Creative Scholarship Promotion Tactics to Increase Visibility and Boost Applications

Every year, thousands of scholarship dollars go unawarded—not because of a lack of need, but because students simply didn’t know the opportunity existed. As financial aid professionals and scholarship program leaders, you know how frustrating it is to build and fund scholarships only to see low application numbers.

The good news? With a more strategic approach to scholarship promotion, you can dramatically improve visibility, increase applications, and ensure that the students who need financial support the most have access to it.

This post covers five scholarship promotion strategies that go beyond traditional email blasts—so you can connect with more students, elevate your program, and make a lasting impact.

Launch a Peer Ambassador Campaign

Students trust students. If you want to connect with Gen Z applicants, the best way to do it is through their peers.
Create a student ambassador program where previous scholarship recipients serve as spokespeople for your program.

They can share:

• Short testimonial videos on Instagram or TikTok
• Stories about how the scholarship helped them stay enrolled, avoid debt, or pursue a career goal
• Q&A sessions via Instagram Live or student organization meetings

Pro tip: Make it easy for them. Provide talking points, content ideas, and light editing support.

🧠 Why it works: Students are more likely to apply when they hear about scholarships from someone who “gets it.”

Tap Into Faculty and Staff Champions

Faculty and advisors are often the first to recognize when a student could benefit from financial support. But too often, they’re left out of the loop on scholarship availability.

Build a quick-reference toolkit for faculty, including:

• One-paragraph blurbs for syllabi
• Email copy they can send to their advisees
• Links and deadlines they can drop into LMS announcements (Canvas, Blackboard, etc.)

Don't forget to engage other staff offices too—Diversity & Inclusion, First-Generation Student Services, Athletics, and Honors Programs often serve students eligible for niche or departmental awards.

🧠 Why it works: Faculty and student services staff have high-trust relationships and can recommend scholarships to students who may never have looked on their own.

Run a Countdown Campaign

Many students procrastinate on scholarship applications, especially when the deadline feels far off. Countdown-style messaging can help increase urgency and reduce drop-off.

Use:

• “5 days left” email blasts
• Daily Instagram or Twitter posts leading up to the deadline
• On-campus signage or LMS announcements that reinforce application timing

You can also display a countdown widget or banner on your scholarship page or student portal.

Bonus idea: Have previous recipients post “Apply now” reminders on their personal social channels.

🧠 Why it works: Urgency drives action—and students need frequent reminders.

Schedule Scholarship “Office Hours”

One common reason students don’t apply? Confusion. They’re unsure if they qualify or don’t know how to start.
Offering regular, informal support hours—virtually or in-person—can reduce barriers to entry and improve completion rates.

Make it easy:

• Promote a weekly drop-in Zoom or Teams session
• Add it to campus event calendars
• Invite faculty and advisors to refer students

Even 15 minutes with a student could be the difference between an incomplete application and a life-changing award.

🧠 Why it works: Personalized support builds confidence and increases follow-through.

Use Storytelling to Highlight Impact

Whether you're trying to engage more students or attract more donors, storytelling is your secret weapon. When students see real examples of peers who benefited from scholarships, it creates relevance and motivation.

Post stories that showcase:

• The student’s background and goals
• How the scholarship helped them overcome financial or personal challenges
• What they’re doing now (internships, graduation, community impact)

Pair student impact with donor quotes for maximum effect.

For example:

“Seeing how my donation helped Sofia stay in school and finish her nursing degree makes it all worth it.” – Foundation Donor, University of the Lakes

🧠 Why it works: Stories humanize your program and inspire both applications and giving.

Final Thoughts: Strategic Visibility = Greater Impact

The most successful scholarship programs don’t just offer funding—they build awareness, encourage confidence, and create meaningful connections between students and their institutions.



If you want to increase your applicant pool, improve the equity of your awards, and elevate your program’s reputation across campus and beyond, it starts with smart, strategic promotion.

At AwardSpring, we help colleges and universities streamline the entire scholarship management process—from application to promotion to donor reporting—so your dollars go further and your efforts make a bigger impact.