Various organizations, private agencies, foundations, community-based organizations, and civic groups award scholarships to help worthy students meet the cost of attending college. If you are awarded private scholarships, you must report them to the Office of Financial Aid.

Below is a list of private scholarships, gathered for your convenience. It is updated approximately once per month. This is not an exhaustive list of private scholarships that may be available. Many more opportunities may be found online or through high school guidance offices and libraries. Since these scholarships are not offered through Emerson College, any questions should be directed to the corresponding scholarship association. Any scholarships in this list that are available to graduate students will be noted in their descriptions.

Scholarships for Specific Programs of Study

Communication Disorders, Communication Studies and Marketing Communication Scholarships

Journalism Scholarships

Visual and Media Arts Majors Scholarships

  • The King Family Foundation: For undergraduate students pursuing TV, film, and related fields.
  • National Press Photographers Foundation: For undergraduate and graduate students pursuing photojournalism.
  • UncommonGoods Art & Design Scholarship: Multiple scholarships for incoming and current undergraduate students pursuing art and design.
  • Cecilia Siemen Scholarship: For incoming and current undergraduate students pursuing visual arts.
  • Dina Reis Film & Media Scholarship: For incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students to pursue film and media.
  • Charms to Treasure Art & Design Scholarship: For incoming and current undergraduate students to pursue visual art.
  • Tiffany Green Operator Scholarship: $10,000 award for junior and senior undergraduate students who identify as female, to pursue a career in any aspect of live entertainment.
  • Chairish "Design Your Future" Scholarship: For incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students who identify as part of an underrepresented group (including but not limited to first-generation, racial or ethnic minority, disability status, economic status, gender, or sexual orientation) to pursue any field, with special preference given to students who plan to pursue any sort of design work.
  • Steven J Finkel Service Excellence Scholarship: $10,000 award for students pursuing a career in live entertainment.
  • Playfish Media Scholarship: For incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students who are studying film, video production, or a related subject.

Writing, Literature, and Publishing Scholarships

Performing Arts Scholarships

Scholarships for Special Interests

Cultural Scholarships

Income-Based Scholarships

  • Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship: For students receiving the Federal Pell Grant to study abroad.
  • Dollars for Scholars: Multiple scholarships for incoming and current undergraduate students with financial need. Contact local chapters for eligibility requirements.
  • The Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship: For undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and excellent academic potential.
  • Edwards Scholarship Fund: For incoming and current undergraduate students who are Boston residents and demonstrate financial need.
  • The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship: For incoming undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need, leadership potential, and a dedication to community service.
  • Ron Brown Scholarship Program: For incoming undergraduate students who identify as Black or African American and who demonstrate academic excellence, community leadership interest, and financial need.

Study Abroad Scholarships

Veterans

  • Student Veterans of America: "Through a network of nearly 1,600 on-campus chapters, Student Veterans of America® ensures that student veterans and military-connected students achieve their greatest potential."
  • SALUTE National Honor Society for Veterans: "SALUTE is the only national honor society in the nation recognizing and honoring the service and the scholastic achievements of this generation’s greatest veterans."
  • Horatio Alger Scholarship: "The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty, and determination can conquer all obstacles."
  • American Veterans National Scholarships
    "AMVETS is proud to offer scholarships/grants to our nation’s Veterans, Active Duty, Guard and Reserves; their Spouses as well as their Children and Grandchildren."
  • Pat Tillman Foundation Scholarship: "The Pat Tillman Foundation identifies remarkable military service members, veterans and spouses, empowering them with academic scholarships, lifelong leadership development opportunities and a diverse, global community of high-performing mentors and peers."
  • Scholarships for Military Children: "Children of active, reserve, and retired military members may receive $2,000 college scholarships."
  • Check your high school's resources for miltary-specific scholarship opportunities.

State-Based Scholarships

California

Colorado

  • Aspen Community Foundation: Multiple scholarships for incoming and current undergraduate students from the Roaring Fork Valley area.

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Florida

Maine

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New York

North Carolina

  • Mary Doctor Performing Arts Scholarship: For graduating high school seniors from Charlotte, North Carolina who demonstrate promise and plan to pursue a career in the performing arts, technical theatre, or education.

Ohio

Rhode Island

International Student Scholarships

Scholarships & Resources for Students Who are Undocumented or Who Have DACA Status

Available Scholarships

This is a list of private scholarships that are open to students who are undocumented or who have DACA status. It is updated monthly and will continue to grow. This not an exhaustive list of the private scholarship opportunities available to you. Many more can be found in the Search Engines and Resources section below.

Miscellaneous and Special Interest Scholarships

Study Abroad

Marketing/Communications/Communication Disorders

Theatre & Performing Arts

Writing, Literature, and Publishing

Search Engine and Resources

The following links will bring you to scholarship search engines and resource guides for college affordability and support for students who are undocumented or who have DACA status. Many of these resources will also apply to students with Temporary Protected Status.

*Please note that any information you provide is subject to terms of use and privacy statements of each site. Read them carefully.

*Scholarship search engines often ask that you create a profile with an email address. We recommend creating an email address specifically for your scholarship searches so that you do not have to sort them in your regular email.

*NEVER pay a scholarship search engine site for access to scholarships.

General Scholarships & Scholarship Search Engines

Miscellaneous Scholarships

Scholarship Search Engines

*Please note that any information you provide is subject to terms of use and privacy statements of each site.

*Scholarship search engines often ask that you create a profile with an email address. We recommend creating an email address specifically for your scholarship searches so that you do not have to sort them in your regular email.

*NEVER pay a scholarship search engine site for access to scholarships.

Receiving a Private Scholarship

If you are awarded private scholarships, you must report them to the Office of Financial Aid. Emerson will then adjust your financial aid package accordingly. Your private scholarships will be used to fill any unmet need. If there are additional scholarship funds remaining after your need is met, your aid package will be adjusted in the following order:

  • Federal Work Study, Perkins Loans, No Interest Loans
  • Emerson Grant Funds
  • Any Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans

Be Cautious

Emerson does not guarantee the validity of the following information or agencies. As with any scholarship you apply for, beware of scams. The Office of Financial Aid warns students to be cautious of scholarship search firms that have any of these elements:

  • You have to pay a fee
  • Money-Back Guarantee
  • Credit Card / Bank Account Information Required
  • Offers Exclusive Information
  • Promises cash if you pay a registration fee
  • Pay a fee and they guarantee you'll win awards
  • Pay a fee and receive a low interest rate education loan
  • Promises to replace loans with grant if you pay a processing fee

Contact us if you have any further questions. Also, you can report scholarship scams to the National Fraud Information Center (NFIC) and file a report online; call their toll-free hotline at 1-800-876-7060 or write to:

National Fraud Information Center (NFIC)
P.O. Box 65868
Washington, DC 20035

Some or all of your award may be subject to taxation in accordance with federal, state and other regulations. For general guidance, you may refer to federal regulations included in IRS Publication 970, available at:

If you are not a U.S. resident, Emerson College may be required to withhold taxes from your award. Please contact either the Payroll Office or Accounts Payable who will instruct you on the documentation needed to determine if you are eligible for any treaty benefits.

Please consult with an outside tax advisor if you are uncertain of the implications of this award on your personal tax situation. Emerson College is not responsible for any taxes that may arise from this award, and does not provide tax advice.