Last Updated on September 30, 2026
Quick answer: The best scholarships for 11th graders include the Coolidge Scholarship, the National Merit Scholarship Program, the Davidson Fellows Scholarship, and the MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge. Many are open only to juniors or accept them alongside seniors, so starting in 11th grade gives you more chances to compete and to earn honors for your college applications.
The Best Scholarships for 11th Graders
Merit scholarships and national competitions reward the work you are already doing in the classroom and in your community. You might think applications can wait, but you don’t have to wait until senior year to compete for these awards. Plus, winning one of these prestigious scholarships would look very impressive on your Common App honors section! Scholarships for 11th graders are out there.
Do your research and start applying during your junior year to get a head start. [1] In this blog, I have outlined merit scholarships and competitions selected based on the prestige of the awarding organization and their availability to high school juniors. Read on to see if one of these scholarships for 11th graders is right for you.
Leadership and Service Scholarships for 11th Graders
These first three programs reward students who lead, serve their communities, and take an interest in public life. Each one values sustained commitment more than a single impressive activity.
1. Cameron Impact Scholarship
Do you believe you’ve been making a positive impact in your community? Do you plan to pursue public service in the future? If you’ve said yes to either or both of these questions, consider the Cameron Impact Scholarship. The Bryan Cameron Education Foundation supports “leaders of the next generation” through merit-based scholarships each year. To apply, students must: 1) excel in academics, 2) be motivated leaders, 3) actively participate in community service, and 4) participate in a broad array of extracurriculars. Application windows and deadlines can change, so confirm current eligibility and dates on the Bryan Cameron Education Foundation website before you apply.
2. Coolidge Scholarship
The Coolidge Scholarship is a full-ride presidential scholarship for four years of undergraduate study at any accredited US college or university, and it is open only to current high school juniors. [3] One of the best scholarships for 11th graders and named after the 30th President of the United States, the Coolidge Scholarship awards students for their academic excellence and demonstrated interest in public policy and service. Applicants must be US citizens or legal permanent residents, and the application opens in the fall of junior year with a deadline in early December. Finalists are invited to an interview weekend in Vermont, and new Coolidge Scholars attend an orientation week in Plymouth Notch, Vermont (Coolidge’s birthplace). Newly selected Coolidge Senators also attend the Coolidge Senators Summit.
3. Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
Another scholarship for the community leaders out there. Each year, the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors 25 extraordinary young leaders aged 8-18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the planet. To apply for the Barron Prize, students must be working individually on an inspiring service project or have done so in the past 12 months. This activity must have been primarily initiated by the applicant and not be the result of a mandatory school assignment. Winners must demonstrate courage, initiative, tenacity, and high moral purpose in pursuit of their goals. Applicants must be permanent residents of (or currently residing in) the United States or Canada. Check the Barron Prize website for the current nomination deadline.
Academic and STEM Scholarships for Juniors
If your passion lives in research, math, or science, these programs let you compete on the quality of your ideas. Several of them also accept team entries, so you can work alongside classmates who share your interests.
4. Davidson Fellows Award
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is one of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships in the country, open to students 18 or younger who are US citizens or permanent residents living in the United States. [4] You can apply individually or as a two-person team. Davidson Fellows are recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. To apply, students must complete and submit a substantial, college-level project in one of the following disciplines: engineering, literature, mathematics, music, philosophy, science, technology, or “outside the box.” Here’s your chance to take what you are interested in to a whole new level, and win one of the best scholarships for 11th graders while you’re at it! This project should be geared towards benefiting society and should promote a new way of solving problems. The application opens each fall, so start your project well before junior year ends.
5. MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge
If you love math, this one’s for you! Sponsored by MathWorks (the leading developer of mathematical computer software), the Math Modeling (M3) Challenge asks applicants to use applied mathematics as a problem-solving tool to tackle a new and specific real-world problem each year. If your friends claim that there’s no real-world application of math, here’s your chance to prove them wrong. Gather a team of juniors and/or seniors and compete for scholarship awards. [5]
The M3 Challenge is Internet-based. Teams register in advance, then download the problem on Challenge weekend and start the countdown of 14 consecutive hours of work time. Once the clock starts, it cannot be paused. Professional applied mathematicians judge the submissions, and winners are announced in the spring after the final event in New York City.
6. National Merit Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Program is one of the best-known academic competitions for high school juniors, and you enter it by taking a test. The PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test for the program, and most students take it in the fall of 11th grade. [6] Students with the highest scores in each state are named Semifinalists, and Semifinalists can apply to advance to Finalist standing. The Finalist application asks for an essay, a recommendation from your school, and a record of high academic performance. Students who score just below the Semifinalist level can be named Commended Students, an honor you can list on your applications.
This is why understanding PSAT scores and preparing early in 10th grade matter so much. A high score can make you eligible for one of the best scholarships for 11th graders and a distinction that colleges recognize. Review each section of the test and take a full-length practice test before test day. Schools set their own PSAT/NMSQT test dates in the fall, so ask your counselor when your school offers it.
7. Toshiba/NSTA Exploravision Science Competition
The Toshiba/NSTA Exploravision Science Competition is a STEM competition open to students in grades K-12, but the judging is separated by age group, with high schoolers competing with each other. You will not only be competing with others seeking scholarships for 11th graders, but kids from other grades as well. But, the fun part is, you can work on a team with your friends from other grades and even your friends from other schools, as long as they’re all in high school!
Teams of 2-4 students must work together to identify a technology, explore how it works, and predict how it might change in the future and affect society. Applicants must submit projects that demonstrate engagement with real-world problem solving and have a clear emphasis in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics. All entries must include the following: an abstract, a description, and a bibliography. Winning teams earn national recognition for their ideas. ExploraVision posts its key dates each year, so check the official site before your team begins.
Civics and Public Speaking Scholarships
Students who love debate, government, and public service will find two well-known national programs here. Both reward clear thinking about democracy and a record of leadership experience.
8. Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition
If you love debate, Model UN or any public speaking course or organization, you do not want to miss out on this scholarship! Sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, the Voice of Democracy Scholarship encourages students to express their beliefs regarding democratic principles and ideals. Nearly 28,000 students in grades 9-12 enter each year. [7] State winners also earn a trip to a leadership program at Valley Forge. To apply, you must write and record an original audio essay based on the annual theme, then submit it through a local VFW Post. The theme changes every year, so check the VFW website for the current prompt. The deadline is midnight on October 31.
9. William Randolph Hearst Foundation US Senate Youth Program
Each year, the U.S. Senate Youth Program welcomes a select group of students from across the nation to Washington, D.C. for a week-long, in-depth view of the Senate and the federal government. The program is looking for students actively serving in elected or appointed student leadership positions who have demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities, academic achievement, community involvement and extracurricular activities. If you believe that’s you, you must be nominated by your high school or state selection officials, so get working on that!
Two delegates are selected from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity for a week of policy briefings in Washington, D.C. [8] If you win, you would be encouraged to pursue government, history, and public policy education in college, which you might already have been planning if you applied for this scholarship for 11th graders in the first place. Deadlines vary by state, so contact your state selection administrator early in the school year.
How to Boost Your Chances of Winning Scholarships
Scholarships are always competitive, so it’s best not to wait for senior year. As you can see, there are plenty of scholarships for 11th graders. [2] Plan ahead well in advance of the deadlines to submit your applications, letters of recommendation, and transcripts. Ask your school counselors for guidance and information. Get your friends to help, especially if the scholarship requires a team project. If you want more ideas, our junior year checklist can help you plan. Good luck!
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Not sure where to start with applications and scholarships?
Get a clear, honest read on which path actually fits your goals, and the specific next steps to build a competitive application. Click here to book your complimentary consultation.