2,000,000
Dollars
In Scholarships Awarded Annually
170
Countries
NSHSS Lifetime Members around the globe
23
Percent of NSHSS Members
First in their family to attend college
HELP FUND YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
Take advantage of scholarship opportunities to help you reach your full potential and pay for college, international study excursions, summer programs, and even graduate school. NSHSS and its partners offer more than $2,000,000 in scholarships annually. All students are eligible to apply for high school and college scholarships in the areas of academic excellence, entrepreneurship, leadership, literature, medicine, music, STEM, sustainability, visual arts, and more. Hear from our most recent scholarship winners and learn more about what NSHSS can do for you.
What Award Recipients Are Saying
I want to say how grateful and thankful I am for these scholarship funds. I promise I will not let you down with this scholarship. I will use it to pursue my career goal of becoming a doctor. I want to Thank You again for awarding me this scholarship. I thank all the staff at National Society of High School Scholars who chose me for this scholarship. NSHSS is the best, and I really gain a lot from being a member!
Ashley Henry
University of Florida Class of 2027, NSHSS STEAM Scholarship
I am truly honored to have been selected as a recipient of the Claes Nobel Academic Excellence Scholarship. Thank you to NSHSS for the generosity, which will allow me to further my education to become a nurse practitioner one day. With this scholarship, I will now be able to afford housing, tuition, and my school supplies. I will be forever grateful for the financial support provided by the Claes Nobel Academic Excellence Scholarship. I will continue to work hard and prove that the financial investment made for my education has been worthwhile.
Inaya Gray
Dillard University Class of 2027, Claes Nobel Academic Excellence Scholarship
Thank you so much for this scholarship, I'm extremely honored to have received it, and it's going to help a lot this year (and help prevent me from going into debt for at least the next few years). I really appreciate everything NSHSS has done regarding scholarship applications and publicity surrounding the Notorious RBG Scholarship, so thank you again.
Lillian Hertel
Notorious RBG Women of Tomorrow Scholarship
Thank you so much for this award. Without receiving the NSHSS Mental Health Awareness Scholarship, I would not have been able to attend a four-year university. This scholarship gave me a lot of confidence in breaking first-generation barriers and will definitely help me financially. Thank you!
Valeria Tinoco Perez
University of California, Davis class of 2026, NSHSS Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
Dear NSHSS scholarship committee,
Thank you so much for choosing me to be the recipient of your scholarship. I am very excited to attend Middle Tennessee State University and study pre-veterinary medicine. Once completed, my intent is to attend the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and complete my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine program. I have worked hard to shorten my college career through dual enrollment classes, but I still have at least seven years remaining and this will be greatly beneficial to me and my future. I greatly appreciate your generosity and hope you are able to continue this scholarship program for future generations of students in the years to come.
Tyler Moses
Middle Tennessee State University class of 2026, NSHSS Your First Scholarship
I really appreciate everyone at NSHSS for considering me for this award. Finding the financial funds for college is incredibly stressful; I’m thankful for organizations like this one that help people like me find the funds to get an education that should be accessible to all. Thank you from my family.
Aliyah Mastin
Georgia State University Class of 2026, NSHSS Performing Arts: Theater Scholarship
I believe the National Society of High School Scholars has impacted my life by encouraging me to pursue academic excellence that will eventually culminate in an improvement in global health services. As an aspiring oncologist, I intend join the research community in their work on stem cell research. I can certainly say that the Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship is an essential contribution to this endeavor. To all potential members, the National Society of High School Scholars will provide you with an unparalleled network of opportunities for global improvement.
Daniel Garcia
Rice University, Class of 2022, Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship
I am incredibly honored to be a recipient of the Claes Nobel Legacy Award. I greatly appreciate your support towards my academic endeavors. I look forward to pursuing my bachelor's in Agribusiness.
Halie Kohl
Illinois State University Class of 2026, Claes Nobel Legacy Award
Thank you, NSHSS, for honoring me with this investment in my future education at Duke University. I am very grateful for being selected!
Jordan Grabelle
Duke University Class of 2026, Claes Nobel Future Female Leader Scholarship
I am sincerely honored to have been selected for this scholarship opportunity. Thank you so much for your generosity that will go towards the cost of pursuing my degree in Engineering. I hope I can one day give back and provide financial assistance to students just as you have helped me.
Anthony Tucker
Communicorp See What's MORE Scholarship
I am very thankful to NSHSS for helping me pursue my dreams in college as I major in Computer and Data Science. I will continue to advocate for those who have no voice and intertwine my passion for advocacy with my academic studies. I know I have the power to do so much good in my community and in the world.
Annie Zhang
Claes Nobel Future Female Leader Scholarship
Thank you for your recognition and for this opportunity. I knew that college would be a challenge when I decided to move so far away from home and attend Florida Gulf Coast University but I did not expect to have such a hard time that I would have to consider dropping out to save my parents money and hardship. It has been harder than I thought, however I see this scholarship as a great motivation and sign to continue my education and to make my dreams reality. I promise I will do good with this investment that you have put into my education and the future. I am beyond grateful and appreciative!
Jessica Deal
Florida Gulf Coast University Class of 2026, NSHSS Research and Academic Paper Scholarship
I am incredibly grateful to receive the Aflac scholarship. After high school, there are few scholarships for students that are already in college; at least, there is little advertisement for college scholarships. However, college students like myself still need scholarships and support just as much as we did before we began college. This scholarship provides that exact support. Additionally, knowing that both NSHSS and Aflac believe in the importance of equipping current college students with financial support is encouraging.
Alexis Jackson
NSHSS Collegiate Council, Washington University in St. Louis
The CIA STEM Camp was an amazing experience that helped me explore a new career path. Because of the camp, I am now considering becoming an engineer instead of a psychologist. Talking to the staff, especially the engineers, really inspired me! The agency members are all extremely kind and welcoming, they answered all our questions and explained their roles. I recommend applying for the Camp because you’ll meet interesting intelligence officers and network with other students. I was able to make friends from across the country and talk one-on-one with some of the CIA advisors who encouraged me to broaden my horizon. The camp was extraordinary; my thanks to NSHSS and the CIA for allowing me that opportunity.
Hadaiya W
CIA STEM Camp Participant
I hosted a forum for girls who either came out of the foster care system or girls who were struggling with self-harm or self-love, and I talked to them and mentored them along with round table discussions. I personally was found under a stairwell when I was a young child, abandoned at birth. I was bullied a lot as a young child and I wanted to talk to other young girls who went through situations like mine because at one point I was really sad about it but I wanted to show them it was OK. Not only has NSHSS helped me further my education, it has also motivated me to continue my mission.
Angel Thomas
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University class of 2022, Robert Sheppard Leadership Award
NSHSS has impacted my life by giving me unique opportunities to experience and explore career fields and work in environments that I would not have had the chance to explore otherwise. The STEM Camp was an experience that I will always remember, and is something unique that I guarantee I would not be able to do outside of NSHSS.
Blake C
CIA STEM Camp Participant
NSHSS has always provided me with opportunities to excel in an academic atmosphere, and allowed me to pursue new routes I would not have otherwise discovered. I am so honored to have received the James W. Lewis Entrepreneur Scholarship, for my cosmetic business idea. By receiving this generous scholarship, I am able to invest into my future of creating a business, and share my dreams with the world. My recommendation to all future scholarship applicants is to ensure that a full effort is put into the application, and that you are very passionate about what you are sharing with the audience.
Emily Wade
Northwest Nazarene University class of 2022, James W. Lewis Entrepreneur Scholarship
I would like to sincerely express my gratitude to NSHSS because, with your help, I am able to pursue a higher education. I will be attending University of California, Berkeley, one of the top 20 schools in the nation. I was admitted to one of their hardest and most academically rigorous majors, Biological Sciences. I look forward to pursuing a higher education to achieve my ultimate career goal as a military medical doctor. I also plan to attend the UC Berkeley School of Law to become an attorney as well to work on “pro bono” cases in order to help the overlooked or less fortunate in society. Thank you for this generous scholarship, I am proud to represent NSHSS.
Helena Coloma
University of California, Berkeley, class of 2022, NSHSS STEM Innovation in AI/Robotics Award
I am so grateful for these years of NSHSS experiences. I have been awarded a full scholarship to participate as an ambassador in the prestigious Congress-Buderstag Youth Exchange Program funded by the US State Department, and I am studying abroad in Germany, where I am on the way to mastering my fourth language - Deutsche. I am a firm believer that languages are the tool to connect human beings, to expand my world view, and to appreciate cultural diversity. I was selected as a merit scholar at the University of Notre Dame majoring in Computer Science, and will stay committed to community service, which will have a lasting impact on the world.
Selina Nie
University of Notre Dame class of 2023, Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship
It is an honor to be part of an organization as prestigious as the National Society of High School Scholars, an organization that empowers its members to reach for the stars and be catalysts of change. It's encouraging to have the support of an individual as prominent as Mr. Nobel, who sternly believes in the power of youth to use their knowledge and abilities to devise creative solutions to today's conundrums and foster a brighter tomorrow for all. Life is a circuitous path with many twists and turns, ups and downs, but the most important piece of advice is to stay true to yourself and the values that your family has bestowed upon you. Although you cannot control the daily challenges, you can control your effort and thus it is important to view obstacles as opportunities for growth. So embrace the challenge with a smile, grow and succeed, but ultimately use your abilities to give back and leave the world a better place than when you had initially found it.
Yan Leyfman
Med School Student at Penn State College of Medicine and NSHSS Fellows Member
Tips for Applying for Scholarships
Get Good References
Pick references who are able to share about your extracurricular activities, college aspirations, and other activities and know you personally. Start cultivating relationships with educators who will make great references now!
Show Off On Your Resume
Your resume is your time to shine! Show off your best, most relevant experience, brag about awards and leadership positions, but be concise so nothing gets missed!
Write A Standout Essay
Make your personal essay stand out by being authentic and being yourself, show how investing in your education will impact your broader community through your own voice!
NSHSS Scholarship FAQs
If a member, sign in to your NSHSS member dashboard to access all scholarship applications.
Select “Set Up Your Password” if it is your first time signing in.
Once you are in your member dashboard, select “Apply for Scholarships” > "View All Current Open Scholarships."
If you are not a member, click on the "Apply Now" button for the scholarship program you are interested in to register an account in our system.
Start researching scholarships in advance. NSHSS scholarship opportunities are listed year-round on our Scholarships page. Select the scholarship that interests you to view the essay prompt and begin drafting your essay. A resume, transcript, educator recommendation, and a headshot are also typically required. You do not need to submit multiple transcripts, photos, and resumes. Once these are submitted, they may be used for any NSHSS scholarships you apply for. Once you submit the application online, you will be unable to edit your answers.
All NSHSS members who are eligible for a particular scholarship regularly receive email updates listing upcoming scholarships that include eligibility information and the scholarship deadline. It is best to apply as soon as possible. Scholarship applications begin opening annually in the fall and throughout the winter and spring.
Scholarships are offered to students with interests in the arts and humanities, STEM fields, leadership, and more. Consider how closely your essay aligns with the essay prompt. The number of applicants for each NSHSS scholarship varies, so the most effective way to increase your chances of winning is to be selective and apply for scholarships best suited for you and your interests.
Develop and maintain superb organizational skills. Routinely update your resume, and keep a headshot and transcript handy to plug into any scholarship when needed. You should only be creating the essay for each varying essay prompt. Do not try to fit a previously prepared college admissions essay or scholarship essay into a prompt for which it does not fit. The best essay will be one you create specifically for a particular scholarship essay prompt.
Visit our Scholarships Tips & Advice page for more scholarship tips from former NSHSS Scholarship Director Dr. Susan Thurman.
Yes, international students are eligible to apply for any NSHSS scholarship.
Yes, suppose a scholarship recipient is not yet enrolled in a college or university. In that case, the scholarship award will be held until they have and provided the information via the NSHSS Scholarship Acceptance Form.
*The student will need to mark on the acceptance form that they would like for the award to be held.
Yes, NSHSS scholarships can be applied to any university in the United States and internationally.
No. All applications must be submitted through the application portal. We do not accept applications submitted through any other means including email, fax or mail.
If you use a teacher's school email address to request the recommendation, please ask permission to use their personal email. Unfortunately, our application platform has difficulty sending communication to school email addresses due to the school's firewall. If the teacher is uncomfortable using their personal email, suggest they complete the recommendation outside of school.
No, you cannot make any edits or corrections once you submit your application. Please review your application in its entirety before submitting it.