College Scholarships and Contests
Santa Margarita is constantly updating, adding to, and revising this comprehensive list of college scholarships and contest opportunities for our students. If you have an opportunity to be added or updated, please email collegecounselors@smhs.org.
Eligibility
January-May Deadlines: 12th Grade - Class of 2026, 11th Grade - Class of 2027, 10th Grade - Class of 2028, 9th Grade - Class of 2029 June-July Deadlines: 12th Grade GRAD-Class of 2025, 12th Grade - Class of 2026, 11th Grade - Class of 2027, 10th Grade - Class of 2028, 9th Grade -Class of 2029 August-December Deadlines: 12th Grade - Class of 2026, 11th Grade - Class of 2027, 10th Grade - Class of 2028, 9th Grade - Class of 2029 *Scholarships denoted in BOLD are local scholarships offered to CA or Orange County students only.Additional Scholarship Search Sites
January Deadlines
- 12th Grade-Edison Scholars/STEM
- 12th Grade - GE-Reagan Leadership Scholarship
- 12th Grade - Future Leaders in Engineering Scholarship
- 12th Grade - Eagle Scout Scholarships
- 12th Grade - WCF/Intended Careers in Govt Service
- 12th Grade - Diagnosed Mental Illness
- 12th Grade - JMJ Phillips -STEM Majors
- 12th Grade - Minority Service
- 12th Grade - Love Your Career
- 11th Grade - Coolidge Scholars (Academics/Service)
- 11th Grade - Hamilton Award-Service
- Age: 15-17 years - RISE (Projects)
- 9th-12th Grade - DAR (Long List)
- 9th-12th - STEM Project/Research
- 9th-12th - Red Cross-Host a Blood Drive
- 9th-12th - CSPAN Documentary
- 9th-12th - Profiles in Courage Essay
February Deadlines
- 12th Grade-STEM, Engineering, Aviation
- 12th Grade-Parent Works in Finance/Banking
- 12th Grade-Meteorology, Oceanic or Hydrologic Majors
- 12th Grade-Plan on Attending Women's College
- 12th Grade -Journalism Major
- 12th Grade - Female Cybersecurity
- 12th Grade - Vegetarians
- 12th Grade -Financial Need
- 12th Grade - Love of Animals
- 12th Grade-Engineering
- 11th-12th-Original Music Composition
- 9th-12th -Duck Stamp-Art Contest
- 9th-12th - Gratitude Essay
- 9th-12th -Optimism Essay
- 9th-12th -Population Growth Video
- 9th-12th-Art, Teaching or Interested in Small Business
- 9th-12th -Importance of Sleep Video
- 9th-12th -Live Deliberately Essay
- 9th-12th -Music/Disability Video
- 9th-12th-Music Composition
March Deadlines
- 12th Grade - Female OC Soccer Player
- 12th Grade-OC African American Female
- 12th Grade -California Senior
- 12th Grade - Mission Viejo Scholarship- Community Service
- 12th Grade-CIF Scholar-Athlete
- 12th Grade - BMW/SAW Engineering
- 12th Grade - Children of Warriors
- 12th Grade-Relative of Air Force Service
- 12th Grad - Hagen/Need-Based Merit
- 12th Grade -Italian Descent
- 12th Grade-Academics/Extracurricular
- 12th Grade - Chemists
- 12th Grade-Food Sciences/Culinary Arts
- 12th Grade-Music Majors/Minors
- 12th Grade-Cybersecurity Major
- 12th Grade - Automotive Industry
- 12th Grade-Food Related Major
- 12th Grade-Eng. or Geoscience Major
- 12th Grade - Geophysics
- 12th Grade-Academics/Character
- 12th Grade-Disability and Tech Majors
- 12th Grade-Female Golfer
- 12th Grade -Financial Need
- 12th Grade -SAE Engineering
- 12th Grade-Dental Related Career
- 12th Grade-Relative of Veteran
- 12th Grade-Catholic/Scouting
- 11th-12th - Safe Driving PSA
- 10th-12th - Google Doodle (Art)
- 9th-12th -Mental Health Video
- 9th-12th -Be Bold
- 9th-12th-Greeting Card Artwork
- 9th-12th-Essay
- 9th-12th-Video Contest
- 9th-12th-Genetics Essay
- 9th-12th-Classical Music/Fin.Need
- 9th-12th-Art Contest
April Deadlines
- 12th Grade - OC Junior League
- 12th Grade -OC Golf
- 12th Grade-OC Student/CA College
- 12th Grade -Italian Catholics
- 12th Grade-CA Student-Legal Field
- 12th Grade-Think For Yourself Essay
- 12th Grade-Female/Likes to Golf
- 12th Grade-Rare Disease
- 12th Grade-Essay Contest
- 12th Grade-College Survey
- 12th Grade-Substance Abuse Essay
- 12th Grade-CA Resident/Disability
- 12th Grade-Communications Majors
- 12th Grade-Technology Ethics Essay
- 12th Grade-Asian Student
- 12th Grade - Catholic College
- 12th Grade-Knights of Columbus/Catholic
- 12th Grade-Creative Submission/Future
- 12th Grade-Chronic Medical Condition
- 12th Grade-Building/Construction Major
- 12th Grade - Male Student
- 12th Grade-Fin.Need, Attend CA College
- 9th-12th-Distracted Driving Contest
- 9th-12th-Western Art Competition
- 9th-12th - Inspiring Service Project
- 9th-12th -We the People Essay
- 9th-12th-Funny Poetry Contest
- 9th-12th-Int. Relations Essay
- 9th-12th-Environmental Change
May Deadlines
- 12th Grade - Human Trafficking Video
- 12th Grade-Love of Having a Pet
- 12th Grade-Italian Descent
- 12th Grade-Life Science Major
- 12th Grade-Female Engineers
- 12th Grade-Character/Virtue
- 12th Grade-Community Involvement
- 12th Grade-Inspirational Essay
- 12th Grade-Overcoming Obstacles
- 12th Grade-Healthcare Majors/Essay
- 12th Grade-Movie Review Essay
- 12th Grade-Texts=Wrecks
- 12th Grade-Female Business Majors
- 12th Grade-Visible/Invisible Disability
- 12th Grade-Visual Arts
- 12th Grade-Female Writer/Journalism
- 12th Grade-Good Deeds Essay
- 12th Grade-Female/Why College Essay
- 12th Grade-Debt/Bankruptcy Essay
- 12th Grade-Disability/Media Major
- 12th Grade-Engineering Essay
- 12th Grade-Culinary Arts/Hospitality
- 12th Grade-Food Science Majors
- 12th Grade-Senior Care/Aging
- 12th Grade-Printing/Graphic Design
- 12th Grade-Suicide Prevention Essay
- 11th-12th-Community Service Focus
- 11th-12th-Leadership Essay
- 11th Grade - Cameron Impact -Extracurricular Excellence/Leadership
- 9th-12th-Creative Problem Solving
- 9th-12th-"Why College" Essay
- 9th-12th-Civic Engagement
June Deadlines
- 12th Grade GRAD - Golf Related Majors
- 12th Grade GRAD-College Bound
- 12th Grade GRAD-Essay
- 12th Grade GRAD-Elec. Eng.
- 12th Grade GRAD-STEM Major
- 12th Grade GRAD-STEM Major
- 12th Grad GRAD-Safe Roads Essay
- 12th Grade GRAD-Strengths and Weaknesses Essay
- 12th Grade GRAD-CIA
- 12th Grade GRAD-Intended Career with Animals or Pets
- 12th Grade GRAD-Entrepreneurial Major
- 12th Grade-Leadership Essay
- 12th Grade GRAD-Drunk Driving Essay
- 12th Grade GRAD-Advertising Contest
- 12th Grade GRAD-Small Business Impact
- 12th Grade-Compelling Personal Story
- 12th Grade-Asian-Media Majors
- 12th Grade-Sports
- 11th-12th -Educational Goals Essay
- 9th-12th -Duck Tape Art
- 9th-12th-Creative Writing
- 9th-12th-Why College Essay
July Deadlines
- 12th Grade GRAD-Women in STEM
- 12th Grade GRAD-Giving Essay
- 12th Grade GRAD-Essay
- 12th Grade GRAD-Financial Essay
- 12th Grade-Business Majors
- 9th-12th -Peace Poetry Contest
- 9th-12th-Dental Health Video
August Deadlines
- 12th Grade GRADS- Education Majors
- 9th-12th -Host a Blood Drive
- 9th-12th-The Fountainhead Essay
September Deadlines
- 12th Grade-Leadership/GPA
- 12th Grade-Beauty School Apps
- 12th Grade -Digital Marketing
- 12th Grade-Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway
- 9th-12th-Science Topic Video
- 9th-12th-Free Speech Video
- 9th-12th-US Constitution Theme
- 9th-12th-Jack Cooke Young Artist
- 9th-12th-Science Education
- 9th-12th-Ethical Business Essay
- 9th-12th-Female Entrepreneur
October Deadlines
- 12th Grade - Coca-Cola Scholars
- 12th Grade - Importance of Rice Video
- 12th Grade-Women in STEM
- 11th-12th -Future Pilot/Mechanic
- 11th/12th - Biographical Book Review
- 9th-12th - VFW Patriotic Themed Essay
- 9th-12th - Zombie Essay
November Deadlines
- 12th Grade - Elks Club
- 12th Grade-Selfless Parent Essay
- 12th Grade - Space/STEM
- 12th Grade - Atlas Shrugged Essay
- 12th Grade - Hispanic Heritage Awards
- 12th Grade -Jack Kent Cooke
- 12th Grade - Female Tech/Entrepreneur
- 12th Grade-Leadership Skills, Community Commitment, Perseverance
- 9th-12th-Jane Austen Essay
- 9th-12th - Poetry, Fiction or Nonfiction Entries/Awards
- 9th-12th - STEM Research
- 9th-12th-Fight Against Hunger
- 9th-12th - Religious Essay
- 9th-12th - Sustainability Essay
- 9th-12th - Education Matters Essay
- 9th-12th-Mental Health Importance
- 9th-12th - Safe Driving Essay
December Deadlines
- 12th Grade-Hagan Foundation (3.5+ GPA)
- 12th Grade - Aerospace Engineering Majors
- 12th Grade-Women in STEM
- 12th Grade-Education/Determination
- 12th Grade - Eagle Scout
- 12th Grade-Medical Field
- 12th Grade-Engineering/Computer Science
- 12th Grade - CSF Scholarship
- 12th Grade - Positive Change Essay
- 12th Grade -Burger King
- 12th Grade -Female-Science Ambassador
- 11th-12th -Leadership (US Senate)
- 9th-12th-Curiosity in Studying the Universe
- 9th-12th- American Rocketry Challenge
- 9th-12th -Patriotic Essay
- 9th-12th -Power of Resilience Essay