Scholarships

An important part of preparing for college is figuring out how to pay for it. Below you will find information about scholarships, including deadlines, award amounts, and eligibility. For more funding strategies for college, consult the DO-IT publication College Funding for Students with Disabilities.

Upcoming Scholarship Opportunities

The following scholarships are listed in order by deadline.

  • Application Due: December 12, 2023
    Description:

    Through its Fellowship Programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

    Eligibility:
    Current graduate student studying in eligible field of study researching and enrolled in an eligible research-based (dissertation-required) leading to Ph.D./Sc.D. degree at a not for profit US institute for higher education
  • Application Due: December 15, 2023
    Description:

    One applicant each from the United States and Canada will be selected, who uses a manual or power wheelchair, or a mobility scooter, to be awarded a $1,500 scholarship.

    Eligibility:
    Full-time U.S. undergraduate/graduate students who use mobility equipment, such as power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
  • Application Due: December 31, 2023
    Description:

    Learning Ally awards the top winners $6,000 each and special honors winners $2,000 each. All scholarship awardees must be capable and willing to publicly share their personal story and represent Learning Ally as a spokesperson and advocate at various local, virtual and national events. Costs associated with these events will be covered by Learning Ally.

    Eligibility:
    Learning Ally members who are high school seniors with learning disabilities.
  • Application Due: December 31, 2023
    Description:

    Awards ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 will be given to qualifying students who are blind or visually impaired.

    Eligibility:
    Undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate students are eligible.
  • Application Due: December 31, 2023
    Description:

    Three $6,000 awards and three $2,000 awards will be given to qualifying learning-disabled students.

    Eligibility:
    High school senior members with learning disabilities, who plan to continue their education after graduation, in recognition of their academic achievement, outstanding leadership, and service to others.
  • Application Due: December 31, 2023
    Description:

    Designed for people who wish to earn a Sport Pilot license. Applicants must be able to provide proof of disability from their attending physician, be at least 17 years of age, a U.S. citizen, have a valid driver’s license, and be able to operate the controls of the training aircraft. Special controls will be available for Able Flight Scholars as needed. Scholarship applications are accepted at any time and reviewed on a continuing basis. Training takes place  from mid-May to early July of each year.

    Eligibility:
    Must be able to provide proof of disability from their attending physician, be at least 17 years of age, a U.S. citizen, have a valid driver’s license.
  • Application Due: January 1, 2024
    Description:

    The Diverse Abilities Scholarship aims to address the challenges faced by students with disabilities by providing financial support. To apply, submit a 400-600 word essay describing your dream job, what qualities matter to you in a job, and how these values will affect your career search.

    Eligibility:
    Any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who has a disability and is a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident may apply for this scholarship.
  • Application Due: January 1, 2024
    Description:

    The Diverse Abilities Scholarship aims to address these challenges by providing financial support to students with disabilities—anything from a physical disability like muscular dystrophy to a learning disability such as dyslexia. We hope this scholarship will allow them to focus on their studies and seek out a suitable career without financial constraints.
     

    Eligibility:
    High school senior, undergraduate student, graduate student. Current U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
  • Application Due: January 17, 2024
    Description:

    Each year outstanding young musicians with disabilities from around the world are selected to receive the VSA International Young Soloists Award of $2,000 and the chance to participate in professional development and performance opportunities provided by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This program is open to soloists and ensembles of any instrument/genre including classical, jazz, Hip Hop, rock and more!

    Eligibility:
    Soloists and ensembles ages 14-25 with disabilities.
  • Application Due: January 19, 2024
    Description:

    The AIA/AAF Diversity Advancement Scholarship provides financial assistance between $4,000 and $20,000. to minority and/or financially disadvantaged students who intend to pursue a professional degree in architecture.

    Eligibility:
    Undergraduate college students who are minorities studying in an NAAB Accredited Architecture program are eligible.
  • Application Due: January 31, 2024
    Description:

    The scholarships cover a part or all of an education ranging from G.E.D. to Ph.D. The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation supports the efforts of organizations working to stimulate education, research and direct care in the mental health field. A businessman and consultant, Mr. Baer personally faced mental health challenges during his lifetime and sought to alleviate the suffering of those living with mental illness. Though he attended Yale University, he was unable to complete his studies, so he returned to his hometown of St. Louis where he worked in the family business, the department store Stix, Baer & Fuller. Through his hard work, he was able to increase the family fortune and upon his death left it in trust to be distributed to programs that serve the mission of reintegration.

    -Scholarship is open now-

    Eligibility:
    Be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and currently receiving medical treatment for the disease. Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and plan to attend a school in the US.
  • Application Due: January 31, 2024
    Description:

    Up to $8,000 in academic assistance and a full-time summer internship.

    Eligibility:
    Undergraduate students interested in atmospheric and oceanic sciences are eligible.
  • Application Due: January 31, 2024
    Description:

    The APF Queen-Nellie Evans scholarship funds a scholarship to a graduate student from underrepresented groups who has a demonstrated financial need and is committed to improving the disparities in societal structures and issues that negatively impact communities of color, particularly communities of African descent. APF encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds with respect to age, race, color, religion, creed, nationality, ability, sexual orientation, gender, and geography. To apply, submit all required materials along with a personal statement and financial need verification documents.

    Eligibility:
    Applicants must be minority graduate students enrolled in accredited master’s or doctoral programs.
  • Application Due: February 1, 2024
    Description:

    Scholarships are open to any college-age undergraduate with PKU who is on diet treatment. Residents of any country are eligible to apply, but the application must be in English or translated into readable English.

    Eligibility:
    Current and upcoming undergraduate students with PKU and on a diet treatment are eligible
  • Application Due: February 14, 2024
    Description:

    The American Council of the Blind is offering scholarships for the 2023 school year. Applications will be accepted from November 1 through February 14.

    Eligibility:
    Legally blind undergraduate and graduate students.
  • Application Due: February 18, 2024
    Description:

    This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Peter J. Musto by supporting students from Pennsylvania who have been affected by cancer, either through their own diagnosis or the diagnosis of a family member. To apply, submit a 400-600 word essay or a 2-3 minute video describing yourself and how your life has been impacted by cancer.

    Eligibility:
    Any high school senior or undergraduate from the state of Pennsylvania who has at least a 3.0 GPA and has been affected by cancer may apply.
  • Application Due: February 25, 2024
    Description:

    The Joseph James Morelli Scholarship Fund supports high school and college students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia who wish to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Scholarships may be applied to tuition costs, needed resources, and/or testing costs and will range from $500 to $2,500.

    Eligibility:
    Current and upcoming college students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia pursuing a career in STEM are eligible
  • Application Due: March 1, 2024
    Description:

    This award is up to $2,500.

    Eligibility:
    Masters or doctorate students with disabilities interested in library school are eligible.
  • Application Due: March 1, 2024
    Description:

    The American Association on Health and Disabilities awards $1000 to undergraduate/graduate students (at least a sophomore) with a disability pursuing studies related to the health and disability, such as, public health, health promotion, disability studies, disability research, rehabilitation engineering, audiology, disability policy, and special education.

     

    Eligibility:
    Undergraduate (at least a sophomore) or graduate students with disabilities studying public health, disability studies, or health promotion.
  • Application Due: March 1, 2024
    Description:

    Applicant must be a CWU student with a documented accommodation on file with Disability Services and financial need as determined by the FAFSA or WASFA application. Apply in Scholarship Central app.

    Eligibility:
  • Application Due: March 7, 2024
    Description:

    The prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is open to all U.S. citizen undergraduates, in good academic standing, applying to study abroad programs or internships for credit with a diverse background.

    Eligibility:
    U.S. citizen undergraduates, in good academic standing, applying to study abroad programs or internships for credit with a diverse background, including, but not limited to high financial need, students with disabilities, STEM field majors
  • Application Due: March 21, 2024
    Description:

    This scholarship seeks to support students with a diagnosis of developmental or intellectual disabilities so they can pursue higher education. To apply, submit a 400-600 word essay about how you plan to further your education, what fields of study you plan to explore, and what you hope to accomplish after pursuing higher education.

    Eligibility:
    Any high school senior who has a diagnosis of developmental or intellectual disability may apply for this scholarship, but students in Oregon will be preferred.
  • Application Due: March 31, 2024
    Description:

    Thirty awards ranging from $3,000 to $12,000 will be given to qualifying students who are legally blind in both eyes.

    Eligibility:
    Full-time students enrolled in post-secondary institutions who are legally blind in both eyes.
  • Application Due: April 1, 2024
    Description:

    Varghese Summersett is a Fort Worth criminal defense law firm that focuses on state and federal criminal matters. The special needs scholarships can be used offset the cost of camp, tutoring, classes, secondary education, post-secondary education or tools to help the students learn and flourish.

    Eligibility:
    Applicant must have proof of diagnosis of Autism or Down Syndrome.
  • Application Due: April 2, 2024
    Description:

    The Harriet Evelyn Wallace Scholarship was established from a bequest given to AGI by Harriet Evelyn Wallace, who was one of the founding members of the Geoscience Information Society (GSIS). This scholarship is for the support of female graduate students in the United States studying the geosciences. A new scholar is named each year, and every scholar is eligible for up to two years of support. The current annual award is $5,000.

    Eligibility:
    Female current and admitted graduate students studying geoscience with at least a 3.25 undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 graduate GPA; must be a US citizen/permanent resident.
  • Application Due: April 13, 2024
    Description:

    The Anne Ford Scholarship is a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500/year over four years) granted to a graduating high school senior with a documented learning disability who will be enrolled in a full-time bachelor's degree program in the fall.

    Eligibility:
    Must be a high school senior who will be attending a four-year bachelor's degree program in the fall with at least a 3.0 GPA and a learning disability.
  • Application Due: April 14, 2024
    Description:

    Candice's Sickle Cell Fund, Inc. has been established to raise awareness among the public concerning sickle cell disease. Our goal is to help alleviate the financial pressures of college-bound students in the Tri-State Area (NY/NJ/CT) with sickle cell disease by providing three scholarships annually in the amount of $1500 ($750 presented in September, and $750 presented in January). Each applicant must submit a 250-word essay type-written in double-spaced format to include how sickle cell disease has affected their life and education. Each applicant should also include what their educational goals are and how they expect to achieve them, in addition, what person has been instrumental in their lives to help them persevere.

    Eligibility:
    Graduating high school seniors with sickle cell disease in the Tri-State Area who can commit a minimum of 5 hours during the year and write a 250-word essay are eligible.
  • Application Due: April 20, 2024
    Description:

    This scholarship seeks to support students with physical disabilities who are dedicated to pursuing higher education. To apply, tell us how being part of the disabled community has impacted your worldview and how you can use your experience to positively impact your future endeavors.

    Eligibility:
    Any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who has a physical disability may apply for this scholarship.
  • Application Due: May 15, 2024
    Description:

    Four scholarships will be awarded to post-secondary students with hemophilia or von Willebrand Disease, caregivers of a child or adult affected by a bleeding disorder; or immediate family members in the same household affected by a bleeding disorder. At least one of the scholarships is awarded to an applicant pursuing health-related education.

    Eligibility:
    Post-secondary students with a bleeding disorder, caregivers of someone with a bleeding disorder, or immediate family members of someone with a bleeding disorder.
  • Application Due: July 1, 2024
    Description:

    The Mandy Wagner Foundation awards scholarships of $500 and $1000 to senior high school students or college students living with cystic fibrosis. 

    Eligibility:
    Senior high school students or college students with a minimum 3.0 GPA, 1030 SAT score, or 22 ACT score.
  • Application Due: July 31, 2024
    Description:

    Auger & Auger is sponsoring a $1,000 scholarship, given twice a year, to assist with tuition and expenses at a qualifying undergraduate institution. Applicants will be judged on their academic merits as well as the content of the application and essay they provide.

    Eligibility:
    Current graduating high school seniors with acceptance to an accredited school or current undergraduate at an accredited institution in the US with at least a 2.8 GPA.