate and viable at multiple colleges, this book is a great addition to your scholarship library. It also includes internships and loan programs, as well as a scholarship search planning calendar and worksheet you can fill out.

Local scholarship resources

In addition to scholarships listed in online or print directories, don’t overlook those offered on a local basis. If you’re still in high school, you may be eligible to apply for a wide range of scholarships that are available only to students from your school district or town/city. Regional companies, credit unions, and civic organizations (Rotary Club, Lions Club, American Legion, etc.) are among many other possibilities. Be sure to ask your high school guidance counselor for more info on these scholarships; your local library might have a list of awards too.

College/university scholarships

Before you get caught up in finding and applying to every national award out there, remember: your college or university will also offer its own scholarships, just for students attending the school. Many of these awards will be broken down by academic major, so look for scholarships related to your academic major if you have one. Be sure to research and apply (if necessary) for awards available at any college you’re considering. Basic information will be available on the school’s website, but it’s a good idea to check with the financial aid office for more details.

Where else can you find scholarships?

Finally, don’t limit your thinking. When it comes to hunting down scholarships, cast a wide net, says Sarah Seitz, an independent college counselor based in Houston, Texas. “Don’t just apply for the big money scholarships, as they tend to be far more competitive,” she says. “Seek out smaller ones that will attract fewer applicants. They add up!” 

Scholarship search advice

Using websites, books, and local resources to find scholarships is just the beginning. You’ll need to review various guidelines and determine if you are eligible to apply (many scholarships have very specific eligibility limits) and whether your background provides enough of a potential match that it's worth your time to apply. Next, you’ll need to put in the effort to complete application forms in a complete and competitive way. This advice on CollegeXpress can help you send in the best, most winningest scholarship applications possible:

What resources are your using in your scholarship search? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

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Joseph Johnsly

High School Class of 2021

It's an honor for me to be writing to share a little about my experience with CollegeXpress. I've been using CollegeXpress for about a year now, and the reason why I chose it is because it provides astonishing scholarships for every student around the globe. Besides that, this organization dispenses all the information necessary to help students get to college. CollegeXpress has helped me have an easier experience with applying to colleges and choosing the best fit for myself.

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Sadie Hartmann

High School Class of 2021

I'm a senior in high school, and CollegeXpress has helped me in so many ways this year in trying to navigate the process of deciding and committing to a university. The COVID-19 Student Resource Center has helped me many times with the most up-to-date and accurate information, along with financial aid and student life [advice]. During these uncertain times, CollegeXpress has been a great recourse to relieve the stress as a senior. Along with the COVID-19 Student Resource Center, I'm constantly using the extremely helpful tools off the site to aid me during this stressful process. Tools like the lists and rankings of universities have been the most beneficial. I've also used the site to receive expert advice on topics like financial aid. Finally, CollegeXpress has helped me easily apply for several scholarships. I'm thankful to be given the chance to win a scholarship to lessen the burden of my college debt.

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I registered with CollegeXpress and filled all my necessary and relevant information as well as the course I wished to study. A few days later, an email was sent to me with a list of schools offering the course; amongst them was the University of the People, the school I got admitted to.

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I found CollegeXpress when you partnered with Bold.org for a scholarship. I found your website, put my information in, and got connected. I only wanted to stay in North Carolina [for college] and not move far from home, but you all opened a door up for me. I started researching colleges you suggested for me. On your social media platforms, you also give really good test-taking tips that I used and suggested others to do the same. It helped me a lot on my exams, so thank you.

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I wanted a school that wasn't too far away from home and could provide me with a full-ride scholarship. CollegeXpress helped me put into perspective the money I had to pay to attend those schools, which ultimately drove me to choose to attend a community college first to get used to being in college before transferring to the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, one of the colleges I was able to research further on CollegeXpress.

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