10 Prestigious Scholarships for Middle School Students

Exploring prestigious scholarships can be a solid option for middle school students, offering an early introduction to college-level academics and campus life. These opportunities can foster the development of practical skills, provide invaluable industry exposure, and forge meaningful connections, all without the high cost often associated with advanced academic pursuits. For students with a budding interest in biology, seeking out a relevant scholarship can be a gateway to deeper learning and exploration. We've carefully narrowed down our list of prestigious scholarships for middle school students to highlight programs that are genuinely rigorous, offer robust networking opportunities, and are fully funded. These selections also boast low acceptance rates and are proudly hosted by highly respected organizations, ensuring a truly impactful experience.

10 Prestigious Scholarships for Middle School Students 

1. Junior Scholars Essay Contest

Submission deadline: December 14

Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 - 8

Cost: Free

Prize: More than $11,000 in cash prizes and scholarships

The Junior Scholars Essay Contest invites students in grades 6 to 8 to wrestle with big questions, challenge common assumptions, and make their case with creativity and evidence.

As a participant, you will choose one of the five prompts and submit an argumentative essay on the chosen question. Submissions should be formal academic essays, in English, featuring a clear central argument, well-organized reasoning, use of relevant sources, and thoughtful analysis of opposing perspectives. Entries are judged on five criteria: originality, analysis, evidence, structure, and presentation.

Essays are reviewed by a panel of distinguished professors and researchers from Cambridge, Oxford, Columbia, Brown, and Dartmouth. 6 winners (1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 3 Bronze) will share a total of more than $11,000 in cash prizes and scholarships, besides many scholarships for top submissions.

2. Action For Nature International Young Eco-Hero Awards

Location: Action For Nature, San Francisco, CA

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective

Dates: Not listed

Application Deadline: February 28

Eligibility: Applicants must be 8–16 years old on February 28 of the application year. Projects must be self-initiated, action-based, at least 6 months in duration, and focus on environmental health, advocacy, research, or protection of the natural world.

Apply for the International Young Eco-Hero Award to get recognized for your individual environmental initiatives. This award celebrates young people who have a positive impact on the environment through action-based projects they have initiated themselves. Your project should be at least six months long and focus on environmental health, advocacy, research, or protecting the natural world. If selected as a winner, you will receive a cash prize of up to $1,000, media recognition, a certificate, and exclusive access to the Eco-Hero alumni network. You will serve as a role model, demonstrating how individuals can make a difference and inspire other young people to take action for nature.

3. Veritas AI - AI Trailblazers

Location: Remote

Cost/Stipend: Varies; full financial aid available

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Highly selective

Dates:

• Weekend Track: 25 hours over 10 weekends

• Summer Track: 25 hours over 2 weekdays

Application Deadline: November 16 (Winter Cohort); other sessions may be offered throughout the year

Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8; no coding or technical background required

Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program introduces you to core concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning through live instruction and group collaboration. Over the course of 25 hours, you’ll learn Python programming, explore data analysis, and build models using regression and classification techniques. The program includes small-group mentoring (5:1 ratio), ensuring personalized guidance as you move through increasingly advanced topics, including neural networks and AI ethics. A major component is the team-based capstone project, where you and a few peers apply your new skills to a real-world challenge and present your findings. While the environment is designed for beginners, the curriculum pushes you to think critically about how AI works and how it should be used.

4. Stossel in the Classroom 2025-26 Essay Contest

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not listed. Awards are given to 28 students in each division (First Place: 1, Second Place: 1, Third Place: 1, Finalists: 5, Semi-Finalists: 5, Honorable Mentions: 15)

Dates: May 17–23

Application Deadline: March 13

Eligibility: Students in grades 5–12 residing in the U.S., Canada, or at a U.S. military address. Middle School Division: grades 5–8; High School Division: grades 9–12.

This competition is designed to help you strengthen your research, critical thinking, and persuasive writing skills by exploring significant contemporary issues. You will choose one of four prompts on topics such as tariffs, birthright citizenship, America's 250th anniversary, or congressional term limits. Your submission should be a well-supported, original essay of 500-1,000 words. If your essay reaches the final round of judging, you will participate in a brief remote interview to discuss your work. If you win, you have a chance to earn over $12,000 in cash prizes in this annual essay contest.

5. Breakthrough Junior Challenge

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Highly selective; one global winner with several regional finalists

Dates: April–October (includes video submission, judging, and finalist selection)

Application Deadline: September 15

Eligibility: Individual applicants aged 13–18; open to students worldwide

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is an international science video competition that invites students to explain a complex topic in physics, life sciences, or mathematics through a short, original video. If you’re selected as the global winner, you’ll receive a $250,000 college scholarship, and your school will be awarded a state-of-the-art science lab. Finalists are chosen through both peer review and expert judging panels, and participants gain experience in science communication and visual storytelling. To stand out, you’ll need to creatively simplify difficult scientific concepts while demonstrating originality, clarity, and engagement. The challenge is open to middle school students 13 and older, offering a unique early opportunity to showcase both your academic knowledge and your communication skills on a global platform.

6. Project Paradigm

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free; major cash prizes for the top 3 entries

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open competition; top 100 entries recognized

Dates: May (annual cycle)

Application Deadline: May 1

Eligibility: Students ages 4–18; individual or team submissions allowed

The Paradigm Challenge is an international competition that encourages students to propose innovative solutions to real-world problems such as waste reduction, fire safety, or personal health. You can enter individually or as part of a team, and submissions may include prototypes, videos, posters, or written proposals. Winners can earn up to $100,000 in prizes, with recognition for both creativity and impact. While the program is less academically rigorous than others on this list, it stands out for its accessibility and its focus on real-world problem-solving. Finalists receive mentorship and publicity for their ideas, and the top solutions are shared with organizations working in related fields.

7. ConnectHER Film Festival

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Highly competitive; several category winners and one grand prize winner

Dates: July 1 – October 1 (submission window); festival held in the fall

Application Deadline: October 1

Eligibility: Students ages 13–25; all creative work must be completed by eligible youth participants

The ConnectHER Film Festival is an international competition focused on storytelling around issues that affect women and girls globally. You’re invited to create a 3–6 minute original short film, in any style or genre, that highlights topics such as gender equality, education, or health. The competition accepts animations, documentaries, and narratives, as long as the filmmaking is done entirely by students within the age range. Winning entries are awarded across multiple categories and featured on the ConnectHER platform, where public voting also contributes to the People’s Choice Award. It’s an opportunity to build media-making skills while engaging with social impact work from a youth perspective.

8. MyImpact Challenge

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open competition; top winners receive scholarships and national recognition

Dates: Submissions accepted December–May

Application Deadline: May 3

Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 13–19 who are enrolled in middle or high school

The MyImpact Challenge is a civic engagement competition run by the Bill of Rights Institute. You're tasked with designing and carrying out a community service or civic action project, then submitting a short reflection essay and visual documentation of your work. Projects must be student-led and rooted in constitutional principles such as liberty, equality, or justice. You can focus on anything from organizing a local cleanup to launching a social media campaign that addresses a pressing issue in your area. Top submissions receive cash prizes and are featured by the institute, with the national winner earning a $10,000 scholarship. The competition encourages practical problem-solving, leadership, and a direct connection between civic learning and community action.

9. Carson Scholars Program

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; approximately 500 new scholars awarded annually nationwide

Dates: Application period opens in October; awards announced in spring

Application Deadline: January 11

Eligibility: U.S. students in grades 4–11; must be nominated by a school official

The Carson Scholars Program recognizes students who excel both academically and through community service. To apply, you’ll need to be nominated by a school educator and then submit essays, recommendation letters, a transcript, and documentation of your service work. Each winner receives a $1,000 college scholarship and is recognized at a regional awards ceremony. The program values strong character, leadership, and a sustained commitment to helping others. Once awarded, you become part of a network of Carson Scholars, and students can reapply for recognition in later years. This scholarship emphasizes consistent academic achievement paired with civic responsibility, making it a strong option if you’re already engaged in your school and community.

10. Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars Program

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Extremely selective; around 50 students selected annually

Dates: Multi-year program starting in 8th grade and continuing through high school

Application Deadline: April 30

Eligibility: High-achieving 7th-grade students with financial need who will enter 8th grade in the fall

The Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars Program is one of the most selective academic scholarships for middle school students in the U.S. If you're accepted, you'll receive long-term academic advising, funding for summer programs, tutoring, technology, and other learning opportunities through high school. The program focuses on personalized support and enrichment, aiming to prepare you for competitive high schools and colleges. Scholars also participate in cohort-building experiences and receive help navigating academic planning, extracurriculars, and standardized testing. The application process is competitive and requires strong academic performance, financial documentation, essays, and teacher recommendations. This is one of the few programs offering multi-year, individualized support starting as early as 8th grade.

Lydia is an alumna from Harvard University and studied Molecular and Cellular Biology & Economics. In high school, she was the captain of her high school’s Academic Decathlon team and attended the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. She is working as a life sciences consultant after graduation. 

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