General College Scholarships for Students Who Have Lost a Parent
There are many college scholarships for US students with a deceased parent, and I’ve listed them below, updated for the 2026-2027 academic year. These scholarships are varied, and some cater to specific circumstances, such as the profession or cause of the parent’s death, or else the state where the student lives. Note: Some of the scholarship websites aren’t yet accepting applications for the upcoming year.
The scholarship awards $1,000 to a student, who is a single parent or the child of a single parent, pursuing a college education.
$1,000
May 31
Any
Eden Alaine Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship seeks to support students who have lost close family members and fought to continue pursuing their goals. Any high school, undergraduate, or graduate student who has lost an immediate family member may apply.
$1,000
March 5
Any
FOZA Scholarship for Awareness of Maternal Suicide
This scholarship will be awarded to a student who has lost a parent due to a maternal suicide related to postpartum depression.
$1,000
December 1
Any
The Hoggatt Injury Law Children of Injured Workers Scholarship
The scholarship is offered to the child of an employee who has been injured or killed in a work-related accident.
$1,000
June 15
Any
Victor Micolucci Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to University of Florida, College of Pharmacy students demonstrating financial need with preference to students active in their professional organizations, community-oriented, orphans, and those without parental financial support.
$1,000
Not Stated
Any
Malcolm R. Stacey Scholarship
This scholarship is for Jewish undergraduate and graduate students at any University of California school. Preference is given to Engineering/Aeronautical Engineering majors and orphans.
Not Stated
Not Stated
Any
Jackanow Suicide Awareness Scholarship
Any undergraduate or graduate student at University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or Grand Canyon University who has lost a loved one to suicide may apply for this scholarship.
$2,800
June 30
Any
The Cove & McIntyre Hope and Healing Scholarship
This scholarship is open to Connecticut-based high school seniors who have experienced the death of a parent, guardian or sibling and are accepted into a higher education program.
$5,000
April 1
CT
The Redrick Leijon Nicholas Williams Scholarship
The scholarship is for an African/Black male, raised by a single mother, who is graduating high school, living in Los Angeles County and is seeking higher education.
$5,000
April 17
CA
Frontline Families Scholarship Program
The Frontline Families Scholarship Fund was established to provide educational assistance to the surviving family members of frontline healthcare workers and volunteers who lost their lives in the fight against COVID-19.
$1,000 – $2,500
February 23
Any
The Quell Foundation Survivor Scholarship
This cholarship is awarded to select high school seniors or current undergraduate/graduate students who have experienced the devastating loss of a parent, caregiver, or sibling to suicide.
$2,500 – $5,000
March 13
Any
James F. Byrnes Scholarship
This scholarship is offered to North Carolina high school seniors who have lost one or both parents by death. Applicants must have financial need and a satisfactory scholastic record. Award recipients are expected to participate in three activities per year.
$5,000 per year
January 25
NC
Iris-Samuel Rothman Scholarship
The scholarship is for a male student accepted to or enrolled at a New England college or university and who has lost both of his parents. Also eligible is a young man who has lost his mother AND does not have a father available to him.
$500 – $5,000
Not Stated
CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT
The Lisa Michelle Memorial Fund
The LMM Fund provides scholarships to students who have lost a parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, or spouse to drug, alcohol, or prescription drug abuse.
Varies from $250 to $1,000
Fall: May 31; Spring: Nov 30
Any
Rezvan Foundation Scholarship
The mission of The Rezvan Foundation is to support the academic pursuits of exceptionally talented young students who have spent time in foster care or are orphaned.
Tuition up to $100,000 over four years
March 15
Any
Barbara S. Iannacone Memorial Award
This scholarship is awarded to Pennsylvania State University, Brandywine students who show promise of outstanding academic success and who have overcome adversity. First preference is given to students who have suffered the loss of a father.
Not Stated
Not Stated
Any
Connie B. Howard Scholarship
The scholarship is awarded to a Spartanburg Methodist College student who has lost one or both parents and, if there is a remaining parent, that parent has not remarried.
Not Stated
Not Stated
Any
Rodney D. Hanson Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to Ohio University students who reside in Belmont County, have a major of education/pre-law and have experienced the death of a parent.
Not Stated
Not Stated
Any
Encore Victims of Drunk Driving Scholarship
Scholarship is open to students who are the victim of a drunk driving accident or a child, dependent or spouse of a victim of a drunk driving accident.
Not Stated
May 15
Any
Rewritten Scholarship
Rewritten provides scholarships and personalized, Christ-centered mentoring support to help fatherless, at-risk youth become confident, skilled, thriving adults.
Not Stated
May 31
Any
SFM Foundation Scholarship
SFM Foundation scholarships are available to students with a parent who was disabled or fatally injured while working for Minnesota or Iowa employers.
Up to $15,000 per year
March 31
MN, IA
Brave of Heart Scholarship
The Brave of Heart Fund provides scholarship funding to families of front line healthcare workers, volunteers, and support staff whose lives were lost in the fight against COVID-19.
Up to $25,000 per year
April 22
Any
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts Scholarships
The Foundation offers four scholarships for graduating high school seniors in Western Massachusetts students who have a deceased parent.
Up to $3,000
March 1
MA
Macy’s Emergency Scholarship Fund
The fund provides scholarships to students facing economic hardship from circumstances including death of an immediate family member. Limited to residents of California, Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Puerto Rico, or Texas.
Up to $500
Rolling
CA, FL, MO, NM, NY, OH, PR, TX
Arnold Trust Fund Award
The scholarship is awarded to University of Iowa students who are orphans not over the age of 25 and who are residents of Linn County, Iowa. The award is based on financial need.
Varies
Not Stated
IA
Kids’ Chance
Kids’ Chance provides scholarships through state organizations to the children of workers who have been seriously or fatally injured on the job.
Varies
Not Stated
Any
The ASSP Foundation Family Scholarship Fund
This scholarship is available to spouses and children of individuals who lost their lives in a workplace incident.
Varies
Rolling
Any
David J. Ewing Scholarship
This scholarship honors the memory of David J. Ewing, former Director of Human Resources, and benefits students who seek success in life despite the death of a parent.
Varies
April 1
Any
Life Lessons Scholarship Program
This scholarship program is open to students who have experienced the death of a parent or legal guardian with no or inadequate life insurance. Applications accepted starting Feb 1.
Varies from $5K to $15K
March 1
Any
MissionSquare Retirement Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Scholarship Fund honors education, health care, not-for-profit, public safety, and local and state government employees who died while in service to their communities by providing their surviving children or spouses with financial assistance for post-secondary education.
Up to $10,000
April 2
Any
Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship for families who lost loved ones as a direct result of the crash of Continental Airlines Flight 3407 in Clarence, New York on February 12, 2009 cover the cost of attending college in New York State.
Cost of attendance
Rolling
NY
Grant Program for Dependents of Correctional Officers
This grant provides financial assistance for study at ISAC-approved Illinois colleges to spouses and children of State of Illinois Department of Corrections officers who were killed or became at least 90 percent disabled in the line of duty.
Tuition & fees
Full Year: October 1; Spring & Summer:
March 1; Summer:
June 15
IL
Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program & Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program
The program provides financial assistance to eligible Maryland children and surviving spouses of the following who died or were permanently disabled in the line of duty: school employee, member of the US Armed Forces, victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks or public safety employee.
Tuition and mandatory fees of a MD public school
July 15
MD
Missouri Public Service Officer or Employee’s Child Survivor Grant Program
This program provides tuition assistance to certain Missouri public safety officers and employees and their families if the employee is killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty.
Tuition
Rolling
MO
Kids’ Chance Scholarship Program
This scholarship is available to children of Missouri workers who were seriously injured or died in a work-related accident covered and compensated by workers’ compensation.
Up to $6,500 per year
April 30
MO
Texas Mutual Scholarship
The Texas Mutual scholarship program provides tuition assistance to the children and/or spouse of a person who was employed by a Texas Mutual policyholder and died as a result of a compensable work-related accident.
Up to $6,600 per year
Fall: June 30; Spring: Oct 31
TX
Air Line Pilots Association Scholarship
The program awards one 4-year undergraduate college scholarship each year to the child of a medically retired, long-term disabled, or deceased pilot member of the Air Line Pilots Association.
$15,000 per year
April 1
Any
Texas Surviving Spouse and Children of Certain Deceased Public Servants (Employees)
Texas institutions of higher education waive tuition for eligible survivors of the following public servants: peace officers; probation officers; parole officers; jailers; correctional employees; emergency medical service workers; fire fighters; certain chaplains; certain employees of the Parks and Wildlife Department, the Department of Aging and Disability Services or Department of State Health Services.
Tuition & fees
Not Stated
TX
Curtis Holloway Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Curtis Holloway by supporting a student who has lost a parent or lives in a single-parent household. Any high school student or undergraduate student at a four-year college who has lost a parent or lives in a single-parent household may apply for this scholarship.
$1,000
May 15
Any
Brent P. Poor Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship offers college tuition assistance to children who have lost a parent. Applicants must be the child of a widow/widower who has never remarried and must be enrolling/enrolled as a full-time college student in Louisiana or Texas.
$1,000 per semester
January 31
LA, TX
NEW! Lanford Family Transportation Construction Worker Memorial Scholarship Program
This scholarship provides post-high school financial assistance to help the sons, daughters or legally adopted children of transportation construction workers killed or permanently disabled on the job.
Up to $10,000
April 3
Any
NEW! The ROB Foundation Scholarship
The ROB Foundation Scholarship is awarded to students who have experienced the profound loss of a parent or primary legal guardian, and are taking the next step to build a brighter future by attending a college, university, or trade school.
$2,500
April 30
NC, SC
NEW! The Rolando Jimenez Scholarship Fund
The Rolando Jimenez Memorial Foundation offers potential scholarships to children of deceased parents that are looking to further their education in college or trade school.
$500 – $1,000
Fall: Feb 28; Spring: Aug 31
TX
NEW! Elks National Foundation Emergency Educational Grants
Emergency Educational Grants provide undergraduate college financial assistance to children of deceased or totally disabled Elks.
Up to $5,000
December 31
Any
NEW! Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program
The Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program provides financial assistance for post-high school education to dependents of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in work zone incidents.
Up to $10,000
TBD
Any
NEW! Enders Scholarship
This scholarship aims to support students who have lost family members to violence, drugs, or alcohol so they can better their lives utilizing tools like meditation and journaling. Any current student who has lost a family member to violence or drugs/alcohol may apply for this scholarship.
$2,500
May 29
Any
Arkansas Heroes Scholarship
This scholarship is available to certain U.S. Armed Forces spouses and dependents, dependents of law enforcement or heroic state personnel who suffered fatal injury or permanent disability.
Tuition, housing & fees
Not Stated
AR
NEW! Brooks Martin Memorial Scholarship
Any high school senior or undergraduate student who has experienced a significant personal loss (death of a sibling, parent, or close loved one) may apply for this scholarship opportunity.
$575
April 8
Any
NEW! Brent Gordon Foundation Scholarship
This scholarship seeks to support students who have experienced the loss of a parent but are continuing to push forward towards their goals.
$3,000
May 10
Any
NEW! Stevie Kirton Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship aims to honor the memory of Stevie Kirton by supporting students who have lost a parent.
$1,000
July 2
Any
NEW! Treasure for Orphans Scholarship
This scholarship aims to support students in Maryland who have lost one or both parents so that they have the support necessary to continue their education.
$500
June 17
MD
NEW! Brandon Edreff Memorial Gearshift Scholarship
Any high school senior who will pursue the trades or current trade school student may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they have lost a parent or sibling.
$1,500
April 5
Any
NEW! Eluna Scholarship Program
Eluna offers four one-time $3,000 (USD) educational scholarships to participants in our camp or personalized support programs.
Thank you for this website! I am wondering when scholarhship applications will become available for the 2026-2027 school year. I recently lost my husband and we are trying to figure out how to afford college for my son.
Hi Sheri! I haven’t updated the list for this year yet, but plan to do so by the end of February. So it really depends on the scholarship. Some scholarships are open year round, while others only accept applications during specific timeframes. Generally most of the list from last year should still be valid for this upcoming school year, but a few scholarships, particularly those listed on Bold.org tend to be one-time scholarships. Hope this helps for now.
Alisa
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