12 Top Scholarship Website Designs

What makes a strong scholarship website design?

Is it the design? Technology?

Yes, both. Yet, a truly well-designed website includes strategic decisions, too.

We know; OpenWater Scholarships is the platform used by some of the world’s most prestigious scholarship programs. We also use our platform to accept applications to the OpenWater scholarship, too.

These 12 scholarship sites, below, demonstrate some examples of the best strategic thinking. Some are household names. Others are very niche and largely unknown. The scholarships they award serve different audiences. Awards range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

Have a look and see if you can identify their strategic design strengths. See if your guesses are correct by downloading our free guide, Scholarship Website ‘Must-Haves’. The guide reveals eight key components every scholarship website needs, plus a few more that should be added as a program grows.

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

This competitive scholarship awards $20,000 to 150 students each year. Scholarship winners also benefit from access to a large network of previous recipients, too. (No official stats on how many Coke Scholars teach the world to sing!)

Connie Priscilla Scholarship Fund

“The Connie Priscilla Scholarship Fund was created in memory of my two grandmothers, Connie McBath and Priscilla Brown, for their many investments in my life and the lives of countless others,” explains founder C.J. McBath.

Davidson Institute

Davidson Fellows are included in “The 10 Biggest Scholarships in the World” by TheBestColleges.org and one of “7 Prestigious Undergrad Scholarships” by U.S. News & World Report.

Elks

“[Twenty] finalists will be vying for two first-place awards of $50,000; two second-place awards of $40,000; and two third-place awards of $30,000. The remaining 14 finalists will receive awards of $20,000. The 480 runners-up will receive fifth-place scholarships of $4,000.”

Engebretson Foundation

The Engebretson Scholarship was founded in 2006 by the family of the late David J. Engebretson, a prominent South Dakotan entrepreneur. Any high school student recognized for academic achievements and leadership ability may apply for the $5,000 award.

Herb Block

The Herb Block Scholarship provides scholarship funds to high school graduates, community college students, and adults who wish to continue their studies at Washington, D.C. area community colleges.

Horatio Alger Association

The Horatio Alger Scholarship Programs are one of the nation’s largest need-based college scholarship programs in the country. The Association sponsors 70 scholarships specifically to assist high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives.

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need.

Kripalu

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health offers scholarships for aspiring yoga teachers. Funds are awarded to study Kripalu-specific coursework. The Rachel Greene Memorial Fund (RGMF) is in memory of yoga teacher.

North American Rail Shippers Association (NARS)

The Ivan A. Olson Scholarship Fund, sponsored by NARS, provides scholarships for ambitious and worthy individuals who are enrolled in a transportation, logistics or supply chain management program at an accredited university.

Virginia State Golf Association

The VSGA funds scholarships to Virginia high school students interested in golf. The awards are conditional on students’ continued progress in academics. Criteria for the awards include an active interest in golf, academic achievement, and financial need.

Washington Media Scholars Foundation

The Media Fellows Scholarship supports the academic development of undergraduates dedicated to pursuing a career related to the public policy advertising.

Figured it out yet?

Download our free guide, Scholarship Website ‘Must-Haves’, to identify the strategic design choices demonstrated in these scholarships websites.

Katie McCaskey

Katie is OpenWater's Content Director. Her interests include entrepreneurship, permaculture, and blockchain. She enjoys spicy food and salty words.

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