Outside & Community Scholarships

Outside and Community Scholarships

Scholarships are a great resource to help reduce your reliance on student loans. Listed below are some categorical and general scholarships that you may qualify for. Do not be discouraged if you have missed a deadline for a scholarship, most of the scholarship opportunities are offered year after year. Check the website for the current availability. You may also contact the Financial Aid office toll-free at 866.383.3548 for additional financial aid questions.

Study abroad scholarships 

Racial, ethnic & other identity-based scholarships   

National outside scholarships

Insurance and risk management scholarships

First Generation student scholarships 

Nursing scholarships

Free-Money Finder for Students from Nelnet Bank 
Note: There is no need to be a customer of Nelnet Bank nor is there any information a student has to enter to use the tool. Simply click the link and start searching through thousands of vetted scholarships.

Scholly by Sallie is the top scholarship app and has already helped students win millions in free money. Best part? It’s super simple and free to use!

Bold.org - Find college scholarships by state, major or academic year. Explore thousands of exclusive college scholarships across hundreds of categories. 

Michigan Community Foundation Sites

• Albion County Foundation
• Allegan County Community Foundation
• Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
• Baraga County Community Foundation
• Barry Community Foundation
• Battle Creek Community Foundation
• Bay Area Community Foundation
• Berrien Community Foundation
• Branch County Community Foundation
• Cadillac Area Community Foundation
• Canton Community Foundation
• Capital Region Community Foundation
• Charlevoix County Community Foundation
• Community Foundation of Marquette County
• Dickinson Area Community Foundation
• Community Foundation of Greater Flint
• Four County Community Foundation
• Frankenmuth Community Foundation
• Fremont Area Community Foundation
• Grand Haven Area Community Foundation
• Grand Rapids Community Foundation
• Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation
• Gratiot County Community Foundation
• Greenville Area Community Foundation
• Hillsdale County Community Foundation
• The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area
• Huron County Community Foundation
• Jackson Community Foundation
• Kalamazoo Community Foundation
• Keweenaw Community Foundation
• Lapeer County Community Foundation
• Leelanau Township Community Foundation
• Lenawee Community Foundation
• M&M Area Community Foundation
• Mackinac Island Community Foundation
• Manistee County Community Foundation
• Marshall Community Foundation
• Michigan Gateway Community Foundation
• Midland Area Community Foundation
• Community Foundation of Monroe County
• Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation
• Community Foundation of Muskegon County
• Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan
• Otsego County Community Foundation
• Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
• Community Foundation of Greater Rochester
• Roscommon County Community Foundation
• Saginaw Community Foundation
• Sanilac County Community Foundation
• Shiawassee Community Foundation
• Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
• Community Foundation of St. Clair County
• Sturgis Area Community Foundation
• Three Rivers Area Community Foundation
• Tuscola County Community Foundation
• Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula

Michigan Based Outside Scholarships

• Ashton B Joseph Scholarship (Amount Varies)
• Bernice Barlow NAACP Scholarship  (Amount Varies)
• Chairish "Design Your Future" Scholarship ($2,500)
• Circle Michigan Scholarship (Amount Varies)
• Harry and Lucille Brown Scholarship ($2500)
• Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan Academic Scholarship ($2,500)
• The Rotary Club of Dearborn Scholarships (Amount Varies)
• Scott A. Flahive Memorial Scholarship Fund (Amount Varies)
• Shelby Township Lions Club Scholarships ($2,000) 

Study Abroad Scholarships

• Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
• The Boren Awards
• Critical Language Scholarships
• The Go Overseas Study Abroad Scholarship
• Rotary Foundation & Club Scholarships
• Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship 

First Generation Student Scholarships 

• Jae Lee Immigrant Student Scholarship ($1,000)  
• The Law Offices of David A. Kadzai, LLC ($2,500)
• Top Nutrition Coaching First-Gen Futures Quarterly Scholarship ($1000, quarterly)
• Dream Chaser Scholarship ($1,000)  

Racial, Ethnic & Other Identity-based Scholarships

•  United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
• American Indian College Fund
• National Italian American Foundation
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund
• Asian Pacific Fund
• League of Latin American Citizens
• Society of Women Engineers
• Learner's Annual Innovators of Color in STEM Scholarship ($500)
• Learner's Annual Women in STEM Scholarship ($500)  
• V Nutrition LGTBQ+ Scholarship ($500)
• PrimePutt Scholarship for Women Golfers ($1,000)
• ADHDAdvisor.org's Quarterly Mental Health Scholarship for Women ($500 quarterly)
• Scholarship Institute Women's Leadership Scholarship ($500)
• Vasquez Law Firm DACA Dreamer Scholarship ($1,000)
• Native American Students
• Striving Solo Parent Scholarship ($1,000) Note: Must be single parent
• Jacoby & Meyers Latinx Community Scholarship ($5,000). Note: Residents of California only. Must be of Latinx descent.
• Women in Accounting Scholarship 

• GRAAHI Scholarship Fund (Varies based on financial need). Note: The scholarship is available to ANY healthcare program (certificate, associate, bachelor or master program), on any campus or online and must be a student of color

• Crew Network Foundation ($5,000 undergraduate, $10,000 graduate) Note: Open to females working on degrees that lead to careers in commercial real estate  

Graduate Student Scholarships

• GradShoolHub - 40 great scholarships for online graduate students

• Richard and Helen DeVos Scholarship - $25,000: April 1 application due date

Nursing Scholarships

• AANAPISI Scholarship ($2,500)
• ANCA scholarship
• APIA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ($2,500)
• A.T. Anderson Memorial Scholarship (Varies)
• ARN Scholarship
• A Nurse I Am Scholarship
• Cheryl M. Thomas Scholarship  ($5,000)
• Church of the Brethren Nursing Scholarship
• Creative Biolabs Scholarship ($1,000)
• ENA Foundation Academic Scholarships
• Franklin D. Boyce Scholarship (Varies)
• Indian Health Service Scholarships
• Live it Up's Quarterly Community Health Ambassador Scholarship for Nursing Students ($1,000 quarterly)
• Live it Up's Quarterly Women in Healthcare Scholarship ($500 quarterly)
• The Best Nursing School Scholarships (Varies)
• Safe-Baby Scholarship ($750) Note: Open to all health care programs
• Senior Care Careers: What to Know and 12 Scholarships That Can Help
• TYLENOL® Future Care Scholarship
• Uniform Advantage-GNSA Scholarship

Insurance and Risk Management Scholarships

• Farmers Insurance Annual Scholarship ($1,000 - $5,000)
• Amerisure Insurance Companies (awarded in the past to Temple University students; initiate contact with Corporate Recruiter Christa Ryland cryland@amerisure.com)
• Farmers Insurance Annual Scholarship ($1,000 - $5,000)
• Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals
• Blue Goose International – Michigan Pond (primarily claims adjusters; community service focus)(typically three $500 scholarships from Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids Puddles) – contact Richard Chenard biggoose@earthlink.net
• Central Michigan Adjusters Association (typically three to six at $500 each) – contact Trista Strohaver, Claims Representative, Secura Insurance Companies TStrohaver@secura.net
• Derek Hughes/NAPSLO Foundation (National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices) (several scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000), very competitive, usually need a 3.5 GPA to win one
• Detroit Chapter of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (one or two $1,000 scholarships) – contact Tim Comer tcomer@rgpt.com
• Grand Rapids Adjusters Association - contact Nicole Chuchvara president@graaonline.org
• Grand Rapids Insurance Professionals – contact Deb Oldfield deb.oldfield@kraftlake.com
• Insurance Institutes CPCU Scholarship program (for CPCU exam expenses)
• International Association of Insurance Professionals
• Michigan Adjusters Association (typically two at $500 each) – contact Steve Bowne sbowne@i2k.com
• Muskegon Adjusters Association (typically one $250 scholarship for a resident in the surrounding counties in west Michigan) – contact Steve Bowne sbowne@i2k.com
• Saginaw Valley Adjusters Association – contact Chuck McMartin chuck.mcmartin@mcmartin-wasek.com
• The CPCU-Loman Education Foundation Internship Financial Aid Program
• Detroit CPCU Chapter – contact Charlie Stevens, MMRMA, 734-513-0300
• Mid-Michigan CPCU Chapter (typically $500 to $1,000; will consider GPAs under 3.0 if active in campus activities, with a good recommendation)
• Western Michigan CPCU Chapter (typically $500) Roger Weise roger.weise@foremost.com, or Vic Prowsevic.prowse@foremost.com
• State Farm Foundation
• Westran Insurance Scholarship Foundation (20 to 30 $2,000 scholarships; high school seniors may apply for freshmen year – usually $1,000; limited to Great Lakes States – extra weight given to Michigan students and active Gamma Iota Sigma members; recommendation from industry professionals and from an academic; GPA considered, sometimes awarding GPAs as low as 2.6).

National Outside Scholarships

• College Student Loans Scholarship ($1,000 Monthly Scholarship Sweepstakes)
• Citizens Scholarship ($2,500 monthly, annual $15,000 award)
• Discover Scholarship Award ($5,000)

January (Month scholarship application is due)

• Accounting Students Scholarship Program ($5,000)
• AmericanSignLetters Scholarship ($1,000)
• Business Studies Scholarship Program ($2,000)
• DECASO Scholarship ($2,500)
• Elite Lawyer Scholarship ($500)
• Gaming Scholarship Program ($5,000)
• Key Exteriors Scholarship ($1,500)
• Law Office of Daniel J. Wright Leadership Scholarship ($1,000)
• Orlando Trial Pro, P.A. Scholarship ($5,000)
• Probo Medical Scholarship ($500)
• TastyPlacement Scholarship ($1,000)
• The PRINT IT Scholarship for Aspiring Content Creators (Renewable, $1,000)

February (Month scholarship application is due)

• Andrew Lynch Civil Justice Scholarship ($1,000)
• Blossom Law Caregiver Scholarship ($1,000)
• Community Choice Foundation Scholarship (Varies)
• Distracted Driving Awareness Scholarship ($1,000)
• Drunk Driving Prevention Essay Scholarship ($1,000)
• Elite Lawyer Scholarship ($500)
• Haworth Diversity Scholarship with Paid Work Experience ($2,000)
• Haworth Skilled Trades Scholarship ($2,000)
• The Price It Here, Inc. Scholarship ($1,000)
• Web Design Scholarship ($1,000)

March (Month scholarship application is due)

• 5Estimates.com Scholarship Program ($1,000)
• Adcraft Scholarship Foundation (Varies)
• Adcraft Club of Detroit (Varies)
• Alexandre Clug Scholarship ($1,000)
• CFF Foundation Education Scholarship ($1,500)
• Coats & Todd: Overcoming Disability Scholarship ($2,500)
• DevTeam.Space Stem Scholarship ($1,000)
• Dick Hannah Dealership ($1,000)
• Distracted Driving Family Plan Scholarship ($2,500)
• Driver Education Initiative: In the Driver’s Seat ($500)
• Earnest.com ($5,000)
• Gregory M Rada Scholarship for Helping Veterans ($1,000)
• Justice for All Scholarship ($1,000)
• Scroggins Law Group Help Scholarship ($1,000)
• Start Sleeping Scholarship ($1,000)
• Suneet Singal Giving ($1,000) Note: Open to international students
• The Goostree Law Group Bright Futures Scholarship ($2,500)
• The Ridge Ohio Scholarship ($2,500) 

April (Month scholarship application is due)

• Actuarial Diversity Scholarship (Varies)
• BrightSprout Crossword Scholarship ($1,000)  
• Corporate Responsibility & Brand Values Scholarship ($1,000)
• Couponbirds "Help To Save" Scholarship (Varies)
• Couponing in College Scholarship ($1,000)
• Cover Letter Mastery Scholarship ($750)
• Dino Tellone Scholarship ($2,600) Note: Open to international students
• Disparti Law-Service to Humanity Scholarship ($1,000)
• Donald L. Bell: Uplifting Communities Scholarship ($1,500)
• Eric Dalius Scholarship ($1,000)
• Flusche & Fitzgerald ($500)
• Green Pest Management Scholarship ($500 and $1,000)
• John Milne Scholarship ($1,000) Note: Open to international students  
• NAMI Stronger Scholarship ($5,000)
• Photonify Monthly Scholarship ($1,000)
• Scholarship Program Medical Students ($5,000)
• The Brown Kiely, LLP Community Law Advocate Scholarship ($1,000)
• The Healthline and The Nature Conservancy Stronger Scholarship ($5,000)
• Walter Morales STEM Scholarship ($1,000)

• Wieand Law Firm, LLC Legal Scholarship ($1,000)

May (Month scholarship application is due)

• Abrahamson & Uiterwyk Scholarship ($1,500)
• Addiction Awareness Scholarship Campaign ($1,500)
• Annual FormsPal Scholarship Essay Contest ($3,300)
• B.Davis Scholarship ($1,000)
• CBC Spouses Education Scholarship ($8200)
• Chanty Scholarship ($10,000)
• Eltrigham Law Group ($500 - $3,000)
• Eric Verhaar Scholarship ($1,000)
• Game Development Scholarship Program ($5,000)
• Global Scholarship Program ($5,000)
• Law Offices of Randolph Rice Scholarship ($1,500)
• Medical Student Scholarship Program ($5,000)
• Micklin Law Group Scholarship ($1,000)
• Mobile Application Development Students Scholarship Program ($5,000)
• Mushkatel, Robbins & Becker, PLLC Scholarship ($1,000)
• Needle & Ellenberg’s Excellence In The Face Of Adversity Scholarship ($1,000)
• Ortorex Scholarship Program ($1,000)
• Sandstone Care Scholarship ($5,000)
• Scholarship Program For Marketing Students ($5,000)
• Side By Side Reviews Scholarship ($1,000)
• Soar to Success Accounting Scholarship ($500)
• Stephenson Rife, LLP Scholarship ($1,000)
• The Domaine Scholarship Program ($2,000)
• Visual Art Students Scholarship ($5,000)
• Yarkoweb Scholarship ($1,000)

June (Month scholarship application is due) 

• Abbott and Fenner Scholarship ($1,000)
• Anidjar & Levine Community Service Scholarship ($1,000)
• Boster Bio Scholarship Fund ($1000)
• Building the Future Scholarship ($5,000)
• Chairish "Design Your Future" Scholarship ($2,500)
• Dolman Law Group Scholarship ($1,000)
• Edubirdie Scholarship ($1,000)
• Elite Lawyer Scholarship ($1,000)
• Eugene Bruno & Associates Scholarship ($1,000)
• Fleming College Scholarship ($1,000)
• From Classroom to Classroom Scholarship ($5,000)
• I’m a Survivor Scholarship ($2,500)
• Iron Fence Schop Scholarship ($1,000)
• McKinney, Tucker &Lemel Scholarship ($1,000)
• Medical Billing Service’s Annual Health and Technology Scholarship ($1,000)
• Paying It Forward – How My Degree Will Make a Difference (White Law PLLC) ($2,500)

• Pickering Law Student Scholarship ($2,000)

• Probo Medical Scholarship ($500)
• Remembering a Life Scholarship ($2,500)
• Richard Rawle Memorial Scholarship from Check City ($2,000)
• Schaefer Halleen's Social Equity Scholarship ($1,000)
• Smart Savings Scholarship ($500)
• Terry Bryant Scholarship ($2,500)     
• Trademark Scholarship ($2,500)
• Watershed’s Health Care Scholarship ($1,000)
• What Will Be Your Trademark? Scholarship Contest ($2,500)

July (Month scholarship application is due)

• Ankin Law Annual Veteran Scholarship ($1,000)
• Belsky, Weinberg &Horowitz  Scholarship ($1,000)
• BodEvolveScholarship ($2500)
• Build Your Future: The Michigan Realtors Scholarship Trust ($500 - $3,000)
• CE Shop Give Back Scholarship ($1,000)
• Dominguez Firm Collegiate Scholarship ($5,000)
• Frank Roach Scholarship Foundation ($1,000)
• Gabe Jenkins Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)
• Give Back Scholarship ($1,000)
• Importance of Data Recovery Scholarship ($1,000)
• Industrial Metal Service Scholarship ($1,000)
• KURU Footwear ($1,000)
• Law Office of Philip R. Nathe Scholarship ($1,000)
• Law School Scholarship for Veterans ($1,500)
• Looking Forward to End Distracted Driving Scholarship Contest ($1,000)
• McMath Woods P.A. Law Firm Scholarship ($1,000)
• New Silver Scholarship ($2,500 - $5,000)
• North American Spine Scholarship ($2,500)
• Prince Law Firm Academic Scholarship ($1,000)
• Road to Recovery Scholarship ($2,000)
• ROI CX Act Now Scholarship ($2,500)
• Scholarship for Children of Convicted Felons ($1,500)
• Shelving.com Business Scholarship ($1,000 - $3,000)
• Shrager& Sachs Scholarship ($1,000)
• Solomon Law Group Scholarship ($1,000)
• Spokeo AI Scholarship ($5,000)
• StangerLaw LLC Scholarship Contest ($1,000)
• Thomas Law Offices Scholarship ($1,000)

August (Month scholarship application is due)

• Driver Education Initiative Award ($3,000)
• Driver Education Initiative: In the Driver’s Seat ($500)
• Edison HHC Educational Scholarship ($1,000)
• Florida Rentals Annual Dream Vacation Scholarship ($1,000)
• Infantcpr Safebaby Scholarship ($1,000)
• Law Office of Jerry D. Andrews-Community Impact Scholarship ($2,500)
• The Mark Elenowitz Scholarship ($1,000)
• Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship ($1,500)
• NetSpot Scholarship  ($2,000)
• Pharmica International Scholarship ($1,000)
• Pro Stock Hockey Student Athlete Scholarship ($1,000)
• Renaissance Recovery ($1,000)
• Supporting our Heroes Scholarship ($1,000) 

September (Month scholarship application is due)

• Autoinsurance.org’s Phone Use and Driving Award Scholarship ($1,000)
• Beldon Scholarship ($1,000)     
• Dick Hannah Dealership ($1,000)    
• Expert Insurance Reviews’ Young Drivers Scholarship ($1,000)
• Finale Inventory Scholarship ($3,000)
• Headway's Book Lovers Scholarship ($1,500)
• Klenk Law Community Leadership Scholarship ($1,000)
• OutdoorStack’s Scholarship ($1,500)
• Scott Cooper: Miami Scholarships ($500)
• Stanford Advanced Materials (SAM) ($1,000)
• StorageArea.com Scholarship ($1,000)

October (Month scholarship application is due)

• AES Engineering Scholarship ($500)
• Apartment Guide scholarship ($2,000)
• Buckfire & Buckfire PC Paralegal Scholarship ($1,000)
• Choose Energy Scholarships ($3,000)
• Conex Boxes, Inc. Scholarship ($1,000)
• Couponbirds "Help To Save" Scholarship (Varies)
• Eric Dalius Muzicswipe Giving ($1,000)
• Knoji ($1,500)
• Michael E. Weintraub Scholarship ($1,000)  
• Moments Scholarship ($2,500)
• My Millennial Guide Scholarship ($500)
• Price It Here, Inc. Scholarship ($1,000)
• Responsify Empowering Others Scholarship ($1,000)
• Scott Cooper: Miami Scholarships ($500)
• Web Design Scholarship ($1,000)

November (Month scholarship application is due)

• 5Estimates.com Scholarship Program ($1,000)
• Baron & Budd Attorneys Mesothelioma Cancer Victims Memorial Scholarships ($2,500)
• Bold.org Scholarship ($10,015)
• David & Philpot ($1,000)
• Driver Education Initiative 2020: In the Driver’s Seat ($500)
• GreenPal Small Business Scholarship ($2,000)
• HomeLight Scholarship ($1,000)
• Leesa Social Impact Scholarship ($10,000)
• Mental Health Education Annual Scholarship ($1,500)
• Start Sleeping Scholarship ($1,000)
• Watershed’s Health Care Scholarship ($1,000)
• Women’s Education Coalition Grant (Varies)
• Zumper Apartments Scholarship ($1,000

December (Month scholarship application is due)

• AceableAgent Higher Education Scholarship ($1,000)
• AGENT.media Internet Marketing Scholarship ($1,000)
• The American Hat Makers Scholarship ($750)
• Battery Hunters Innovative Writing Scholarship ($1,500)
• BodEvolveScholarship ($2,500)     
• Community Leadership Scholarship ($1,000)
• Clutch Prep Business Scholarship ($500)
• Data Numen ($1,000)
• Direct Energy Live Brighter Scholarship ($2,500)
• Dirk Derrick Car & Truck Accident Injury Scholarship ($1,000)
• Dominguez Firm Collegiate Scholarship Award ($5,000)
• Dominguez Firm Legal Scholarship Award ($2,500)
• Dura-Pack Packaging Sustainability Initiative Award ($3,000)
• Elevate Black Entrepreneurs Scholarship ($2,000)
• Embry Law Firm Scholarship ($1,500)
• Eric Verhaar Scholarship ($1,000)
• Fob James Law Firm Scholarship ($1,000)
• Greenberg & Ruby, LLP Scholarship ($1,000)
• Happy Valley Scholarship ($2,500)
• Heer Law Entrepreneurship Scholarship  ($2,000)
• Intoxalock Drunk Driving Prevention Scholarship ($3,000)
• Law Office of Joel Kofsky Scholarship ($1,000)
• MR Home Buyer Scholarship ($1,000) Note: Open to Canadian students
• Looking Forward to End Distracted Driving Scholarship ($1,000)
• Market Research Scholarship ($1,000)
• Mehta & McConnell Undergraduate Scholarship ($1,000)
• Michigan Auto Law Car Accident Injury Survivor Scholarship ($500)
• National Debt Relief Scholarship ($1,000)
• North American Spine Scholarship ($2,500)
• Occupational Health and Safety Annual Scholarship Program ($1,000)
• Paint Vibe Scholarship ($1,000)
• Reeves Law Group Scholarship ($5,000)
• Richard J. Banta Law Civil Justice Scholarship ($1,000)
• Robert Wayne Pearce Investor Fraud Awareness Scholarship ($1,000)
• Si Yacht's Positive Values Scholarship ($2,000)
• Student Savings Scholarship ($1,000)
• US Catheter Supplies Scholarship ($1,000)
• The Domaine Scholarship Program ($2,000)
• The Little Bundle Supermom Scholarship ($2,000)
• Top Tens Unit Scholarship ($1,000)
• TuffShippingContainers.com Scholarship ($1,000)
• Vocational Training HQ’s Scholarship ($1,000)
• We the Students Scholarship Contest ($1,000)
• Wolf & Pravato Scholarship for Students ($500)