10 College Scholarships for Students With Autism 2026
There are many great scholarship opportunities for students with an autism spectrum disorder. Funding ranges from $500 to $10,000 with application deadlines throughout the year.
An autism diagnosis can bring with it both clarity and challenges, but it in no way has to hold a person back. Several foundations and organizations have college scholarships for autistic students, both high school seniors and current college students. This funding can make higher education a more achievable goal.
Many disability scholarships are open to students hoping to attend a two- or four-year college, university, or trade school. Many of them can be used at the top colleges for students with learning disabilities. Keep reading to see a list of scholarships for students with autism.
Scholarships for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
There's a wide range of scholarship funds for students on the autism spectrum. There are high-functioning autism college scholarships for those pursuing a specific field, such as computer science. There are also scholarships for family members of an autistic sibling. We will list 10 scholarships below, but you can utilize a scholarship search engine to find more.
Most scholarship applications will ask students for their grade point average (GPA) and may want evidence of the student's disability, such as through an individualized education program (IEP). Many will also require a written or recorded essay and letters of recommendation. Other qualifications vary.
<h2 id="section---ScholarshipProgramsForStudentsWithAutism">Scholarship Programs for Students With Autism</h2><p>There are many financial aid options for students with autism. Whether you are attending a four-year university, trade or vocational school, take a look at a few of the best scholarships with upcoming deadlines.
</p><h3 id="section---1.JackScuraFundScholarship">1. Jack Scura Fund Scholarship</h3><p>Eligible students must be upcoming or current undergraduate students at a New Jersey college. It is open to students with any kind of disability, including ASD. Students must have a GPA of 3.2 or higher and write an essay discussing how a particular challenge shaped who they are today. One award of $10,000 will be presented to the winner.
</p><p><b>Award amount:</b> $10,000
</p><p><b>Deadline:</b> July 31, 2025
</p><h3 id="section---2.AutismCanDoScholarship">2. Autism Can Do Scholarship</h3><p>Creatively-minded students can apply for this scholarship by designing a pair of quirky, original socks. First-prize winners will receive $5,000 and have their socks produced and sold by John's Crazy Socks. Runners-up will receive $2,500 and $1,000, respectively. Applicants should also include a brief personal statement about how they intend to use the funding.
</p><p><b>Award amount:</b> $1,000 to $5,000
</p><p><b>Deadline:</b> March 15, 2026
</p><h3 id="section---3.LisaHigginsHussmanScholarship">3. Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship</h3><p>The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) offers this scholarship every year to students attending a two- or four-year college, vocational, technical, or trade school. Applicants typically include students who attend programs that help build life skills and job readiness. You will need to include information about yourself, essay responses, proof of enrollment, and two letters of recommendation.
</p><p><b>Award amount:</b> $3,000
</p><p><b>Deadline:</b> April 2026
</p><h3 id="section---4.SynchronyScholarshipForAutisticStudentsOfColor">4. Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color</h3><p>OAR also offers a scholarship specifically for autistic students of color. Applicants must be a part of a minority racial or ethnic group but do not need to provide proof of diagnosis when they apply. Essay responses can be written or presented as an audio recording or slideshow. The application for both this scholarship and Lisa Higgins Hussman opens in December.
</p><p><b>Award amount:</b> $3,000
</p><p><b>Deadline:</b> April 2026
</p><h3 id="section---5.MichaelLorenzenFoundationScholarship">5. Michael Lorenzen Foundation Scholarship</h3><p>Applicants for this scholarship must be U.S. citizens diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The student should be pursuing a bachelor's degree and should either be a recent high school graduate or a current undergraduate student. You must include two letters of recommendation and your transcript as part of your application.
</p><p><b>Award amount:</b> $2,500
</p><p><b>Deadline:</b> January 31, 2026
</p><h3 id="section---6.StrengthInNeurodiversityScholarship">6. Strength in Neurodiversity Scholarship</h3><p>This scholarship aims to help more autistic students bring their creative thinking and hard work to college campuses. It is open to high school graduates diagnosed with autism, a learning disability, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Applicants should write two essays, one discussing their life as a neurodivergent student and one about how they will utilize their unique skills to succeed in college and beyond.
</p><p><b>Award amount:</b> $1,000
</p><p><b>Deadline:</b> November 21, 2025
</p><h3 id="section---7.PuzzlePieceScholarship">7. Puzzle Piece Scholarship</h3><p>The Puzzle Piece scholarship foundation acknowledges the many challenges that autistic students face but aims to help relieve some of the financial challenges college can bring. It is open to any high school graduate who plans to attend a two- or four-year college or university. Applicants should include an essay explaining how their diagnosis has impacted their plans for the future.
</p><p><b>Award amount:</b> $1,000
</p><p><b>Deadline:</b> March 3, 2026
</p><h3 id="section---8.GunnerLeeThomasonAutismScholarship">8. Gunner Lee Thomason Autism Scholarship</h3><p>This scholarship is meant for students who intend to work closely with autistic people and their families in a healthcare or educational setting. You must have a GPA above 3.0, include a transcript, and provide proof of financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Finally, you must include an essay response and one letter of recommendation.
</p><p><b>Award amount:</b> $700
</p><p><b>Deadline:</b> March 16, 2026
</p><h3 id="section---9.AkilliSHouseAutismEmpowermentScholarship">9. Akilli's House Autism Empowerment Scholarship</h3><p>Autistic high school students who live in the state of Alabama can apply for this scholarship, which aims to help students as they finish high school and prepare for higher education. Applicants should write an essay explaining how living with autism in Alabama has shaped them. Two scholarship winners will be announced on August 30.
</p><p><b>Award amount:</b> $500 to two winners
</p><p><b>Deadline:</b> August 1, 2025
</p><h3 id="section---10.CAPEDExcellenceScholarships">10. CAPED Excellence Scholarships</h3><p>The California Association of Postsecondary Education and Disability (CAPED) offers several scholarships for students with autism. The Amber Perez Memorial Scholarship offers $500 to students with autism or another intellectual disability. The CAPED Excellence Scholarship awards $1,500 to a student with a disability who demonstrates strong academic achievement (at least a 3.5 GPA) and community involvement.
</p><p><b>Award amount:</b> $500 to $1,500
</p><p><b>Deadline:</b> August 31, 2025
</p><h2 id="section---OtherFinancialAidForPeopleWithDisabilities">Other Financial Aid for People With Disabilities</h2><p>Along with scholarships, there are other financial aid opportunities for students with disabilities. The federal Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) program supports students with intellectual disabilities as they pursue higher education. Along with advising, students can receive funding through the Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), or work-study programs.
</p><p>As with neurotypical students, autistic students should fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible to see how much federal aid they qualify for. Merit- and need-based scholarships and grants can supplement other funds, so be sure to research other autism or disability advocacy groups that may offer financial aid.
</p><h2 id="section---FAQsAboutScholarshipsForAutisticStudents">FAQs About Scholarships for Autistic Students</h2><p>There's a lot to consider as you begin applying to colleges, from funding to the best <a href="https://learn.org/articles/degrees_for_students_with_learning_disabilities.html">college majors for students with learning disabilities</a>. It's normal to have a lot of questions, and we hope our FAQs below can help.
</p><h3 id="section---CanYouGetAScholarshipIfYouReAStudentWithAutism">Can You Get a Scholarship If You're a Student With Autism?</h3><p>Yes, there are many scholarships available for students with autism. We listed many above, but other great options include the Schwallie Family Scholarship, the KFM Making a Difference Scholarship, and the Lime Scholarship. Make sure to check any deadlines and requirements before submitting your application.
</p><h3 id="section---IsCollegeFreeForAutisticStudents">Is College Free for Autistic Students?</h3><p>College is not free for autistic students, but there are many ways to help lower costs. Apply for many different scholarships and grants — not just those for autistic students. Consider what other skills or needs you may have and apply for those grants as well. Filling out the FAFSA, attending an in-state or online school, or taking part-time classes can also help lower costs.
</p><h3 id="section---HowMuchDoScholarshipsForStudentsWithAutismCover">How Much Do Scholarships for Students With Autism Cover?</h3><p>Funding depends on which scholarships you win. The Jack Scura Fund scholarship offers $10,000, which can cover quite a bit of the average undergraduate college tuition. Others are lower, around $500 each. As you start to make a plan for college, be sure to look into all your options for financial aid, not just scholarships aimed at students with autism.
</p><h2 id="section---ExploreOnlineDegreePrograms">Explore Online Degree Programs</h2><p>A college degree is invaluable and will open up so many more career opportunities. As you continue to browse scholarship opportunities, take a look at some of the accredited schools featured on Learn.org. Reach out to one today to discuss your mental health needs and career goals.</p>