AwardScholar.com Review: Benefits, Downsides & How It Works
Is AwardScholar.com worth using to find scholarships? Learn how Award Scholar works, its AI scholarship matching and essay tools, potential benefits, costs, concerns, and what students should know before signing up.
RESOURCES
Staff Writer
8/27/20267 min read
Finding scholarships can be a time-consuming process. Students may spend hours searching for opportunities, checking eligibility requirements, keeping track of deadlines and writing separate essays for multiple applications.
AwardScholar.com is designed to simplify that process by combining scholarship discovery, personalized matching, application tracking and artificial intelligence (AI) tools in one platform. According to Award Scholar, students create a profile containing information such as their GPA, intended major, background and extracurricular activities. The platform then uses that information to identify scholarships for which the student may qualify.
The service also offers AI-assisted scholarship essay drafting and application tools. However, there are some important limitations and consumer concerns to understand before signing up or paying for the service.
What Is AwardScholar.com?
Award Scholar is an online scholarship-search and application platform intended to help students locate and apply for scholarships.
Instead of requiring students to repeatedly search through large scholarship databases, Award Scholar says it compares information in a student's profile with scholarship eligibility requirements and presents opportunities that appear to match that student.
The platform includes scholarships for several types of students, including high school students, undergraduate students and graduate students. Its database also organizes opportunities into categories such as financial need, academic major, student background and education level.
Benefits of Using AwardScholar.com
1. Personalized Scholarship Matching
One of Award Scholar's biggest potential advantages is its personalized matching system.
Students provide information such as their GPA, major, activities and background. Award Scholar says it uses that profile to identify scholarships whose eligibility requirements appear to match the student.
This can reduce the amount of time spent reviewing scholarships for which a student clearly does not qualify.
That said, students should still verify the official eligibility requirements before applying.
2. Scholarship Opportunities for Different Education Levels
Award Scholar isn't limited to graduating high school seniors.
At the time of this review, the site maintains separate scholarship collections for undergraduate students, graduate students, incoming college students and other student categories. For example, its undergraduate scholarship section currently lists hundreds of opportunities, while its graduate scholarship section contains a separate collection of graduate-level awards.
This could make the platform useful to students who incorrectly assume scholarships are primarily available before entering college.
3. AI-Assisted Scholarship Essays
Writing individual essays for numerous scholarships can be one of the most time-consuming parts of applying.
Award Scholar offers an AI scholarship essay writer designed to create drafts based on a student's profile, writing samples, experiences and the requirements of a particular scholarship prompt.
The company says students can review and edit their applications before submission and that nothing is submitted from the dashboard without their approval.
Used appropriately, this could help students create a starting draft more quickly instead of beginning every scholarship essay from scratch.
However, students should carefully review and personalize any AI-generated essay before submitting it.
4. Students Maintain Control Over Applications
An important feature described by Award Scholar is that students are able to review applications before they are submitted.
According to the company's FAQ, students can review and change essays, application fields and other information before approving an application.
That review step is especially important when AI is involved because AI-generated information can sometimes be inaccurate, overly generic or inconsistent with what the applicant intended to say.
5. Deadline Tracking
Scholarship deadlines can occur throughout the year, making organization difficult when students are applying for many opportunities simultaneously.
Award Scholar includes deadline tracking and reminders as part of its application dashboard. The platform also allows users to track scholarship matches and submitted applications.
Having scholarship searches, deadlines and applications organized in one place could make managing multiple applications easier.
6. Some Scholarships Require Little or No Essay Writing
Award Scholar's database includes both essay and no-essay opportunities.
For example, its undergraduate scholarship collection identifies scholarships that do not require essays, while individual scholarship listings explain additional application requirements.
Students should remember, however, that "no essay" does not necessarily mean "no requirements." A scholarship may still require registration, verification, transcripts, videos, recommendations or other information.
7. Scholarship Listings Include Useful Eligibility Information
Individual Award Scholar listings can provide information such as:
Scholarship amount
Application deadline
Education level
Location requirements
GPA requirements when applicable
Required application materials
Whether an essay is required
Sponsor information
For example, listings reviewed for this article contained specific eligibility criteria, deadlines and submission requirements rather than simply providing the scholarship name and award amount.
That can help students quickly decide whether an opportunity deserves further investigation.
8. Free Profile Setup
Award Scholar states that students can create a profile and see scholarships they qualify for without paying to get started.
However, this distinction is important: free to get started does not mean that all Award Scholar features are free.
The company's parents page states that applying with its AI functionality is part of a paid subscription.
Students and parents should therefore review the current subscription terms and price presented during signup before providing payment information.
Downsides and Things to Consider Before Using AwardScholar.com
Award Scholar offers some interesting features, but there are several reasons students should proceed carefully.
Paid Features
Although Award Scholar advertises that it costs $0 to get started and allows users to create a free profile, the company also states that its AI application service is offered through a paid subscription.
Because prices, promotions and subscription terms can change, users should carefully review the exact price, billing frequency, cancellation policy and refund conditions displayed when they subscribe.
Take a screenshot or save a copy of the subscription terms before completing a purchase.
A Recent BBB Scam Tracker Complaint Raises a Consumer Caution
This is the most significant concern I found during my research.
As of August 2026, the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker contains a consumer report naming AwardScholar and AwardScholar.com. The person submitting the report alleged that they received multiple charges totaling $99.97 and said they had difficulty obtaining assistance from customer service.
It is important to put this information in context.
A BBB Scam Tracker report is a consumer-submitted allegation. It is not, by itself, proof that Award Scholar is a scam or that the allegations have been independently verified.
Still, because the report specifically involves billing, prospective customers should be aware of it.
Before entering payment information, carefully read what you are agreeing to, confirm whether the payment is one-time or recurring, understand how cancellation works and monitor your bank or credit-card statements afterward.
AI-Generated Essays Still Require Human Review
AI can make scholarship applications faster, but students should never assume an automatically generated essay is ready for submission.
Award Scholar itself states that students review and edit their applications before they are submitted.
Students should check every essay for accuracy, authenticity, grammar and compliance with the scholarship's rules.
Some scholarship providers may also have policies restricting or prohibiting AI-generated content. Applicants should follow the rules of each individual scholarship.
Scholarship Information Should Be Independently Verified
Award Scholar provides useful information about deadlines and eligibility, but students should verify important details with the organization actually offering the scholarship.
Scholarship requirements can change. Deadlines can move, eligibility requirements can be updated and programs can be discontinued.
Whenever possible, locate the scholarship provider's official website before submitting an application.
Matching Does Not Guarantee Eligibility
A scholarship-matching algorithm can narrow down opportunities, but being "matched" with a scholarship does not guarantee that a student qualifies.
Individual scholarships can have very specific requirements involving residency, citizenship, enrollment status, GPA, major, financial need, employment, family relationships or participation in particular organizations.
Always read the complete eligibility requirements.
Applying Does Not Guarantee Winning
No legitimate scholarship-search platform can guarantee that a student will win a scholarship simply by applying.
Award Scholar can potentially help users discover more opportunities and complete applications more efficiently, but scholarship decisions are ultimately made according to the rules and selection processes established by the organizations offering the awards.
Is AwardScholar.com Worth Trying?
Award Scholar has a compelling idea behind it: reduce the repetitive work involved in finding and applying for scholarships.
Personalized matching, AI-assisted essay drafting, application organization and deadline tracking could be particularly useful for students who want to apply to a larger number of scholarships but struggle with the amount of time required.
The ability to create a profile for free also gives students an opportunity to explore the platform before deciding whether its paid AI application features are worth purchasing.
However, prospective users should pay particular attention to subscription terms and billing. The recent BBB Scam Tracker complaint does not establish wrongdoing, but the billing allegations are significant enough that consumers should know about them before providing payment information.
Tips for Using Award Scholar Safely
If you decide to try AwardScholar.com:
Start with the free profile before purchasing anything.
Read the full subscription and cancellation terms before entering payment information.
Save screenshots of prices, trial offers and subscription conditions.
Independently verify scholarships through the sponsoring organization's official website.
Never provide sensitive information such as a Social Security number unless you have verified that it is legitimately required and that you are dealing directly with an appropriate organization.
Review every AI-generated essay and application carefully.
Follow each scholarship provider's rules concerning AI assistance.
Keep records of applications and confirmation emails.
Monitor your payment method for unexpected charges if you purchase a subscription.
Remember that scholarship applications should never require you to pay a fee simply to receive the scholarship itself.
Interestingly, Award Scholar's own educational content warns students to investigate scholarship sponsors, examine privacy practices and be cautious when an application asks for information or payment that does not appear necessary.
Final Thoughts
AwardScholar.com represents a newer approach to scholarship searching by combining traditional scholarship databases with AI-powered matching and writing assistance.
Its biggest potential benefit is time savings. Instead of repeatedly searching for scholarships, reviewing eligibility requirements and writing every essay from scratch, students can use one profile to identify opportunities and generate application drafts.
But convenience should not replace due diligence.
Students should verify scholarships independently, review AI-generated material before submitting it and understand exactly what they will be charged before signing up for paid services.
For students who take those precautions, Award Scholar may be another useful tool to add to a broader scholarship-search strategy rather than relying on it as their only source of scholarship opportunities.
DISCLAIMER
This article is provided by ShareThisInfo.com for general informational and educational purposes only. ShareThisInfo.com is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or otherwise associated with Award Scholar or the scholarship providers mentioned in this article.
Information about features, pricing, scholarships, deadlines and policies may change at any time. Always verify scholarship information and current subscription terms directly with Award Scholar and the organization sponsoring each scholarship before applying, submitting personal information or making a payment.
References to consumer complaints or reports do not constitute a determination that a company has engaged in wrongdoing. Individual consumer experiences may vary.
This article does not provide financial, legal or educational advice and does not guarantee that any reader will qualify for, receive or win a scholarship.
Sources
Award Scholar — Official Website
AwardScholar.com
Award Scholar — AI Scholarship Essay Writer
Award Scholar AI Essay Writer
Award Scholar — Information for Parents
Award Scholar for Parents
Award Scholar — Undergraduate Scholarships
Undergraduate Scholarships
Award Scholar — Graduate Scholarships
Graduate Scholarships
Award Scholar — Need-Based Scholarships
Need-Based Scholarships
Award Scholar — Incoming College Student Scholarships
Incoming College Student Scholarships
Award Scholar — Are No-Essay Scholarships Worth Your Time?
Award Scholar's No-Essay Scholarship Guide
Better Business Bureau — Scam Tracker Consumer Report
BBB Scam Tracker Report Concerning AwardScholar
— because good info is worth sharing.


