Scholarships for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A Huge Guide

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This is a resource post with direct links to scholarships for deaf and hard of hearing students. It is clearly and easily organized, and includes general disability scholarships that are also open for us who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Accessing higher education can be challenging. We all know that in and of itself, it’s challenging. When you compound hearing loss, it’s even harder.

This is one of the times that we should really be reaching out and connecting with the sources that want to make this a little easier for us: find the places that have scholarships that are specifically designed for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

I’m going to be upfront with you: there is a lot of ableist baloney in many of these scholarship applications. They want you to write essays that will dive deep into inspiration porn… it can be really hard to write those. It can feel gross. I get it. That’s just a call you have to make for yourself, if you want to go that route or not.

There are other avenues to explore in getting your higher education funding and we’ll talk about those a little later. Right now, let’s focus on the organizations that offer scholarships or fellowships to deaf or hard of hearing students. I’ll cover 4 sections in this resource:

• scholarship opportunities in which you must be deaf or hard of hearing to even apply
• scholarships in which anyone with a disability can apply
• scholarships that are location specific, which means some of them are for anyone with a disability, some of them are for deaf/hard of hearing but all of them in that category require you to be a resident of a specific place
• links to more scholarship sites The scholarship sites are kind of like shopping at Ross: you often have to weed through a ton of stuff before you find the gems.

You can jump around the 4 sections by clicking the table immediately below with the hyperlinks to each section.

Scholarships for Deaf or Hard of Hearing

These are scholarships in which you MUST be deaf or hard of hearing to qualify. They often have other requirements, such as GPA or majors.

Sertoma’s Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf
Award Amount: $1000
Application Deadline: March 31, 2023
Description: This scholarship is meant for students with bilateral hearing loss. Students must have a minimum 40dB bilateral hearing loss, as evidenced on audiogram by an SRT & PTA of 40dB or greater in both ears, be a citizen of the United States of America, be pursuing a bachelor’s degree on a full-time basis at a college or university in the United States
To apply: https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/sertomaforstudentswhoarehardofhearingordeaf23

Help America Hear Scholarship (for Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant Users)
Amount Awarded: $2,000 + New ReSound Hearing Aids (Cochlear-wearing applicants just receive the $2000)
Application Deadline: April 2, 2023
Description: For high school seniors going to college. Money and new ReSound hearing aids (money only if the applicant is a Cochlear Implant user)
To apply: https://helpamericahear.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/1.-2022-23-HAH-Scholarship-Forms-Complete-Final-1.pdf

Traveler’s Protective Association (TPA)
Amount Awarded: Varies
Application Deadline: Completed applications must be returned to the Trust by the end of each quarter: March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st.
Description: The TPA Scholarship is a need-based program designed to support children and adults with hearing impairments. It is open to individuals of all ages and student statuses who have a hearing impairment.
To apply: https://www.tpahq.org/tpa-hearing-trust/apply/

Louise Tumarkin Zazove Foundation Scholarship
Amount Awarded: varies
Application Deadline: May 27, 2023
Description: The LTZ Foundation has proudly supported over 40 d/Deaf and hard of hearing student grantees at colleges across the country. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have significant bilateral hearing loss, and be undergraduate students attending an accredited non-profit college or university in the U.S.
To apply: https://www.ltzfoundation.org/copy-of-scholarship

Nicholas J. Deleonardis Scholarship
Amount Awarded: $6000
Application Deadline: June 15, 2023
Description: This program provides $6000 for full-time undergraduate/graduate students. Through the program, recipients will propose and complete a research project on non-invasive technology for deaf/hearing communication. Must be an undergraduate/graduate student, permanent US residency, minimum GPA of 3.0.
To apply: https://aslproject.com/UGaward/index.htm

Nancy J. Bloch Leadership & Advocacy Scholarship/Internship
Internship with accompanying stipend.
Amount Awarded: $3000-6000 stipend
Application Deadline: March 1, 2023
Description: Qualified applicants will spend the summer working with NAD lawyers and actively participate in advocacy efforts to protect the civil, human and linguistic rights of the American deaf community. Preference will be given to students pursuing careers in law, public policy, nonprofit management or related fields. This scholarship provides a nominal financial stipend to qualified applicants. Determination of the stipend amount for each qualified applicant is based on the length of the internship and the Application Criteria below. For example, a qualified applicant studying in law school (Juris Doctor degree) who commits to the entire length of the summer internship may be eligible for the full $6,000 stipend. Up to two qualified applicants studying for their Bachelor’s degree may receive stipends of up to $3,000 each.
To apply: https://www.nad.org/njb-scholarship/

Rolling Scholarships

These are long-standing scholarships that are usually open but this year are not. They do have links for other scholarships, financial aid or other aid, as well as to subscribe to their newsletters.

The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) Scholarships
Award Amount: varies
Application Deadline: closed for 2023-2024. Other financial aid available.
Check site. https://www.agbell.org/Connect#financial-aid

General Disability Scholarships

Hearing loss counts as a disability, so you can apply for any of these in addition to the Deaf or Hard of Hearing specific scholarships.

Wells Fargo Scholarship Program for People with Disabilities
Amount Awarded: The program will award up to $2,500 renewable scholarships for full-time students and up to $1,250 renewable scholarships for half-time students.
Application Deadline: Opening January 2023. Only the first 700 applications will be accepted.
Description: Open to all disabilities. Applicants must be high school seniors or graduates or current undergraduates planning to enroll, or who are already enrolled, in full- or half-time undergraduate study at an accredited United States two- or four-year college or university for the upcoming academic year.
To Apply: https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/pwdscholarship/

Microsoft Disability Scholarship
Amount Awarded: $5,000
Application Deadline: Check the website throughout January
Description: This scholarship will be awarded to promising high school seniors with disabilities who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and target a career in the technology industry. The scholarships are renewable – each winner who continues to meet the criteria is eligible to receive an annual award of $5,000 for up to four (4) consecutive years for a potential total $20,000 scholarship.
To apply: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/diversity/programs/microsoftdisabilityscholarship.aspx

Stephen L. Squires SWSIS Scholarship
Amount Awarded: $5,000 to $10,000
Application Deadline: Feb 1, 2023
Description: This award is for women pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in cybersecurity. Successful candidates must have overcome adversity, such as a learning disability, bullying, or discrimination. The award amount varies from $5,000 to $10,000. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible.
To apply: https://cra.org/cra-wp/scholarships-and-awards/scholarships/swsis

American Association on Health and Disability Scholarship Program
Amount Awarded: $1000
Application Deadline: March 1, 2023
Description: The American Association on Health and Disabilities awards $1000 to undergraduate/graduate students (at least a sophomore) with a disability pursuing studies related to the health and disability, such as, public health, health promotion, disability studies, disability research, rehabilitation engineering, audiology, disability policy, and special education.
To apply: http://aahd.us/initiatives/scholarship-program/

Spring 2023 National Scholarship Competition for College Students with Disabilities
Amount Awarded: $2,000
Application Deadline: March 15, 2023
Description: Any student with a disability enrolled in a 2 or 4-year accredited college or university in the US.
To apply: https://www.disabledperson.com/scholarships/35

Google Lime Scholarship for Computer Science Students with Disabilities
Amount Awarded: $10,000
Application Deadline: Not Stated (Check their Website!)
Note: As of writing (01/23), the scholarship information for 2023 has not been posted on their website but it will be. This is what was stated from last year:
“Recipients of the 2022 Google Lime Scholarship will each receive a scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year. Scholars will also be invited to attend a Google Lime Scholars gathering in Summer 2022 and be considered for internship opportunities with Google for the Summer of 2022.  Scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of candidates’ academic background and a demonstrated passion for computer science – $10,000 for those studying in the US and $5,000 for those studying in Canada (based on tuition costs).”

For more information and to apply, please visit their website: https://buildyourfuture.withgoogle.com/scholarships/google-lime-scholarship

Also, for the Lime Pathways (High School to College) Scholarship for High School Seniors with Disabilities: https://www.limeconnect.com/programs/page/lime-connect-pathways-scholarship-for-high-school-seniors

Vitality Medical Scholarship
Amount Awarded: Varies.
Application Deadline: September 15, 2023
Description: Vitality Medical’s Student Disability Scholarship program is designed to encourage and support outstanding students who work hard and want to make a significant impact on their school and community. Must be enrolled as a senior in high school or in undergrad and GPA 3.0 or higher; at least 16 years of age.
To apply: https://www.vitalitymedical.com/scholarships-from-vitality-medical/disability-scholarship-program

Location-Specific Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

These are scholarships that are either for Deaf, Hard of Hearing or general students with disabilities. They are location-specific: only people living in these areas are eligible for the scholarships.
Look through them, and run with it if you live in those areas. If you don’t. PLEASE REMEMBER to do your own searches in your own area. Google your location + disability + scholarship and see what comes up.

The William and Cordula Freese Scholarship
Amount Awarded: Varies
Application Deadline: February 10, 2023
Description: Visual/physical disabilities. High School seniors or undergraduates.
Applicants must be Saginaw County residents.
To apply, please visit the United Advisory Scholarship Commission – https://www.saginawfoundation.org/site/united-advisory-scholarship-commission-scholarships/

Carolyn Balsa Hancock Memorial Scholarship
Amount Awarded: $1500,
Application Deadline: February 28, 2023
Description: Applicants must be in the Special Education Program at the East Side Union High School District. Students must also have a plan for additional vocational or academic training after high school.
Apply through https://www.cappex.com/scholarships/carolyn-balsa-hancock-memorial-scholarship

NCJW NY Jackson-Stricks Scholarships 
Amount Awarded: $5,000-10,000
Application Deadline: March 25, 2023
Location specific: New York Area
Description: Scholarships are available to students with physical challenges that affect mobility, vision or hearing who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in the New York Metropolitan Area. If you have questions about the scholarship please email jss@ncjwny.org”
Website: https://www.ncjwny.org/programs/#STRICKS

Assistance League, Boise Idaho
Amount Awarded: $3,000
Application Deadline: April 1, 2023
Location Specific: Residents of Ada County, Idaho
Description: Tuition/textbook educational scholarships for graduating, hearing impaired, Idaho high school seniors or continuing higher education students who reside in Ada County. Recipients may renew their per-year scholarships up to three times depending on the approval of the Selection Committee of Assistance League of Boise.
To apply: https://www.assistanceleague.org/boise/philanthropic-programs/project-hearing-old/student-scholarship/

Cheryl D. Conkling Memorial Award
Amount Awarded: $1,500 per semester (fall and spring only) for eight semesters or $12,000
Application Deadline: Check the website
Location Specific: Preference will be given to students with hearing or other physical impairments, financial need and students from Windsor, Colorado; Conroe, Texas; and Wilkinson County, Mississippi.
Description: Scholarships are provided to graduating high school seniors. Scholarship awards are.
To apply: https://www.brafscholarships.org/conkling

The Alex and Suzanne Rosenkrantz Scholarship Fund
Amount Awarded: Not stated. Check back with the website
Deadline to Apply: Applications are accepted year-round, with those post-marked by July 15 reviewed in August
Location Specific: Washington State, with priority given to Grays Harbor residents; then residents of Pacific, Thurston and Mason Counties; then residents of other counties in Washington State.
Description: For blind, deaf, or deaf-blind. Higher education, vocational training, education in Braille, and computer-based education for the blind, deaf and deaf-blind will be funded.
To apply: https://new.expo.uw.edu/expo/scholarships/alexsuz

Incight Scholarship
Amount Awarded: $500
Application Deadline: April 15, 2023
Location Specific: Current Washington, Oregon or California resident.
Description: Qualifying students with any type of disability. Must be attending higher education during the funding cycle following your application (2021-2022 School Year.) This includes college, university, community college, or vocational school. Any degree eligible.
To apply: https://www.incight.org/scholarship

The John Lepping Memorial Scholarship
Amount Awarded: Varies, up to $5000
Application Deadline: May 1, 2023
Location Specific: Residents of New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
Description: Must have one or more disabilities, including, but not limited to physical conditions (spinal cord injury, loss of limb, birth defects, etc.) and psychological conditions (autism, post- traumatic stress etc.).
To apply: http://www.lepfoundation.org/applications

Jack Scura Fund
Amount awarded: $10,000
Deadline to Apply: 06/15/2023
Location Specific: Must be attending or planning to attend a university in New Jersey
Description: Must be a disabled high school seniors who will be enrolling in an undergraduate program in the fall or who are currently enrolled.
To apply: https://www.scura.com/jack-scura-fund

More Scholarship Sites

Searching for scholarships is hard. I’m just not going to lie: this whole process is HARD. I know; I’ve done it, many times. It’s hard on many levels; the organization that is required through the process – creating spreadsheets, keeping track of where you’ve applied, where you need to still reach out – coupled with yucky feelings that can be stirred up when you need to write essays for many of the applications that seemed more geared for the ableist world.

And, full disclosure: I never did receive scholarships for disability myself. I ended up receiving scholarships for my good grades and for being the grandchild of veterans. That’s it, and with that in mind, here are some general scholarship sites for you to add to radar:

Rochester Institute for the Deaf
This is an emporium of scholarships, most of which are for RIT students, but not all are! Be sure to check through and see if any are relevant for you.
https://www.rit.edu/ntid/giving/scholarships

Scholarship America	Connect with organizations that provide scholarships to students like you.
Cappex	Fill out a free profile and uncover millions of dollars in scholarships from colleges, universities, private companies, foundations, and more.
Fastweb	Get matched with up to $3 billion in scholarships using Fastweb’s unique scholarship matching service.
GoodCall	Finding money for school has never been easier with GoodCall’s time-saving search functionality. You can search for scholarships that uniquely fit your interests and qualifications.
StudentAid.gov	Find free resources on the types of scholarships available and information on how to find those that fit your unique circumstances.
UniGo	Millions of scholarships, personalized results—check out the wide variety of scholarships in UniGo’s Scholarship Directory.

For more information on how to find scholarships and avoid financial aid scams, visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Take care, and good luck!

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