The Deadline for This $25K No-Essay Need-Based Scholarship is Oct. 25

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What do Oprah Winfrey, J.K. Rowling, Jim Carrey and Horatio Alger Jr. have in common?

(Ok, I know you’re thinking “Who is Horatio Alger Jr.?” but you probably learned about him and forgot — just keep reading).

They all went from rags to riches. In fact, Alger pioneered the rags-to-riches theme in his 19th century novels.

His characters, much like Winfrey, Rowling and Carrey, faced adversity at a young age.

Through tenacity, honesty, hard work and sometimes a bit of luck, they all overcame impoverished circumstances to find success.  

While Alger died 119 years ago, a national scholarship lives on in his honor.

Every year the Horatio Alger Association awards $25,000 to 106 students who display integrity and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Horatio Alger Scholarship Application Details

The Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors in the U.S. and Puerto Rico who graduate in spring or summer 2019 and plan to enter college in fall 2019.

Students must be U.S. citizens and maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher.

Applicants should be involved in co-curricular and community service activities and show commitment to pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

There’s no essay — or  SAT or ACT score requirement. What matters is critical financial need.

Applicants must prove their families have a $55,000 or lower adjusted gross income to be considered.

Check the extensive scholarship FAQ for questions regarding specific financial situations.

You must apply for the scholarship online. The application deadline is Oct. 25, 2018.

All National Scholar recipients will go on an all-expense-paid trip to the association’s National Scholars Conference in Washington, D.C. The trip is mandatory to receive the $25,000 award.

We believe financial hardship should never hold anyone back, so please share this scholarship with a student who could benefit from it.  

Like our College page on Facebook to discover other scholarship opportunities.

And if you’re looking for even more scholarships to apply for, be sure to check out our list of 100 scholarships that will help you pay for college.

Stephanie Bolling is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s pretty good at making lemonade.