Summer is often a time to catch your breath, but it’s also a great time to fund your future. If you’re thinking about returning to school or are already enrolled, scholarships can help ease the financial pressure.

Plenty of scholarships are still accepting applications throughout June and July.

Where to Start

These trusted tools can help you find scholarships that fit your background, goals, and timeline:

• CareerOneStop Scholarship FinderSponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, this tool lets you search by keyword, deadline, location, and level of study.
  
  
• Scholarships.com:  A comprehensive directory with filters for deadline, major, demographic group, and more.
  
  

To save you time, check out:

• Scholarships with June deadlines
  
  
• Scholarships with July deadlines

Tips to Strengthen Your Application

You don’t need a perfect GPA to earn a scholarship, but a strong application can make all the difference. Here’s how to stand out: 

• Follow the directions: Stay within word limits and respond directly to the prompt.
  
• Tell your story: Share why you’re going back to school and what it means to you.
• Be yourself: Let your personality shine! Mention challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve grown. 

Sample Personal Statement

Here’s an example you can use for inspiration or adapt for your own scholarship applications:

Personal Statement Example

I never thought I’d go back to college. I left school over a decade ago to work full time and support my family. Since then, I’ve built a life rooted in hard work, but I’ve always felt something was missing—unfinished.

Returning to school is my way of finishing what I started, and more importantly, opening new doors for my career and my kids. I'm currently pursuing a degree in [Your Field, e.g., Healthcare Administration] because I want to move into a role where I can both lead and serve.

This journey hasn’t been easy. I balance my classes with work and parenting. But those challenges have made me more determined. I’ve learned how to manage my time, ask for help, and stay committed to long-term goals—even when progress is slow.

This scholarship would help ease the financial pressure so I can focus on my studies and stay on track to graduate. I believe education is one of the most powerful ways to change not just your life, but your family’s future. That’s why I’m here—and that’s why I’m applying.

Thank you for your consideration.

Final Thought

If you’ve been putting off applying for scholarships because you weren’t sure where to begin, this is your start.

Choose one opportunity, set a reminder to apply, and take the next step. A few hours of effort now could pay off in a big way this fall.