FAQ
Scholarship site FAQ: straight answers for students and parents
Short answer
Twenty-four common questions about scholarship sites, grouped by topic, each answered in a few sentences with a link to the page that goes deeper. Facts come from each site's pages.
Basics
What is a scholarship site?
A website or app that helps you find scholarships, apply for them, or both. Some also fund awards of their own. Scholarship 101 explains the kinds.
How many scholarship sites should I use?
Two or three is plenty for most students: one large database, one platform with its own awards, and your school's local list.
Do bigger databases mean more money for me?
Not necessarily. A database total counts every listing, not the ones you qualify for. Matching and local awards matter more.
How scholarship matching works, and what to put in your profile
Are no-essay scholarships worth entering?
They take a minute, so yes, as a bonus. Many are random drawings with large entry pools, so do not rely on them.
Can a site guarantee I will win?
No. Funders choose winners. ScholarshipOwl's own disclaimer says it does not guarantee any scholarship.
Cost
Which scholarship sites are free?
Bold.org, Fastweb, Scholarships.com, Niche, Appily, BigFuture and Scholly say they are free to use. We could not read Unigo's cost terms.
Which scholarship site charges money?
Of the sites we reviewed, ScholarshipOwl charges a membership after a free trial. Its plan prices are not on its public pages.
How much does ScholarshipOwl cost?
Its public pages do not state prices. Scholarships360, a scholarship site, lists plans from $10 to $69 a month; those figures are not confirmed on ScholarshipOwl's pages. Check the signup flow.
Can I get a refund from a paid scholarship service?
It depends on the terms. ScholarshipOwl's say payments are non-refundable except a refund on request of the most recent billing cycle fee under stated conditions, and the first fee after the trial is non-refundable.
Should I ever pay a scholarship to apply?
No. A fee to apply for or receive a scholarship is a red flag.
Scholarship scams, paid services and the difference between them
Applying
Which sites apply to scholarships for me?
ScholarshipOwl says it applies to multiple scholarships on your behalf with one application and reapplies you to recurring awards. Bold.org, Niche, Scholly and Unigo offer quicker applying for some of their own awards.
One application for many: auto-apply and reapplication explained
Can I reuse the same essay?
Usually yes, if you answer the exact prompt and tailor the opening and the fit for each funder.
How much time should scholarships take each week?
About an hour or two of steady work does more than an occasional weekend sprint.
Do any sites show how many people applied?
Not on the public pages we read. ScholarshipOwl's applicant counts were not visible without a login, and Bold.org's listing page did not show one.
Privacy and safety
Do scholarship sites sell my data?
Several privacy policies say they may: ScholarshipOwl, Bold.org, Fastweb, Scholarships.com and Niche. Our privacy guide quotes each one.
Which site's privacy policy is the most permissive?
Among the scored sites, ScholarshipOwl's names the most sensitive data it may sell, including ethnicity and citizenship, and it scores lowest on privacy.
How do I limit what a site shares?
Use its Do Not Sell or Share link where it has one, turn off partner contact, and leave sensitive optional fields empty.
Is ScholarshipOwl legit?
On the public evidence it is a real service run by a named Delaware company, with 1,260 Trustpilot reviews averaging 4.2 when we checked. It charges after a free trial with limited refunds.
Is Fastweb still safe to use?
It is a long-running free database that says people vet every listing. Its ratings are low and its privacy policy says information may be sold to colleges.
The sites
What happened to Going Merry?
Going Merry is closed. Its website no longer loads, and it was reported to have shut down in March 2026.
Who runs Scholly now?
Scholly runs as Scholly Scholarships by Sallie on Sallie Mae's website.
How we score
Which scholarship site ranks first on this site, and why?
ScholarshipOwl ranks first on our weights at 6.75 out of 10, mainly on application effort saved and matching. It scores lowest in set on cost to the student and privacy and data sharing.