Scholarships are a great way for students to help pay for their higher education. Below are scholarships that may be available to new Mainers with various citizenship statuses. Additional Maine-based scholarships can be found via our Maine Scholarship Search tool. Use FAME’s scholarship tracking spreadsheet (.xlsx format) to help stay organized.
We regularly review the scholarships we share to make sure they are up to date. However, scholarship criteria, deadlines, and availability can change without our knowledge. If you find a scholarship that is out of date, please let us know.
| Scholarship | Amount | Deadline | Eligibility | Course of Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Federation of Ramallah Palestine | $8,000 | 31-May | Palestinian and Palestinian American students | Any |
| American Legion Children and Youth Scholarship | $500 | 1-May | Must be a Maine resident | Any |
| Asian Pacific Fund | $1,000–$20,000 | See website | Must plan to be enrolled full-time in the fall. Minimum GPA of 3.0. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident unless otherwise stated. | Any |
| Avesta Housing Scholarship | $1,000 | 9-May | Avesta residents who are enrolling in a post-secondary program. Eligible programs include college, trade school, and certificate programs. | Any |
| Ayn Rand Essay Contests | Varies | See website | Offers three different worldwide essay contests: Anthem (for 8th–12th grade students); Fountainhead (for 11th & 12th grade students), and Atlas Shrugged (for 12th grade, college, and graduate students). | Any |
| Competitive Skills Scholarship Program | Varies | See website | The Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP) provides funding and support services for eligible Maine residents to pursue two and four-year degree programs or employer recognized credentials leading to high-wage, in-demand jobs in Maine. | Maine residents to pursue two and four-year degree programs or employer recognized credentials leading to high-wage, in-demand jobs in Maine. |
| Francis X. Langlois Scholarship Fund | Varies | See website | The Francis X. Langlois Scholarship Fund was established through a bequest to provide scholarship assistance to those studying in the healthcare field. There are two types of awards: to students from anywhere who are attending any college or university (including a technical college) located in the State of Maine and to students from the State of Maine who are attending any college or university (including a technical college), wherever located. All students pursuing a degree in health care, regardless of citizenship or immigration status are strongly encouraged to apply. | All students pursuing a degree in health care, regardless of citizenship or immigration status are strongly encouraged to apply. |
| Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund | up to $10,000 | 1-Apr | Available to applicants who demonstrate activism in the struggle to achieve civil rights, economic justice, international solidarity, and/or other progressive causes. | Any |
| Fedpoint Nursing Scholarship | $5,000 | See website | Awards four (4) $5,000 scholarships annually: three to graduating high school seniors, and one nontraditional scholarship. | Nursing |
| Hagan International Scholarship | Up to $15,000 | See attached document | Must be a first-time graduate student in the fall of 2026, who does not hold U.S. citizenship, and will not be over the age of 24 as of the submission deadline of March 15, 2026. Applicants must have graduated or will graduate from a foreign institution and received acceptance for the fall of 2026 at a college or university in the U.S. | Any |
| Hispanic Scholarship Fund | Varies | 15-Feb | Must be of Hispanic heritage; a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA; have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 (or equivalent) for high school students or minimum 2.5 GPA on a scale of 4.0 (or equivalent) for college and graduate students; plan to enroll full-time in an accredited public or not-for-profit, four-year university or graduate school in the US for the 2023-2024 academic year; submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms (if applicable) | Any |
| Horch Roofing Trade School Scholarship | $1,500 | 30-Apr | Horch Roofing is offering individual scholarships to a graduating high school senior who will attend a college/trade school or to a current college/trade school student who resides in the state of Maine. We believe it is important to encourage young men and women to study and find gainful employment within the trades. | College/Trade School |
| Iranian Scholarship Foundation | Varies | See website | Undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students of Iranian descent based on financial need, community involvement, and/or academic achievement | Any |
| Maine Community Foundation | up to $10,000 | See website | Maine-based scholarships available to Maine high school students and adult learners. | Any |
| Mainely Character | $5,000 | 1-Mar | Awarded solely on the basis of four aspects of applicant’s character: courage, integrity, responsibility, and concern. Must be a Maine resident graduating from a Maine high school in the year of application and planning to attend an accredited post-secondary institution after graduation. | Any |
| MCF Lydia R. Laurendeau Scholarship Fund | Amount Varies | 1-May | There is a preference for applicants demonstrating a connection to their Franco-American heritage. Eligible applicants will be female graduating seniors from a Maine high school who are pursuing a major in science or engineering at a four-year university. Preference will be shown to applicants who demonstrate an interest in their Franco-American heritage. | Science or Engineering |
| Momeni Foundation Scholarships | $1,000 | 30-Jun | Must be of Iranian descent. Financial Assistance Scholarship is available to all graduating high school students and current college students regardless of citizenship or country of residency. Scholastic Achievement Scholarship is available to students that are graduating from high school and are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. | Any |
| New England Community Scholarship | $1,000 | 17-Apr | The Community Scholarship for New England High Schools is for graduating students throughout New England who write a short essay addressing the prompt: “Give us an example of a personal experience about how diversity, equity and inclusion has affected your life. | Any |
| Organization of Maine Nursing Leadership (OMNL) Scholarship | $500 | 1-May | Any Maine individual enrolled in a Maine accredited BSN or MSN degree program. | Accredited BSN or MSN |
| Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans | Varies | See website | Eligibility requirements | Any |
| Powering Education Scholarship | $5,000 | 1-Apr | Must have a documented disability as defined by the World Health Organization Must be a current or former high school student from Maine Must have a B average GPA or equivalent Must have received acceptance to a post-secondary institution Open to individuals of any age pursuing higher education | Any |
| Promise Scholarship - University of Southern Maine | Varies | January 1st - March 15th | Potential USM students; can be asylum-seekers | Any |
| Prosperity Maine Scholarship | Up to $5,0000 | 31-Mar | Full-tuition scholarships—including books—toward two-year associate degrees. Candidates must not be eligible for federal financial aid; must be living in Maine; maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher; plan to enroll in a Maine college or university; and demonstrate financial need. | Any |
| QuestBridge Quest for Excellence New Americans Award | Up to $1,000 | See website | For high-achieving, low-income high school juniors who immigrated to the United States, or whose parents immigrated to the United States. | Any |
| Roothbert Fund | Grants average $5,000-$7,000 per year | See website | Must be a Maine resident pursuing graduate or undergraduate study at an accredited U.S.-based college or university. Note: Preference is shown to those who have completed at least one year of undergraduate study or beyond. | Any, but preference is reserved for applicants of strong scholastic achievement considering careers in education. |
| Scholarships for Black and African American Students | Varies | See website | List of general scholarships for Black and African American students. | See website |
| Scholarships for Maine Immigrants (previously Portland ESL Scholarship Fund) | Varies | See website | Applicants must be legally able to work in the U.S.; have at least a high school diploma or HiSET (GED); live in York, Cumberland, or Androscoggin County; have demonstrated financial need and qualify only for private financial aid, not public funds; are seeking additional English language skills, professional skills, and/or qualifying exams necessary to achieve post-secondary educational or career goals; and have sufficient English language proficiency to succeed in the course, program, or exam. | Any |
| Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship | $3,000–$17,000 | Varies; see website | Must be a permanent resident of New England but may attend college anywhere in the U.S. High school seniors entering college and returning college students attending accredited U.S. colleges or universities full-time are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Awards are limited to students in undergraduate study and to those seeking their first bachelor’s degree. | Any |
| Tall Clubs International Student Scholarships | $2,000 | 1-Mar | U.S. or Canada college-bound high school senior Under the age of 21 Minimum height of 5' 10" (women) or 6' 2" (men) If a legacy applicant, be a direct relative of a Tall Clubs member | See website |
| TheDream.US Scholarships | Full scholarships | See website | Must be Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival, and Temporary Protected Status or certify that you meet the following immigration eligibility criteria: Must be a high school graduate at least 16 years of age who came to the US before November 1. | Any |
| The Women's Empowerment Scholarship | $1,500 | 1-May | Eligible Regions: Applicants must be females residing in or planning to attend school in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, or Maine. Gender Requirement: Applicants must be female. Enrollment: Students should be currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program. Selection Criteria: Recipients will be chosen based on their commitment to academics, community service, and participation in extracurricular activities. | Any |
| Thomas Valleau Scholarship Program | Varies | See website | Applicants must be current residents on the lease for Portland Housing Authority Public Housing / HCV Section8 / Low Income / Subsidized Housing; must be pursuing higher education through an accredited college, university, trade school, or program during the upcoming academic year; can demonstrate financial need in order to attend such an institution; can demonstrate community engagement through volunteer work or involvement at school or in the community. | Any |
| Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship | $1,000 | Quarterly; see website | Awards (4) $1,000 quarterly, see website for dates. Open to high school students, college students, postgraduate students, and adult students (returning to school). Applicants only need to register to apply for this scholarship. | Any |
| WBRC Centennial Scholarship | $1,000 | See website | The $1,000 WBRC Centennial Scholarship is awarded annually to a Maine high school senior planning to study architecture or engineering (civil, structural, mechanical or electrical). | Maine high school senior planning to study architecture or engineering (civil, structural, mechanical or electrical). |
| Unitil Scholarship Fund | $5,000 | 31-Mar | The Unitil Scholarship Fund will be awarded to high school seniors from our service territories in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts who are pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math will each receive financial aid for the first year of undergraduate study. | Pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math. |
