Scholarships for 8th Graders: A Comprehensive Guide
While many believe that scholarships are primarily for high school, college, and graduate students, the truth is that opportunities exist for younger students as well. If you're an eighth grader or the parent of one, exploring scholarship options now can provide a head start in planning and funding future education. It's never too early to begin thinking about how to finance education, and applying for scholarships in middle school can help put money aside early on, while also getting familiar with the application process.
Why Look for Scholarships in Middle School?
Some may question the necessity of seeking scholarships so early. However, there are several benefits:
- Early Planning: Starting early allows you to plan for college finances without scrambling later.
- Familiarity with the Application Process: Applying now provides valuable experience with scholarship applications, increasing your chances of success in the future.
- Reduced Competition: Many students don't think to apply for scholarships in middle school, leading to less competition and a greater chance of success.
- Financial Security: Every penny counts when it comes to paying for college, and securing scholarships early can ease the financial burden later on.
Types of Scholarships Available
Scholarships for students ages 13 and younger typically don't come directly from colleges. Instead, they are often offered by businesses promoting a product to a specific age group, or by organizations recognizing achievements in various fields. Many private high schools and grade schools offer scholarships, and other organizations like the Children’s Scholarship Fund help pay for private education.
Scholarship Opportunities for Middle School Students
Here's a curated list of scholarship and award opportunities suitable for 8th graders:
Appily Easy College Money Scholarship: This scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who will be attending college in the future. The sponsor is Appily and the amount is $1,000. The closing date is October 31, 2025.
Read also: Funding Your Education: College Scholarships
Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest: This contest, sponsored by Optimum and TelevisaUnivision, awards up to $3,000. It's open to legal residents of the United States attending school in an Optimum serviceable area. Applicant must be enrolled in the 6th-12th grade. The closing date is October 31, 2025.
Patriot’s Pen Competition: Sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, this competition awards up to $5,000 to students in grades 6-8 in the United States, its territories, and its possessions. The closing date is October 31, 2025. The first place state winner receives a minimum of $500, and the national first place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Save the Frogs! Art Contest: This contest, sponsored by Save the Frogs!, awards $100.00 and is open to anyone, regardless of age, with a talent for art. The closing date is November 1, 2025.
Stephen J. $500 Easy Scholarship: Street Sweep: Sponsored by DoSomething, this scholarship awards $500.00. To participate, organize a Street Sweep event with your own Sweep Squad, or join a community cleanup hosted by other DoSomething members, to collectively remove trash before it enters our waterways. The closing date is November 30, 2025.
No Sweat Scholarship: Sponsored by Cirkled In, this scholarship awards $2,500 and is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the United States or the District of Columbia. The closing date is December 31, 2025.
Read also: Requirements and Implications of the Education Freedom Scholarship Act
Action for Nature Eco-Hero Award: This award recognizes youth aged 8 to 16 who have completed environmental projects focused on environmental advocacy, environmental health, research, or protection of the natural world.
The Do Something Awards: Do Something provides community grants and scholarships to “change-makers” age 25 and under who work with Do Something to improve their communities.
Davidson Fellows: These fellowships are awarded by the Davidson Institute for Talent Development to US students under age 18 who have completed a significant piece of work in the fields of Mathematics, Science, Technology, Music, Literature, Philosophy, or Outside the Box. The significant piece of work should have the potential to benefit society. The focus of the program is on gifted and talented students and there is no minimum age for eligibility.
Dick Blick Mixed Media Contest: Dick Blick sponsors an annual contest for students in grades K-12 to express their experiences and imagine what they can connect to with art.
Doodle 4 Google: This competition challenges children in grades K-12 to create their own play on Google’s logo. Doodles are judged in four grade groups: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. There is one national finalist in each grade group and the winner’s school or after-school program also receives a technology grant.
Read also: Unlock Junior Scholarships
Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes: This prize is awarded annually to ten US and Canadian students, aged 8-18, who have developed an extraordinary service project that helped people and the planet. Half of the winners are focused on helping their communities and people, and half are focused on protecting the environment. Winners receive $10,000 to be applied to their higher education or to their service project.
MATHCOUNTS: This is a national math competition for middle school students (grades 6-8). Individuals and teams of four mathletes from each school compete on a local, state, and national level. The national champion receives the $20,000 Donald G. Weinert Scholarship.
National Geography Bee: This bee is open to US students in grades 4-8 who are age 15 or younger by the date of the national competition. The first place national winner receives a $25,000 scholarship.
National High School Oratorical Contest: This contest is open to US students in junior high school or high school (grades 7-12) who are under age 20 as of the date of the national contest. The first place winner receives a $25,000 scholarship.
National History Day Contest: This contest is open to students in grades 6-12 in the junior (grades 6-8) and senior (grades 9-12) divisions. The projects relate to a specific historical topic or theme.
National Marbles Tournament: This annual tournament awards scholarships to mibsters (marble shooters) aged 7 to 14.
National Spelling Bee: This bee is open to students in grades 1-8 as of their school finals and who are under age 16 as of the date of the national finals.
Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku Competition: This competition is open to students in grades 7-12.
Prudential Emerging Visionaries: Prudential Emerging Visionaries recognizes young people, ages 14 - 18, for their inspiring commitment to change. Those selected may qualify for up to $15,000 in awards, an all-expenses-paid trip with their parent or guardian to Prudential headquarters in Newark, New Jersey.
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: These awards are open to US and Canadian students in grades 7-12. Gold Portfolio Award recipients receive $10,000 scholarships.
Team America Rocketry Challenge: This is a national model rocket competition open to US junior high school and high school students (grades 7-12). The top teams compete for over $100,000 in scholarships and other prizes.
Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards: This is a competition for teams of two to four US and Canadian students in grades K-12. The first prize consists of a $10,000 US Savings Bond for each student on the winning team.
Junior Scholars Essay Contest: This contest invites students in grades 6 to 8 to wrestle with big questions, challenge common assumptions, and make their case with creativity and evidence. Six winners (1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 3 Bronze) will share a total of more than $11,000 in cash prizes and scholarships, besides many scholarships for top submissions.
Step Up For Students Scholarships: This program offers opportunities for middle school students who exhibit outstanding academic performance, leadership qualities, and a commitment to community service. Scholarships aim to alleviate financial burdens, allowing you to focus on studies and extracurricular activities.
Young Entrepreneur Florida Scholarship: This scholarship is designed to empower middle school students in Florida who exhibit a strong interest in entrepreneurship and innovation. Recipients receive a monetary award to help fund their entrepreneurial projects, along with access to exclusive workshops and seminars led by entrepreneurs and industry experts.
Paradigm Challenge: This contest is designed to engage middle school students in tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and collaborative efforts. Selected participants receive scholarships of up to $100,000 to support their projects.
3M Young Scientist Lab Annual Challenge: This challenge is aimed at fostering scientific curiosity and innovation among middle school students. The winner is awarded $25,000, and the Top 10 Finalists receive $1,000.
Lumiere Junior Explorer Program: This program is for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about.
Additional Planning for Middle Schoolers
In addition to exploring scholarship opportunities, middle school is an excellent time to consider other aspects of educational planning:
- Explore Different School Options: Consider charter, Montessori, and Parochial schools.
- Educational Summer Programs: Investigate summer programs to extend learning beyond the classroom.
- Start Saving Early: Many states are beginning to offer savings accounts that allow parents to buy college courses for their children starting at a young age. A 529 plan is another great option to grow your wealth, as it allows your earnings to gain interest before being taxed.
- Develop Entrepreneurial Skills: Programs like the Young Entrepreneur Florida Scholarship emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication.
- Foster Scientific Curiosity: Participate in challenges such as the 3M Young Scientist Lab Annual Challenge to develop research and innovation skills.
- Cultivate Creativity: The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and the Doodle 4 Google competition provide platforms for expressing artistic talents.
Navigating COPPA and Online Scholarship Databases
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) can make it difficult to find scholarships for children under 13 through online databases. This is because websites must obtain "verifiable parental consent" before collecting information from children under 13. As a result, many databases omit scholarships for younger children to avoid these complications.
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