Top 25 Private Scholarship Opportunities for September 28th – October 8th, 2026
CAP’s Weekly Private Scholarship List for September 28th – October 8th, 2026
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Looking for scholarships to help fund your education? College Aid Pro presents its latest weekly selection of private scholarships, tailored to meet a wide array of student needs. From high school graduates to current undergraduates and those considering studying abroad, you’ll find potential opportunities here. Act fast, as deadlines are near! Take a look at the list and keep in mind that creating a FREE MyCAP account and see what colleges cost before you commit can significantly decrease the number of private scholarships you’ll need.
Here’s a look at CAP’s curated private scholarship list with scholarship opportunities that have deadlines closing within the next week.
Top 25 Private Scholarship Opportunities for September 28th – October 8th, 2026
College JumpStart Pay It Forward Scholarship:
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: The College JumpStart Pay It Forward Scholarship allows you to share a time that you have paid it forward. In other words, has there been a time that someone has done something kind for you and this has motivated you to do something kind for someone else? We’d love to hear about this experience and how it has affected you. If this topic doesn’t speak to you, you may also write about any topic of your choice. Applicants must be current students (high school 10th-12th or college) or planning to enter college within the next 12 months; and U.S. citizens or legal residents. Financial need is not considered nor are grades or test scores. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
Altruism + All Good Deeds Scholarship:
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: The Altruism + All Good Deeds Scholarship is awarded to students who participate in volunteer work and community service. Each year, NPVA offers scholarships for students who are committed to volunteering and making a difference in their communities. The scholarships are open to students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Applicants must be currently enrolled or plan to be enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university. Applicants may be a high school junior or senior, undergraduate student, or graduate student. Recipients must provide an official transcript confirming their reported GPA and proof of enrollment. No transcript or proof of enrollment is required until after students are selected as winners. Please visit the scholarship’s website or contact NPVA for more information.
QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship:
Amount: $360,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: High school seniors, the 2024 National College Match is now open. The National College Match is a college admission and scholarship process through which high-achieving, students from low-income backgrounds can be admitted early with full four-year scholarships to some of the nation’s top colleges and universities. Through the National College Match application, students who have excelled academically despite financial hardship can highlight their unique story and stand out in the college admissions process. In the fall, QuestBridge selects top applicants as Finalists and students are able to rank up to 15 colleges to be matched” – admitted early with a Match Scholarship – to the college that appears highest on their list and is able to match with them. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
Creative Biolabs Scholarship Program:
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: As a leading custom service provider specializing in the field of antibody production and engineering, Creative Biolabs is always happy to support young and ambitious talents in our field. In an effort to further support their research and higher education in the medical and science-related fields, Creative Biolabs is proud to announce the 2025 Scholarship Program, which will be awarded to an outstanding college student. The scholarship is open on a global basis. Students must be enrolled as a major in a science-related field such as Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Molecular Biology. They must earn a cumulative average grade of a B (3.0 GPA). Applicants must submit a recommendation letter, either from a teacher, school counselor, or community leader. Applicants must also submit an essay or a PowerPoint presentation. The Creative Biolabs Selection Committee will review each application fairly and carefully in accordance with the following criteria: academic ability, leadership, and social concerns. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
Anders Tjellstrom Scholarship:
Amount: $2,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: The Cochlear Anders Tjellstrom Scholarship is an achievement award open to Baha and Osia recipients. Applicants must be high school seniors who have graduated by the spring of 2025, and undergraduate, or graduate students that have applied to or will be enrolled in an accredited college or university in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. The school must be located in the United States or Canada. Students completing their senior year of high school must apply only once they have received their final transcript. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to the Cochlear ideals of leadership and humanity. Consideration is also given to the applicant’s extracurricular activities and community involvement. Applicants must submit three letters of reference. At least two of these reference letters must be from a teacher or someone who has provided the student with academic instruction. Please visit the scholarship’s website or contact Cochlear for more information.
Baldur Stefansson Scholarship:
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: The Baldur Stefansson Scholarship, in honour of Dr. Stefansson’s work in the development of Canola, is to be awarded to a student studying Plant Science, to be chosen by faculty at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agriculture. Applicants should submit a general request, allowing the committee to consider each submission for any Foundation scholarship which is applicable. Priority may be given to first time applicants. Two references from persons other than family members are required for application, one of whom must be from someone with a teaching background. References may be submitted separately. Please visit the scholarship’s website or contact the Canada Iceland Foundation Inc. Scholarships for more information.
Lorna and Terry Tergesen Scholarship:
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: The Lorna and Terry Tergesen Scholarship will be awarded to a student entering the second or a later year of study of architecture, fine arts, design or graphic design, music, dance or voice. Applicants should submit a general request, allowing the committee to consider each submission for any Foundation scholarship which is applicable. Priority may be given to first time applicants. Two references from persons other than family members are required for application, one of whom must be from someone with a teaching background. References may be submitted separately. Please visit the scholarship’s website or contact the Canada Iceland Foundation Inc. Scholarships for more information.
KHEAA College Access Program Grant:
Amount: $2,500 – $5,300
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The KHEAA College Access Program Grant helps Kentucky’s financially needy undergraduate students attend eligible public and private colleges and universities, trade schools, and technical colleges. To be considered for a CAP Grant, a student must have financial need and attend an eligible college. They must have no past due financial obligations to KHEAA or to any Title IV program. Students must also be enrolled at least half-time in a program that is at least two years in length. CAP eligibility is limited to equivalent of full-time enrollment for four academic terms when enrolled in a two-year program of study; and equivalent of full-time enrollment for eight academic terms when enrolled in a four-year program of study. To apply for CAP, students must complete the FAFSA for the school year they are needing financial aid. Please visit the award’s website for more information.
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The Raymond Davis Scholarship was established in memory of Raymond Davis, a nationally recognized and highly-esteemed pioneer in the areas of photographic sensitometry, colorimetry, and microphotography. The scholarship is given to an advanced-level undergraduate or a graduate student with an academic and/or research focus in a field related to imaging. The applicant must be an undergraduate who has completed two academic years of study or a graduate-level student. Applicants must provide their educational background, by listing the undergraduate and graduate schools they have attended. They must also submit supporting letters from at least two persons who are familiar with their academic goals and accomplishments and are able to judge its quality. A list of additional references must also be provided. Graduate students must submit an abstract of their plan for advanced study, research, and thesis topic. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
Amount: $3,300
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The Kentucky Tuition Grant (KTG) program provides need-based aid to help Kentucky residents attend an eligible private college or university in Kentucky. To be considered for a KY Tuition Grant, a student must have financial need and attend an eligible college. They must have no past due financial obligations to KHEAA or to any Title IV program. Students must also be enrolled in an associate or bachelor’s degree program. KTG eligibility is limited to equivalent of full-time enrollment for four academic terms when enrolled in a two-year program of study; and equivalent of full-time enrollment for eight academic terms when enrolled in a four-year program of study. To apply for KTG, students must complete the FAFSA for the school year they are needing financial aid. Please visit the award’s website for more information.
Return 2 College Scholarship Program:
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2026
Description: The Return 2 College Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizens or legal residents who are starting a program of higher education (college or graduate school) within the next 12 months or are currently high school senior or college students. Applicants must be 17 years or older. There is no maximum age limit. We know the essay requirement does not allow for many words. We want you to focus on the most important reason for getting your degree. Nevertheless, we realize that some of you may want to say more. Therefore, you may submit more than one entry. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
Amount: $7,000
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The Franklin Research Grants program is particularly designed to help meet the costs of travel to libraries and archives for research purposes; the purchase of microfilm, photocopies, or equivalent research materials; the costs associated with fieldwork; or laboratory research expenses. Franklin grants are made for noncommercial research. They are not intended to meet the expenses of attending conferences or the costs of publication. Applicants are expected to have a doctorate or to have published work of doctoral character and quality. Ph.D. candidates are not eligible to apply, but the Society is particularly interested in supporting the work of young scholars who have recently received the doctorate. Independent scholars and faculty members at all four-year and two-year research and non-research institutions are welcome to apply provided that all eligibility guidelines are met. American citizens and residents of the United States may use their Franklin awards at home or abroad. Foreign nationals not affiliated with a U.S. institution must use their Franklin awards for research in the United States. Applicants who have previously received a Franklin grant may reapply after an interval of two years. Applicants must provide their Project Title; Project description; Bibliography; Publications pertinent to this project; Publications unrelated to this project; Foreign languages; additional relevant information; and reasons for requesting the budget. Applicants must also submit two letters of support. The application deadline of October 1, 2025 is for a January 2026 decision for work beginning February 2026 through January 2027. The application deadline of December 1, 2025 is for a March 2026 decision for work beginning April 2026 through January 2027. Please visit the award’s website for more information.
AOCS Foundation Honored Student Awards:
Amount: $500 – $1,500
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The Honored Student Award encourages and recognizes graduate students doing research in one of the areas represented by AOCS Divisions. Up to a US $500 travel allowance will be given to U.S. and Canada residents, or up to a US $1,000 travel allowance for recipients residing outside of those countries. Applicants must be current graduate students who have not begun a career in their chosen field by May 1 of the presentation year. Applicants must also be whose research consists of fats, oils and related fields. Applicants must have never received the Honored Student Award. Applicants must submit a letter of support from the major advisor; the Major Advisor Ranking Form prepared by the major advisor; at least one letter of recommendation from an individual familiar with the candidate’s accomplishments; and the abstract submitted for the current year’s AOCS Annual Meeting. Please visit the award’s website for more information.
Louis Stokes Education Scholarship Program:
Amount: $30,000
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The Louis Stokes Education Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors who will major in computer science, computer/electrical engineering, or Russian/Chinese language. A minimum of 12 weeks during the summer The Stokes Educational Scholarship Program allows students to gain valuable experience in their field while attending college and earning a degree. Students will acquire real-world experience and receive a salary year-round. After they graduate college, students won’t have to go through the job search hassle. NSA will hire them for a position in their area of study. By participating, they will agree to work for the NSA for at least 1.5 times the length of their study after graduation. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
Dr. James Watson Fellowship Program:
Amount: $5,000
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The Dr. James Watson Fellowship Program provides financial assistance for the future educators and researchers of the turfgrass industry. Applicants must be candidates for master’s or doctoral degrees in fields related to golf course management. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
Conservation Guest Scholars Program:
Amount: $21,500
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: Through the Conservation Guest Scholars Program, Getty provides opportunities for established scholars or professionals who have attained distinction in the cultural heritage conservation field. Recipients are in residence at the Conservation Institute for a three-month residency, in which they pursue their own projects free from work-related obligations, make use of research collections at the Getty Center and Getty Villa, and participate with other Getty scholars, fellows, and interns in the intellectual life of Getty. Applications are welcome from researchers and practitioners of all nationalities working in conservation, historic preservation, heritage science, and related fields. Applicants should have at least seven years of professional experience and should have an established record of publications and other contributions to the field. Individuals from groups underrepresented across the field of cultural heritage conservation are encouraged to apply. The Conservation Institute will consider proposals that require use of its science laboratories; however, use is dependent upon availability of lab facilities and staff time and cannot be guaranteed. Previous Conservation Guest Scholar Grant recipients are eligible to reapply after a waiting period of six years. Applicants must submit a Project Proposal that must include a description of the applicant’s proposed plan of study. The proposal should include the following distinct sections: Project description, Methodology (please specify which of the project’s components would be pursued while in residence at the Getty), Expected outcome, project’s contribution to the advancement of practice in the conservation field; applicant’s qualifications to execute project; and benefits to project from resources at the Getty. Please visit the award’s website for more information.
Conservation Guest Scholars Program:
Amount: $21,500
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: Through the Conservation Guest Scholars Program, Getty provides opportunities for established scholars or professionals who have attained distinction in the cultural heritage conservation field. Recipients are in residence at the Conservation Institute for a three-month residency, in which they pursue their own projects free from work-related obligations, make use of research collections at the Getty Center and Getty Villa, and participate with other Getty scholars, fellows, and interns in the intellectual life of Getty. Applications are welcome from researchers and practitioners of all nationalities working in conservation, historic preservation, heritage science, and related fields. Applicants should have at least seven years of professional experience and should have an established record of publications and other contributions to the field. Individuals from groups underrepresented across the field of cultural heritage conservation are encouraged to apply. The Conservation Institute will consider proposals that require use of its science laboratories; however, use is dependent upon availability of lab facilities and staff time and cannot be guaranteed. Previous Conservation Guest Scholar Grant recipients are eligible to reapply after a waiting period of six years. Applicants must submit a Project Proposal that must include a description of the applicant’s proposed plan of study. The proposal should include the following distinct sections: Project description, Methodology (please specify which of the project’s components would be pursued while in residence at the Getty), Expected outcome, project’s contribution to the advancement of practice in the conservation field; applicant’s qualifications to execute project; and benefits to project from resources at the Getty. Please visit the award’s website for more information.
Getty Scholars Program Grants:
Amount: $21,500 – $61,500
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The Getty Scholars Program supports innovative research about art, conceived in the broadest terms, and its histories, by providing a locus for international scholars to forge collaborations across disciplines and professional practices, while also developing new audiences for their work. This year’s theme is “Provenance.” In recent years the study of provenance has expanded in urgency and scope, in line with the art historical turn toward the lives of objects, and also in response to evolving debates regarding the ownership of art. Relevant to all periods and areas of art production, provenance research brings to light fundamental questions about who may lay claim to art and how objects transform as they change hands, collections, and exhibition venues. Increasingly available information on broken chains of ownership caused by theft, illicit trade, and historical looting have fueled restitution debates and ignited questions about the ethics of collecting in climates of conflict or asymmetries of power. Digitization and databases have also opened up the interdisciplinary possibilities of provenance research and laid the ground for art restitution efforts and other forms of reparation. For the 2026-2027 year, the Getty Scholars Program invites innovative proposals for projects that explore provenance and adjacent research areas, including but not limited to the history of collecting, the study of the art market, and broader explorations around the ownership of art objects. The scholar cohort will be invited to examine and critique the arena of provenance studies while also envisioning its future, situated between the practices and demands of source communities, art historians, museums, and the market. Applicants are invited to propose projects, either individual or collaborative, that reflect upon the ownership, transfer, and movement of art objects from all world regions and time periods. A mix of senior scholars and junior fellows are selected for the Scholars Program cohort. Scholar Grant applicants should have received a PhD before September 1, 2022. Applicants from associated fields who do not hold a PhD but have commensurate professional experience will also be considered. Applicants must submit a project proposal that should include the project description; how the project addresses the annual theme; how the project meaningfully contributes to the applicant’s field of scholarship; the proposed plan for study and research; and benefits to the project from the resources at the Getty (if applicable). For AAAHI Grants: also include how the project will generate new knowledge in the field of African American art history. It is optional but applicants are welcome to submit a single writing sample in support of their proposal. Please visit the award’s website for more information.
Sports Gear Swag $1,000 Scholarship:
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The Sports Gear Swag scholarship offers a one-time prize which can cover various education-related costs such as tuition, books, computers, accommodation, and other necessary expenses. There are no GPA requirements and no application forms. It’s Sports Gear Swag’s way of giving back and supporting individuals who want to pursue their dreams through education. Applicants must be currently enrolled in or accepted to an undergraduate or graduate program in an accredited U.S. university, college, or school; and must be a legal resident of the United States or hold a valid student visa. Essays must be submitted as an attached PDF file with the applicant’s full name, address, major, phone number, school name, and date of birth. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
ABC Medical Adaptive Sports Scholarship:
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The Adaptive Sports Scholarship will be awarded to individuals who represent good sportsmanship, display continuous respect for themselves and others, and display leadership characteristics on their adaptive sports team. Applicants must answer the application request first to receive the application. Submission of supplemental information (e.g., short video, press release, news articles, etc.) is encouraged but not required. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
Alabama Golf Course Superintendents Association Turfgrass Scholarship:
Amount: $2,000
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The goal of the Alabama Golf Course Superintendents Associations Scholarship Program is to support future golf course superintendents in their educational needs. The Alabama Golf Course Superintendents Association Turfgrass Scholarship will be awarded annually to serve this purpose. The association will award this scholarship annually during our Donnie Arthur Golf Tournament. Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in an agricultural major emphasizing turfgrass management. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
Kentucky Association of Fairs & Horse Shows Youth Scholarship:
Amount: $2,000
Closing Date: October 1, 2026
Description: The Kentucky Association of Fairs & Horse Shows Youth Scholarship is open to any youth that has participated in and has been an active volunteer of the current year in his or her respective local county fair. The selection of these youths will be left to the discretion of the local fair. Qualified youth shall be a senior in high school, or in their first year of post-secondary education, but not having reached their 21st birthday by the scholarship deadline. The applicant shall be a resident in the county of the nominating fair. Each application must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the local fair board. Applicants must list any events/classes they entered as a participant at this year’s fair and also list the responsibilities/duties they have performed from their first year through this year at their county fair. There will be six winners from across the state. Two winners from each zone. Applications may be submitted through email or mail. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship:
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: October 2, 2026
Description: Participating in the Lounge Lizard Scholarship Program for Web Design is an enriching and transformative experience, offering opportunities to learn, network, and build a portfolio. Lounge Lizard is looking for students with fresh, creative ideas who are ready to design and develop a website for competition. The scholarship is open to students attending school in the United States. Applicants must be a student at an accredited school or be accepted to begin school at an accredited school within 6 months of application. Applicants can win the contest up to 2 times only. The Spring Semester applications are due by February 18th, 2025 and the Fall Semester applications are due by October 2, 2025. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
John J. Nelson Sr. Legacy Scholarship Fund:
Amount: $10,000
Closing Date: October 3, 2026
Description: The John J. Nelson Sr. Legacy Scholarship Fund was created to support and nurture African American interior design and architecture students while promoting diversity and access in education. This scholarship was established by John J. Nelson Sr. in partnership with the IIDA Foundation in 2019. This scholarship award is open to undergraduate students who are currently enrolled in a U.S. not-for-profit CIDA- or NASAD-accredited interior design or NAAB-accredited architecture program. IIDA membership is not required to apply. Applicants must submit a 3-to-5-minute video that includes the following: (1) Articulate how the power of design has already impacted your life; (2) Share your motivation for pursuing a career in interior design or architecture; (3) How you will proactively leverage your career in design to positively impact your future clients and community. In addition to the video, applicants must also provide a letter of recommendation from their Program Chair, Dean, or Instructor. To validate their undergraduate status, applicants must also submit a copy of their current student ID. Please visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
AIST Foundation Premier Steel Intern Scholarship:
Amount: $12,000
Closing Date: October 5, 2026
Description: The AIST Foundation Premier Steel Intern Scholarship will be awarded to the top-scoring Steel Intern Scholarship applicant. It is a one-year scholarship of US$12,000 with a paid summer internship (summer preceding the scholarship). Undergraduate sophomore and juniors, and seniors heading into their first year of graduate school may apply. Students must be studying engineering or engineering technology disciplines, in addition to computer science, data science, environmental/sustainability science, and safety or industrial safety programs. While not required, student membership to AIST through the Material Advantage Student Program, will enhance the application. Applicants must commit to a paid summer internship at a North American steel-related company, and may need to relocate for the internship period. Upon selection, AIST will assist in internship placement; however, applicants are encouraged to seek information from steel companies at career/job events and may, at any time, accept an internship or co-op at a steel producing company or industry supplier. If an internship is self-placed by the recipient, the internship will need to be pre-approved. A minimum of one letter is required, with a maximum of five letters being accepted. The letter(s) should be written by a professional familiar with the student’s work and/or interests. Letters written by a representative of a steel-related company and/or a discipline-related professor will be given more weight in the scoring process. To obtain the highest score, applicants should submit a letter from both a representative of a steel-related company and a discipline-related professor. Please visit the scholarship’s website or contact the AIST Foundation for more information.
💡 Final Thought: Scholarships = Free Money.
The best part? Every dollar in scholarships = one less dollar in loans. The earlier you start, the better.
Want a smarter way to plan for college costs and find scholarships that fit your family’s budget? Create your free MyCAP account today and start getting real numbers—because paying for college shouldn’t be a mystery.
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