In an increasingly competitive academic environment, scholarships have become essential tools for funding higher education. With thousands of scholarship opportunities available globally, finding the right one can be overwhelming—especially for students unfamiliar with the process. This is where scholarship search engines come in. In 2025, these platforms have evolved to offer not just listings but AI-driven matching, personalized filters, and direct application integration.
This article explores the best scholarship search engines in 2025, highlighting their key features, advantages, and what makes each platform unique for students at all academic levels.
1. Scholarships.com
Overview:
As one of the oldest and most reputable scholarship databases in the U.S., Scholarships.com remains a top destination for students searching for scholarships in 2025.
Key Features:
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Over 3.7 million scholarships and grants listed.
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Personalized matching based on academic background, interests, and demographic profile.
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Filters for academic major, state, student type, and deadline.
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Separate search for college grants and internships.
Why It Stands Out:
The platform offers a clean user interface and regularly updated listings. Students receive targeted scholarship suggestions upon creating a free profile.
2. Fastweb
Overview:
Fastweb continues to be a trusted and comprehensive scholarship engine, helping students connect to relevant opportunities from various sources.
Key Features:
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Extensive scholarship and internship database.
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Articles, guides, and email alerts for new matches.
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Personalized dashboard for tracking deadlines and applications.
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Includes student deals and career planning tools.
Why It Stands Out:
Fastweb’s strength lies in its holistic approach—helping students not only find scholarships but also plan for life after graduation.
3. Bold.org
Overview:
Launched in recent years, Bold.org has rapidly gained popularity for its unique, student-first approach and exclusive scholarships.
Key Features:
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100% exclusive scholarships created by donors, companies, and nonprofits.
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No ads, no clutter—minimalist design.
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Easy profile creation with verified student credentials.
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Scholarships available for niche categories like gaming, mental health advocacy, and underrepresented students.
Why It Stands Out:
Students can build a Bold profile, which sponsors use to award scholarships—making it more like a professional portfolio than a traditional search engine.
4. Going Merry
Overview:
Going Merry acts as both a scholarship search engine and an application management tool, allowing students to apply for multiple scholarships using one form.
Key Features:
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Unified application process—apply to multiple scholarships with one form.
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Grants and financial aid calculators built-in.
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Local, national, and school-specific scholarships included.
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Counselors can track student progress on the platform.
Why It Stands Out:
It removes the hassle of repeated applications, making it ideal for high school students applying to multiple scholarships at once.
5. Cappex
Overview:
Known for both college and scholarship exploration, Cappex provides personalized scholarship matches alongside tools to evaluate colleges.
Key Features:
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Includes merit-based scholarships and college-specific awards.
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“What Are My Chances?” calculator helps students assess admissions likelihood.
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Rich student profiles for tailored results.
Why It Stands Out:
Cappex is great for students trying to align scholarship opportunities with their college admissions strategy.
6. Chegg Scholarships
Overview:
Originally a textbook rental company, Chegg has expanded into the scholarship space with a database of over 25,000 scholarships.
Key Features:
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Simple, quick search functionality.
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Filters for amount, deadline, eligibility, and more.
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Scholarships for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.
Why It Stands Out:
Its fast and straightforward search process is ideal for students looking for opportunities on the go.
7. ScholarSnapp
Overview:
ScholarSnapp is a free, secure platform that allows students to reuse their scholarship application information across multiple applications.
Key Features:
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Students fill out one profile and apply to many scholarships.
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Partnered with numerous scholarship providers.
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Promotes equity by reducing administrative burden.
Why It Stands Out:
It streamlines the application process for both students and providers, saving time and increasing access.
8. IEFA.org (International Education Financial Aid)
Overview:
IEFA is ideal for international students looking to study in the U.S., Canada, Europe, or elsewhere.
Key Features:
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Scholarships, grants, and loans for non-U.S. citizens.
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Filters by country, major, and degree level.
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Updated content for 2025, with visa and cost-of-living guides.
Why It Stands Out:
It focuses specifically on global education funding, making it essential for non-domestic students.
9. ProFellow
Overview:
While more targeted toward graduate students and professionals, ProFellow lists fully funded fellowships and research opportunities.
Key Features:
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Fellowships for grad school, research, and internships.
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Database of more than 1,300 active opportunities.
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Resources and guides on writing proposals and securing funding.
Why It Stands Out:
ProFellow excels in graduate and postgrad funding, particularly for students pursuing public service, science, or academic research.
10. Unigo
Overview:
Unigo is known for its creative scholarship categories and large database, including scholarships for unique talents or identities.
Key Features:
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“Wacky” and “weird” scholarships available.
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Student reviews of colleges and financial aid info.
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Scholarship match tool based on profile.
Why It Stands Out:
Unigo makes the search process fun and accessible, especially for students who feel traditional scholarships don’t reflect their strengths.
Final Tips for Using Scholarship Engines Effectively
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Create strong profiles on multiple platforms to access exclusive and personalized listings.
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Apply early and often—deadlines sneak up fast.
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Set alerts or notifications to stay updated.
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Beware of scams—never pay to apply.
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Use smaller scholarships as stepping stones; they add up quickly.
