Top 30 Scholarships for Juniors in College

Looking for scholarships for juniors in college? Here are 30 verified scholarships sorted by deadline month, with award amounts, official apply/info links, and clear notes on why each one is worth your time.

January

1) Mensa Foundation Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: This one is refreshingly simple for busy college juniors because the core application centers on a short essay about your academic and professional goals rather than a giant stack of extra hoops. It also casts a wide net, which makes it useful for juniors across many majors who want another strong funding option before senior year. The official program says Mensa awards over $200,000 in scholarships annually, so this is not a tiny side contest buried on a random website.
Amount: Varies; the Mensa Foundation says it awards over $200,000 annually.
Deadline: January 15, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.mensafoundation.org/what-we-do/scholarships/

2) Boren Scholarship
Why It Slaps: If you are a junior planning study abroad tied to language learning, national security, or public service, Boren is one of the highest-upside awards on the board. It is especially strong for juniors because this is often the sweet spot for building an overseas academic plan before graduation. The award can be large enough to materially change whether a serious international experience is affordable at all.
Amount: Up to $25,000, depending on program length.
Deadline: January 28, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.borenawards.org/apply-now

3) Barry Goldwater Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most prestigious scholarships in the country for STEM students, and it is especially built for sophomores and juniors who are serious about research careers. For a junior aiming at graduate school, research-intensive internships, or elite faculty mentoring, Goldwater can become a major résumé signal. It is nomination-based and competitive, but that is exactly why it can be so valuable if you are already doing meaningful research work.
Amount: Up to $7,500 per academic year.
Deadline: January 30, 2026.
Apply/info: https://goldwaterscholarship.gov/

February

4) Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: Juniors interested in fraud examination, forensic accounting, compliance, or anti-fraud work should pay attention to this one because it is career-targeted and backed by a respected professional organization. It does not just provide scholarship money; the program also includes a year of ACFE membership, which adds real professional value while you are still in school. That combination of money plus field-specific credibility makes it stronger than a generic award.
Amount: Awards of $10,000, $7,500, $5,000, and $2,000.
Deadline: February 2, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.acfe.com/scholarship.aspx

5) Truman Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the best true junior-year scholarships in America because it is explicitly designed for students with junior-level standing who want careers in public service. If your goals point toward government, nonprofit leadership, education policy, public health, law, or public-interest work, Truman is a heavyweight opportunity. The funding is strong, but the leadership development, internships, and professional network are what make it a long-game award instead of just a one-time cash boost.
Amount: Up to $30,000.
Deadline: February 3, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.truman.gov/apply/applying/bulletin-information

6) ScholarSHPE
Why It Slaps: For Hispanic students in STEM, this is one of the smartest junior-year plays because it connects scholarship funding with a real national professional network. SHPE’s official program materials emphasize access to a large pool of scholarship dollars, and that matters because juniors are often trying to fund the expensive final stretch into senior year. It is also the kind of program that can help with belonging, mentoring, and industry exposure, not just tuition relief.
Amount: Varies; SHPE says members can access more than $800,000 in scholarships.
Deadline: February 16, 2026.
Apply/info: https://shpe.org/engage/programs/scholarshpe/

7) The LAGRANT Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This one is especially good for juniors because the official criteria are built around students in advertising, marketing, or public relations who still have at least one year left in school. That timing makes juniors a sweet-spot audience. Beyond the cash, LAGRANT has a strong reputation for exposing students from underrepresented communities to the industries they want to enter, which gives the award extra career value.
Amount: $2,500.
Deadline: February 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. PST.
Apply/info: https://lagrantfoundation.org/scholarship-application-process/

March

8) ACS Catalyst Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Chemistry and chemistry-related majors should give this serious attention because the ACS program is offering a renewable scholarship, which is especially useful if you are trying to reduce the cost of your last one or two years. It is a strong fit for juniors because current undergraduates are explicitly eligible, and the award is tied to future work in the chemical sciences rather than a vague “student excellence” theme. That makes it more targeted and often more worth the effort.
Amount: $10,000 renewable scholarship.
Deadline: March 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.acs.org/education/acs-undergraduate-scholarship.html

9) Udall Undergraduate Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Udall is a standout junior-year award because it specifically targets sophomores and juniors who want to lead in environmental fields, Tribal public policy, or Native health care. That built-in fit matters, since many scholarships say “undergraduate” but are not actually tailored to students at this stage. If your coursework, service, and career plans already line up with one of Udall’s mission areas, this is one of the best prestige-plus-funding options on the list.
Amount: $7,500.
Deadline: March 4, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.udall.gov/ourprograms/scholarship/scholarship.aspx

10) SCI America Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: Juniors in chemical-industry-related majors who have strong grades should look closely at this one because it is a clean, field-specific scholarship with a solid award size. It is the kind of program that makes sense if you are already deep enough into your major to show commitment and academic traction. That usually describes juniors better than first-year students, which is why this one belongs on a junior-focused page.
Amount: $5,000.
Deadline: March 11, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT, or when 100 applications are received.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/sciamerica/

11) Point Foundation Access Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a practical option for juniors who want a program that values identity, persistence, and access rather than demanding a perfect transcript and a hyper-specialized résumé. Point’s Access Scholarship is especially relevant for LGBTQ+ students and allies, including students who are first-generation and/or low-income. The award amount is not huge, but the program’s community focus can make it a meaningful add-on alongside other scholarships.
Amount: $1,500.
Deadline: March 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. PST / 8:00 p.m. EST.
Apply/info: https://pointfoundation.org/scholarships/access

12) Invictus Capital Partners / Verus Mortgage Capital Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: This is a useful junior-year add because it is open to current college undergraduates and offers a straightforward one-time award without demanding that you fit a hyper-niche identity or very narrow academic track. That makes it the kind of scholarship juniors can realistically slot into a broader funding strategy. It is especially helpful if you want another legitimate official-page scholarship that is not just a random sweepstakes-style listing.
Amount: $5,000.
Deadline: March 12, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/invictuscp-verusmc/

13) AICPA Foundation Legacy Scholarships
Why It Slaps: Accounting juniors should love this because one application can put you in the running for multiple AICPA Foundation scholarships. That is efficient, and efficiency matters when junior year gets crowded with upper-level coursework, internship recruiting, and CPA planning. The program also pairs money with real professional-development upside, which makes it stronger than a generic department-level award.
Amount: $5,000 to $10,000, depending on the specific Legacy scholarship.
Deadline: March 15, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.thiswaytocpa.com/education/aicpa-legacy-scholarships/

14) Wells Fargo Stacey Milbern Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a strong pick for juniors with disabilities because it is tied to a clear mission of supporting students already navigating college rather than only targeting incoming freshmen. By junior year, many students have a much better sense of their academic direction and support needs, so a scholarship like this can land at the right time. It is also a good example of a smaller award that can still meaningfully cover books, fees, transportation, or part of tuition.
Amount: $1,250 to $2,500.
Deadline: March 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/pwdscholarship/

15) PSE Merle T. Lebakken Scholarship
Why It Slaps: If you are a junior heading toward careers in the electric power or utility industries, this is a very on-target scholarship. Junior year is often when students in technical pathways are sharpening industry direction, taking advanced classes, and preparing for internships or direct-entry roles. That makes a sector-specific scholarship like this more strategically useful than a broad award with no professional angle.
Amount: $2,500 to $5,000.
Deadline: March 24, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/pse/

16) Astronaut Scholarship
Why It Slaps: For high-achieving STEM juniors at participating universities, this is a premium award with real prestige. The official program is built for junior and senior STEM students and is tied closely to academic excellence, research promise, and institutional nomination. If you are already doing serious lab work or high-level STEM research, this is one of the sharpest junior-year opportunities in the country.
Amount: Up to $15,000.
Deadline: March 30, 2026, for liaison nominations.
Apply/info: https://www.astronautscholarship.org/programs/astronaut-scholarship/

17) NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP)
Why It Slaps: This is one of the best junior-year scholarships for students committed to biomedical, behavioral, or social science research and who also demonstrate financial need. The money is serious, but the bigger draw is the NIH connection, which can open doors for training, research experience, and a stronger long-term science pathway. For juniors planning senior year and beyond, that pipeline value is a huge differentiator.
Amount: Up to $20,000 per academic year.
Deadline: March 31, 2026, at noon ET.
Apply/info: https://www.training.nih.gov/research-training/pb/ugsp/

18) American Water Impact Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: This one stands out because it can be renewable, which is a big deal for juniors who need support for the last stretch of undergrad. The program also targets students in eligible states and blends academic eligibility with mission-oriented factors like first-generation status, community service, or interest in water sustainability. That makes it stronger than a plain GPA-only award.
Amount: $10,000, renewable for up to three additional years.
Deadline: March 31, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/american-water/

19) Gamma Mu Foundation Scholarships
Why It Slaps: This is a strong option for LGBTQ+ applicants who fit one of the foundation’s scholarship categories and want support from an organization focused on community uplift rather than generic merit branding. For juniors, that can be especially helpful when senior-year costs are coming into view and identity-affirming support matters just as much as raw dollars. It is also one of the more mission-driven awards on this list.
Amount: $2,500 to $5,000.
Deadline: March 31 each year.
Apply/info: https://www.gammamufoundation.org/scholarship-guidelines—application-info

20) SWE Scholarships
Why It Slaps: For women in engineering, engineering technology, or closely related fields, SWE remains one of the most recognizable scholarship names in the space. Juniors benefit a lot here because by third year they often have enough technical coursework, project experience, and professional direction to put together a competitive application. It is also a smart scholarship to stack with internships and society involvement already happening in engineering programs.
Amount: Varies.
Deadline: March 31, 2026.
Apply/info: https://swe.org/apply-for-a-swe-scholarship/

April

21) The Guild Giving National Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a nice junior-year add because it is a legitimate official-page scholarship with a straightforward award and broad postsecondary reach. It is not the biggest dollar amount on the list, but juniors often win by stacking several clean, realistic scholarships instead of chasing only moonshot awards. This one fits that strategy well.
Amount: $1,500.
Deadline: April 10, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/guildgiving/

22) Actuary of Tomorrow – Stuart A. Robertson Memorial Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Actuarial science students who are already making progress on exams should absolutely know this one. That is exactly why it fits juniors so well: by junior year, the strongest applicants are often the ones who have enough coursework and momentum to have passed at least two actuarial exams. When a scholarship lines up this tightly with real professional progress, it can be far more valuable than a general math scholarship.
Amount: $2,500 to $10,000.
Deadline: April 14, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/robertson-memorial/

23) Scholarship America Essential Visionaries Fund
Why It Slaps: This is a good fit for juniors who want a bigger one-time award and a broad eligibility lane that still includes current undergraduates. Because the official page allows current college undergrads planning undergraduate study, it can work well for juniors trying to fund senior year rather than only incoming students. The award range also makes it more impactful than the many small $500 to $1,000 scholarships floating around online.
Amount: $5,000 to $10,000.
Deadline: April 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/essentialvisionaries/

24) IBTTA Foundation Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Transportation-related majors should take this seriously because it is built for current undergraduates who have already completed meaningful coursework. That makes it especially junior-friendly, since juniors usually have enough credits and academic direction to prove they are committed to civil engineering, planning, public policy, operations, or other transportation-connected fields. It is a sharp niche award that can really stand out if your path matches the mission.
Amount: $5,000.
Deadline: April 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/ibtta/

May

25) ALEC Bright Future Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: This is more specialized than many awards here, but it is still a smart inclusion because current college undergraduates who are ALEC members can compete for a solid one-time award with no financial-need requirement. If you qualify, the competition pool is often more targeted than huge national scholarships. Juniors who already belong to the credit union and are planning full-time undergrad study should not overlook that advantage.
Amount: $2,500 to $5,000.
Deadline: May 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/alec/

26) AFCEA STEM Majors Scholarships
Why It Slaps: STEM juniors should like AFCEA because the organization offers multiple scholarship tracks tied to cybersecurity, STEM study, and student membership. By junior year, many applicants finally have enough course depth, internship direction, and technical confidence to make a strong case. That makes this a good target if you are already building a résumé in computing, engineering, or related national-security-adjacent fields.
Amount: Typically $2,500 to $5,000, depending on the award track.
Deadline: May 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.afcea.org/stem-majors-scholarships

27) NSA Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: For juniors living in eligible New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut service areas, this is a real scholarship with practical upside and a reapply option in future cycles. It is especially nice because the official program includes both standard awards and higher meritorious awards, plus the possibility of internships. That combination makes it more than just a one-note local scholarship.
Amount: $1,500 to $5,000.
Deadline: May 13, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/nsacares/

November

28) Point Foundation Flagship Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most valuable late-year scholarships for LGBTQ+ and ally students because it is not just a one-time check. The official program ties financial support to leadership development, community, and longer-term scholar benefits, and the award can be renewable for up to four years. For juniors, that means this can still be worth pursuing even late in undergrad if you want both funding and a serious support network.
Amount: Financial award based on need, renewable for up to four years of support.
Deadline: November 20 (latest posted cycle).
Apply/info: https://pointfoundation.org/scholarships/flagship

29) NACA Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships
Why It Slaps: This is a smart junior pick for students heavily involved in campus leadership, programming boards, student activities, and engagement work. The official page makes clear these awards are for undergraduates, not high school seniors, and several scholarships specifically reward student leaders. That focus is perfect for juniors who have already had time to build leadership on campus and can finally show a meaningful record of involvement.
Amount: Varies; the official page includes examples such as a $5,000 Alan Davis Scholarship and multiple $500 regional leadership awards.
Deadline: Typically November 30 each year, though some NACA scholarship deadlines vary.
Apply/info: https://www.naca.org/resources/scholarships-grants/scholarships/undergraduate.html

December

30) SMART Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: For STEM juniors, this is one of the most financially powerful awards anywhere because it combines full tuition with a large annual stipend and a direct employment pathway after graduation. It is not for casual applicants, since it comes with Department of Defense service obligations and strict eligibility requirements, but that structure is exactly why the value is so high. If your goals line up with defense-related STEM work, this can transform the cost and trajectory of the rest of your degree.
Amount: Full tuition plus an annual stipend of $30,000 to $46,000.
Deadline: First Friday in December each year.
Apply/info: https://www.smartscholarship.org/smart/en