Writing scholarships for high school students can help you build a portfolio of essays, journalism pieces, fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction. Many of these scholarships evaluate how effectively you organize arguments, revise drafts, analyze themes, or develop narrative structure across different forms of writing. Unlike general merit scholarships, writing scholarships for high school students usually require original submissions tied to a literary theme or social issue. Depending on the competition, you may submit analytical essays, reported journalism, short fiction, poetry portfolios, or recorded scripts.
If you are interested in competitive writing programs, literary contests, or publication-focused opportunities, such writing scholarships for high school students can also help you understand how professional review and editorial processes work. Many programs involve blind judging, revision-based submissions, and genre-specific formatting standards similar to those used in academic and publishing spaces.
What Do Writing Scholarships for High Schoolers Include?
Writing scholarships for high school students typically involve structured submissions tied to a prompt, theme, or literary category. You may work on argumentative essays, poetry collections, journalistic reporting, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Many programs evaluate technical elements such as narrative pacing, source integration, rhetorical structure, dialogue construction, or editorial clarity. Some scholarships also introduce you to publication-style workflows. You may need to follow MLA or AP style conventions, submit revised drafts, organize a multi-piece portfolio, or record spoken-word responses. In journalism-focused competitions, evaluation may include fact-checking, sourcing, and editorial judgment. Fiction and poetry contests often assess imagery, syntax, voice consistency, and structural cohesion across multiple pieces.
Below is a curated list of 15 writing scholarships for high school students. If you are looking for broader opportunities, you might explore our guide on creative writing summer camps for high school students here.
1. Scholastic Art & Writing Portfolio Scholarships
Location: Multiple locations across the United States and Canada
Cost/Stipend: $10.00 per individual entry, $30.00 per portfolio entry | $12,500 scholarships to Gold Medal Portfolio winners, $2,000 scholarships to Silver Medal Portfolio winners.
Dates: Scholastic Awards open for entries in the Fall
Application Deadline: Typically between December and January | Exact deadlines vary by region
Eligibility: Scholarships open to graduating high school seniors submitting a portfolio of 6 works with accompanying Artist or Writer Statements and Personal Statements | Only teens residing in the United States, U.S. territories or military bases, or Canada can apply
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Portfolio Scholarships is a national program that awards funding to high school seniors who submit a cohesive writing portfolio. You will be required to submit a portfolio of six works, including short stories, poetry, personal essays, or other forms of creative writing. Along with the portfolio, you will submit a writer’s statement explaining the connections between your pieces and the ideas or techniques explored across them. You will also complete a personal statement that reflects on a specific experience or perspective. Your submission will be evaluated based on criteria such as originality, technical execution, and the consistency of voice across the portfolio. The judging process involves multiple rounds, where selected entries advance from regional to national evaluation. Reviewers assess both individual pieces and how effectively the portfolio functions as a unified body of work.
2. YoungArts Foundation
Location: Online | Headquarters in Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Cost/Stipend: $35 application fee | Financial awards ranging from $250 to $10,000
Dates: Exact dates vary each year
Application Deadline: October 8
Eligibility: Artists in grades 10–12 or ages 15–18 on December 1 who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The YoungArts Writing Competition is a national program that recognizes high school students for original work across categories such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, and spoken word. As a participant, you can submit a portfolio of writing in one of these genres, following specific guidelines for format and length. Submissions will be evaluated through a blind adjudication process by panels of professional writers and artists, with a focus on originality, technical execution, and voice. Based on the level of recognition, selected entries will receive different award designations, with top submissions advancing to higher levels of evaluation. Winners will be invited to participate in additional programming, including structured sessions with established artists and the review of work in a collaborative setting.
3. Davidson Fellows Scholarship – Literature
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free | $100,000, $50,000, and $25,000 scholarships awarded to students
Dates: Exact dates vary each year
Application Deadline: February 18
Eligibility: Participants who are 18 years old or younger, who are US citizens or permanent residents residing in the United States, or stationed overseas due to active U.S. military duty
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship offers national scholarships for several subject areas, including literature. In the literature category, you are required to submit multiple writing pieces, which can include a combination of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or dramatic writing. These pieces will typically be organized around a central theme or research question, forming a cohesive body of work rather than isolated submissions. Your submission is expected to demonstrate depth of analysis, subject knowledge, and a clear conceptual focus across all pieces. Projects often explore complex topics such as historical narratives, identity, or social issues, with writing used to investigate or present these ideas in a structured way.
4. Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free | awards of $1,000 to $7,500
Dates: Exact dates vary each year
Application Deadline: November 12
Eligibility: High school seniors who are United States citizens applying to an accredited university in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree
The Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship is a national scholarship program for high school seniors that evaluates applicants based on academic records, extracurricular involvement, and a written essay. As part of the application, you can respond to a short-answer essay prompt that typically asks you to reflect on a leadership role, activity, or experience and explain its impact, your contributions, and what you learned. Your submission should include a structured application with sections for academic transcripts, extracurricular activities, work experience, and community service, alongside the essay. The writing component focuses on organizing a clear narrative around a specific experience, connecting it to future academic or career goals, and maintaining coherence across the response.
5. Quill and Scroll Foundation Student Scholarships in Journalism
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free | Scholarship amounts vary each year
Dates: Vary each year
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: National winners in Quill and Scroll contests are eligible as seniors to apply | Recipients must major in journalism or a related area of communications
The Quill and Scroll Scholarships and contests are part of a journalism-focused recognition program for high school students involved in school publications such as newspapers, yearbooks, or broadcast media. You can participate by submitting published or produced work, such as articles, editorials, or multimedia pieces, through contests like the Writing, Visual, and Multimedia competition. Your work will be evaluated based on journalistic criteria, including accuracy, clarity, editorial judgment, and consistency across multiple pieces. Some categories assess a body of work produced over time, reflecting how you report, edit, and present information in a publication context.
6. Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free | $1,000 scholarship for first-place winners
Dates: Vary each year
Application Deadline: Two annual deadlines: July 31 and December 31
Eligibility: 9th-12th grade high school, college, or graduate student, including adult students who are legal U.S residents and who are currently in school or planning to attend college or graduate school
The Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship is a writing-based scholarship that awards funding primarily on the basis of a short personal statement. Your essay should focus on how clearly and effectively you communicate a central idea within a limited word count. The application process is minimal and centers on the written response rather than academic records or test scores. Your essay is evaluated by an independent panel of judges, with emphasis on clarity, originality, and how well your ideas are structured.
7. Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free | $35,000 scholarship to first-place winner, $1,000-$15,000 as other national scholarships, $1,000 scholarship, and an all-expense-paid trip to Valley Forge for the first-place winner from each VFW Department
Dates: Vary each year
Application Deadline: October 31
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12 enrolled by the October 31 deadline in public, private, parochial school, or home study program in the U.S., its territories, or its possessions, dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy Scholarship is a national program that awards scholarships to high school students who submit a written and recorded essay on an annual patriotic theme. The writing component focuses on structuring a clear argument, organizing ideas logically, and aligning your content with the theme. You are required to write a script and record it as an audio essay, based on the given prompt. Your focus should be on drafting, revising, and formatting the script before recording, which requires attention to clarity, pacing, and coherence. In addition to writing quality, the delivery of the recorded piece is also considered during evaluation.
8. Bennington College Young Writers Awards
Location: Online
Cost | Stipend: Free | Prize of $2,000 for first-place winners, $1,000 for second-place winners, and $500 for third-place winners, $250 for YWA distinguished writers | YWA winners who enroll at Bennington will receive a full-tuition scholarship of up to $60,000 per year, YWA distinguished writers will receive a half-tuition scholarship of more than $30,000 per year, and YWA finalists who enroll will get a scholarship of up to $25,000 per year
Dates: Open for entries from September 1
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in Grades 9-12 | Grade 12 students should submit their YWA entry by completing either the Common Application or Coalition Application
The Bennington College Young Writers Awards is a university-run writing scholarship competition in which high school students can submit work in poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, following specific word limits and formatting guidelines. For prose submissions, you are required to submit a short story or essay, while poetry entries can include a small set of poems within a combined word limit. Your work should demonstrate control over structure, clarity of ideas, and genre-specific techniques such as narrative development or use of imagery.
9. SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Entry fee $10 per essay | First Place: $1,000 scholarship, Second Place: $500 scholarship, Third Place: $300 scholarship
Dates: Vary each year
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 in public, private, and home schools within the United States
The Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest is a national scholarship program that invites high school students to submit original essays on journalism-related topics, typically focused on media literacy, press freedom, or misinformation. You are expected to write a structured response of around 300–500 words that clearly addresses the prompt using a defined argument and supporting ideas. The essay requires organization into a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, along with attention to style, grammar, and coherence. Your submission is evaluated by panels of journalism educators and professionals based on criteria such as logical organization, clarity of expression, vocabulary, and adherence to the topic.
10. Better Business Bureau Ethical Torch Essay Scholarship
Location: Online, open to students from San Diego, Orange County, and Greater Arizona
Cost/Stipend: Free | Scholarship of up to $1,500 for 1st place, $1,250 for 2nd place, $1,000 for 3rd place, $750 for 4th place and $500 for 5th place
Dates: Vary each year
Application Deadline: San Diego and Imperial County students: August 2 | Orange County students: September 27 | Greater Arizona students: October 11
Eligibility: Students who are high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are residing and enrolled in school in Apache, Coconino, Gila, Imperial, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Orange, Pinal, San Diego, Yavapai, or Yuma Counties
The Better Business Bureau Ethical Torch Essay Scholarship is a regional writing scholarship that awards funding to high school students based on an original essay submission. You are required to write an essay of up to 500 words describing an ethical dilemma you have faced and how you responded to it. The essay should focus on presenting a clear narrative, reflecting on decision-making, and explaining what the experience taught you about ethics. Your submission will be evaluated using defined criteria, including relevance to the theme, clarity of expression, organization, and the inclusion of personal examples. The writing is expected to be structured with a clear central idea and supported by specific details from your experience.
11. Bird Dog Foundation College Scholarship Essay Contest
Location: National Bird Dog Museum, Grand Junction, TN
Cost/Stipend: Free | 1st Place award: $2,000.00, 2nd Place award: $1,500.00, 3rd Place award: $1,000.00
Dates: Vary each year
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school seniors (12th grade) who are preparing to enter their freshman year at an accredited college or university, who are U.S. citizens, and must either reside in Tennessee, Mississippi, or Arkansas, or be affiliated with a bird dog club, organization, or field trial association in any of the other 47 U.S. states
The Bird Dog Foundation Annual College Scholarship Essay Contest is a writing scholarship focused on topics related to wildlife conservation, hunting heritage, and outdoor traditions. The program requires an original essay based on suggested themes, with an emphasis on engaging directly with these subject areas through specific ideas and examples. Submissions are expected to reflect an understanding of conservation and its broader cultural context rather than general commentary. The evaluation considers how clearly the essay presents its central argument, along with its organization, relevance to the theme, and attention to detail. The contest is part of the Wildlife Heritage Center’s educational outreach efforts, which promote awareness of wildlife and environmental responsibility.
12. Profile in Courage Essay Contest
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free | First Place: $10,000, Second Place: $3,000, Three finalists receive $1,000 each, and Fifteen students receive honorable mentions
Dates: Open for entries from September 1
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home school | US students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program | US citizens attending schools overseas
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Profile in Courage Essay Contest is a national writing competition that invites high school students to examine acts of political courage in the United States. You can write an original essay analyzing a decision made by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, focusing on the risks, challenges, and consequences associated with that action. Your essay should be between 700 and 1,000 words and must draw on multiple sources to support your argument.
13. The Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free | Scholarships of up to $25000
Dates: Vary each year
Application Deadline: Exact dates vary depending on the specific contest | July 31 for The Fountainhead
Eligibility: Generally open to students from grades 8 to 12 | Exact requirements will vary based on the specific contest | Some contests are open to graduate school students as well
The Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests are a set of international writing competitions based on Ayn Rand’s novels. You can choose a specific contest tied to a book, such as Anthem, The Fountainhead, or Atlas Shrugged, and respond to one of the provided essay prompts. Each contest corresponds to a different grade range, and you must select the one that matches your level. Essays should be written in English and typically require you to analyze themes, characters, or philosophical ideas from the text. You can enter more than one contest as long as you meet the requirements for each.
14. The Adroit Journal Scholarships
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Submission fee of $15 | $200 awarded to winners
Dates: Open for entries from April 1
Application Deadline: May 12 (extended deadline)
Eligibility: Open to U.S. and international high school and undergraduate students
The Adroit Journal Prizes are annual writing awards for secondary and undergraduate students in the categories of poetry and prose. You can submit a group of poems or a single piece of fiction or creative nonfiction, without a fixed prompt. Submissions center on themes such as identity, relationships, memory, or social and cultural experiences, depending on the piece you choose to submit. Entries will be read anonymously, and a small number of winners and runners-up will be selected in each genre. Selected work will be published in The Adroit Journal, introducing students to editorial selection and publication workflows.
15. The Pulitzer Center Local Letters for Global Change Contest
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free | $300 for 1st place, $75 to other finalists
Dates: Vary each year
Application Deadline: November 14
Eligibility: Open to K-12 students
The Pulitzer Center Local Letters for Global Change Writing Contest is a letter-writing competition for K–12 students that focuses on global issues and civic action. You can write a one-page letter to a local decision-maker, using reporting from the Pulitzer Center to explain a global issue and connect it to your own community. The letter must propose a specific action or solution that the recipient has the authority to implement. Topics must fall within the following areas: climate and environment, global health, human rights, information and artificial intelligence, or peace and conflict. Your submission is expected to combine evidence from a Pulitzer Center news story with additional context about why the issue matters locally.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are interested in structured research and writing mentorship, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source: Bennington College