9 Delaware Scholarships to Save You Thousands on College
What’s Covered:
Looking for scholarships in the First State? We have you covered — here is a list of some of the top scholarships awarded to students who are residents of Delaware.
10 Best Scholarships for Delaware High School Students
1. Christopher K. Smith Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 per year for four years
Deadline: January 28th
Eligibility: High school seniors graduating from a Delaware public school
Application Requirements: 150-word personal statement; activities list; two teacher recommendations; transcript
The Delaware State Education Association is looking to support public high school students who want to enter the teaching profession. The scholarship will award future teachers with $1,000 per year for four years of undergraduate studies. Students must major in education and maintain above a 3.0 GPA each year to keep their scholarship.
2. Herman M. Holloway, Sr. Memorial Scholarship
Amount: Full tuition, required fees, room, board, and books for four years
Deadline: February 25th
Eligibility: In-state high school seniors with: an unweighted cumulative GPA of at least 3.0; a combined score of at least 1000 on the SAT or the equivalent score on the ACT; Delaware State University full-time enrollment status
Application Requirements: Completed FAFSA along with transcript and test score submissions
For students interested in Delaware State University, this full tuition scholarship is an excellent opportunity. It is awarded to Delaware seniors who have a combination of financial need and academic achievement. Awardees must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in any major in order for their scholarship to continue for four years of studies.
3. John Bernard Lynch Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 15th
Eligibility: Seniors graduating from a high school in Delaware; GPA above 3.0 or SAT score above 1100
Application Requirements: One application essay
This scholarship commemorates John Bernard Lynch, who was able to attend Princeton University thanks to a donor who covered his initial tuition fees. The JBL Scholarship Trust pays it forward by awarding up to $10,000 in aid to applicants who write the most compelling essay.
4. Delaware Community Foundation – Ken Cicerale Memorial Music Scholarship
Amount: $500
Deadline: March 15th
Eligibility: Graduating seniors in Delaware pursuing a major in music at an accredited four-year institution
Application Requirements: DCF general application
DCF offers this simple, easy-apply scholarship to prospective music majors from high schools in Delaware. There are no stipulations that the awardee must attend a specific university or specialize in a specific type of music. The DCF general application asks for basic personal and high school information.
5. Horatio Alger Delaware Scholarship
Amount: $10,000 – $25,000
Deadline: March 15th
Eligibility: High school juniors in Delaware who: are committed to attending a four-year college, have a gross family income under $55,000, are involved in extracurricular and community service activities, overcame adversity, and have a GPA above 2.0
Application Requirements: Horatio Alger State Scholarship application
The Horatio Alger Association honors the achievements of outstanding individuals who have succeeded in spite of adversity. Horatio Alger provides scholarships to college-bound high school students in Delaware who have overcome obstacles, whether those be academic challenges, difficult personal circumstances, or living in a low-income household. Award amounts vary depending on each applicant’s financial need.
6. The DuPont/Delaware FFA Scholarship Endowment
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: January 11th
Eligibility: High school seniors in Delaware who: are pursuing a four-year degree in the agricultural sciences, have a minimum of a 3.5/4.0 GPA, and are a member of a Delaware FFA Chapter
Application Requirements: Complete FFA Scholarship application and obtain two endorsements from local farmers
Delaware high school seniors who are FFA members can use this scholarship to fund their undergraduate education. Funded in part by the DuPont company, the scholarship is simple to apply to as long as you know two farmers who would recommend you.
7. Diamond State Scholarship
Amount: $1,250 per year for four years
Deadline: February 25th
Eligibility: High school seniors in Delaware with an unweighted cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, a score of at least 1290 on the SAT (or equivalent ACT score), and full-time enrollment status at an accredited university in Delaware
Application Requirements: Transcript and test score submissions
The Diamond State Scholarship makes it easier for Delawarean students to study in their home state. With academics and residency being the only eligibility requirements, students can apply this scholarship to their tuition at the majority of universities in the state.
8. B. Bradford Barnes Memorial Scholarship
Amount: Full tuition, required fees, room, board, and books at the University of Delaware for four years
Deadline: February 25th
Eligibility: High school seniors in Delaware with an unweighted cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, a score of at least 1290 on the SAT (or equivalent ACT score), and full-time enrollment status at the University in Delaware
Application Requirements: Completed FAFSA as well as transcript and test score submissions
If Delaware’s flagship public university is your top choice, this scholarship is for you! It covers almost all of the costs of attending the school, and is renewable for up to four years of studies so long as the awardee maintains a 3.0 cumulative GPA each year.
9. Delaware Library Association Linda Walge Penman Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: April 1st
Eligibility: High school junior and seniors in Delaware with career interests related to librarianship
college-scholarships-in-delaware: Application form, one 500-750 word essay demonstrating an interest in librarianship and/or writing, one teacher recommendation
Students in Delaware who are interested in pursuing careers involving librarianship and the written word can fund part of their undergraduate studies with this scholarship. Awardees win an invite to the annual Delaware Library Association Conference in addition to their scholarship.
Tips for Applying to Scholarships
The scholarship application process can be time consuming, but there are ways that you can maximize your efficiency and chances of receiving an award. Here are some tips to help you:
-
Focus on applying to the schools that give out the most need-based and merit-based institutional scholarships before applying to too many outside scholarships like the ones listed in this post. Institutional scholarships generally award a lot more money than private ones, though outside scholarships can be helpful if you are set on attending a specific school or do not qualify for financial aid. Check out our Secret to Winning Merit Scholarships post for more information.
-
Apply to as many scholarships as you qualify for. Niche scholarships which award small amounts of money are usually less competitive than the large scholarships.
-
Create a spreadsheet to stay organized during your scholarship research. Write down scholarship deadlines, eligibility requirements, and other information.
