When it comes to being eligible for a scholarship, the specifics are important. You may be able to find scholarships by searching for organizations related to your parent’s cause of death. You may also be eligible for need-based scholarships.

Aretta J. Graham Scholarship

The Aretta J. Graham scholarship is available to students attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of ACES. If you have lost one or both parents, you’ll be first in line for the scholarship, but it can be awarded to students in a single parent household or single parents who are also students.

David J. Ewing Scholarship

The David J. Ewing Scholarship is available to students of the University of North Texas who have lost a parent. The amount varies based on available funds. In addition to the application, you’ll need two letters of recommendation, any high school or college transcripts you have, a two-page essay that explains why you need the scholarship, and a copy of your Student Aid Report (part of your FAFSA).

Families of Freedom

The Families of Freedom scholarship was created for the dependents of the individuals killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The scholarship money can be used at technical schools, trade schools, or two-or-four-year colleges, but applicants must be registered with the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. In some cases, even graduate students will be qualified. Once you’ve filled out your application online, you’ll be asked to mail or fax additional documents. There are two deadlines: May 15 for full-time students and a rolling deadline for part-time students or full-time students who could not meet the May 15th deadline.

MaryEllen Locher Foundation(R)

The MaryEllen Locher Foundation(R) scholarship is for full-time students at two-or-four-year schools whose mothers have either died of breast cancer or complications from breast cancer, or survived breast cancer. Grades, essays, and financial need all play into the decision to award the scholarship, and the scholarship can be renewed each year with the appropriate paperwork as long as the student is making progress toward a degree. The application can be downloaded online and the deadline is mid-January. Awards are announced in May and must be accepted in writing within 10 days of notification.

LIFE Lessons Scholarship Program

The LIFE Lessons Scholarship Program awards amounts between $1,000 and 10,000 to students who write essays or make videos about how the loss of a parent has affected their lives. They begin accepting applications in February and notify the recipients in August. If you’re eligible, you’ll need to fill out an application online or mail one in addition to creating the essay or video. When writing the essay or making the video, don’t just focus on the immediate effects of the loss of your parent or how difficult it is to pay for college since they’re gone. Be sure to cover the effects the death had on the family as a whole, how a lack of life insurance impacted the family, as well as anything you’ve done to alleviate stress for other family members over the years.

Scholarships from Kids’ Chance

Kids’ Chance is an organization devoted to providing education assistance to the families of people injured or killed in the workplace. If your parent passed away due to a work-related accident, you may be eligible for a scholarship from Kids’ Chance. To apply, you will need some basic information about your family’s financial situation, a brief description of the accident, and your transcripts.

Scholarship List from FastWeb

Although you need to register to apply, FastWeb has an exhaustive list of scholarships for children of deceased parents. Award amounts vary significantly, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

Scholarships for Children of Deceased Service Members

To find information about scholarships for dependents of service members, visit Financial Aid for Veterans and their Dependents page on FinAid.gov. Here, you’ll find an exhaustive list of scholarships that may apply to your situation.

Scholarships for Children With a Parent Who Has Cancer

Inheritance of Hope offers a list of scholarships for students who live with a parent who has cancer or have lost a parent to cancer. Some scholarships are geared toward a specific type of cancer.