Local scholarships: how to find them

Local scholarships come from your county, your city, your high school, local clubs, and your state. Fewer students can apply, so they are worth the time. Here is where to look, and how Next Scholar helps.

Get matched free · Scholarships by state

Where to look

1. Your school counselor’s scholarship list. Many local awards are on paper only and never reach a website.
2. Your community foundation. Most counties have one, and many run dozens of named funds with one application.
3. Clubs and groups: Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Elks, American Legion posts, and local businesses.
4. Your credit union or bank, and your parents’ employers and unions.
5. Your state’s higher education agency for state grants and scholarships.
6. The college you plan to attend. Ask the financial aid office about department awards.

How Next Scholar helps with local awards

• Add your state, county, and city to your profile. Matching then checks the local awards we have on file.
• Each listing links to its official page and shows the day we last checked it.
• You see your top 3 matches free, without an account.
• Track deadlines and paper forms in one place once you start.

Scholarships by state

California · Pennsylvania · Florida · Texas · Michigan · North Carolina · New York · Kentucky · Georgia · Illinois · Wisconsin · Massachusetts · All 51 states

Scholarships by group

Scholarships for high school seniors · STEM scholarships · Scholarships for first-generation students · Scholarships for military-connected students · Scholarships for students with disabilities · Scholarships for military families

Watch out for

• A real scholarship never asks you to pay to apply.
• Do not give a Social Security number on a first form.
• Check the deadline on the official page. Local dates change each year.

Questions

Where do I find local scholarships?

Start with your school counselor’s list. Then check your community foundation, local clubs (Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis), your credit union, your parents’ employers and unions, and your state’s higher education agency.

Are local scholarships easier to win?

Often fewer students apply, because fewer people can. That is not a promise. The sponsor decides who wins.

Does Next Scholar list local scholarships?

Yes, when we have them on file from an official page. Add your state, county, and city, and matching checks them for you. We do not search the open web.

Checked October 11, 2026. State counts come from the live catalog when this page loads.

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