Easy Scholarships to Win: Real Ways to Get Money for School

When people talk about easy scholarships to win, scholarships with simpler applications, fewer applicants, or less competitive criteria. Also known as low-effort scholarships, they’re not magic—they’re just less crowded than the big-name ones. Most students think scholarships need perfect GPAs, Olympic-level extracurriculars, or essays that read like novels. But that’s not true. Many scholarships go unclaimed every year because they’re too specific—or too quiet. You don’t need to be the top student. You just need to know where to look and what to skip.

One of the biggest myths is that fully funded scholarships, scholarships that cover tuition, housing, books, and sometimes even travel. Also known as full-ride scholarships, they’re only for geniuses. That’s not right. Some fully funded scholarships are for students who live in certain counties, belong to a particular club, or even have a unique hobby like beekeeping or knitting. The no essay scholarship, a scholarship that doesn’t require a written essay, often based on a short form, drawing, or video. Also known as application-only scholarships, they’re some of the easiest to win—and they’re way more common than you think. You can find them through local businesses, community groups, or even your parents’ employers. A $500 scholarship from the local hardware store might be easier to get than a $5,000 national one with 10,000 applicants.

And here’s the thing: scholarship applications, the forms, documents, and deadlines you submit to qualify for financial aid. Also known as financial aid applications, they’re not all the same. Some ask for transcripts, letters, and portfolios. Others just want your name, email, and a checkbox. The easiest ones often come from places you already interact with—your church, your dentist’s office, your after-school program. You don’t need to chase the flashy ones. Focus on the quiet ones. The ones no one else is applying for. The ones that ask for less.

The posts below show you exactly which scholarships are easiest to win, what they actually require, and how to avoid wasting time on ones that won’t work for you. You’ll see real examples—from a $1,000 scholarship for left-handed students to one for kids whose parents work in grocery stores. No fluff. No vague advice. Just what you need to start winning money before the next deadline hits.