10 New Hampshire Scholarships to Save You Thousands on College
What’s Covered:
New Hampshire is home to one of the nation’s best-known state mottos, “Live Free or Die.” Sadly for college-bound students, one thing that isn’t free in the Granite State is an education at the state’s renowned colleges and universities. Fortunately, there are numerous great scholarships available to Granite State students.
10 New Hampshire Scholarships
1. Annalee Thorndike Art Award
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are residents of the Lakes Region/Belknap County and will pursue an art degree or a degree in a related field
Application Requirements: Portfolio containing at least five original works of art, a personal sketchbook, artist statement, essay, and student aid report (SAR)
Aspiring Granite State artists in the Lakes Region/Belknap County will want to check out this fantastic New Hampshire scholarship. The Annalee Thorndike Art Award is intended to support students planning to pursue an art major—or a related field, like graphic design—in college. Applicants are required to submit a portfolio containing five pieces of original artwork with their application. Submitted artwork can include drawing, painting, print, and collage. It may also include, although not exclusively, photography, digital art, and 3D works.
2. NSPE-NH State Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: New Hampshire high school seniors and undergraduates enrolling/enrolled in an ABET-EAC accredited engineering program
Application Requirements: Personal statement and teacher recommendation
This New Hampshire scholarship supports up-and-coming young engineers—its intent is to encourage the growth and development of the state’s general civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers. The scholarship is open to students who are either planning to enroll or currently enrolled in an ABET-EAC accredited engineering program. Preference is given to students planning to attend, or attending, a New Hampshire college or university.
3. Abbie Sargent Memorial Scholarship
Amount: N/A
Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: New Hampshire residents enrolled at an institution of higher learning
Application Requirements: Transcript, essay, and two letters of recommendation
The Abbie Sargent Memorial Scholarship is presented by the New Hampshire Farm Bureau to students with average or better grades who are dependable, responsible, and have financial need. Applicants pursuing a degree in a field related to agriculture are given preference. Students must compose an essay detailing their extracurricular activities, work experience, community involvement, and plans for their future as part of the application.
4. NHWPCA Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: March 22
Eligibility: New Hampshire resident high school students and undergraduates pursuing a degree in water pollution control, environmental science, engineering, or chemistry at a New Hampshire college/university
Application Requirements: Essay and a letter of recommendation
This scholarship is provided by the New Hampshire Water Pollution Control Association (NHWPCA) with the aim of promoting excellence in the fields of wastewater engineering and operations. Along those lines, the scholarship is awarded to students pursuing degrees in environmental fields related to water and wastewater and gives preference to applicants who are preparing for a field directly related to the water environment. Preference is also given to NHWPCA members and immediate family members.
5. AFT-NH Honey Cascio Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school senior whose parent or guardian is a member of the American Federation of Teachers
Application Requirements: Proof of college acceptance and an essay
The Honey Cascio Scholarship is available to high school seniors whose parents or guardians are members of the American Federation of Teachers New Hampshire—a union of classroom teachers. As part of their application, students are tasked with writing an essay in which they interview a relative/acquaintance who is a union member and detail the benefits of union membership based on their experiences. Applicants can support their relative/acquaintance’s insights with scholarly work and other external sources.
6. ACEC-NH Scholarship Program
Amount: $1,500 to $2,500
Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: New Hampshire high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students planning to pursue a degree in engineering, geology, or a related field full time
Application Requirements: Transcript, personal statement, and letter of recommendation
This great Granite State scholarship is provided by the American Council of Engineering Companies of New Hampshire. Students planning to pursue a degree in engineering, geology, or fields related to those areas are eligible for the award. Recipients are chosen based on their participation in school and community activities, work experience, personal statements, and recommendations. Financial need is not considered, but any unusual personal or family circumstances are considered.
7. Horatio Alger New Hampshire State Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: New Hampshire high school junior with demonstrated critical financial need
Application Requirements: Minimum 2.0 GPA and a gross family income under $55,000
The Horatio Alger Association awards scholarships in all 50 states—which obviously includes New Hampshire—and Washington, D.C., to students who have faced and overcome enormous obstacles. Recipients of this award have a strong desire to earn an undergraduate degree and have demonstrated integrity, perseverance, and ambition. This award is aimed at students with critical financial need, and applicants must come from a family with a gross income under $55,000.
8. Christa McAuliffe Field of Education Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: New Hampshire resident (for at least three years) entering a bachelor’s degree program in the field of education
Application Requirements: Letter of college acceptance, transcript, personal statement, and two letters of recommendation
The Christa McAuliffe Field of Education Scholarship is provided by The American Legion Department of New Hampshire. The award honors Christa McAuliffe, a teacher and astronaut from Concord, New Hampshire, who was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The scholarship supports applicants pursuing a degree in education and requires them to submit a brief statement on the career path they intend to follow.
9. Higher Education Scholarships for Orphans of Veterans
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: September 1
Eligibility: New Hampshire residents between 16 and 25 years old who are the natural or adopted children of service members who died on active duty or of service-connected disabilities
Application Requirements: VA file claim number
The Higher Education Scholarships for Orphans of Veterans was established in 1943 by the New Hampshire state legislature. The scholarships provide financial support to children of service member parents who passed away while on active duty or of service-connected disabilities. Recipients can use the award at any of New Hampshire’s public colleges or universities. Since 1981, qualified children of fallen veterans have been able to receive free tuition through the University System of New Hampshire and the Community College System of New Hampshire.
10. Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program
Amount: Up to $20,000
Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: Between 19 and 26 years old who are single (never been married) and work or attend school full time in New Hampshire
Application Requirements: Win a local preliminary pageant
At first glance, Miss New Hampshire might not seem like an intriguing New Hampshire scholarship, but its substantial awards are sure to grab attention. The winner receives a $20,000 award, while the runner-up collects $10,000 and third place takes home $7,000. Winners are chosen using four criteria: private interview, talent, on-stage interview/social impact pitch, and evening wear. In addition to overall awards, a number of smaller awards are given, including scholarships for non-finalists, talent, and interviews.
Tips on Applying to Scholarships
Competition is at the heart of New Hampshire—exemplified best by its first-in-the-nation Presidential primary, but also by the demand for scholarships. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to boost your odds of winning an award.
Institutional Aid
Colleges and universities provide considerably more scholarship dollars than other organizations—$175 billion vs. $11 billion. There simply are better odds of winning an award (and of that award having a higher value) from a college or university than from an outside organization. Focus on institutional opportunities and make sure you’ve maximized the amount of scholarship dollars you can get through them before targeting outside scholarships.
Merit Aid
Merit aid is awarded based on factors like an applicant’s academic success, test scores, extracurricular activities, and community service. Many colleges will use merit aid as a way to entice desirable students to their campus and often away from more well-known and prestigious schools. Include one or two “safety schools” where you have a strong chance of winning a significant award on your college list.
Private Schools
Many college-bound students are turned off by the large sticker prices of private colleges, but private colleges commonly offer more lavish scholarships than their public counterparts. Because private schools want to avoid empty seats, there is potential that applicants can negotiate for even more financial aid than what is offered. Don’t let the high published price of private colleges dissuade you from adding them to your college list—they can often cost less than public schools due to their generous scholarships.
