38 Weird Scholarships For College Students To Apply To In 2025

In need of some random scholarships? Here are some unique and weird scholarships for college that are available in 2025 and 2026!

Looking for unusual scholarships for college students in 2025 or 2026!?

If you’re on the hunt for college funds, there are thousands of college scholarships available based on the state you live in, academics, athletics, college major, and other general criteria. BUT, did you know that there are also a bunch of unusual and weird scholarships out there?

We’ve rounded up some of the weirdest (and unique) college scholarships that make applying for money a LOT more fun (listed in order by the application deadline). Plus, many of these interesting scholarships require minimal or NO writing!

Here are 38 weird scholarships you can apply for in 2025 & 2026:

1. Courage to Grow Scholarship

Deadline: September 30th, 2025
Award: $500
Who Can Apply? All junior and senior U.S. high school and college students with a 2.5 GPA
Details & How to Apply: Courage to Grow Scholarship

In 250 words or fewer, tell Courage to Grow why you deserve the scholarship. You’ll also need to fill out the application with your name, date of birth, phone number, and email.

2. “No Essay” College Scholarship

Deadline: End of Every Month (July 31st, August 31st, etc.)
Award: $2,000 (one winner selected each month)
Who Can Apply? All U.S. high school and college students, as well as any US citizen or Visa holder looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year
Details & How to Apply: No Essay Scholarship

Don’t like to write? The $2,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is one of the easiest and fun scholarships, as there is NO essay required! The scholarship can cover tuition, housing, books, or any education-related expenses. The monthly winner will be determined by random drawing and then contacted directly.

3. Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship

Deadline: September 30th, December 31st, March 31st, and June 30th (quarterly)
Award: $1,000
Who Can Apply? All high school and college students
Details & How to Apply: Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship

Here’s another one of the silly scholarships! There is no essay required, and it’s super easy to enter. All you have to do is fill out the application and hit submit. Plus, you can re-enter every quarter!

4. The Redhead Scholarship

Deadline: July 31st, 2025
Award: $500 for grand winner (up to $5,000 in prizes)
Who Can Apply? High school juniors and seniors with red hair
Details & How to Apply: The Redhead Scholarship

Natural redheads are some of the rarest people on the planet, and one of the obscure scholarships they can apply for is The Redhead Scholarship. Applying is super easy. You just need to submit some current and childhood photos along with a personal statement and your transcript.

5. Flavor of the Month Scholarship

Deadline: July 31st, 2025
Award: $1,500
Who Can Apply? U.S. residents ages 14 and up
Details & How to Apply: Flavor of the Month

Although this is kind of a weird scholarship, we couldn’t be happier it exists. All you have to do is answer the question, “If you were an ice cream flavor, which would you be and why?”

6. SmarterCollege Scholarship

Deadline: End of Month (July 31st, August 31st, etc.)
Award: $1,000
Who Can Apply? High school seniors 17+, college students, and college graduates paying back loans.
Details & How to Apply: SmarterCollege Scholarship

This may be the easiest scholarship to apply for. There’s not even an essay, and there is no limit to how many times you can win!

7. Sweet and Simple Scholarship

Deadline: February 28th, 2026
Award: $1,500
Who Can Apply? Ages 14 and up who are enrolled at an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education
Details & How to Apply: Sweet and Simple Scholarship

This may not be a weird scholarship, but it’s definitely short and sweet. All you have to do is write 250 words about a gift you received and why it was meaningful to you – that’s it!

8. Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

Deadline: August 1st, 2025
Award: $5,000 – $10,000
Who Can Apply? Students pursuing a healthcare-related career like medical school, nursing, or pharmacy
Details & How to Apply: Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

For over 30 years, the Tylenol Future Care Scholarship has been helping future healthcare workers jump-start their careers. Ten students will be chosen for $10K and 25 will be selected for $5K.

9. Calvin L. Carrithers Aviation Scholarship

Deadline: August 15, 2025
Award: $1,000 each (four winners)
Who Can Apply? Aviation students who blog on a weekly basis about school, flight training, and interest in aviation
Details & How to Apply: Calvin L. Carrithers Aviation Scholarship

Future pilots, you have to apply for this rare Calvin L. Carrithers Aviation Scholarship! You’ll need to blog your progress weekly, which is actually a great way to document your school experience! Submissions for 2025 will be accepted starting on March 1st.

10. Clubs of America Scholarship

Deadline: August 31st, 2025
Award: $1,000
Who Can Apply? Undergrads with at least a 3.0 GPA
Details & How to Apply: Clubs of America Scholarship

Here’s another one of the random scholarships we’ve found. Simply write about your career aspirations in at least 600 words. Although it’s optional, you can also submit a YouTube video!

11. Make Me Laugh Scholarship

Deadline: August 31, 2025
Award: $1,500
Who Can Apply? U.S. residents ages 14 and up
Details & How to Apply: Make Me Laugh Scholarship

Not a weird scholarship but a hysterical one! Make these judges laugh in 250 words with a story that can be real or completely made up!

12. AFSA 2nd Chance College Scholarship

Deadline: August 31st, 2025
Award: $1,000 each (5 winners)
Who Can Apply? Citizens or aliens legally residing in the USA who have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
Details & How to Apply: AFSA 2nd Chance College Scholarship

Fill out some basic information and answer a short, eight-question multiple-choice quiz about fire sprinkler safety. Winner selection is NOT based on financial need, GPA, or demographic criteria. Scholarship winners are randomly selected by a computer-generated drawing from among valid entries received.

13. American Board of Funeral Service Education Scholarship

Deadline: September 1st or March 1st (annually)
Award: $1,500-$2,500 each (5+ winners every period – will vary on the number of applicants)
Who Can Apply? Undergraduate and Post Graduate students enrolled in funeral services or mortuary science programs
Details & How to Apply: ABFSE National Scholarship

Dying to get into the funeral business? Here is one of the odd scholarships available to you. In hopes of garnering applicants into the field of funeral and mortuary sciences, the American Board of Funeral Service Education has put together a scholarship program for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Applicants must have completed at least one full semester of coursework focusing on funeral and mortuary sciences to be eligible.

14. Shout It Out Scholarship

Deadline: September 30th, 2025
Award: $1,500
Who Can Apply? U.S. residents ages 14 and up
Details & How to Apply: Shout it Out Scholarship

In 250 words or less, what’s one thing you feel like shouting to the entire world? If you didn’t think you could get college funds by doing something as simple as this, we’re glad to have found the right awesome yet weird scholarship for you!

15. Digital Responsibility Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship

Take the pledge to never text and drive and explain why in 140 characters. If selected, you’ll have to write an essay, and you may be selected for the scholarship.

Digital Responsibility also sponsors other impactful, albeit strange, scholarships like the E-Waste Scholarship where you must state, in 140 characters or less, the main reason one should care about e-waste. Another one is the Digital Privacy Scholarship, where you must explain how you are taking responsibility for your digital profile.

16. Ludo Frevel Crystallography Scholarship

Calling all aspiring crystallographers who study crystals, metals, and more! You must apply for this Ludo Frevel Crystallography Scholarship if you’re in a graduate program. It’s one of the most helpful and unusual scholarships available to you!

17. Association For Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) Steel Premier Intern Scholarship

Deadline: October 14th
Award: $7,500 and a paid internship
Who Can Apply? Undergrad and grad students in North America majoring in engineering, engineering technology, computer science, data science, safety or industrial hygiene with at least a 2.5 GPA
Details & How to Apply: AIST Foundation Steel Scholarship

If you have a strong interest in the iron and steel industry, AIST is offering both a scholarship and a paid internship! This way, you’ll bulk up your resume while saving money for college.

18. Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

Deadline: October 31st, 2025
Award: $2,000
Who Can Apply? Ages U.S.residents ages 14 and up
Details & How to Apply: Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

Speaking of strange scholarships, have you heard of the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship? Believe it or not, binging those zombie movies and shows is about to pay off! In 250 words or less, you have to answer the prompt of what you would do if your campus, including all your friends and the staff, have been taken over by a zombie apocalypse and what you would do to survive.

19. CME Beef Industry Scholarship

Deadline: Anticipated November (applications open October 1st)
Award: 10 scholarships of $1,500 each
Who Can Apply? Undergraduates pursuing a career in the beef industry (can study education, communications, production, research, or any other area involved with the beef industry)
Details & How to Apply: CME Beef Industry Scholarship

If you’re looking to join the beef industry, the CME Beef Industry is looking to help you achieve your education. You’ll need to write an essay, a letter of intent, and two letters of recommendation.

20. The Waggle Human-Pet Bond Scholarship

Calling all college pet owners! Waggle doesn’t want you to have to choose between affording school and paying for pet care. The Waggle Human-Pet Bond Scholarship was created to help college students have a little more wiggle room when it comes to juggling school and pet expenses.

If you could use these funds for your pet’s veterinary needs, apply by writing a 400-600 word essay outlining steps pet owners can take to prepare for emergency vet needs and thus prevent the surrender or euthanization of a pet due to financial limitations. Applications for 2025 are now open!

21. James Allen Cox Foundation Student Photojournalists Scholarship

If you’re studying photojournalism, this random scholarship is for you. One graduate student will be awarded the scholarship money for video work, and four undergraduate college students will be awarded scholarship money for video work and one for still photography.

If high school students want to put their photography to the test, five high school students will be given a Digital SLR Camera for a still photography entry. Note that high school students will not get any monetary rewards.

22. The UNIMA-USA Puppetry Scholarship

Deadline: December 1, 2025 (Applications open October 1st)
Award: $1,500
Who Can Apply? American puppeteers looking to study puppetry outside the U.S.
Details & How to Apply: UNIMA-USA Puppetry Scholarship

Talk about strange scholarships! This offbeat scholarship is for those with a passion for puppetry! Apply for it if you’ve ever wanted to take your puppeteer skills to the next level by studying abroad in places like Prague, London, or Paris! Winners will be announced in January 2026.

23. Francis Ouimet Scholarship

Deadline: Anticipated December 2025 (TBA)
Award: $1,500 – $15,000
Who Can Apply? Senior high school or college students who have worked in Massachusetts golf courses for 2+ years
Details & How to Apply: Francis Ouimet Scholarship

If you’ve worked 2+ years in a Massachusetts golf course, you’re eligible for this Francis Ouimet Scholarship. Applications are now open, and the amount you’re rewarded varies.

24. Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship

Deadline: March 9th, 2026
Award: $10,000
Who Can Apply? Must be 14 years or older at the time of entry and be enrolled in High School, College, University, or a home school program that results in a degree or diploma
Details & How to Apply: Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship

Have a knack for drawing? One of the fun and random scholarships you can apply to is the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to give high school and collegiate-level students the opportunity to design an original greeting card. All artwork must be original. It can include photography and graphic design. Non-winning greeting cards may still be selected for publishing. In this case, the artist will be compensated.

25. National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarship

This no-essay scholarship has been made possible with donors, including Burger King and other restaurants. If you’re looking for a restaurant-related degree, make sure you set your timers for March 15th!

26. The Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) Scholarship

It’s never too late to complete your education, and this scholarship is perfect for anyone looking to attend college beyond high school age. On top of the essay and references, you’ll need to have a clearly defined career goal and objective, which isn’t too hard if you’re eager about what you’re studying! You’ll need to answer two essay questions with two references. Contact EWI for more information.

27. Superpower Scholarship

Deadline: March 31st, 2026
Award: $2,500
Who Can Apply? U.S. students age 14 and up
Details & How to Apply: Superpower Scholarship

Looking for more funny and crazy scholarships? Channel your inner hero and let the Superhero Scholarship know which superhero or villain you want to change places with for a day and why. You have 250 words or fewer to make your case!

28. Boom & Bucket’s Scholarship

Deadline: March 31, 2026
Award: $1,000 paid directly to the school as a tuition payment
Who Can Apply? Students pursuing a heavy machinery-themed program who are already enrolled in school or plan to be in the next 12 months.
Details & How to Apply: Boom & Bucket’s Scholarship

To enter this unique scholarship, students who study, or plan to study, heavy machinery-themed program have the choice of either writing a 500-word essay or filming a 2-minute video about who they are and what makes them excited about their field of study.

29. Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund

Deadline: April 1st, 2026
Award: $15,000 maximum per year (one winner every two months)
Who Can Apply? Current college students with financial need who participate in progressive movements for social change
Details & How to Apply: Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund

If you have a passion for activism and peace, the Davis-Putter Scholarship may be for you. You have to write a personal statement of 1,000 words about something you’re passionate about getting justice for in your community.

30. The Cover Letter Mastery Scholarship

Can you write a stellar cover letter? If so, consider applying for this scholarship that awards $750 to a student who demonstrates creativity, critical thinking, passion, and excellence in crafting a job-winning cover letter. You’ll also need to submit a letter of recommendation, your transcript, and a real job posting that was the inspiration for your letter. The winner can use the prize toward tuition, books, or other education-related expenses.

31. All About Education Scholarship

If you like random scholarships, try this one! All you have to do is write how $3,000 would make a difference and ease the stress of college tuition in 250 words or less.

32. Fifth Month Scholarship

Deadline: May 31st, 2026
Award: $1,500
Who Can Apply? U.S. residents ages 14 and up who are enrolled in an accredited postsecondary insitution
Details & How to Apply: Fifth Month Scholarship

During the fifth month of the year, aka May, you can write in 250 words why the number 5 is so important. This may be a pretty weird scholarship, but it’ll get you $1,500 if your silly (or serious) entry is chosen!

33. GoFoodservice Scholarship

Deadline: June 15th, 2026
Award: $500
Who Can Apply? High school or current college students who study Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management
Details & How to Apply: GoFoodservice Scholarship

Don’t overlook this obscure scholarship! All you have to do is write 500 words about why you became interested in seeking a Culinary or Hospitality career.

34. Alice W. Rooke Scholarship

Deadline: Varies, but email [email protected] for specific information.
Award: One-time $5,000
Who Can Apply? Pre-med graduates studying to become doctors
Details & How to Apply: Alice W. Rooke Scholarship

This scholarship is for those who have already graduated as pre-med students and are attending or have been accepted to an accredited medical or osteopathic school, college, or university. Plus, you can reapply for up to 4 years.

DAR.org also has a variety of other scholarships for those in the medical field to check out.

35. Imagine America Foundation Scholarship for Adults

If you put college on hold or couldn’t immediately attend, this scholarship is here to help. Imagine America also provides scholarships for high school students, military members, and those interested in trade school.

36. Tallo’s College Scholarships

Deadline: Varies, but applications are open now.
Award: up to $20,000
Who Can Apply? High School Students as young as freshman year
Details & How to Apply: Tallo Scholarships

Tallo has a series of scholarships you can gain access to when you make an account. They’ve matched $20 billion in scholarship money, which has covered tuition, books, room and board, and more. Don’t miss out on any of their opportunities!

37. Appily

Deadline: Varies, but applications are open now.
Award: awards vary
Who Can Apply? College Students (requirements vary)
Details & How to Apply: Appily Scholarships

Appily is a platform where students can find colleges that are the right fit, connect with them, and apply for unusual and random scholarships that will help them make this a reality. It’s all the tools you need in one convenient place!

38. PSAT National Merit Scholarship

Many people write off the practice SATs every high school student takes as merely practice, but you could be rewarded for a good score! Students in their junior year are eligible to receive the National Merit Scholarship based on their scores on the PSAT. To learn more and how to be eligible, check out their website. There will be over 7,000 scholarships offered in 2026!

One last Hip Tip! Unigo is a great place to search for other unusual college scholarships besides the ones listed above.

They have a huge database with millions of different random scholarships available. Plus, it’s free to sign up! They provide helpful college reviews, have a student loan finder, publish informative articles, and more. They offer other awesome resources that allow students to make the best decisions about college.

Already a college student? Take advantage of 100+ college freebies & discounts!

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