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Scholarships that Don’t Require a GPA

Let’s face it, not everyone does well in classes. We aren’t all straight-A pupils, but that doesn’t mean we couldn’t all use any financial assistance to pay for education. When you don’t meet the minimum GPA for an academic scholarship, you may think you won’t be able to get any money, but this isn’t the case.

Sure, most scholarship competitions are all pretty much the same – write an essay, get letters of recommendation, and don’t bother if you don’t have a 3.0 GPA or an SAT score in the four digits. Although not any of them. People who don’t fit the traditional criteria of academic achievement are being admitted to colleges and universities, and there are scholarship options for all.

It stands to reason that some people excel at standardized exams while others panic when faced with a multiple-choice quiz; that some people excel in academic subjects like math and history while others excel in hands-on subjects like mechanics and sculpture. Why should college scholarship applications be one-size-fits-all because people have varying kinds of aptitudes, different ways of studying, and different ways of showing their intelligence?

There’s a wide range: some are regionally focused, while some are national; others have population limits, while some are open to anyone. Companies, nonprofits, clubs, and colleges fund them. Others choose winners at random, and others reward people for their abilities, achievements, or imagination. At least one of these is likely to be a perfect match for you. That’s why we’ve put together a list of 10 scholarships that don’t need a GPA.

AFSA High School Scholarships – American Fire Sprinkler Association

Fire sprinklers are easy to overlook until there is a fire that needs to be extinguished. The American Fire Sprinkler Association, on the other hand, exists to ensure that fire sprinkler makers, builders, builders, and others in the industry are fairly compensated. The AFSA, which was established in 1981, is a non-profit organization that offers professional training, market consulting, and representation for the fire sprinkler industry, collaborating with a number of other fire protection organizations to raise the profile of the humble sprinkler. Ten winners will also earn $2,000, which will be paid directly to their college or university, allowing them to convince the world that fire sprinklers do more than saving buildings – they help kids go to college. To apply or for further information about the scholarship, please click the link below.

Provided By: AFSA
Award: $2,000
Education level: High school seniors
Subject: All
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Scholarships that Don't Require a GPA

All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship – Iowa College Student Aid Commission

The Iowa College Student Aid Commission was founded by the Iowa General Assembly in 1963 to provide opportunities for Iowans who wished to attend college, and it has been doing so for more than five decades. Every year, the ICSAC supports more than 25,000 students with scholarships, grants, and loan repayment, assisting in the removal of financial obstacles that would otherwise prevent Iowa‘s young people and working adults from making the most of their schooling, jobs, and lives. “College Changes Everything,” as the ICSAC puts it. To apply or for further information about the scholarship, please click the link below.

Provided By:  ICSAC
Award: $8,700
Education level: Iowa college or university students
Subject: All
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Scholarships that Don't Require a GPA

Army ROTC Scholarships

The Army ROTC program has been a vital part of preparing high-quality officers and offering educational opportunities for students for more than a century since it was established in 1916 by the National Defense Act. With more than 20,000 cadets in more than 200 colleges and universities, the Army ROTC is the biggest of the nation’s ROTC programs, and it remains one of the most valuable ways to reach a full-time military career or keep the reserves manned and strong. To apply or for further information about the scholarship, please click the link below.

Provided By: ROTC
Award: Varies
Education level: High school and college students
Subject: All
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Scholarships that Don't Require a GPA

Barbara Rhomberg Excellence in Nursing Scholarship – B4 Brands

B4 Brands is a leading eco-conscious grooming company in the world. B4 has been known for its environmentally friendly hand-cleaning products, which are commonly used in hospitals and doctor’s offices, after introducing its environmentally safe product line in 2012. Given their dedication to not only health and safety but also societal and environmental justice, it should come as no surprise that the B4 expands that commitment to nursing education support – one of the critical consumers of their goods. To apply or for further information about the scholarship, please click the link below.

Provided By: B4 Brands
Award: $1,000
Education level: Undergraduate 
Subject: Nursing and related
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Scholarships that Don't Require a GPA

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program – US Department of State

The Gilman International Scholarship Program provides almost 3000 American college students with up to $5000 in scholarship money to travel abroad, making it one of the most generous study-abroad programs possible. There are no GPA or essay requirements; instead, candidates must be United States residents already enrolled in college and qualifying for a Federal Pell Grant. To apply or for further information about the scholarship, please click the link below.

Provided By:  US Department of State
Award: $5,000
Education level: Undergraduate
Subject: All
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Scholarships that Don't Require a GPA

Blimpie Scholarships – Kahala Brands

The scholarship is open to any Blimpie employee who is enrolled in education, providing workers with the resources they need to demonstrate that achievement will come from everywhere, much as Randy did. This $5000 grant is given out based on various criteria, including academic achievement, community involvement, and inspiring leadership. Every summer, one scholarship is given out for the next academic year.To apply or for further information about the scholarship, please click the link below.

Provided By: Kahala Brands
Award: $5,000
Education level:  Undergraduate
Subject: All
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BMI Future Jazz Master Scholarship

The BMI Future Jazz Master Scholarship isn’t free – jazz isn’t easy, after all. But there are no essays, GPAs, test scores, or anything else required: only jazz. The Future Jazz Master Scholarship is available to currently enrolled college students between the ages of 17 and 24 and is designed to mimic the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, one of the most coveted honors in jazz music. Obviously, a high degree of jazz musicianship and compositional expertise is needed for the $5000 grant. Jazz legends such as pianist Ahmad Jamal and bassist Ron Carter have served as judges in the past. To apply or for further information about the scholarship, please click the link below.

Provided By: BMI
Award: $5,000
Education level: College or university Students
Subject: Music
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Scholarships that Don't Require a GPA

Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Program

The Brown Scholarship is open to Virginia residents who were refused an education due to school closures between 1954 (when Brown v. Board was decided) and 1964 (when Virginia was forced to integrate). This scholarship is a means of repaying those whose lives and prospects have been harmed by institutional bias. To apply or for further information about the scholarship, please click the link below.

Provided By: Brown v. Board of Education
Award: $5,000
Education level: Public schools students
Subject: Open
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Burger King Scholars Program – Burger King McLamore Foundation

The Burger King Scholars Program, which is run by Scholarship America, offers scholarships to Burger King staff and their family members. Employees and their families in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada are qualifying. There are no other qualifications for consideration besides a Burger King affiliation – no minimum GPA, essays, or recommendations are required. To apply or for further information about the scholarship, please click the link below.

Provided By: Burger King McLamore Foundation
Award: $1,000
Education level: Undergraduate
Subject: Open
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C-CAP Careers Through Culinary Arts Program Scholarship – Art Institute of Phoenix

The Art Institute of Phoenix, as well as the Art Institutes scheme as a whole, offers a variety of scholarships for students, many of which are related to tournaments, results, or merit. Still, the C-CAP Careers by Culinary Arts Program Scholarship is open to any student enrolled in a C-CAP Program. The C-CAP group helps low-income and underrepresented students who wish to pursue a career in the arts. To apply or for further information about the scholarship, please click the link below.

Provided By: Art Institute of Phoenix
Award: Varies
Education level: Varies
Subject: Varies
Apply Now

Indu Singh

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