Scholarships for Online College Students
Key Takeaways
- Online undergraduate college students qualify for federal aid like the TEACH Grant, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and the Pell Grant, the last of which is only available to undergraduates and can give you up to $7,395.
- Scholarships for online programs can be awarded either based on financial need, as determined by the FAFSA, or by merit and achievement.
- Certain colleges offer some online-specific scholarships. EDU4Less.org, for instance, offers a tuition discount to certain colleges for students who enroll through its platform.
Whether you’re doing your college online or in-person, you may qualify for financial aid and scholarships. These grants and scholarships for your undergraduate education can help knock down your educational expenses.
First, make sure you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine how much financial aid you qualify for and get the maximum amount. Some scholarships also require proof of financial need to qualify and the way you can determine that is through the FAFSA.
You’ll also receive federal financial aid through the FAFSA, and depending on the amount of need you have, you may not need to apply for as many scholarships (or any at all).
The FAFSA is also the only way to qualify for federal grants like the TEACH Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and the Pell Grant — a grant for undergraduates providing up to $5,395 per academic year.
If you’re a graduate student, you don’t qualify for the Pell Grant, making your education lean heavier on loans. Scholarships can help ease that financial burden.
Check out our guide for what scholarships, grants, and tuition discounts you can qualify for as an online student.
13 Scholarships, Grants, and Tuition Discounts for Online Students
We’ve gathered 13 scholarships and grants (and one tuition-discount program) to help you pay for your online education. Most of these scholarships are for undergraduate programs. Still, this list is by no means exhaustive, so use our guide as a jumping-off point, and search for scholarships online, through your school, or your community.
Online Student-Specific Scholarships
EDU4Less.org’s tuition discounted online programs
EDU4Less offers 10-20% off select online programs at their partner colleges: Fisher College, Alvernia University, East Mississippi Community College, and Rochester Christian University.
- Eligibility: Anyone using the organization’s Emma(™) mobile enrollment platform.
- Award Amount: 10-20% off normal tuition pricing, no application fees, and free transcript ordering
- Deadline: N/A
PEO Program for Continuing Education Grant
This grant was established in 1973 to offer need-based grants to women in the U.S. and Canada returning to school after having interrupted their education.
- Eligibility: U.S. or Canadian women enrolled in an accredited certification or degree program who are within 18 months of completing their program. A local PEO chapter must recommend applicants.
- Award Amount: Up to $4,000
- Deadline: At least eight weeks before the term for which the grant would be used
Troy University
Troy University offers two online student scholarships: one for military-affiliated students (and their families) and another for transfer students, with different scholarship amounts depending on GPA.
Military & Family Scholarship
- Eligibility: Active Military members, their spouses, and dependents
- Award Amount: Varies
OneTROY Transfer Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students with at least 24 transfer credits enrolled in at least six hours each term
- Award Amount: $1,000-$4,000 for up to two years, depending on GPA
University of Northern Iowa
The university awards qualifying online graduate students $500 for the fall and spring terms, for a total of $1,000. The award is renewable for a second year.
- Eligibility: Graduate student enrolled in at least five units each term in one of 17 specified programs
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: Varies (Applies either to fall or spring terms)
University of the People
University of the People offers scholarships to anyone, regardless of whether they submit financial aid information. The university also offers free tuition for all students.
- Eligibility: All students
- Award Amount: Varies
- Deadline: N/A; students are allowed to apply for scholarships once they are accepted to the university
Grants for Online and In-person Students
These federal grants are available to eligible online students who can demonstrate financial need. Be sure to submit the FAFSA to see if you qualify as that is the only way you can use these grants.
Federal Pell Grant
- Eligibility: Students who submitted the FAFSA and demonstrate financial need
- Award Amount: Up to $7,395
- Deadline: June 30, 2027
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Eligibility: Students who submitted the FAFSA and demonstrate exceptional financial need. Distributed on a first-come-first-served basis at participating schools.
- Award Amount: $100-$4,000 a year
- Deadline: June 30, 2027
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant
- Eligibility: Students must submit the FAFSA, qualify for federal student aid, and be enrolled in a TEACH Grant-eligible bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, or graduate program. Students must agree to teach in a low-income school district for as many years as they received the TEACH Grant.
- Award Amount: Up to $4,000
- Deadline: October
Scholarships for Online and In-person Students
Note that these scholarships do not state they are exclusively for in-person or online students, and we can’t confirm whether they accept online student applicants in their eligibility requirements.
Colwell Law Group Single Parent Scholarship
- Eligibility: Undergraduate, graduate, or law program students who are single parents, going through a divorce, or the child of a single parent
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: May
Return2College Scholarship
- Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 17 years old, U.S. citizens, and current or prospective full-time or part-time students in a college program within 12 months of receiving the award.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: September 30
Unigo Education Matters Scholarship
- Eligibility: Applicants must be 14 years or older and legal residents of the U.S. who currently reside in one of the 50 U.S. states or the District of Columbia.
- Award Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: November 30
Unigo $10K Scholarship
- Eligibility: Applicants must be 14 or older, hold U.S. citizenship, and reside in one of the 50 U.S. states or the District of Columbia.
- Award Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: December 31
Unigo’s Top 10 List Scholarship
- Eligibility: Applicants must be 14 years or older, legal U.S. citizens, and must submit a written response to the question: “Create a Top Ten List of the top ten reasons you should get this scholarship.”
- Award Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: December 31
Online Tuition-Free Colleges
There are a few online colleges that are completely tuition-free for eligible students. While less common than in-person schools, here are a few.
Calbright College
All of the college’s programs are free for California residents.
City College of San Francisco
Tuition-free for qualifying San Francisco residents who are first-time students or returning after at least one year of absence.
City University of New York and State University of New York
In-state, full-time students from families making less than $125,000 a year can earn up to a free college degree through the Excelsior Scholarship.
Michigan community colleges
In-state students who apply for the Michigan Reconnect Scholarship and are enrolled in a Pell-eligible skill certificate or associate degree program.
The University of Cincinnati
Tuition-free for in-state, Pell-eligible, first-time, first-year students from families making up to $75,000 a year.
University of the People
All programs at the university are tuition-free.
Vermont State University
Tuition-free for in-state, full-time undergraduates from families making up to $65,000.
Tennessee Colleges
In-state students can use the Tennessee Promise Grant and Reconnect Grant towards tuition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for Online College Students
While some colleges offer scholarships specifically designed for online students, such as the University of Northern Iowa and Troy University, online-specific scholarships can be harder to find. We recommend you start at your prospective school.
You can also search for scholarships through your high school counselor, employer, or through an online search.
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