Our Comparison of the Top-Rated Scholarship Platforms

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost of U.S. college tuition and fees during the 2022-2023 academic year was $27,100 at public institutions and $58,600 at private nonprofit institutions. Scholarships have become increasingly crucial for many students’ academic futures and, thankfully, there is no shortage of them. 

Yet knowing where to find relevant and attainable scholarship opportunities online can seem daunting. To make this process easier for students at the start of their higher education journeys, we conducted extensive research and compiled detailed reviews of 14 popular scholarship platforms.

Our Reviews

Unigo

UNIGO

Unique Essay Prompt

Student Scholarship

Student Scholarships

Straight Forward Listings

Student Scholarship Search

Student Scholarship SEARCH

Extensive Academic Database

Cappex

CAPPEX

College Matching and More

Scholarships Points

SCHOlarship points

Points-Based Rewards

Petersons

PETERsons

Test Prep Experts

FastWeb

FASTweb

College Matching and More

Niche

niche

Points-Based Rewards

Bold.org

bold.org

Test Prep Experts

College Express

COllegexpress

User-Friendly Interface

Sallie Mae

SALLIE MAE

Comprehensive Aid Search

Scholarship Owl

SCHolarshipowl

Automated Application

Scholarships

Scholarships.com

Massive Grant Database

Scholly

scholly

Shark Tank Success

Our Methodology

Our review process employs a comprehensive scoring system across three main categories, ensuring a thorough and objective assessment of each scholarship platform:

Funding Available (30%):

We evaluate the quantity, quality, and accessibility of the scholarship opportunities offered by each platform, considering:

  1. Breadth of Scholarships (5%)
  2. Total Funding Available (10%)
  3. Platform-Exclusive Funding (5%)
  4. New Scholarships Added Frequently (5%)
  5. Scholarships With Upcoming Deadlines (5%)

Trustworthiness (40%):

We prioritize student safety and platform integrity by assessing:

  1. No Fees (10%)
  2. No Unrelated Offers (10%)
  3. No Ads (10%)
  4. Commitment to User Privacy (10%)

User Experience (30%):

We analyze the platform’s effectiveness and user-friendliness, looking at:

  1. Modern Interface (10%)
  2. Ease of Use (5%)
  3. Scholarship Matching Tool (5%)
  4. “Easy Apply” Options (5%)
  5. Personalized Applicant Profiles (5%)

This multi-faceted approach allows us to provide students with a clear, data-driven picture of each platform’s strengths and potential drawbacks.

Why Should You Trust Scholarship Institute?

Scholarship Institute is dedicated to providing objective, fact-based analyses of available scholarship programs. Our team comprises seasoned researchers with knowledge of education finance and the complexities of the scholarship landscape. We maintain complete editorial freedom and never accept payment for positive reviews. Our goal is to equip students with useful, up-to-date information so they can make wise decisions about their scholarship search journey.