Music Scholarships

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Music Scholarships 2025 List

The Da Vinci Creator Scholarship

Channel your inner Da Vinci with the Da Vinci Creator Scholarship! Are you the kind of thinker who sketches out ideas on napkins, sees art in equations, or dreams up inventions before breakfast? We’re looking for modern-day renaissance minds who merge creativity with innovation to craft solutions or spin tales. Perhaps you’ve engineered a robot with personality, designed an eco-friendly fashion line, or animated a short film that touches hearts. If your projects dazzle like Da Vinci’s, blending the strokes of art with the gears of science, we want to spotlight your genius. This is your stage to flaunt how you turn imaginative sparks into spectacular realities. Ready to show us your masterpiece? Paint your way into our panel’s hearts and sculpt your path to success!
Award Amount

Total:  $1,000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  April 30, 2025

The R.L. Gillette, Gladys C. Anderson, and Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship

U.S. female undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree in music are eligible for this award. Students must be legally blind (i.e., have best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees in the better eye).
Award Amount

Total:  $7,500

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  February 15

Charline E. McCue Memorial Scholarship

This award is available for U.S. and international undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring in culinary arts, dance, music, fashion design, theater, or writing. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Award Amount

Total:  $500

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  February 01

Jane Matthews Memorial Scholarship

This award is available to U.S. and international undergraduate and graduate students who are residents of Oklahoma and majoring in music. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Award Amount

Total:  $600

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  February 01

Cal Grant C

This award is for U.S. undergraduate students who are residents of California pursuing a technical education in the state of California. Students must be enrolled in a vocational training program lasting from 4 to 24 months and must meet certain family income and asset requirements as set by California.
Award Amount

Total:  $69,507,900

Awards:  7700

Deadline

Deadline:  February 01

Michigan Tuition Grant

This award is available to Michigan resident undergraduate students who are attending independent, degree-granting Michigan institutions. Students must demonstrate financial need.
Award Amount

Total:  $11,200

Awards:  4

Deadline

Deadline:  March 01

Virginia E. Christakos Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship, provided in honor of Virginia E. Christakos, is available to undergraduate students at Florida State College of Jacksonville who are enrolled in a visual or performing arts program.
Award Amount

Total:  $1,000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 31

Maryville College Music Scholarship

This award is available for U.S. undergraduate students who plan to attend Maryville College in Tennessee. Students must major in music.
Award Amount

Total:  $48,296

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  February 01

Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship

This award is available for current high school seniors who are U.S. citizens and residents of Delaware. Applicant must plan to enroll full time at the University of Delaware or Delaware State University and plan to major in the humanities or social sciences.
Award Amount

Total:  $285,648

Awards:  2

Deadline

Deadline:  February 26

Roberta M. Born Scholarship

Graduating high school seniors or current undergraduate college students who are residents of Glynn County in Georgia are eligible to apply for this award. Studens must have a strong background and/or course of study in the arts and humanities.
Award Amount

Total:  $500

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  May 24

What Music Scholarships are Available for College? 

Music majors may find music scholarships for college from many sources that support musical talents of all kinds. Are you a vocalist? Drawn to music performance or music education? Do you compose jazz or play classical music with a musical instrument? Perhaps you want to go for a music therapy degree program. Various scholarship providers also offer financial aid for music related studies to those who qualify.

Colleges with a school of music or music department and nonprofits in the performing arts space may offer college scholarships for music. Some nonprofits may also ask for a performance CD, audition or video recording which helps them narrow down finalists. 

The NFAA youngARTS Program is one. It is specifically for high school students/high school seniors. Eligible applicants must be a U.S. citizen, or permanent resident/green card recipient. Also, you must be able to show they are legally able to receive taxable income in the United States. Criteria include age (15 to 18 years old, or those in grades 10 through 12) and talent for the arts. Selected winners receive cash prizes between $100 and $10,000.

Many genres of music also create awards for music students in need of financial assistance. So, use your interests to fuel your search for scholarships. If your favorite music is pop, rock, indie or R&B, you could apply for the John Lennon Scholarship. 

In 1997, Yoko Ono and the BMI Foundation came together to offer annual awards that honor John’s legacy. It is open to college student songwriters and composers. BMI also offers the Peermusic Latin Scholarship competition which the genre is Latino music. The BMI Jazz Master Scholarship is one for graduate students who show promise in Jazz.

10 Scholarships for Music You Should Play for in 2024 

Sing, compose, conduct, or play your way through college with the help of a scholarship. Check out these 10 college scholarships for music majors. Keep the application deadline in mind and apply soon!

  1. Davidson Fellowship
  2. Rainbow City Band Scholarship 
  3. University of Bridgeport Music Scholarship for International Students
  4. Benny Goodman Foundation Scholarship
  5. CBCF Spouses USA Performing and Visual Arts Scholarship
  6. Jazz Education Network (JEN) Scholarship Program 
  7. MTNA Chamber Music Performance Competition 
  8. SBO Magazine Music Student Scholarship
  9. Mr. Digital Piano Innovative Annual Writing Scholarship
  10. Spotlight Awards Program 

Could You Get a Music Scholarship for Playing an Instrument?

Yes, if you qualify, you could receive a scholarship award for playing a musical instrument. Instrumentalists may play the piano, guitar, flute, clarinet, violin, trumpet, drums etc.

One grantor is the National Federation of Music Clubs. NFMC offers scholarships for various types of musicians attending a U.S. college. The NFMC Elizabeth Paris French Horn Award is one. It is open to full time undergraduate students who submit a performance CD. NFMC also has other awards such as a music composition competition that’s open to the U.S. military.

Could You Get a Full Ride Scholarship for Music?

Yes, very talented students going into music programs may be eligible for a full ride award. A full ride is also a merit scholarship and you could expect to compete for these coveted awards.

Who wouldn’t want to win a scholarship that paid for tuition, fees and extras – like housing? Some full rides renew for up to four years too. You may have to maintain your grade point average (GPA) for this to happen.

Eligibility to receive a full ride scholarship varies. For some, you might need a solid scholarship application and to show financial need plus talent. For others such as Berklee Merit Based Scholarships you may have to audition or pass through an interview. 

Both the Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee consider new first year musician applicants to their full time music degree or diploma programs. One to try for is the Presidential Scholarship. Selectees receive a sum that pays for tuition, on campus housing and the required laptop. To win, you must show the highest musical merit and financial need. 

The Davidson Fellowship is another notable music scholarship. It is open to students who come up with a “significant piece of work” aimed at making the lives of others better. Awards are granted in the amount of $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000. 

Is Going to Music School Worth It?

Going to music school could be worth the time and investment. You could also hone skills, learn current methods and network. Today’s music programs may produce well rounded:

  • Musicians
  • Music Teachers
  • Producers
  • Agents
  • Talent scouts 
  • Vocal coaches
  • Conductors

There are also programs that focus on the music business. These may also prepare for other career paths that may require a college degree.

To put yourself at ease, weigh potential cost of attendance vs job outlook/salary. Tuition and fees at The Juilliard School were $52,500 in academic year 2022-23, according to the NCES. 55% of students receive grant or scholarship aid to offset these costs, also reports the National Center for Education Statistics.

As for job outlook, some careers in entertainment are growing faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many of these paths use the Bachelor’s degree as entry level. Salaries vary, but tend to pay above the norm. Here are a few potential music careers you may pursue:

Music Directors and Composers: Directors lead music groups and Composers write and arrange original music. 

  • Typical Entry Level Education: Bachelor’s Degree
  • Job Outlook to 2032: 1%
  • 2022 Median Pay: $62,940

Musicians and Singers: Play an instrument and or sing. Some have a bachelor’s degree in music theory or performance. 

  • Typical Entry Level Education: No formal education credential
  • Job Outlook to 2032: 1%
  • 2022 Median Pay: Hourly average is $39.14

List of Music Scholarships

There are 8,412 awards worth $27M below. Apply now to our list of scholarships for musicians.