Private Scholarships for New Undergraduates

Private scholarships are awarded by organizations, foundations, community groups, and private agencies to help students meet the cost of attending college. The Office of Financial Aid maintains a curated list of opportunities, updated quarterly. This is not an exhaustive list—many more opportunities can be found through high school guidance offices, libraries, and online search engines. Any questions should be directed to the corresponding scholarship organization.

Categories of Private Scholarships Available

Field of Study: Communication; Journalism; Film Television, and Media Arts; Writing & Publishing; Performing Arts; Communication Disorders; Marketing; and more

Cultural Background: Scholarships for students of African American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, Italian American, and other heritages

Identity and Community: Scholarships for LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, first-generation students, and students from underrepresented groups

Financial Need: Need-based awards including those for Federal Pell Grant recipients and Boston residents

Study Abroad: Awards to help offset international study and travel costs

Veterans and Military Families: Scholarships for students with military connections

State-Based Awards: Scholarships for residents of Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and other states

Undocumented and DACA Students: A dedicated list of scholarships open to undocumented students and those with DACA status, updated monthly

Scholarship Search Engines

The following free resources can help you find additional opportunities. Never pay a fee to access scholarship listings.

If You Receive a Private Scholarship

You are required to report any private scholarship award to the Office of Financial Aid as soon as you are notified. Emerson will adjust your financial aid package accordingly, applying funds first to unmet need. If scholarship funds exceed your unmet need, your package will be adjusted in the following order: Federal Work Study > Alternative/PLUS Loans > Emerson Grant Funds > Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans.

Avoiding Scams

Be wary of any scholarship search service that:

  • Charges a fee to access scholarships;
  • Requires credit card or bank account information;
  • Guarantees you will win an award;
  • Promises to replace loans with grants for a processing fee.

To report a scam, contact the National Fraud Information Center at 1-800-876-7060 or online.

Tax Implications

Some or all of a private scholarship award may be subject to federal, state, or other taxes. For general guidance, refer to IRS Publication 970. Non-U.S. residents should contact Payroll or Accounts Payable to determine eligibility for treaty benefits. Emerson does not provide tax advice — please consult an outside tax advisor with questions.