Exclusive History Scholarships with 2025 Deadlines

About history scholarships

The costs of college education have been on the rise in recent years, forcing many college students to take on student debt to complete their education. The average student loan debt is currently $37,693.

While student loans provide a valuable form of financial assistance to enrolled students who would otherwise not be able to afford college, student debt proves difficult for many students to pay off once they graduate. High amounts of student debt can lead to students delaying other life goals such as buying a house, retiring, starting a business, etc. Today, 15% of all Americans have outstanding undergraduate student debt.

Luckily, scholarships offer relief to students burdened by high tuition and loan rates. Unlike student loans, scholarships do not have to be paid back. There are many scholarships out there from broad scholarships all students can apply for to narrow scholarships intended only for students who meet specific requirements. College students can escape student debt by securing as many scholarships as possible.

Scholarships related to history are a great financial aid resource for students studying or interested in history. History scholarships allow history majors and other students the opportunity to secure financial assistance for their college educational expenses. While most history scholarships are meant for students majoring in history, there are many opportunities available for students who do not wish to get a history degree. Those who are studying related fields like political science are still able to apply for many history scholarships.

What is a history scholarship?

A history scholarship is a scholarship award with a focus on history. Many history scholarships are devoted to keeping the historical past alive and supporting students who are passionate about history. Scholarships for history are not just for undergraduate and graduate students currently studying history, high school students can apply for history scholarships as well. Even if a student does not have an interest in being a history major, they can still apply for many history scholarships.

Some scholarships for history are only for those majoring in history or related social sciences, but many are open to all students regardless of their major. Similarly, there are also scholarships for history majors and aficionados with specific interests, like American history or southeast Asian history.

Checkout the lists below to see scholarships for history that are exclusive to Bold.org.

Art history scholarships

As history is such a broad field, many history scholarships are further broken down into different subcategories like American history or women's history. If you have a specific interest in the historic preservation of art then the art history scholarships below are great to apply for. By applying to more specific scholarships you have a better chance of being awarded and winning scholarships for history.

Elizabeth D. Stark Art Scholarship

1st Generation People Of Color Patrick Copney Memorial Music/Arts Scholarship

Black history scholarships

Many students devoted to keeping diverse perspectives alive are interested in Black history. Students interested specifically in studying Black history can find financial support as they study history through the scholarships listed here.

ProjectGiveBack Scholarship for Black Women

Ms. Catherine Gipson Scholarship

Can you get a scholarship for history?

Whether you're a high school student or a graduate student, it’s easy to get a scholarship for history with bold.org. By creating a free profile and applying for the hundreds of scholarships available you can better your chances of being awarded a scholarship and maximize your college financial aid.

History majors looking for more scholarships can also go to the financial aid office of their university to see what school-specific scholarships are available to meet their financial need. There are plenty of scholarships for history available, all you need to do is apply.

How to apply for history scholarships

The first step in applying for history scholarships is to create a free Bold.org profile. After creating your profile you will be asked to enter information about your personal interests, career goals, and school. It’s important to input as much information as necessary on your profile to better your chances of being awarded scholarships.

After your profile is complete you will have access to thousands of scholarships on bold.org. Bold will begin recommending relevant scholarships to you based on your account information, but you can also narrow your scholarship search.

To find history scholarships you can search scholarships through the search bar at the top of the page and you can filter through scholarships by education level and category. There is no history category, but by setting the scholarship search to the humanities category you will only see scholarships related to the humanities, including subjects like history, philosophy, and literature.

After you find the specific scholarship you would like to apply for you need to read through the description and eligibility requirements. A scholarship might state that applicants must be a certain education level, like scholarships specifically for graduating high school seniors, so it is important to make sure you fit the qualifications.

The actual application materials will vary from scholarship to scholarship. The majority of history scholarships will require that applicants submit an essay while others will be easy “No Essay” scholarships that don’t require any additional material from students who apply. 

Once you have determined that you are an eligible applicant and you've discovered what application materials will be necessary, take note of the application deadline. It’s best to begin preparing far in advance in order to give yourself time to prepare the best paper or other application items possible. Once your scholarship application is ready all you have to do is upload the materials to the site and click submit.

With one simple click of a button, you could save yourself thousands of dollars in university tuition costs.

Best history scholarships

There are a wide variety of scholarships for history for everyone from undergraduate students who are history majors to graduating high school students who want to study science (meaning history majors aren't the only students who can apply for history scholarships_. No matter your experiences or career goals, the list below is sure to have an available scholarship that you should consider applying for.

Women’s History Scholarship

This $500 scholarship award is intended to support a female student of any education level as she completes her degree.

History scholarships for high school students

High school students who wish to secure funding for their college education early can find many scholarship opportunities. Many students find it beneficial to apply for scholarships in high school as they have fewer responsibilities to focus on. High schoolers in their senior year will have more scholarships they are eligible for, but there are still plenty available for students in earlier grades as well.

Kim Thompson Legacy Scholarship

Servela Theodore Memorial Scholarship

Alexis Potts Passion Project Scholarship

Scholarships for history majors

Finding major-specific scholarships is an easy way to find a smaller applicant pool. More narrow scholarships allow students a better chance of being awarded a scholarship fund. History major students can find exclusive scholarship opportunities below.

Snap Finance “Funding the Future” Scholarship

Ben Brock Memorial Scholarship

Michael Rudometkin Memorial Scholarship

Scholarships for history graduate students

If you have already received your undergraduate degree and wish to go on to further graduate studies, there are still scholarship options open to you. Current graduate students can find many sources of funding for their history studies.

Ilya Flantsbaum Memorial Scholarship

Bold Great Minds Scholarship

Frequently asked questions about history scholarships

How to find history scholarships

The easiest way to find history scholarships is by creating a free profile on bold.org and searching through the list of available scholarships. Students can search by categories of education and public safety to find specific scholarships based on their college major or interests. Students can also go to the financial aid office of their university to see what other scholarships might be available for them.

When can I start applying?

Most scholarships are intended for high school seniors or current college students, but students should begin applying for scholarships as early as possible. On Bold.org, students can begin applying for scholarships as soon as they enter high school.

Scholarship deadlines happen year-round so there is no specific time of year you need to begin applying for scholarships. Some students might find it best to apply during the summer when school is not in session so they have more time to focus on creating winning essays and other great application materials. Many scholarships are awarded annually, so if you happen to miss the deadline, you can apply next year!

How do I know if I'm eligible for a scholarship?

You'll know if you're eligible for a scholarship by reading the eligibility requirements in the description. Bold.org makes it easy to learn what the requirements are by clearly labeling them in a bulleted list at the top of each scholarship page. For instance, a once scholarship may available to only history majors while another could be for anyone studying STEM subjects. Certain scholarships might also require students to demonstrate financial need or to have certain career interests so applicants must ensure they fit the requirements.

What do I have to do to apply?

To apply for scholarships on Bold.org, all you need to do is create an account and fill in some personal information. After you put in information such as what school you attend and what your interests are, you can then begin applying for scholarships.

The application process will be different for every scholarship. Certain scholarships might ask you to write a short essay or upload photos. These essays can be on personal topics or for scholarships for history, they might require an essay related to a certain historical period, like modern European history.

After you submit all required materials, it is then up to the scholarship committee or donor to determine who the winner will be.

Are scholarships counted as income?

Scholarships are not counted as income as long as they are used for necessary tuition expenses. Scholarships awarded through Bold.org are sent directly to the educational institution that a student attends so that the award amount will not count towards the student's taxable income. If there is scholarship money left over after all tuition and fees are paid off then it is possible that the refunded scholarship award will count towards a student's income.