The 10 Biggest Scholarships in the World

Most students today need financial support to pursue a college

education. Though it may not be surprising that the cost of higher

education at national universities has risen 179% from 1995-2015,

many are unaware of the sharp rise in fees and other costs outside

of tuition, including technology fees and on-campus recreation

center access costs. This totals an average of more than $2,000

in recent years. Luckily, to help students offset these costs, there

are many federal, state, and private groups and organizations that

offer a variety of scholarships to eligible students based on merit,

cultural background, and type of program.

While every scholarship is special, there are some exceptional

standouts from organizations generous enough to give millions (or

even billions!) in scholarship money every year to college

students. From awards that provide a full scholarship, or “free

ride,” to others that more than cover the bulk of expensive degree

program costs, the size and breadth of the 10 biggest

scholarships for college students will take your breath away. Read

on to learn more about how to apply for and access these funds.

1. Miss America

 Amount Awarded: Varies, up to $12,000

 Deadline: Varies

The Miss America Foundation is the largest provider of big college

scholarships to young women in the U.S. The Miss America

Organization, comprised of more than 50 licensed funding groups,

is responsible for millions of dollars in scholarship aid at the local,

state, and national level. In 2014 alone, Miss America awarded

nearly $6 million in scholarships. The organization offers several

different types of awards, including Miss America Scholar, Miss

America Community Service Scholarship, Quality of Life Awards,

the Dr. & Mrs. David B. Allman Scholarship, and the Eugenia

Vellner Fischer Award for the Performing Arts. A unique STEM-

program scholarship is also available to women pursuing careers

in this historically male-dominated field.

2. United Negro College Fund

 Amount Awarded: Varies

 Deadline: Varies

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is famous for providing the

scholarship funds necessary to send more than 10,000 students

to college each year. One of the best college scholarships and as

the nation’s largest minority scholarship provider of more than 400

different scholarships, internships, and fellowships, UNCF helps

low- to moderate-income students attend college when they

otherwise might not have had the opportunity. Among the most

unique UNCF scholarship programs is the Merck Undergraduate

Science Research Scholarship Awards, with awards ranging from

$35,000 to $85,000 for students in bioscience and biotechnology

programs.

3. The Gates Millennium Scholars Program

 Amount Awarded: $12,785 (average)

 Deadline: January 13, 2018

As one of the biggest scholarships provided by the United Negro

College Fund (UNCF,) the Gates Millennium Scholars Program helps

an average of 1,000 college students attend college each year,

averaging an award of nearly $13,000 per student between 2000

and 2014. Offered alongside several post-secondary awards

given through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gates

Millennium Scholars Program is a $1.6 million initiative designed

to support minorities pursuing a college education.

4. Davidson Fellows Scholarships

 Amount Awarded: Up to $50,000

 Deadline: February 8, 2018

Although the Davidson Fellows Scholarship program does not reach

annual giving goals as high as some other programs on this list,

the program is especially impressive for its individual high-dollar

awards. The award is one of the most prestigious undergraduate

scholarships in the world, offering $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000

scholarships to college students who have made significant

contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering,

mathematics, literature, music, and philosophy. Students may

also be eligible for a separate “Outside the Box” award. Since its

inception, the Davidson Institute has given more than $6.7 million

to 286 scholarship recipients.

5. Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

 Amount Awarded: Up to $20,000

 Deadline: August 2017

Each year, Coca-Cola supports more than 1,400 students by

providing $3.45 million in scholarships across three national

programs. The largest of these scholarships, the Coca-Cola

Scholars Foundation, awards big college scholarships of $20,000 to

150 exceptional high school seniors entering college who are

academically accomplished and show potential for outstanding

leadership in their schools and communities. Additional awards

provided by Coca-Cola include the Community College Academic

Team and the Leaders of Promise program, each selecting 200

recipients annually for awards ranging from $1,000 to $1,500.

6. Buick Achievers

 Amount Awarded: $25,000

 Deadline: Varies

Like Coca-Cola, American car maker Buick generously channels

much of its corporate wealth back into promoting student success

in higher education through corporate scholarships. Funded by

the GM Corporation, the Buick Achievers Scholarship Program offers

large scholarships of $25,000 — one of the biggest award

amounts available — to 50 college students each year, for up to 4

to 5 years. During the course of their entire college career, a

Buick Achievers Scholarship winner can potentially receive

$125,000 toward the full cost of their education. Designed to

attract applicants interested in becoming the Buick car makers of

the future, Buick also awards 1,000 one-time scholarships of

$2,000 annually to students interested in engineering, design, and

business, in addition to this single large award.

7. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program

 Amount Awarded: $20,000

 Deadline: December 30, 2017

Each year, Foot Locker gives twenty $20,000 scholarships to

student athletes who are high school seniors planning to continue

their sports career at a four-year accredited university

immediately after graduation. The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes

Program is designed to promote not only academic leadership, but

also fair sportsmanship and strong moral character among its

candidates. In addition to the Scholar Athletes award, one of the

20 recipients will also be awarded the Ken C. Hicks Scholarship,

which adds an additional $5,000 to the total gift amount. The

Scholar Athletes award of $20,000 is separated into equal annual

payments over the course of four years.

8. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

 Amount Awarded: Varies

 Deadline: October 12, 2017 (for U.S. residents)

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship was established in 2000 after Bill

and Melinda Gates gave the UK university the largest-ever single

donation of its kind, in the amount of $210 million. The Gates’

generous gift has provided “full-ride” scholarships for more than

1,400 Cambridge students, awarding nearly 100 new applicants

each year. The award amount varies per student, but it is

designed to include not only the full cost of tuition and fees

relevant to the student’s degree, but also childcare (if applicable),

fieldwork, continuing education costs for graduate students,

maternity/paternity funding, and maintaining a student visa. The

award even includes a single economy airfare ticket at the

beginning and end of each course.

9. D.C. Leadership 1000 Scholarship

 Amount Awarded: Up to $25,000

 Deadline: April 14, 2017

Sponsored by various corporate and private benefactors aiming to

support underprivileged college students in Washington, D.C., the

D.C. Leadership 1000 Scholarship is unique in that its criteria can be

somewhat customized on a case-by-case basis. Generally,

eligibility is open to first-time and returning college students who

plan to engage in full-time study in the coming fall term at a four-

year institution in the D.C. area, though requirements may change

slightly according to the donor of the award. Scholarships are

typically $5,000 per year for up to five years of college study,

totaling $25,000 over the course of the degree.

0. Dell Scholars Program

 Amount Awarded: $20,000

 Deadline: January 15, 2018

Sponsored by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, the Dell

Scholars Program is awarded annually to 300 college students who

have overcome significant socioeconomic disadvantages to

pursue a college degree. In addition to providing a laptop and

textbook funding, Dell Scholars receive large scholarships of

$20,000 to put toward their undergraduate education. Eligible

candidates are high school seniors who have completed the

foundation’s approved college readiness program in grades 11

and 12, and who are planning to attend a four-year program

immediately after graduation.