10 Verified Scholarships for Online Degree & Distance-Learning Students (2026 Guide)

February

1) Louisiana Tech Distance Learner Scholarships

Why It Slaps: This is one of the cleanest true distance-learner awards I found because it is built specifically for students who are accepted as full-time online degree-seeking students. That matters. It is not pretending online students are welcome as an afterthought. Louisiana Tech says the scholarship is intended for students who need financial assistance, the award amount varies by financial circumstances, and the scholarship can be renewed by quarter if you keep meeting the rules. For students who already know Louisiana Tech is on their shortlist, this is exactly the kind of institutional money worth chasing early.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Feb. 1 for spring quarter; Aug. 1 for fall quarter; Nov. 1 for winter quarter
Apply/info: https://online.latech.edu/tuition-aid/distance-learner-scholarships/

2) W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship

Why It Slaps: This is a strong example of a school-funded scholarship that actually respects online students as real degree-seekers. The University of Arkansas Global Campus offers it to students in undergraduate and graduate online degree programs, which gives it wider reach than many online-only awards. The amount is meaningful, the application cycle is clearly posted, and the page says preference goes to first-generation higher education seekers and Arkansas residents. That makes it especially attractive for students who want a legit online program and a scholarship that is not just symbolic.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Deadline: February 15
Apply/info: https://online.uark.edu/manning-scholarship/

March

3) GetEducated.com Distance Learning Scholarship

Why It Slaps: This is the rare broad scholarship in this space that is not locked to one college. GetEducated says you can use the award at any accredited online school of your choice, and the program is based on both merit and financial need. That flexibility is a big deal for students still comparing programs, especially adults and transfer students who do not want to be trapped into one institution too early. It is also one of the few scholarship pages I verified that is clearly aimed at online degree students nationwide rather than just listing “online” somewhere in the fine print.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: March 15 and October 15
Apply/info: https://www.geteducated.com/free-college-scholarships/20-distance-learning-scholarships/

May

4) UA Online Scholarships

Why It Slaps: The University of Alabama’s online scholarship system is useful because it is not just one tiny award. It is a scholarship pipeline for students enrolled in UA Online degree programs or New College LifeTrack. That means you are stepping into a pool of multiple named scholarships rather than betting everything on one outside application. For online students, that is a smart setup. It rewards students who get admitted, complete the scholarship process, and position themselves for several possible funding matches inside the same system.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 1 to May 31 for Fall 2026 applications; Aug. 1 to Oct. 15 for Spring/Summer 2027
Apply/info: https://online.ua.edu/tuition-financial-aid-scholarships/scholarships/ua-online-scholarships/

June

5) Full Sail Emerging Technology Scholarship

Why It Slaps: This is the highest-upside award on this list for the right student. Full Sail says the scholarship provides a full scholarship including tuition and a laptop for eligible students in select campus or online bachelor’s degree programs in tech-heavy fields like computer science, cybersecurity, game development, IT, simulation engineering, and web development. It is definitely competitive, but for a student with strong academics and a real tech portfolio, this is the kind of opportunity that can radically lower the cost of an online degree instead of just shaving off a few hundred dollars.
Amount: Full scholarship including tuition and a laptop
Deadline: June 27, 2026 for admission application and original project submission
Apply/info: https://www.fullsail.edu/scholarships/emerging-technology-scholarship

6) Morton Bahr Distance Learning Scholarship

Why It Slaps: This one stands out because it is not just a partial award. SUNY Empire says scholarship awards fully cover tuition and fees for eligible students, with funding for one or two courses per term up to 8 credits, as long as satisfactory academic progress continues. It is targeted to union workers, family members, and domestic partners pursuing an undergraduate degree through Empire State University, which makes it especially valuable for working adults using online education to finish or restart college. If you fit the labor/union angle, this is one of the best true distance-learning offers in the whole batch.
Amount: Full tuition and fees for eligible study, up to 8 credits
Deadline: Apply prior to June 30
Apply/info: https://alumni.sunyempire.edu/suny-empire-foundation//scholarships/bahr-scholarship/

July

7) The Master’s University Online New Student Scholarship

Why It Slaps: This is not the biggest award on the page, but it is current, specific, and usable right now for students starting online study in Summer 2026. That makes it more valuable than flashy listings with fuzzy dates. TMU says the scholarship is open to new online students in Summer 2026, with different award amounts by program level. For students who are already planning a summer start, this can lower the cost of getting in the door and make the first term less painful financially. Smaller live scholarships still matter, especially when they are easy to match with your real start term.
Amount: Undergraduate $400; MABS $275; MBA/MHA/MEd $595
Deadline: July 1, 2026 application deadline for Summer 2; students must be enrolled by the first day of class for Summer 2
Apply/info: https://online.masters.edu/new-student-scholarship/

August

8) Southern Miss Online Student Scholarship – Undergraduate

Why It Slaps: This is the kind of entry-point scholarship online students should love. It is simple, clearly labeled for fully online students, and the GPA floor is not ridiculous. Southern Miss says this is a one-time $500 scholarship for fully online undergraduate students with at least a 2.5 GPA, and the AcademicWorks page gives a specific deadline. That makes it practical for students who want a real shot at first-semester help instead of spending hours digging through vague scholarship portals.
Amount: $500
Deadline: August 24, 2026
Apply/info: https://usm.academicworks.com/opportunities/36985

9) Southern Miss Online Student Scholarship – Graduate

Why It Slaps: Graduate online students often get squeezed because many scholarship lists quietly lean undergraduate. This one does not. Southern Miss has a separate graduate version of its online student scholarship, and it keeps the same straightforward setup: fully online student, 2.5 GPA floor, incoming-student scope, clear deadline, and a defined dollar amount. If you are starting an online graduate program and want low-friction institutional money to reduce first-term cost, this is exactly the type of award you should apply to before chasing less certain outside options.
Amount: $500
Deadline: August 24, 2026
Apply/info: https://usm.academicworks.com/opportunities/36900

Varies by Term / Session

10) SUU Online Finish Line Scholarship

Why It Slaps: This is one of the better “finish your degree” scholarships I found for online bachelor’s students. Southern Utah University says the award can provide up to $1,000 per semester for up to six semesters, which creates real multi-term value instead of a one-and-done micro-award. It is built for students pursuing their first online bachelor’s degree, including new, returning, and transfer students. That makes it especially strong for adults who stopped out, earned credits elsewhere, or need a practical path to finally complete a degree online.
Amount: Up to $1,000 per semester, up to $6,000 total
Deadline: One week before the class start date; tied to the application deadline for each semester or session
Apply/info: https://www.suu.edu/finishline/

How to Use This List Without Wasting Time

Start with the scholarships tied to schools you would realistically attend. School-specific online scholarships often give you a better shot than random national listings because the pool is narrower and the scholarship is built around actual enrollment.

Next, file the FAFSA even if you are fully online. The 2026–27 FAFSA covers aid for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and schools often use FAFSA data when building the larger aid package around grants, scholarships, and loans. Do not confuse loans with gift aid when comparing offers. Grants and scholarships cut cost. Loans delay cost.

Finally, always verify whether the scholarship requires admission first. Several of the best opportunities in this guide are not “anyone can apply” awards. They are tied to being admitted to the online program, using the school’s scholarship system, or meeting session-specific enrollment deadlines.

FAQs

Are there real scholarships just for online students?

Yes, but many of the strongest verified options are institutional awards rather than giant national scholarships. In this guide, several of the cleanest live opportunities came directly from universities that specifically support online or distance-learning students.

Should online students still file the FAFSA?

Absolutely. The 2026–27 FAFSA is the correct form for aid covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and schools often build aid packages from a mix of grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Even if you are studying fully online, FAFSA can still be a core first step.

Can graduate online students qualify for scholarships too?

Yes. This list includes graduate-friendly options such as the W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship, UA Online Scholarships, Southern Miss Online Student Scholarship – Graduate, and some of TMU’s graduate online awards.

Can part-time online students qualify?

Sometimes. It depends on the award. Louisiana Tech requires continuous full-time online enrollment, while some UA Online scholarships include full-time or part-time students, and the Morton Bahr scholarship supports one or two courses per term up to 8 credits. Read the school page, not just the title.

What is the biggest mistake online students make when scholarship hunting?

Relying on third-party roundup pages instead of the official scholarship page. The official page is where you find the real application window, whether admission is required, and whether the award is actually live for your term. In this niche especially, that step saves a lot of wasted time.

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