Finding scholarships online is one of the smartest ways to reduce your education costs. But while many students apply for the well-known ones, thousands of hidden scholarships go unnoticed every year. These are less competitive, often specific to certain groups, and can be much easier to win if you know where to look. This guide will walk you through exactly how to find hidden scholarships online, using the right tools, search tricks, and platforms that most people overlook.
Start With Niche Scholarship Platforms
Most students only check popular platforms like Fastweb or Scholarships.com. But these sites are crowded and list mostly high-competition scholarships. To find hidden gems, you need to go beyond the usual and use niche scholarship websites that focus on smaller, lesser-known awards.
Here are some of the best platforms to start with:
- Scholarships360: Offers curated lists by student type, including first-gen, minority, or adult learners. Their blog regularly features hidden and low-competition awards.
- Cappex: Allows you to create a profile and get matched to unique scholarships based on your background, interests, and school preferences.
- Niche.com: In addition to college rankings, Niche lists scholarships that are specific to majors, states, and even student quirks (like being tall or left-handed).
- College Greenlight: Especially helpful for underrepresented students. It offers access to local and community-based scholarships not found on major platforms.
- Scholarship Owl: Automates the application process and matches students with smaller, lesser-known scholarships based on detailed profiles.
Be sure to fill out your profiles completely and truthfully, these platforms use your details to match you with scholarships that fit your unique situation.
Search With Specific Keywords on Google
Google is a powerful tool, but only if you use it the right way. Most people search for broad terms like “college scholarships,” which brings up the same high-traffic sites and big-name awards. To uncover hidden scholarships, you need to use very specific search terms that narrow the results to what you’re truly looking for.
Try combining your details with the word “scholarship.” For example:
- “Scholarships for first-generation students in California 2025”
- “Low competition STEM scholarships for women”
- “Scholarships for children of veterans USA”
- “Creative writing scholarships with essay requirements 2025”
Also include the current or upcoming year to avoid old and expired listings.
Explore at least the first 3 to 5 pages of results, not just the top links. Many hidden scholarships are posted on school department pages, nonprofit websites, or smaller blogs that don’t rank high in search results but still offer real money.
Read: $5 Million Gift to Provide Scholarships for New ASU Medical School Students
Use University Financial Aid Pages
Universities themselves are often a goldmine of hidden scholarships, especially smaller colleges and state schools that may not advertise awards broadly. Most people overlook these because they assume financial aid pages only list internal scholarships but in reality, they often include external scholarships, grants from donors, and awards offered through specific departments.
To find them:
- Visit the financial aid or scholarships page of several universities (even ones you’re not applying to).
- Look for links to “outside scholarships,” “departmental awards,” or “donor-funded scholarships.”
- Check the pages of specific departments (e.g., Engineering, Arts, Social Sciences) for program-specific awards.
- If the website isn’t updated or lacks details, email the financial aid office or the department admin to ask if they have a list of external or less-known scholarships they recommend.
Smaller universities often receive money from local organizations, alumni donors, and foundations that only a few students apply for.
Follow Scholarship Blogs and Newsletters
Many hidden scholarships are found through smaller education blogs and student platforms that keep an eye out for new or niche opportunities. These sites often list less-publicized scholarships before they show up on large platforms.
Some of the most reliable sources include:
- JLV College Counseling: Offers weekly updates on new and unique scholarships, categorized by deadline and eligibility.
- The Scholarship System: A trusted resource with blog posts and webinars focusing on underused scholarships and strategies to find them.
- Going Merry: Provides not just a scholarship database but also a blog with tips and hidden award listings based on student backgrounds.
Subscribe to these newsletters to get early access to unique scholarships. Many scholarships listed here have low application numbers, giving you a better chance to win.
Join Forums and Student Communities
Real students are one of the best sources for discovering hidden scholarships. Online forums and communities are filled with people sharing tips, opportunities, and experiences many of which you won’t find in search engines.
Start with:
- Reddit: Subreddits like r/scholarships, r/college, or r/ApplyingToCollege regularly share lesser-known scholarships and how to apply.
- Quora: Search for threads about hidden scholarships or ask for recent recommendations.
- Discord: Join student and college prep servers where users often drop scholarship links, especially near deadline seasons.
- Twitter & TikTok: Search hashtags like #scholarshipopportunities, #finaidfriday, or #hiddenfunds. Some creators specialize in finding and posting scholarships weekly.
Be active in these spaces and ask questions. Many users are happy to share what they’ve found or won.
Read: Easiest UK Scholarships for International Students
Look Into Local and Community Scholarships
Some of the easiest scholarships to win are the ones found right in your local community but they’re often not well advertised online. Local organizations tend to offer scholarships with very few applicants, especially if they require a paper form or in-person application.
Places to check:
- Credit unions or community banks: Many offer scholarships for account holders or students in their service area.
- Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, Kiwanis, and Chambers of Commerce: Most local chapters have at least one annual scholarship.
- Religious institutions and cultural centers: Churches, mosques, temples, and community centers often give scholarships to youth members or local students.
- Employers: Ask your parents or relatives to check if their workplace has education benefits or scholarships for employees’ children.
These awards are often small ($500 to $2,000), but they add up and are much easier to win than national ones.
Set Up Scholarship Alerts
Don’t waste time checking websites every day. Instead, let new scholarships come to you by setting up alerts.
Use:
- Google Alerts: Create alerts using search terms like:
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- “Scholarships for nursing students 2025”
- “Hidden scholarships for graduate school”
- “New scholarships for Black students 2025”
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- Set the frequency to daily or weekly, and monitor your email for new listings.
- Use alerts on scholarship platforms too. Most offer notification systems when a new match becomes available based on your profile.
This saves you time and ensures you’re always in the loop when new, lesser-known scholarships are posted.
Read: High CGPA? These Scholarships Want You
Apply for Scholarships With Low Competition
One of the best ways to improve your chances is to target scholarships that fewer students apply for. These usually have extra steps or specific requirements that scare off applicants but if you’re willing to put in the effort, your odds go way up.
Look for scholarships that:
- Require essays, videos, or projects
- Are limited to specific majors, ethnic groups, or locations
- Have multiple short deadlines throughout the year
- Offer small awards (under $1,000) that many people skip
Don’t ignore smaller amounts. Winning five $1,000 scholarships is better than hoping to win one $10,000 award with 20,000 applicants.
Tips to Avoid Scholarship Scams
As you search online, always watch out for scholarship scams. Many fake sites pretend to offer scholarships just to collect your personal info or charge application fees.
Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Never pay to apply. Legitimate scholarships never ask for application fees.
- Avoid giving out your Social Security Number unless you’re applying for federal aid (like FAFSA).
- Research the organization. Look for a real website, contact information, and reviews online.
- Be cautious with guarantees. No real scholarship can guarantee that you’ll win money.
If something feels off, skip it. It’s better to lose a potential opportunity than to risk a scam. Finding hidden scholarships online takes effort, but the rewards are real. With the right tools, smart searches, and persistence, you can uncover scholarships that most students miss. Focus on niche platforms, get creative with your search terms, and don’t be afraid to reach out to local groups or join online communities. The more places you look, the more money you can find and most importantly, you’ll face far less competition along the way.
Apply widely, stay organized, and don’t wait until the last minute. There’s real money out there waiting to be claimed. You just have to look in the right places.
