Best Critical Essay Writing Scholarships in 2026

This annual essay competition honors George Watt, a writer and lifelong activist central to the creation of ALBA. Students from anywhere in the world are invited to submit an essay or thesis chapter about any aspect of the Spanish Civil War, fascism in 1920s and 1930s, or the international volunteers who fought in support of the Spanish Republic from 1936 to 1938. The George Watt Prize is awarded in three categories: graduate, undergraduate, and pre-collegiate.

The Marine Corps Essay Contest advances new thinking about how the U.S. Marine Corps will tackle the diverse and difficult security challenges of the 21st century. Dare to write about the toughest and most difficult issues; the topics that everyone knows need addressing, but some are hesitant to acknowledge. Essays should be 2,500 words maximum and this contest is open to all contributors.

The scholarship essay contest is designed for students who are full-time, undergraduate students in an American college or university. Applicants will write and submit a 1,500-5,000 word essay on a topic related to Abraham Lincoln (a new prompt is given each year). The first-place winner has the opportunity to attend the annual symposium of The Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg, PA in November.

Our merit-based scholarships are awarded twice per year to support and encourage women studying International Trade and Global Development. Applicants must identify as female and be enrolled at an accredited U.S. college as a junior, senior, or graduate student. Awards will be based on the quality of the assigned essay and the applicant's demonstrated interested in international trade.

Underwritten by the New York Life Foundation, the New York Life Award offers $2,500 scholarships/travel stipends to ten students whose works explore death and personal grief. Sharing your story through art or writing can be a healing experience both for you and other teens who are grieving. Your creative work can help someone with similar experiences to you feel less alone.

The Ursinus College Creative Writing Award is a $40,000 per year major scholarship for creative writers of outstanding originality and potential. The award winner will have the honor of living in the dorm room once occupied by J.D. Salinger, who attended Ursinus. In the spirit of Holden Caulfield and Catcher in the Rye, we are looking for an unusual perspective, for quirky brilliance, for a voice. Candidates must achieve admission to Ursinus.

The purpose of the Norma Ross Walter Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to female graduates of Nebraska high schools who plan to enroll as English majors in accredited colleges or universities. Applicants must be female high school seniors who are prospective first year college students and plan to continue their education as English majors.

We award small artist support grants ($500 – $2,000) to individual feminist women in the arts who are citizens in the U.S and Canada. We welcome applications from women artists and writers who exhibit high quality and originality, use feminism as their central interpretive lens, and validate and express intersectional views.

The winner of this award receives $2,000, an invitation to accept the award at our annual awards ceremony, promotion on our website, and a feature of their work in our journal and quarterly newsletter. Candidate must submit a 5-to-10 page story or essay on one of the chosen topics. Candidate must also be entering the sophomore, junior or senior year in the fall at any HBCU in the US.

Receive up to $15,000 in funding and join a community of more than five hundred alumni now teaching in higher education. Applicants must submit all required materials including personal statements, academic writing samples, and an essay responding to the question: "What is the relationship between liberal education and a free society?”

The purpose of the Ántonia Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to graduates of high schools based in the U.S. who plan to enroll as English or history majors in accredited colleges or universities. Applicants must be high school seniors who are prospective first year college students and plan to continue their education as English or history majors.

The purpose of the Antonette Willa Skupa Turner Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to graduates of Nebraska high schools who plan to enroll as English or history majors in accredited colleges or universities. Applicants must be high school seniors who are prospective first year college students and plan to continue their education as English or history majors

The Education Committee provides a scholarship program for high school seniors in the State of Missouri who are planning to attend a college or university. This contest requires an essay on a topic relating to the Mayflower Pilgrims. The scholarships presently offered include one-time awards of $1500, $1000, and $500, funded by member contributions and corporate matching grants.

Teachers of Accounting at Two Year Colleges (TACTYC) is pleased to announce several scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each for students majoring in Accounting. Applicants must provide a 1-2 page self-description, which includes academic and professional goals, and a 1-2 page essay answering the required question for the given case study.

This scholarship was established by Mary and George Freund in honor of George’s grandparents, who perished during the Holocaust. To preserve the memory of the Goldmanns and other Holocaust victims, applicants are asked to write an essay or formal research paper on one specific aspect of the Holocaust. Applicants must be Idaho residents who plan to attend an institution of higher learning in Idaho.