The 20 Best Scholarships for Autism Students
Autistic students struggle with many different circumstances in life, from living independently to completing recurring tasks like washing clothes to managing homework schedules and the time spent sleeping every day, etc. These elements can lead to these autistic people becoming incredibly stressed and overwhelmed. This contributes to the low number of autistic students with disabilities that graduate college, as established from a study by psychologist Susan W. White on autistic students.
Around 41% of college students with disabilities, including students with Autism, who are enrolled in four-year colleges will graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Compare that to the non-disabled college students, and it can be seen that non-disabled college students are 18% more likely to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in those same four-year colleges.
To help graduate high school seniors, undergraduate college students, and graduate students pursue their psychology careers in studying Autism, Bold.org has 20 scholarship opportunities. These scholarships for students can help with financial aid and resources that can ease the burden of financial support.
Denise K. Emberton Scholarships
This scholarship aims to support students who want to be future educators who are interested in teaching low-incidence or students with Autism. The applicant must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher as a high school senior or an undergraduate student.
- Award Amount: $1,500
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: July 15, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: August 15, 2022
Bold Community Activist Scholarships
All students actively have experience conducting volunteer work and are interested in helping their local communities. This is a good scholarship for those who have experience volunteering in autism programs or with students with Autism or autistic students.
- Award Amount: $500
- 150-300 Word Essay Deadline: July 13, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: August 13, 2022
WiseGeek Community Service no-essay Scholarships
A scholarship for those trying to help their communities. For students studying Autism who have experience conducting volunteer work and are interested in helping their local communities or getting more chances to become familiar with their community.
- Award Amount: $500
- Deadline: August 16, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: September 16, 2022
Frantz Barron Scholarship
This is a scholarship for any low-income, male, Black, first-generation college student. This scholarship supports male-eligible students who need financial assistance to continue their education.
- Award Amount: $1000
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: September 1, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: September 30, 2022
First-Year College Students: Jennie Gilbert Daigre Education Scholarships
This scholarship isn’t for admission but for any undergraduate students who want help purchasing their textbooks.
- Award Amount: $500
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: September 1, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: September 30, 2022
“A Daring Path” No-Essay Scholarships
This is a no-essay scholarship for students attending college and willing to take chances and won’t allow their fears to control them in pursuing their dreams.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: October 30, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: November 30, 2022
Bold Future of Education Scholarships
This scholarship is for those passionate not only about improving the education level received today but also those passionate about making sure future generations have access to better education.
This scholarship is open to students of any education level in any field of study and is a great one for students studying Autism to apply for.
- Award Amount: $500
- Developer Portfolio Deadline: June 25, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: July 25, 2022
WiseGeek Community Service No-Essay Scholarships
A scholarship for those trying to help their communities. For students studying Autism who have experience conducting volunteer work and are interested in helping their local communities through their field.
- Award Amount: $500
- Deadline: August 16, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: September 16, 2022
#FinancialFreedom no-essay Scholarships
A scholarship that doesn’t require an essay to be submitted is for ambitious students who don’t have the financial means to pursue their ambition even though they have the drive to do so.
“The scholarship is open to all high school, undergraduate, and graduate school students and non-students from any field of study.”
- Award Amount: $500
- Deadline: October 30, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: November 30, 2022
“A Bold Mind” Psychology No-Essay Scholarships
This scholarship is for psychology majors deeply interested in psychology and the subdivisions of psychology like Autism. The scholarship winner will be announced in 2023, making this an excellent scholarship for current high school graduating students or those undergoing a gap year who want an early start on applying for scholarships.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: June 30, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: July 30, 2023
Bold Science Matters Scholarships
A scholarship for those interested in pursuing a career in science and who are fascinated by scientific discovery. Psychology is considered a social science that places Autism in a similar category.
- Award Amount: $500
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: September 14, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: October 14, 2022
Mental Health Matters Scholarship
A scholarship is for students of any educational level that hold a 2.5 GPA or higher, have a history of combating mental health issues, and have proven themselves to be leaders within their communities despite these personal mental health challenges.
It could also apply to students diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum or those with an autistic spectrum disorder.
- Award Amount: $500
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: September 1, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: September 30, 2022
Bold Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
This does not require the applicant to take specific mental health and psychology courses. Still, for any students interested in the field of Autism, this is an excellent scholarship to apply for.
- Award Amount: $500
- 250-300 Word Essay Deadline: June 24, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: July 24, 2022
Jimmy Cardenas Community Leader Scholarship
This scholarship is for those in the state of Texas who are undergraduates and looking to pursue a career that will help them apply to serve their community.
- Award Amount: $500
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: November 22, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: December 31, 2022
Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
This scholarship is for any educational level in any field as long as they have had some form of personal experience with mental health, whether it be their mental health or the non-physical disability of a friend.
- Award Amount: $500
- 500-1000 Word Essay Deadline: October 30, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: November 30, 2022
Rising Scholarship
This scholarship is for any female student operating at the high school education level in Illinois. The organization Her Rising Initiative, which funds this scholarship, wishes to help create an environment where young female students’ voices can be heard, and their ambitions can be met.
- Award Amount: $500
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: September 1, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: October 1, 2022
ESOF Academic Scholarship
This scholarship is for African American students looking to enter a historically Black college or university (HBCU). Applicants need at least a 3.0 GPA to be eligible to apply for this scholarship.
“To apply, tell us about your future goals and commitment to public or civic service.”
This type of scholarship is for outstanding graduate students pursuing a career in psychology or civic services.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- 500-1000 Word Essay Deadline: June 19, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: July 19, 2022
David L. Burns Memorial Scholarship
A memorial scholarship that is meant to support those in Missouri. Specifically to help those dedicated to helping those who have struggled with a sense of addiction.
Students who are entering fields focused on assisting the physical and mental health of others are eligible to apply.
“These fields could be nursing, counseling/mental health, social work, or other similar careers.”
- Award Amount: $2,550
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: November 1, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: December 1, 2022
Peter T. Buecher Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is aimed at students within Minnesota who wish to use their knowledge to enrich their community. This scholarship is for those wishing to give back to their community by working with a non-profit organization, like volunteering with the Autism Foundation or vocational programs.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Winners Announcement Date: June 1, 2023
Francis “Slip” Madigan Scholarship
This scholarship is for first-generation students when it comes to college who are currently high school seniors and reside in Massachusetts. So, for any first-generation athletes whose families didn’t have the resources to attend college, this is an excellent scholarship to apply for.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: September 1, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: September 30, 2022
About Scholarships for Autism
Autistic students need particular circumstances to feel comfortable and to be able to succeed, which is reflected in the study of Autism. The goal of all service providers for Autism is to help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) be able to navigate the world in a way that makes them feel secure and safe. Because of this, those working with autism programs need specialized knowledge or experience working with ASD individuals. And in most cases, it’s preferred that they have a master’s or bachelor’s degree in psychology or social work or some other field that involves emotional understanding.
Since higher education and attending post-secondary education can be a financial strain, college scholarships for Autism help college students, and high school students receive a scholarship fund to cover these expenses. There are even more scholarships that apply to autistic students studying Autism. Autistic students are more inclined to take a major with Autism which is why Autistic course scholarships apply heavily to autistic students.
What Are Scholarships for Autism?
The main argument for aiming for a psychology degree from higher education is that these students will receive degrees that allow them to get jobs that can comfortably pay off their student loans.
For autistic students pursuing higher education and studying Autism, psychology is one of the only programs that can offer outstanding learning experiences that prepare these students for those careers. The US Department of Education suggests students shouldn’t borrow more than 8% of their projected gross income. College students can have anywhere from $120,000 to $247,000 in average student loan debt when exploring all the loan options.
What Qualifies Students for Autism Scholarships?
The requirements for the psychology scholarships typically involve the applicant’s GPA being above a certain threshold. In the case of undergraduate applicants, they must show proof of being a psychology major. For scholarships branded or sponsored by the American Psychology Association (APA), the applicant also has to be a member of the student chapter of the APA or a member of the autism society.
Types of Scholarships for Autism Students
One of the significant benefits of studying autism research and social fields is that because those are branches of psychology, these students have access to any psychology scholarship program that comes from multiple sources. The students pursuing a career in psychology can join a scholarship program from their college’s psychology department or apply for an autism scholarship elsewhere. Any undergraduate or graduate student will try to obtain a particular scholarship annually.
How to Find Scholarships for Autism Students
Tips on Winning Scholarships for Autism Students
When it comes to scholarships that apply to Autism and mental disorders, a tip to winning these scholarships is being able to share your experiences with those disorders. Whether it’s by discussing your Autism or if you have experience with a family member with Autism.
Frequently Asked Questions About Autism Scholarships
Some expenses can be stressful and cause a financial burden for college students who want to pursue post-secondary education. Luckily, for graduating high school seniors and undergraduate and graduate students, there are various programs and scholarships for students that can help ease the strain.
Are Autism scholarships legit?
Autism scholarships are legit, as are any scholarships that apply to mental issues, mental disorders, etc. These scholarships are often tied to those with Autism or who have experience working with and being around those with Autism.
How can I improve my chances of winning Autism scholarships?
You can improve your chances by taking your time with your essays. Autism scholarships often require written sections, and taking your time with those written sections is essential. Make sure to include evidence of your Autism.
How many scholarships can you get?
As many as there are available, there is no limit to the amount of psychology or mental disability scholarships you can apply for or accept. You can receive funding from multiple scholarships like the Schwallie Scholarship, the Rogers Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship, and the Lois Gray Memorial Scholarship.
Are scholarships taxable income?
Yes, Autism, psychology, and mental disability scholarships are taxable income. The general rule for scholarships being taxable income is that if the grants or scholarships are for research, teaching, housing, or food, they are taxable.
What’s the best way to apply for scholarships?
By checking the requirements for the scholarship and making sure that you have the best essays, do your research on who is funding the scholarship.
Are there scholarships for schools other than colleges?
Yes, there are scholarships for students that attend a vocational school, a vocational program, a trade school, a two-year community college, or even an accredited post-secondary institution.
