Private scholarships are funds that you research and apply for on your own. We’ve compiled a list of places that provide scholarships for undergraduate study.
Also, check your local high school, library, employer (yours, and your parents), and clubs to find other funding.
Lesley University is not responsible for the actions or claims of outside organizations.
Abbott & Fenner Business Consultants Scholarship
Available to high school juniors and seniors, and students enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution.
AES Engineering
Scholarships are awarded based on character. Open to high school seniors and students attending a post-secondary institution. You don’t need to be taking engineering courses.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Scholarship
Merit and need-based scholarships for students who demonstrate community service and involvement.
American Foundation for the Blind
Scholarships to assist persons who are blind or visually impaired.
American Indian College Fund
Merit and need-based scholarships. Open to American Indian/Alaska Native undergraduate and graduate students attending tribal, public, or private colleges and universities.
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps serves communities with critical needs. Qualified members receive awards to use toward college, graduate school, or loan repayment.
Alray Scholars Program
Scholarships and mentorships for graduates of the Boston public schools, Boston charter schools, and METCO (Boston) who took at least a semester break after starting college, and are returning to college to earn a degree.
ARA Scholarship Foundation
The ARA Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote education through the awarding of scholarships annually to students based on academic achievement.
Art Deadlines List
A list for art students, art teachers, and artists. Find scholarships, grants, and fellowships; art competitions; jobs and internships; and festivals.
Army Emergency Relief
Assistance for higher education and professional certifications.
B. Davis Scholarship
Open to all high school juniors, seniors, and students registered in post-secondary institutions.
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Manages more than 50 grants and scholarships created by donors.
BigSun Scholarship
Scholarships to assist student-athletes in getting their college degree. Open to high school seniors and students already attending a post-secondary institution.
Big Y Educational Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships for high school seniors, undergraduate, graduate, community college, and non-traditional students in the Big Y supermarket area (Massachusetts and Connecticut). Open to Big Y employees as well.
Bodie McDowell Scholarship
Scholarships for students pursuing outdoor communication fields, including print, photography, film, art, or broadcasting. Open to undergraduates entering their junior or senior years, and graduate students.
Boston Education Fund (BEDF)
BEDF is the fiscal and fundraising partner of the Boston Public Schools. They facilitate access to philanthropic opportunities and private resources to invest in crucial programs and strategic educational initiatives.
Boston Red Sox Foundation Scholarship
Scholarships for public high school seniors who are committed to community service and have demonstrated strong academic performance.
Cape Cod Foundation
Need-based and merit scholarships for graduating high school seniors and continuing college students from Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties.
City of Cambridge Scholarship
Need-based awards for college-bound high school seniors who are residents of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Clark Foundation Scholarship
Scholarships for graduating seniors in 12 New York school districts.
College Board
Search tool for undergraduate scholarships, including certificates and non-degree programs.
College Net
A search tool to find awards for undergraduate and graduate study.
Combined Jewish Philanthropies Scholarship Fund
Need-based grants and interest-free loans for students living in the Greater Boston Combined Jewish Philanthropies service area. Open to undergraduate students attending 2- or 4-year accredited institutions, and vocational certificate programs. Primary consideration for Jewish students.
Community Foundation of New Britain, Conn.
The foundation manages more than 50 scholarships. Most awards are for graduating high school seniors from public high schools in specific Connecticut towns.
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts Scholarship
Administers more than 100 scholarships and 2 interest-free loans. Submit one application to be considered for many different awards. Funds are based on a geographical area, area of study, or need.
Davis-Putter Scholarship
Need-based grants for undergraduate and graduate students working for peace and social justice.
Edwards Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for graduating seniors and GED recipients who live in the City of Boston.
Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund - Scholarship America
A need-based scholarship awarded to a child, spouse, or domestic partner of a Sept. 11, 2001 victim.
Finance Authority of Maine (FAME)
A search tool for Maine scholarships, for high school and college students, and postgrads.
Financial Futures Scholarship
Available to future and current undergrad students majoring in business, accounting, finance, mathematics, management, and others preparing for a career in the personal finance industry.
Gates Millennium Scholars
Undergraduate scholarships for outstanding African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic American, and Asian Pacific Islander students, for study in any area.
GetCenturyLink.com
Address the challenge posted on the CenturyLink website to win a small award to use toward your tuition.
Glamour Top 10 College Women Competition
Awards for college juniors or seniors who are changing the world or making an impact on campus.
Golden Door Scholars
Scholarships for students approved for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Merit-based awards to assist students of Hispanic heritage. Open to high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students, and community college students transferring to 4-year universities. For all majors and fields.
IIE Scholarships
The Power of International Education
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Offers undergraduate transfer scholarships for top community college students who want to get their 4-year degree.
Japanese American Citizens League Scholarships
One-time awards. They are open to entering college freshmen, undergraduate, and graduate students of any ethnic background who are members of the Japanese American Citizens League.
Jewish Family & Children's Service
For more than 150 years, Jewish Family & Children’s Service has been helping individuals and families build a strong foundation for resilience and well-being across the lifespan.
LA Tutors 123
LA Tutors grants a $500 Innovation in Education scholarship to students who demonstrate creativity and positive impact. This ongoing monthly scholarship is open to currently enrolled high school, college, and graduate students.
Lifeworks
Offers scholarships to college students who will be juniors, seniors, or graduate students studying in Special Education or a related field.
Lost Coin Women's Fund
Grants for undergraduate studies or vocational training programs for low-income Massachusetts women.
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
Scholarships for children of active duty Marines, veteran Marines, and Navy Corpsmen who serve with them, with consideration given to applicants whose parents have been killed or wounded in action.
Massachusetts Port Authority
Offers different scholarships for graduating high school seniors who live in the City of Boston, or in a few neighboring communities.
National Federation of the Blind
Awards merit-based scholarships to legally blind persons. Scholarships are based on academic excellence, community service, and leadership.
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
An academic competition for high school students, resulting in recognition and scholarships. Start by taking the Preliminary SAT / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
New England Camera Club Council, Incorporated Scholarship
Scholarships are awarded to students who want to further their studies in imaging.
New England Graphic Arts Scholarship
Awards scholarships to New England residents studying graphic arts or printing at a 4-year college or university, or 2-year vocational/technical school.
New England PGA Foundation
PGA REACH New England is committed to its mission of impacting lives through golf, specifically under its three pillars: Youth, Military Veterans and their families, and Diverse populations.
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Administers more than 300 need-based scholarships created by donors. Open to students from New Hampshire pursuing professional certificates, licensure, 2- and 4-year undergraduate degrees, and graduate school.
One Family Scholars
Scholarships that combine financial assistance with support services. Recipients are primarily low-income single parents who are at-risk or formerly homeless.
P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (PCE)
The P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education, established in 1973, is a need-based grant program providing one-time financial assistance to women whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to complete a degree or certification that improves their marketable skills for employment to support themselves and/or their families.
Peterson's
Search tool for undergraduate and graduate scholarships. Has more than 5,000 scholarship providers with access to 1.5 million scholarships, grants, prizes, and loans.
The Point Foundation: The National LGBTQ Scholarship Fund
Need-based scholarships for members of the LGBTQ community enrolled in a degree-granting undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral program. For students with a record of leadership and community involvement.
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Scholarship
Scholarships are provided to eligible PBPN tribal members to obtain a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in their chosen field.
Rhode Island Foundation
Administers 150 scholarships, each with different criteria and application procedures. Open to students from Rhode Island for undergraduate or graduate study.
The ROOTHBERT Fund
Grants for students entering a range of fields, with an emphasis on careers in education. The fund seeks to support persons motivated by spiritual values.
Samuel Huntington Public Service Award
A stipend for a graduating college senior to pursue one year of public service anywhere in the world.
Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, INC.
Need-based awards for students who live in Wakefield, Massachusetts, and are attending school full-time.
Sallie Mae Scholarship Search
Search for scholarships open to high school seniors, college students, minority students, and women or single mothers returning to school.
Scholarship America
Manages thousands of scholarships created by communities, companies, and foundations.
Scholarship Experts by Unigo
Has its own scholarship and a scholarship search tool.
Scholarships.com
A scholarship search tool for high school, college, and non-traditional students.
Stephen D. Paine Scholarship
The Stephen D. Paine Scholarship is designed to support students entering their final year in studio art programs at colleges in the City of Boston.
Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund
Need-based scholarships for students displaying strong academic achievement, a commitment to serving others, and leadership abilities.
Student Scholarship Search
Has a large database of scholarships and a matching tool to help you find funding for undergraduate or graduate education.
Two Ten Footwear Foundation
Offers a few types of scholarships, all related to the footwear industry.
uAspire
Need-based scholarships for graduating high school seniors who live in Boston or the Greater Boston area.
Udall Foundation
Undergraduate scholarships for students working toward solutions to issues impacting Indian country—tribal policy, Native American health care, or the environment.
UNCF Scholarships
The mind is a terrible thing to waste. Join us in our fight for better futures.
Union Plus Education Program
A competitive scholarship for current and retired members of participating unions, their spouses, and dependent children. Applicants are evaluated on academic ability, social awareness, financial need, and their appreciation of labor.
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
The Marian L. Heard Scholars Program provides first-generation college students up to $10,000 over the four years they attend college. In addition, scholarship recipients get their own “e-Coach,” a United Way volunteer who provides advice and support throughout their collegiate journey.
United Way of Ulster County
We believe that it is the right of every individual in Ulster County to have programs and services available to help them achieve their greatest potential.
Wellesley Scholarship Foundation
Wellesley Scholarship Foundation is dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of a college education for Wellesley students with aspirations for a promising future.
West End House
West End House is the largest youth development agency in the Allston-Brighton community. They provide high-impact programs that ensure young people are succeeding academically, exploring and mastering the arts, developing career readiness skills, and adopting healthy lifestyles.
William H. Chapman Foundation
Providing financial assistance to scholars of New London County, CT.
Wyzant College Scholarship
Write an essay on the topic posted on the Wyzant website, get votes by sharing it on social media, and win scholarship money for college.
Yawkey Scholars Program
Renewable scholarships for motivated low-income students from Massachusetts or Georgetown County, South Carolina who have been accepted and plan to attend a 4-year university.