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Weird College Scholarships

You've researched all the typical scholarships and funding opportunities available to you through federal and state providers, as well as colleges, universities, and private sources. However, you are still looking for additional scholarships for which you may be eligible to further cut the out-of-pocket cost of attending an institute of higher learning. You may qualify for a weird scholarship that most people have never even heard of, depending on your hobbies or field of interest.

Do you skateboard? Consider applying for the Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship, available to high school seniors who are US citizens maintaining at least a 2.5 GPA and planning on enrolling in a two- or four-year degree program at a college or university. Four awards are disbursed yearly — one for $5000 and three others to the tune of $1000 each.

Perhaps you are interested in psychic phenomena and are studying parapsychology or conducting research in the field. The Parapsychology Foundation offers the Eileen J. Garrett Scholarship for undergrads and graduates to help complete such a degree program. If you can knit, sew, or crochet, you can enter the Make It Yourself With Wool Contest, sponsored by the American Sheep Industry Association. Winners may receive either $1000 or $2000.

Believe it or not, the Kor Memorial Scholarship is offered by the Klingon Language Institute for students who are devoted to some sort of language study — it does NOT have to be Klingon. A $500 scholarship is awarded annually for a student looking toward a degree program in the study of languages or linguistics.

List of Weird Scholarships

Paying for school is not easy, but we are here to help. OEDb's student finance section will help you find the money you need to pay your tuition and other college expenses. We cover scholarships, college grants, and student loans. Scholarships and grants are both forms of "free money", meaning they don't need to be paid back. Scholarships are typically awarded by businesses or individuals, with the money being earmarked specifically for tuition. They can be awarded based on a student's location or by religious affiliation, such as Catholicism or Islam. Grants are typically awarded by governments or non-profit organizations and the money often can be applied to several different expenses a student may incur, not solely tuition. They can be awarded based on location or ethnicity, for instance African American or Hispanic. Loans are not considered "free money", because unlike scholarships and grants, they do need to be paid back after graduation. Common federal loans include Perkins and Stafford. Loans are also available by location.