Pay for School by Winning a Contest for Adult Students

Pay for School by Winning Contests

By
Deb Peterson
Deb Peterson
Deb Peterson
Education Expert
  • B.A., English, St. Olaf College
Deb Peterson is a writer and a learning and development consultant who has created corporate training programs for firms of all sizes.
Learn about our Editorial Process
Updated on January 29, 2020

We'd all love to win the lottery, wouldn't we? It sure would make paying for college a lot easier. You're not likely to win the million-dollar jackpots, but you can win money for school by entering contests for the things you're good at: writing, speaking, business, art, even cooking.

While we don't encourage gambling here, there are some states in the U.S. that offer lottery scholarships. You don't have to play to win, of course. Money from the lottery programs funds scholarships for students of all kinds, including adults. Find out if your state offers a lottery scholarship, and then apply. Scholarships sometimes have very few applicants. Read now: Which States Have Lottery Scholarships?

Be sure to check out all of your options when it comes to financial aid. Scholarships are not the only way to get help with tuition. Read: 10 Facts About Financial Aid for Non-Traditional Students

We've made a list here of 10 contests offered to adult students. It's by no means comprehensive. The list is designed to get you thinking about the possibilities and looking for similar contests in your area of study. Good luck. I mean, break a leg!

Other contest info:

01
of 10

Adobe Design Achievement Awards

Tablet - Tom Merton - Hoxton - GettyImages-568519143
Tom Merton - Hoxton - GettyImages-568519143

Adobe awards students and faculty a number of $3,000 scholarships in its annual contest in a variety of interactive and traditional media.

02
of 10

Business Plan Competitions

Presentation - Vstock LLC - GettyImages-102491280
Vstock LLC - GettyImages-102491280

Innovation Enterprises at the University of Toledo offered a first-place prize of $10,000 for the best business plan in its 2012 contest. Other significant prizes were given to the top winners. Check for this kind of contest at other universities.

03
of 10

Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition

Writing-Photodisc-Getty-Images-rbmb_02.jpg
Photodisc - Getty Images rbmb_02

This is a big one. The prize is $3,000 plus a trip to New York and other extras. There are several categories, and the top 10 writers win prizes from the grand prize of $3,000 to $25. Every little bit helps.

04
of 10

Peace Oratorical Contest

Speaking-to-class-Dave-and-Les-Jacobs-Cultura-Getty-Images-84930315.jpg
Dave and Les Jacobs - Cultura - Getty Images 84930315

Can you give a great speech? Your talent could win you $500 in scholarship money. Goshen College offers the Peace Oratorical Contest. Other universities may have similar contests. Check it out.

05
of 10

Contest Cook

Learn-by-doing-by-jo-unruh-E-Plus-Getty-Images-185107210.jpg
jo unruh - E Plus - Getty Images 185107210

Contest Cook offers lists and lists of all kinds of cooking contests. If you're a student who cooks, make a little extra cash for school by submitting your best recipes.

06
of 10

North Carolina Poetry Society

Drama-class-Hill-Street-Studios-Blend-Images-Getty-Images-464675155.jpg
Hill Street Studios - Blend Images - Getty Images 464675155

The North Carolina Poetry Society offers several cash prizes, from $25 to $100, for winning poems in its annual contest. Some awards require residency in North Carolina, but others are open to poets from elsewhere.

07
of 10

RayMar Fine Art Competition

This contest also has a whopping big prize of $10,000. If you're an art student, you'll want to be sure to participate in this contest.

08
of 10

Justin Rudd's National Adult Spelling Bee

You could win $1,000 in this annual spelling bee offered to adult students in the U.S. by Justin Rudd in Long Beach, California.

09
of 10

Canvas Wines Artist Scholarship

Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and Canvas Wines offer students three $5,000 scholarships for winning its annual artist series contest. There is one prize for each varietal wine - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay.

10
of 10

Post University Advice Contest

Post University offered a 2012 contest for adult students with advice to give. It offered a $1,000 prize for the best advice in a Facebook contest called: Advice to Your Former Self. Check for this kind of contest from other schools.

Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Peterson, Deb. "Pay for School by Winning a Contest for Adult Students." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/pay-for-school-by-winning-a-contest-31565. Peterson, Deb. (2023, April 5). Pay for School by Winning a Contest for Adult Students. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/pay-for-school-by-winning-a-contest-31565 Peterson, Deb. "Pay for School by Winning a Contest for Adult Students." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/pay-for-school-by-winning-a-contest-31565 (accessed May 28, 2023).