$4 Billion In Grants & $100 Million In Scholarships Went Unclaimed: Where To Find Them In 2025

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Millions of students are still unsure how much financial aid they can expect from the current FAFSA – making 2024 a critical year for scholarships and grants. Thankfully, billions of dollars are available, and you can apply for as many scholarships as you want. Almost $100 million in scholarships goes unclaimed every year, with $4 billion in student grants going unclaimed in 2023 alone.

With so many options, there’s a good chance you’ll get a financial award if you apply to multiple scholarships. The catch is that the search and applications alone can feel like a full-time job. If you’re someone who didn’t get enough money through the FAFSA, we can show you how to apply for many scholarships at once, speed up your search, and make the whole process less stressful.

The Faster You Apply, The More Money You’re Likely To Get

Ideally, you would have begun exploring during your junior year of high school, but with 2024 financial aid deadlines throwing off student schedules, it’s understandable if you haven’t applied. The good news is there are still plenty of scholarships available all year round, you just have to know where to look.

Focus On Local Scholarships To Maximize Your Chances Of Winning

Big-name scholarships may look more attractive, but they get more applicants, which means more competition. Local scholarships are often hidden treasures with fewer applicants, so you’re more likely to get that money. One drawback is local scholarships can be harder to find. You can also reach out to local businesses, civic groups, and churches. Many offer scholarships that they don’t advertise and it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Low Grades? No Problem. There Are Scholarships For You.

One common misconception is that you need to have good grades or a long list of extracurricular activities to be eligible. There are lots of scholarships out there that don’t have a GPA or essay requirement.

Connect With Your (Current Or Future) Financial Aid Office

You don’t need to be a current student to ask the financial aid office for scholarship advice. If you’re enrolled in a school but are not yet taking classes, you can still ask if it offers scholarships exclusively for its students.

Ask about any special scholarships related to your field of study or interests—don’t be afraid to inquire about every opportunity. Some schools give out scholarships based on financial need and others have a list based on major.

Tell Your Teachers And Mentors You’re Looking

Share your scholarship search with teachers, mentors, and community members with insider knowledge. While you’re at it, ask for recommendation letters to strengthen your applications. You might need them for some scholarship applications, and they can make a big difference.

Always Apply If You Think You Have A Chance

The road to finding scholarships may take time, but the payoff is worth it. By starting early and leveraging resources, you’ll ace your scholarship search and improve your chances of financial aid. At the end of the day, your goal is to get as much free money as you can and leave college with as little debt as possible. Once you’ve maxed out your financial aid you can look to student loans¹ to cover the cost of your higher education.

PS.
Beware of scholarship scams. Most reputable scholarship sites will never charge you for their services or make you pay a fee.

This blog post provides personal finance educational information, and it is not intended to provide legal, financial, or tax advice.

¹ Before applying for private student loans, it’s best to maximize your other sources of financial aid first. It’s recommended to use a 3-step approach to assembling the funds you need: 1) Look for funds you don’t have to pay back, like scholarships, grant, and work-study opportunities. 2) Next, fill out a FAFSA(R) form to apply for federal student loans. Federal Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans, excluding PLUS Loan for Parents and PLUS Loan for Graduate and Professional Students which require a credit check and a credit worthy endorser if the parent or graduate or professional student has adverse credit, do not require a credit check or cosigner, and offer various protections if your struggling with your payments. 3) Finally, consider a private student loan to cover any difference between your total cost of attendance and the amount not covered in steps 1 and 2. For more information, visit the Department of Education website at https://studentaid.gov/.