Scholarships in Delaware

Updated December 7, 2022

Nicknamed "The First State" and "The Small Wonder," Delaware is known for being the second smallest and sixth least populous state in the United States. However, the Northeastern state on the Atlantic Coast is packed full with 19 colleges and universities for aspiring higher education students to choose from. If you decide to attend school ...

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Nicknamed "The First State" and "The Small Wonder," Delaware is known for being the second smallest and sixth least populous state in the United States. However, the Northeastern state on the Atlantic Coast is packed full with 19 colleges and universities for aspiring higher education students to choose from. If you decide to attend school in Delaware, you will be joining the ranks of more than 56,350 students. In order to help lessen the financial burden of pursuing a degree, the following are 25 excellent scholarships designed specifically for students in Delaware.

1. AAHA Lou Manzione Scholarships

Deadline: May 15th

In honor of Lou Manzione, the President of the New Jersey Youth Hockey League for more than a decade, the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA) offers two scholarships for $1,000 each to high school seniors in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Delaware. All eligible applicants for the scholarships must be seniors who are planning to continue their education beyond the 12th grade and are a registered member with U.S.A. Hockey. Applicants must write a 500-word essay on the value of hockey in their personal and professional development.

Contact

AAHA Lou Manzione Scholarship
601 Laurel Oak Rd.
Voorhees, NJ 08043
(215) 322-4320

2. Better Business Bureau of Delaware Student Ethics Scholarship

Deadline: January 7th

Annually, the Better Business Bureau Foundation of Delaware recognizes college-bound high school seniors in the state for their leadership, community service, personal integrity, and academic excellence with the Student Ethics Scholarship. Eligible applicants for the two $2,500 scholarships must have a desire to further their education at an accredited college or university in Delaware. Along with the application, candidates are required to submit their most recent transcript with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 500-word essay.

Contact

Better Business Bureau of Delaware Student Ethics Scholarship
60 Reads Way
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 221-5255

3. Delaware Governor's Workforce Development Grants

Deadline: December 1st

Sponsored by the Delaware Higher Education Commission, the Governor's Workforce Development Grant provides up to $2,000 for qualified individuals who are employed part-time in Delaware and are interested in participating in undergraduate studies part-time. It is required for any applicants employed full-time to work for a small business in Delaware with no more than 100 employees. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a high school graduate or GED recipient, resident of Delaware, and citizen of the United States.

Contact

Delaware Governor's Workforce Development Grants
820 N. French Street, 10th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 577-8477

4. Diamond State Scholarships

Deadline: March 20th

Each year, the Delaware Higher Education Office offers around 50 awards of $1,250 each to high school seniors in Delaware who rank in the upper quarter of their class with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and have achieved a combined score of at least 1800 on the SAT examination. Eligible applicants must be accepted or enrolled as a full-time student within a non-profit, regionally accredited degree program within the United States. Applications must include an official high school transcript and an essay between 1,000 to 1,200 words.

Contact

Diamond State Scholarships
John G. Townsend Building
401 Federal Street
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 735-4120

5. George E. Gordy Family Educational Trust Scholarship

Deadline: February 15th

The George E. Gordy Family Educational Trust Fund grants scholarships to high school seniors who have graduated or will be graduating from a high school in Sussex County of Delaware. In order to receive the need and merit-based scholarship for $3,000, eligible applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher and be enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university. If recipients continue to maintain the qualifications for satisfactory progress, the scholarship can be renewed for up to four years.

Contact

George E. Gordy Family Educational Trust Scholarship
1100 N. Market St. Suite 310780
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 855-2814

6. Ivyane D.F. Davis Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: June 15th

The Ivyane D.F. Davis Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the State of Delaware Child Placement Review Board for students who have been in foster care and need financial assistance to reach their dreams in higher education. Eligible applicants for the scholarship must be legal residents of Delaware who have been in foster care in the state and accepted for enrollment in an accredited postsecondary U.S. academic institution. Along with the application, candidates are required to submit a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a complete expenses financing summary with documentation.

Contact

Ivyane D.F. Davis Memorial Scholarship
820 N. French Street 1st Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 577-8750

7. Fresh Start Scholarships

Deadline: May 31st

Sponsored by Wilmington Women in Business, the Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation Inc. offers scholarships as tuition assistance for adult women seeking to improve career opportunities for themselves and their families through higher education. Applicants must be a female, U.S. citizen residing in Delaware, at least 20 years of age, had a minimum two-year break after graduating from high school, and be admitted into an accredited Delaware degree program. Candidates must submit a recommendation from a Social Service Agency, financial need documentation, and a personal statement on individual goals in business.

Contact

Fresh Start Scholarships
P.O. Box 7784
Wilmington, DE 19803
(302) 656-4411

8. Evelyn Levina Wright Scholarship

Deadline: Varies

On a yearly basis, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) awards a $3,500 scholarship to an African American resident in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Camden, New Jersey; or Wilmington, Delaware. Applicants for the scholarship must be enrolled in an undergraduate four-year UNCF member college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Contact

Evelyn Levina Wright Scholarship
8260 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive
P.O. Box 10444
Fairfax, VA 22031
(800) 331-2244

9. Delaware Institute of Medical Education and Research (DIMER) Need-Based Scholarship

Deadline: April 1st

First founded in 1969, the Delaware Institute of Medical Education and Research (DIMER) was created to provide Delaware residents with the opportunity to receive high-quality medical education at the Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, thus functioning as Delaware's medical school. Applicants for the need-based tuition assistance scholarship must be legal residents of Delaware, meet all pre-medical academic requirements, and have a bachelor's degree from any accredited U.S. institution.

Contact

Delaware Institute of Medical Education and Research (DIMER) Need-Based Scholarship
1025 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 955-6983

10. Agenda for Delaware Women Trailblazer Scholarships

Deadline: April 11th

The Delaware Higher Education Commission awards two Agenda for Delaware Women Trailblazer Scholarships each year for $2,500 each to women who are legal residents of Delaware and U.S. citizens. Qualified female applicants must be enrolled full-time at a higher education institution in the state with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Selection for the awards is based on financial need, community/school involvement, and leadership skills.

Contact

Agenda for Delaware Women Trailblazer Scholarship
820 N. French St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
(800)292-7935

11. Lighthouse Scholarships and Career Awards

Deadline: February 15th

Lighthouse International awards seven distinct scholarship and career awards totaling $10,000 apiece to recognize outstanding students who have overcome the challenges of vision loss. Students interested in receiving the tuition assistance to pursue higher education and nurture career aspirations must be residing in one of the states in the eastern region of the nation, including Delaware. All eligible applicants must submit medical documentation for being legally blind with a visual field less than 20 degrees in both eyes.

Contact

Lighthouse Scholarships and Career Awards
Sol and Lillian Goldman Building
111 E. 59th St.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 821-9227

https://www.lighthouse.org/services-and-assistance/scholarship-award-programs/scholarship-career-awards

12. The Ron and Cora Lee Children of Law Enforcement Officers Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st

In memory of Delaware State Police Master Corporal Ronald G. Williams Jr. and his wife, the Ronald G. Williams Jr. Foundation offers one-time $1,000 scholarships for high school seniors in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania who are enrolled in a full-time postsecondary education at an accredited college or university. Applicants must be the son or daughter of a parent who is currently employed by or entitled to vested pension from a law enforcement agency within the state of residency.

Contact

The Ron and Cora Lee Children of Law Enforcement Officers Scholarship
P.O. Box 5811
Wilmington, DE 19808
(302) 893-0177

13. VMDAEC Educational Foundation Scholarships

Deadline: February 19th

The Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) Educational Foundation grants up to 50 scholarships for $1,000 each to high school seniors who reside in Virginia, Maryland, or Delaware. Eligible applicants must have a primary residence that receives its power from one of the 15 electric cooperatives in VMDAEC and be entering their first freshman semester at an accredited college, university, or trade school.

Contact

VMDAEC Educational Foundation Scholarships
4201 Dominion Blvd.
Glen Allen, VA 23060
(804) 346-3344

14. Delaware Valley Science Fair Scholarship

Deadline: April 1st

As one of the largest and oldest fairs in the country, the Delaware Valley Science Fair is designed to stimulate interest among middle and high schools students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Junior high school students who win the Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals at the Marie Curie Science Fair will be awarded a full tuition scholarship to Drexel University. Ten more first place winners will also receive a partial tuition scholarship for up to five years, pending the recipients maintaining a full-time status with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. Scholarship winners must meet all of the Drexel University admissions requirements prior to enrollment.

Contact

Delaware Valley Science Fair Scholarship
3141 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 895-5840

15. James Jamieson Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: April 1st

Sponsored by the Delaware Community Foundation, the James Jamieson Memorial Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate and graduate students who are actively pursuing a career in Dance at any accredited institutions in Delaware. Although not required, preference is given to applicants who are promising ballet students who aspire to a career in ballet, just like the great James Jamieson himself. Applicants who are selected for the scholarship after an audition performance will receive $600 to further their dance studies.

Contact

James Jamieson Memorial Scholarship
100 W. 10th St. Suite 115
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 571-8004

16. Nicholas and Dorothy Pappas Scholarship

Deadline: April 1st

Each year, the Delaware Community Foundation awards the Nicholas and Dorothy Pappas Scholarship at varying amounts as tuition assistance to minority students who reside within Delaware. Eligible applicants for the scholarship must be African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, or Alaskan Native. Candidates must be enrolled full-time in an accredited undergraduate program and demonstrate financial need.

Contact

Nicholas and Dorothy Pappas Scholarship
100 W. 10th St. Suite 115
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 571-8004

17. W.W. Smith Scholarships

Deadline: April 1st

Established by William Wikoff Smith, the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust awards need-based scholarships to full-time undergraduate students who are attending a local college or university that has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Applicants are required to be permanent residents of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties. The dollar amount of each award will be determined by the financial aid office of the enrolled institution and is eligible for renewal.

Contact

W.W. Smith Scholarship
200 Four Falls Corporate Center Suite 300
West Conshohocken, PA 19428
(610) 397-1844

18. The Roothbert Fund Scholarships

Deadline: January 31st

Each year, the Roothbert Fund selects 20 new scholarship recipients to receive small grants ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 each to undergraduate and graduate students at accredited U.S. colleges or universities. The Fund only accepts applications from individuals residing for at least one year in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, or North Carolina. Award winners are obligated to maintain a high standard of work, provide transcripts to the Fund each semester, and attend a one weekend fellowship meeting.

Contact

The Roothbert Fund Scholarships
475 Riverside Dr. Room 1830
New York, NY 10115
(212) 870-3116

19. Brian James Watkins Scholarship

Deadline: December 1st

The Brian James Watkins Scholarship is delivered each year to a special undergraduate student attending Wake Forest University who demonstrates outstanding leadership abilities, community involvement, and exceptional moral character. Scholarship candidates must be from Delaware, North Carolina, or Mississippi and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher to be considered.

Contact

Brian James Watkins Scholarship
1834 Wake Forest Road
P.O. Box 7305
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
(336) 758-4209

20. William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship Fund

Deadline: July 19th

For students who have an interest in philanthropy and non-profit organizations, the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship Fund provides access to a paid 12-15 week internship experience at the Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (PSI) in Washington, D.C. Candidates to receive the $4,000 stipend from participating in the fellowship must be highly motivated graduate or undergraduate students from underrepresented minority groups with an excellent academic record.

Contact

William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship Fund
One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 736-5800

21. Otho Davis Scholarship

Deadline: October 11th

Each year, the Otho Davis Scholarship Foundation awards one graduate or undergraduate scholarship in the amount of $10,000 to students who are pursuing a degree in sports medicine, physical training, or sports marketing. Eligible applicants must be a legal resident or attend college in the Delaware Valley region, including Northern Delaware, Greater Philadelphia, and Southern New Jersey. Along with the application, applicants need to provide an introductory letter, resume reflecting education/work history, and letter of recommendation from a Dean.

Contact

Otho Davis Scholarship
1326 Central Avenue, Suite E
Glendora, NJ 08029
(877) 500-1129

22. Royster-Clark Inc. Scholarships

Deadline: February 15th

The National Future Farmers of American (FFA) Organization provides Royster-Clark Inc. Scholarships for $1,000 each to current FFA members who are enrolled in undergraduate studies in Agriculture, Soil/Crop Production, or Agronomy at a four-year accredited institution. Eligible applicants must be residents of Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin, as well as citizens of the U.S. Students must submit an official transcript, copy of ACT or SAT scores, resume with work-related experiences, and an application signed by a local Royster-Clark representative.

Contact

Royster-Clark Inc. Scholarships
6060 FFA Drive
P.O. Box 68960
Indianapolis, IN 46268
(317) 802-4419

23. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

Deadline: October 1st

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers more than 2,300 scholarships annually for up to $5,000 to U.S. citizen undergraduate students to study abroad. Applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant, accepted into a study abroad or international internship program eligible for academic credit at their accredited U.S. institution, and studying abroad for a minimum of four weeks in a country not on the current travel warning list.

Contact

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
1800 West Loop South, Suite 250
Houston, TX 77027
(832) 369-3477

24. Mark B. Holzman Scholarship

Deadline: June 15th

On a yearly basis, the Wilmington Trust Company offers the Mark B. Holzman Scholarship for award values up to $2,000 for residents of Delaware who are legal U.S. citizens. Qualified recipients of the scholarship must be enrolled in an accredited graduate or professional education program in Medicine (MD or DO), Dentistry, Law, or Ministry at any university or college in the United States.

Contact

Mark B. Holzman Scholarship
3 South DuPont Highway
Georgetown, DE 19947
(800) 724-2440

25. PMI Delaware Valley Chapter Scholarship

Deadline: June 1st

The Project Management Institute (PMI) Delaware Valley Chapter offers one individual scholarship in the amount of $2,500 to members of the chapter who are attending or planning to attend an accredited U.S. institution to receive a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree related to project management. Applicants must be residents of one of the Delaware Valley counties, including New Castle, Kent, Sussex, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Cecil, and Camden.

Contact

PMI Delaware Valley Chapter Scholarship
14 Campus Boulevard
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 356-4600 ext. 7117

As the cost for a higher education continues to increase in Delaware and the rest of the nation, it is becoming more essential than ever before for students to depend on scholarships. Whether you have chosen to attend school in Delaware or are a legal resident of the state, it is highly recommended that you take advantage of these 25 scholarship opportunities to lighten your financial load and minimize your student debt after graduation.

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