Career & College Preparation Grants

Last updated October 11, 2026

Grantable tracks 853 active career & college preparation grants in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 3 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 412 list an award amount, with a median of $5,000.

Grants tracked: 853; from 498 funders
Median award: $5,000; middle half $2,000–$17K
Total listed funding: $57.4M; across 412 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 5; 82 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Community Choice Scholarship Program Credit Union Chartered in the State of Community Choice Credit Union · Foundation Not published · $100K The Community Choice Foundation awards annual scholarships to Michigan students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership qualities, and dedication to community service.	Not published	$100K
City of Chicago's UNCF Workplace Campaign Scholarship Grant United Negro College Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K City of Chicago's UNCF Workplace Campaign Scholarship The City of Chicago's UNCF Workplace Campaign Scholarship will provide a one-time, merit-based scholarship of $5,000 for students of any classification who have a parent or guardian…	Not published	$5K
Watson-Brown Foundation Scholarship Grant Watson-Brown Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $24K The Watson-Brown Foundation Scholarship offers need and merit-based financial assistance to students from Georgia and South Carolina attending accredited four-year colleges.	Not published	Up to $24K
Lake Sumter Lions Club Scholarship Grant Educational Foundation of Lake County · Foundation Not published · Varies The Lake Sumter Lions Club Scholarship supports students from Leesburg High School, Wildwood Middle High School, and The Villages Charter High School, encouraging academic success and community involvement.	Not published	Varies
College Scholarships Mike Evans Family Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $10K – $20K	Not published	$10K – $20K
WMF: Annual Grants Wellington Management Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: The Foundation will not be considering new organizations for Annual Grants in 2025.	Not published	Varies
Theodore P. (Ted) Minor Memorial Scholarship Fund Grant Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Theodore P. (Ted) Minor Memorial Scholarship Fund, administered by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, supports graduating seniors from Chicopee high schools.	Not published	Up to $3K
Oregon's AP/IB Programs Test Fee Program Education Grants · State Not published · Varies Program helping students in low-income situations participate in rigorous Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate coursework. Supports college preparation and closing Oregon's achievement gap through subsidized test fees.	Not published	Varies
Johnny Ritchey Scholarship Program California Masonic Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K – $10K A scholarship program honoring trailblazing baseball player Johnny Ritchey, who broke the color barrier in the Pacific Coast League in 1948.	Not published	$3K – $10K
REACH Georgia Scholarship Program Grant Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The REACH Georgia Scholarship Program is a needs-based initiative aimed at mentoring and supporting students from 8th grade through high school graduation.	Not published	Up to $10K
Coastal Bend Women Lawyers Association Scholarship Grant Coastal Bend Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $100 – $16K The Coastal Bend Women Lawyers Association Scholarship, established in 2017, aims to empower female students in the Coastal Bend region.	Not published	$100 – $16K
Ben Paley Scholarship Fund Grant Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Ben Paley Scholarship Fund, established in 2019 by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, honors the life of musician Ben Paley.	Not published	Varies
Cameron Impact Scholarship Grant Bryan Cameron Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Cameron Impact Scholarship, awarded by the Bryan Cameron Education Foundation, offers a full-tuition four-year scholarship to 15 exceptional high school students annually.	Not published	Varies
College Info Series & Pioneer Pathways San Leandro Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies SLED provides free college information and exploration programs for students considering college as a post-secondary option.	Not published	Varies
Bush Charles Helzberg Study Abroad Scholarship University Academy Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K Honors Bush Charles Helzberg's legacy by empowering UA alumni currently in college to study abroad. Provides funds to cover out-of-pocket costs related to eligible study abroad programs.	Not published	Up to $3K
The Randy Williams Scholarship Grant The San Diego Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies We enable donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.	Not published	Varies
Community Foundation Universal Scholarship Application Grant Community Foundation of Grant County Indiana Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Community Foundation of Grant County offers over 120 scholarship opportunities for U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens pursuing higher education at accredited institutions.	Not published	Varies
Education Grants (Pre-K Through College Programs) Arizona Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Overseen by the Executive Director, Education & Scholarships at the Arizona Community Foundation	Not published	Varies
Academic Common Market Maryland Higher Education Commission · State Not published · Varies The Academic Common Market (ACM) affords students an opportunity to enroll at reduced tuition rates in certain out-of-state bachelor's and graduate programs that are not offered at a public in-state college or university in Maryland.	Not published	Varies
CORE Scholarship (Connecting Opportunities for Regional Excellence) Children's Well-Being League F/K/a Children's Welfare League · Foundation Not published · $7K – $68K A scholarship established in May 2015 through partnership with other community donors to support local students who begin their education at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and transition to the University of North Carolina…	Not published	$7K – $68K
Arrighi Memorial Scholarship Fund Grant Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts seeks to enrich the quality of life of the people of our region by: Developing a perpetual, flexible endowment Assessing and responding to emerging and changing needs Serving as a resource…	Not published	Up to $3K
2025-2026 TX GEAR UP (GU) Partner Districts Grant Texas Education Agency · Foundation Not published · $110K – $300K The 2025-2026 TX GEAR UP (GU) Partner Districts program aims to enhance the academic readiness of low-income students for post-secondary education.	Not published	$110K – $300K
Union Plus Scholarship Chicago Federation of Labor and Industrial Union Council · Foundation Not published · $5M Since 1991, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $5 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education.	Not published	$5M
Captain John G. Gardner, USMC, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Scholarship Grant The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K The Captain John G. Gardner, USMC, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Scholarship honors a dedicated Marine who went missing in action during the Vietnam War.	Not published	$1K

Showing 337–360 of 851

About college prep grants

College prep grants fund programs that help students prepare for, enroll in, and succeed in postsecondary education, with a focus on low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students. The largest federal sources are the U.S. Department of Education's Federal TRIO programs (including Upward Bound and Talent Search) and GEAR UP. Private foundations and college-access nonprofits also fund advising, test prep, and transition support.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do career & college preparation grants award?

Of the 853 career & college preparation grants Grantable lists as of October 11, 2026, 412 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $5,000, and the middle half fall between $2,000 and $17K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most career & college preparation grants?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Inc (16), The San Diego Foundation (13), Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley (12), Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (10), and Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (9). In all, 498 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are career & college preparation grants due?

Of 853 grants listed, 5 accept applications on a rolling basis, 82 have a published upcoming deadline, 340 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 426 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 77% fall in January–March.

What college prep grants are available?

College prep grants support college awareness, advising, tutoring, test preparation, financial-aid help, and summer bridge programs. The federal TRIO programs (such as Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services) and GEAR UP are the cornerstone funding sources, both administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Many private foundations and regional college-access organizations also fund programs that increase enrollment and completion for underserved students.

Which organizations fund college prep programs?

College prep is funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Education through competitive TRIO and GEAR UP grants awarded to colleges, states, and nonprofit organizations. GEAR UP grants are typically six-year matching awards that frequently go to states, while TRIO grants go to institutions and community organizations. Private funders, including foundations focused on educational opportunity and college access, supplement federal funding for advising and scholarship-readiness programs.

Who is eligible for college prep grants?

Eligibility varies by program, but federal college-prep funding generally targets students from low-income families and students who would be first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree. Grantees are usually colleges, universities, state agencies, school districts, and nonprofit organizations rather than individual students.

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