Types of Funding

There are a lot of ways to fund a college education. One large and under-used source is non-institutional (third-party) scholarships. Check out the terms below to learn about the different available sources and then keep scrolling to see a sample of some of the more than 16,000 non-institutional (third-party) scholarships ScholarshipAuditions.com documents and makes available to subscribers.

  • Institutional Scholarships are awarded by higher education institutions. These scholarships and amounts are usually based on academic merit and/or need.
  • Non-Institutional (third-party) Scholarships are awarded through the private sector. This includes non-profit organizations, corporations, employers, religious organizations, ethnic or minority organizations, talent competitions, and civic organizations. Usually the scholarship will be paid directly to the college or university. The availability of these scholarships does require research because they are not always easy to find. Colleges are not required to tell prospective students about these scholarships. And sometimes there are stipulations: in or out-of-state residences, community services, essay submissions, students’ interests and talents, or availability only to non-traditional students.
  • Federal Grants are available and do not need to be repaid. Federal Grants are based on FAFSA information and are time sensitive and limited. Federal Grants include: Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, Teacher Education Assistance, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants.
  • Financial Aid is money that does not have to be paid back if it is awarded as a scholarship, grant, or federal work-study. In some cases, financial aid assistance will have to be paid back; but the stipulations are always clear from the onset.
  • Loans, whether government or private, are required to be paid back over time. Government loans are more lenient with grace periods, interest rates, interest schedules, and payment schedules than private lenders.

These are examples of some of the performing arts scholarships subscribers find on ScholarshipAuditions.com.

Subscribers have access to our entire database linking directly to non-institutional (third-party) scholarship descriptions and applications.

Name Organization State Type
Alice T. Larsen Memorial Scholarship American Choral Directors Association (MN) Minnesota Music
Alyssa Otremba Scholarship Public Education Foundation Nevada Music
Amanda Shaw Foundation Orchestrating Dreams Scholarship The Amanda Shaw Foundation Louisiana Music, Dance, Theater, General
American Harp Society National Competition American Harp Society Massachusetts Music
American Legion Music Committee Scholarship American Legion State Headquarters Kansas Music
Arizona ASTA Solo Competition Arizona American String Teachers Association Arizona Music
Astrid Thalheimer Memorial Vocal Scholarship The A Cappella Singers of Metrowest Boston Massachusetts Music
Bach Organ and Keyboard Music Scholarship Organ & Keyboard Music Scholarship at The Rhode Island Foundation Rhode Island Music
Basic Academy Music Scholarship Public Education Foundation Nevada Music
Bel Canto Vocal Competition Scholarship Vocal Scholarship Foundation Rhode Island Music
Bill & Ruth Powers Education Award Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation Minnesota General, Music, Dance, Theater
BMI Student Composer Award BMI Student Composer Awards New York Music
BPO Guild Voice Award Butler Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus Ohio Music
Byrdis W. Danfelser Piano Scholarship Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico New Mexico Music
Chopin Piano Competition Chopin Piano Competition Kosciuszko Foundation New York Music
Choral Excellence Award in honor of Gary & Myra Morris Arkansas Choral Directors Association Arkansas Music
Christian Regalado Memorial Scholarship Public Education Foundation Nevada Music
Davidson Fellowship Davidson Institute for Talent Development Nevada General, Music
Don & Joanne Corbett Scholarship Kansas Music Educators Association Kansas Music
Dr. Lou Fischer JEN Co-Founder Scholarship Jazz Education Network Illinois Music
Edward Miller Memorial Music Scholarship Nassau Music Educators’ Association New York Music
Evelyn D. Springstead Senior Scholarship Vermont All State Music Festival Vermont Music
Fellowship Of United Methodists in Music & Worship Arts Memorial Scholarships Fellowship Scholarships Indiana Music
Ferris Burtis Scholarship Fund Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Massachusetts Music
Fred Hoey Memorial Scholarship Percussive Arts Society Indiana Music
Future Band Director Scholarship Phi Beta Mu – Iota Chapter Kansas Music
Gay Meeks Scholarship Indiana Music Education Association Indiana Music
GCYO Association Summer Studies Scholarship Greenville County Youth Orchestras South Carolina Music
Glenn Miller Scholarship Competition Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Iowa Music
Golden Key Visual And Performing Arts Achievement Awards Golden Key International Honor Society Georgia Music
Grace K. Bishop Fine Arts Scholarship Central Alabama Community Foundation Alabama Theater, Dance, Music
Harold and George "Elbert" Newton Memorial Music Scholarship Black Hills Area Community Foundation South Dakota Music
Hillary Case Memorial Reno Pops Scholarship Community Foundation of Western Nevada Nevada Music
Idaho Gwladys Comstock Award for Music Camp National Federation of Music Clubs Idaho Music
Illinois ACDA Choral Composition Contest Illinois American Choral Directors Assocation Illinois Music
IMEA High School Senior Music Scholarship Idaho Music Education Association Idaho Music
IMEA Weston Noble Scholarship for Music Education Iowa Music Education Association Iowa Music
International Violin Competition of Indianapolis The International Violin Competition of Indianapolis Indiana Music
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Artists Award Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award Program Massachusetts Music
James E. Bugley Scholarship – The Jamie Fund Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Massachusetts Music, General
John Lennon Scholarship John Lennon Scholarship Competition New York Music
John Philip Sousa National Young Artist Competition The John Philip Sousa Foundation Alabama Music
Jon "J.D." Sakamoto Memorial Scholarship Fund Hawai’i Community Foundation Hawaii Music
Jonathan Family Scholarship Fund The Community Foundation of Mendocino County California Music
June M. Hinckley Music Education Scholarship Florida Music Education Association Florida Music
Kathy Bundock Moore Memorial Scholarship American Harp Society Foundation California Music
KHS America Scholarship Jupiter.USA KHS Music Tennessee Music
Leone Pooler Guthrie Scholarship Fund Benton Community Foundation Oregon Music
Lucas D’Richards Memorial Music Scholarship Public Education Foundation Nevada Music
Lucy Becker Memorial Scholarship Music in the Mountains California Music
LYSO College Scholarship Lynchburg Symphony Youth Orchestra Virginia Music
M. Louise Miller Scholarship American Guild of Organists Greater Bridgeport Chapter Connecticut Music
Martin Luther King Jr., Community Choir San Diego Scholarship Martin Luther King Jr., Community Choir San Diego California Music, Dance, Theater
Matthew Cox Memorial Scholarship Public Education Foundation Nevada Music, Theater, Dance
Miriam Hoffman Scholarship United Methodist Church General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Office of Loans and Scholarships Tennessee Music
Morton Gould Young Composer Award The ASCAP Foundation / Morton Gould Young Composer Awards New York Music
MTNA Senior Performance Competitions NCTM Bryan College Ohio Music
MTNA Young Artists Performance Competitions MTNA Young Artists New Mexico Music
National Association of Pastoral Musicians NPM Scholarships Maryland Music
Nebraska State Bandmasters Assoc Bob Palensky Scholarship Phi Beta Mu – Alpha Theta Chapter Nebraska Music
Nebraska State Bandmasters Assoc College Student Scholarship Phi Beta Mu – Alpha Theta Chapter Nebraska Music
New Jersey Young Composers Composition New Jersey Music Educators Association New Jersey Music
NFCM Benzinger/Valentin Junior Music for the Blind Performance Award National Federation of Music Clubs Mississippi Music
NFCM Stillman Kelley National Instrumental Award National Federation of Music Clubs Virginia Music
NFMC Beyer Young Composers Award National Federation of Music Clubs Ohio Music
NFMC Biennial Ellis Duo Piano Awards National Federation of Music Clubs Arkansas Music
NFMC Biennial Student/Collegiate Awards National Federation of Music Clubs Texas Music
NFMC Biennial Young Artist Competition – Women’s Vocal National Federation of Music Clubs Indiana Music
NFMC Biennial Young Artist Competition- Strings National Federation of Music Clubs Indiana Music
NFMC Carey Wilson Music Therapy Scholarship National Federation of Music Clubs Alabama Music
NFMC Carolyn Nelson Double Reed Awards National Federation of Music Clubs North Dakota Music
NFMC Claire Ulrich Whitehurst (Flanagan) Piano Award National Federation of Music Clubs Florida Music
NFMC Dorothy Dann Bullock Music Therapy Scholarship National Federation of Music Clubs Alabama Music
NFMC Elizabeth Grieger Viegand Sacred Music of the Faiths Award National Federation of Music Clubs Michigan Music
NFMC Ernest A. Bluhm Flute Award National Federation of Music Clubs Washington Music
NFMC Gretchen E. Van Roy Music Education Scholarship National Federation of Music Clubs Minnesota Music
NFMC Hatz Special Recognition Award National Federation of Music Clubs Ohio Music
NFMC Herman & Mary Neumann Award Interlochen Arts Camp Interlochen Arts Camp Michigan Music
NFMC Herman & Mary Neumann Award to Interlochen Arts Academy Interlochen Arts Academy Michigan Music
NFMC Herman & Mary Neumann Scholarship National Federation of Music Clubs Indiana Music
NFMC Joyce Walsh Junior Disability Awards National Federation of Music Clubs Arkansas Music
NFMC Lana M. Bailey Piano Concerto Awards National Federation of Music Clubs Kansas Music
NFMC Lynn Freeman Olson Award in Piano Pedagogy National Federation of Music Clubs Florida Music
NFMC Lynn Freeman Olson Composition Award National Federation of Music Clubs Florida Music
NFMC Marion Richter American Music Composition Award National Federation of Music Clubs Ohio Music
NFMC Martha Marcks Mack Junior Vocal Award National Federation of Music Clubs Pennsylvania Music
NFMC Mary Alice Cox Awards National Federation of Music Clubs Wisconsin Music
OCDA Graduate Scholarship Oklahoma Choral Directors Association Oklahoma Music
Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Scholarship Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Oklahoma Music
PA ACDA Undergraduate Conducting Competition ACDA PA Pennsylvania Music
Patrick T., Ellen M., and Patrick B. Roche Memorial Scholarships Public Education Foundation Nevada Dance, Theater, Music
Phi Beta Mu – Alpha Gamma Chapter Scholarship Phi Beta Mu – Alpha Gamma Chapter North Dakota Music
Richard & Elaine T Aune Music Scholarship Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation Minnesota Music
Ron Bright Scholarship Fund Hawai’i Community Foundation Hawaii Theater, Music, Dance
Ruth K. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship Fund Memorial Scholarship Committee of Choristers Guild Texas Music
Sphinx College-Bound Program Sphinx Music Co Michigan Music
St. Andrew’s Society Scholarship Oregon Community Foundation Oregon Music, Dance
Tobias Mishel Memorial Scholarship Public Education Foundation Nevada Music
United States Marine Band Concerto Competition Scholarship Public Affairs Office, United States Marine Band, Marine Barracks Washington Music
VSA Arts International Young Soloists Award VSA Arts International Young Soloists Award Music