College JumpStart Love of Learning Scholarship
Offered by College JumpStart Scholarship Fund
About This Scholarship
The College JumpStart Scholarship is a long-running, merit-based award that now cycles through four themed competitions a year — Love of Learning, Show Grit, Gratitude, and Pay It Forward — each worth $1,000 toward education expenses at any U.S. college or university. The Love of Learning cycle is the one open now, closing December 31, 2026.
What sets this apart from the sweepstakes-style awards that dominate 'easy scholarship' lists is that it is a genuine merit competition: the sponsor says hard work, perseverance, and love of learning are the traits it rewards, and the application centers on a personal statement about your education goals. Financial need, grades, and test scores are not considered.
Eligibility is unusually broad. Current 10th-12th graders, current college students, and non-traditional students planning to enter college within 12 months can all apply, as long as they are U.S. citizens or legal residents. For an adult learner heading back to school, open-eligibility merit awards like this are rarer than they should be.
Eligibility
- U.S. citizen or legal resident
- Current high school student in grades 10-12, current college student, or non-traditional student
- Planning to enter (or currently attending) college within the next 12 months
- Committed to education, with the ability to explain your goals for higher education
How To Apply
- Open the Love of Learning application on jumpstart-scholarship.net
- Complete the online application form
- Write the personal statement explaining your higher-education goals and what drives your love of learning
- Submit by midnight on December 31, 2026, then check the Winners page for the announcement
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a random-drawing scholarship?
No. College JumpStart describes the award as an annual merit-based competition judged on your personal statement, rewarding hard work, perseverance, and love of learning. Financial need and test scores are not considered.
Can adults going back to school apply?
Yes. Non-traditional students qualify alongside 10th-12th graders and current college students, as long as they plan to be in school within 12 months.
What can the money be used for?
The $1,000 first-place award can be used for educational expenses at any college or university in the United States.