Mattress Advisor’s Sleep Science Scholarship

Our commitment to sleep science began with helping our readers understand the importance of sleep and its impact on every aspect of health and wellbeing. Over time we have built out a sleep resources directory dedicated to updating readers about the latest strides in sleep science and generating further awareness of the importance of sleep health.

Our research has highlighted the profound impact of sleep health on education. Many students struggle with sleep problems during their college years. Students are faced with challenges that interrupt their sleep including increased stress and anxiety from the pressures to succeed, dealing with the difficulty of balancing a social life, and troubles managing their own time.

This inspired us to help students by introducing our own sleep scholarship as well as curating a number of other sleep scholarships available.

You may qualify for one or more of the scholarships featured in this guide if you’re interested in studying or pursuing a degree in sleep science, feel passionately about your dreams, or are dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle, which starts by improving your sleep quality.

Scholarship Information & Requirements

Applicants must be enrolled, or due to be enrolled, as a full-time student at an accredited US college or university for the semester that they are applying to receive the scholarship. Domestic, international, online and undocumented students are welcome to apply.

Applicants are welcome to submit their entry before the deadline on March 20th every year. Mattress Advisor will contact the winning applicant and their institution’s financial aid office the following week to gift a $1000 check towards educational expenses. The scholarship is non-renewable.

Applicants need to submit a written piece exploring their personal relationship with sleep health and the impact it’s had on their education in an 800-1000 word essay. It should quote research from recent studies in this field and explain what resources are available to help reduce poor sleep health.

Applicants need to upload proof of enrollment. We will accept a recent transcript, acceptance letter, or tuition bill. Please submit your entry here.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding our scholarship, please contact our scholarship coordinator Kelly Yates at sleepscholarships@gmail.com and she will be happy to assist you.

Privacy Policy & Terms

• Applicants will not be contacted regarding anything other than their application.
• All information (proof of enrollment, essays, and email) relating to applicants is destroyed as soon as a winner is paid.
• Applicant emails will not be used for any marketing purposes. Mattress Advisor and its representatives will not knowingly sell, share, rent or otherwise transfer your information other than in accordance with the terms set forth in this Privacy Policy.
• Applicants will not be asked to provide any sensitive information for their application or to claim their award if they are to win the scholarship.
• There is no fee to apply to this scholarship or for the winning applicant to claim their award.
• Applicants retain all rights to their work.

All submitted essay material must be the original work of the applicant. Only one submission may be entered per student, per year. Duplicate entries will be disqualified. All scholarships are non-renewable. By submitting an application, you certify that all the information you have provided is original, accurate, and complete.

Other Sleep-Related Scholarships

The following organizations are interested in bringing awareness to the importance of high-quality sleep health, especially for students in the formative college years. Have something valuable to say about sleep? Then these scholarships may be for you.

A note on eligibility:

Some of the awards listed below may be temporarily closed for submissions and re-open at a later date. Be sure to check deadlines and open dates for submission.

The Sleep Judge State of Sleep Scholarship

This annual scholarship from The Sleep Judge awards students with $1,500 toward their university or college fees to increase the awareness around the importance of sleep. To be eligible, students must currently be high school or home-schooled seniors in the U.S. or Canada, or be currently enrolled college students at an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 3.0. If currently in high school, students must be anticipating completion of their high school diploma.

In order to apply, candidates must create a video (no longer than 5 minutes) which answers the following prompts:

• If already attending college, how has the transition to higher education affected your sleep for the better or worse?
• Assess your sleep health quality and discuss ways you can improve it.

The Sleep Judge asks that your video be creative and entertaining. Upload your video to YouTube and share the link in your application submission. Scholarship applications close on October 30th each year and the scholarship is awarded on November 15th each year.

Start Sleeping Scholarship

This biannual scholarship from Start Sleeping awards one student each semester with a $1,000 scholarship. In order to be eligible, you must be:

• Enrolled at an accredited high school, college, or university in the U.S.
• Enrolled in your final year of high school or enrolled at the undergraduate level
• Age 16 years or older
• Currently enrolled in “good standing”
• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher

In order to apply for this scholarship, you must submit an essay between 1,000 and 2,000 words that answers the following questions:

• What is the impact of poor sleeping habits on students and their ability to learn?
• How can technology affect our sleep for better or worse?
• What can students do to improve their sleeping quality?

The Start Sleeping scholarship has currently closed but check back soon for its renewal.

SleepZoo Sleep Awareness Scholarship

SleepZoo offers an annual scholarship of $1,000 to a student who believes in the importance of maintaining healthy sleep patterns. Eligible applicants must be recent U.S. high school graduates or currently enrolled in a two- or four-year college at an accredited U.S. institution. Requirements also include that students maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and be planning to pursue, or already pursuing, a degree in the U.S.

In order to apply for the SleepZoo Sleep Awareness Scholarship, applicants must write a 500+ word essay explaining what they think can be done to help students get the recommended amount of sleep each night. Essay applications should be submitted to scholarships@sleepzoo.com with the following information attached:

• Full name, email, and phone number
• School attending/planning to attend
• Current GPA

The SleepZoo scholarship has currently closed for the 2018/2019 year, but check back soon for the 2019/2020 renewal.

Mattress Help Sleep Health Scholarship

MattressHelp.org offers an annual scholarship of $1,000 to spread awareness about sleep as a public health issue and to support students by helping cut costs of higher education. To meet the eligibility criteria, students must be currently enrolled in their final year of high school or home school or currently attend an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Applicants must submit the application listed on Mattress Help’s site along with a 5-minute video discussing the following:

• What factors most negatively and positively affect your sleep?
• Assess the quality of your own sleep health and discuss some ways that you can improve it.

The most creative and impactful submission will win the award. The scholarship is currently closed for 2019 but stay tuned for the 2020 application window.

Scholarships for Sleep Disorders

Sleep is a key component to maintaining focus during the day and enabling your critical thinking. Those who are affected with sleep disorders may experience additional challenges when transitioning to higher education due to their sleep disruptions. If you suffer from a sleep disorder, these scholarships from various organizations are available to help support you.

Each Night Sleep Issue Awareness scholarship

Around 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders can be genetic, neurological, as well as stress-related. Students often report sleeping far less than they feel they need due to school work-load and financial difficulties which often means needing to take on other work while in education.

Best Mattress Brand is offering $1,000 to students who have been affected by sleep disorders. To be eligible, applicants need to either be or due to be enrolled at a U.S. college or university and have experienced living with a sleep disorder. Applicants must write a 700-1,000 word essay discussing the sleep issues the sleep issues they’ve faced, how it has affected them, and changes they would make to sleep health education.

The deadline to apply is November 1st and the winner will be notified by November 15th.

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

According to findings from the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), students with disabilities made up 11.1 percent of college student populations in the 2011-2012 school year. In support of these students, various organizations offer scholarships to help fund the pursuit of higher education for students with mobility disabilities, sensory disabilities, mental health disabilities, and other disabilities.

Many disabilities may include conditions that do not directly affect physical ability but inhibit other areas of well-being including being affected by sleep disorders or disruptions. This list of scholarships available to students with disabilities from The Best Colleges includes a wide array of opportunities for students who may be affected in these areas of physical health.

Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship

In the past five years, Project Sleep has awarded 50 scholarships to students pursuing higher education. The Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship from Project Sleep is a national program that supports students with narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia and builds awareness of these conditions.

This program was founded by Julie Flygare and the Graham Family in 2014 and has since awarded over $50,000 to support its cause. Project Sleep awards the scholarship to students who are affected by narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia. To apply, submit the application found on their site by mail.

The Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship is currently closed for the 2019 year, but check back soon to apply for 2020.

International Scholarship for Research on Primary Snoring

The International Scholarship for Research on Primary Snoring is awarded jointly by SomniShop and non-profit organization European Society for Sleep Health (ESSH). These organizations particularly aim to help fund research on primary or non-pathological snoring as they believe it is insufficiently researched as compared to pathological snoring or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

SomniShop and the ESSH hope to promote scientific work in this field by funding prospective students with $2,800. To apply, students should provide a summary or rough idea of how they would improve the therapy or diagnosis of primary snoring. To get an idea of what it takes to be awarded this scholarship, you can view examples from previous prize winners on their site.`

Sleep Science Scholarships and Grants

Many organizations are eager to support students interested in pursuing fields related to sleep science. If you have an interest in studying sleep science and pursuing a career advancing sleep medicine, these scholarships are available to you.

American Thoracic Society (ATS) Scholarships

The American Thoracic Society (ATS) offers over 10 awards to students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty members interested in pursuing a career in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. The mission of the ATS is to improve global health by advancing research, patient care, and public health in these fields of study.  If you are interested in pursuing one of these fields, you may be eligible for some of the scholarships offered by the ATS.

SleePare Scholarship

SleePare believes in giving back to society and the importance of receiving an education, which is why they actively support U.S. students working towards their dream education. SleePare awards a $1,000 scholarship each year to a student in pursuit of higher education. In order to apply, students must submit a 5-minute video discussing the following questions:

• How can we push people with insomnia to be engaged with CBTI?
• According to you, what is the most effective way to convey the importance of sleep to the public?

To be eligible, students must be currently enrolled in their final year of high school or home school in the U.S. or be enrolled in college in pursuit of a professional degree at an accredited post-secondary institute in the U.S. with a minimum GPA of 3.0. SleePare asks that video submissions from students are creative and deliver new and exciting information.

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2020.

Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Science Scholarships

The UNC School of Medicine offers an annual scholarship for students interested in the fields of neurodiagnostics and sleep science. The criteria considered for candidates are the potential for contributing to the profession, academic excellence, and personal characteristics.

The deadline for scholarship awards each year is June 1st, and recipients will be selected and notified by August 1st. The amount and number of scholarships awarded each year is dependent on sponsorship for the year. To apply, applicants must submit a form discussing their clinical-related extracurriculars, academic accomplishments, and career aspirations.

AASM Foundation Research Awards

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) Foundation funds sleep scientists in their pursuit of research projects exploring the nature of sleep and sleep-related problems. By providing this award, the AASM aims to promote improvements in medical care for those with sleep disorders.

The AASM currently offers a Strategic Research Award to individuals with a master’s level degree or higher who have access to necessary resources and facilities needed to perform the proposed work. To apply, confirm your eligibility on the AASM Foundation site and complete the application by June 24, 2019. Awards will be announced by October 25, 2019.

Dream-Related Scholarships

Your dreams are more than what you see at night while you sleep. Tell your story of your passion, determination, and how you’re working towards your dream for a chance at these scholarships.

1000 Dreams Scholarship

The 1000 Dreams Scholarship offers one-time educational assistance of up to $1,000 for students who are currently enrolled in high school or college-aged women in the U.S. This assistance can include but is not limited to:

• Education conferences
• Instructional programs related to creative or artistic pursuits
• Graduate exam application fees
• Textbooks

Please note this scholarship is not intended to fund tuition or cover ongoing needs such as utility bills or food costs. The 1000 Dreams Scholarship intends to provide access to educational opportunities beyond tuition.

To be eligible for this opportunity, students must be women attending high school or a two- or four-year college in the U.S. and demonstrate financial need. Applications require two letters of recommendation and an essay explaining how you would use the funds. The application deadline for the spring is April 30, 2019 and November 1, 2019 for the fall.

I Have A Dream Scholarship

The I Have a Dream Scholarship from Unigo encourages students to bring their wildest dreams to life in an essay of 250 words or less. Applicants must be at least 13 years of age, be a legal resident of the U.S. or the District of Columbia, and be currently enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education.

In order to apply, students should answer the following prompt in their essay: What do you dream about? Whether it’s a bizarre dream from last week or your hopes for the future, share your dreams for a chance to win $1,500 for college. The application deadline is January 31, 2020.

Ford Driving Dreams

The Ford Driving Dreams (FDD) program is a part of the Ford Motor Company Fund that focuses on empowering students to dream big and work determinedly to achieve success. Since its beginning in 2012, the FDD has supported more than 200,000 students across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Latin America in the pursuit of their academic and career journeys.

To be eligible for Ford Driving Dreams scholarships, students must be qualifying seniors who attend high school in participating cities where Ford operates. You can confirm your eligibility on the FDD site. To apply, middle and high school students can submit an essay discussing their own academic and career goals along with how they view the importance of education and giving back to their communities.

The FDD program scholarships will be re-opening for the 2019/2020 year so check back soon.

Boundless American Dream Scholarship

The Boundless American Dream Scholarship provides financial support to exceptional students who fulfill the requirements of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and who want to improve the world through technology. Boundless provides $1,500 to support students in designing and building technology that solves real-world problems.

The application of these funds is based on the student’s own vision, including (but not limited to) offering support to university tuition, attending coding boot camp, taking online courses, attending a professional conference, or building a prototype product. Boundless will be sponsoring four students in 2019 who will be selected based on academic excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to community service.

To apply, complete the application form on the Boundless American Dream Scholarship site and answer the following questions in 250 words or less each:

• What does the American dream mean to you?
• What is something you previously achieved in the face of long odds?
• What impact do you hope to make in the world through technology and how would the Boundless American Dream Scholarship help you achieve that impact?

Applications are currently closed for 2019, but check back in early 2020 for a new application period.

Bridging the Dream Scholarship

The Bridging the Dream Scholarship offered by Sallie Mae supports graduate students to create the life of their dreams. The Bridging the Dream scholarship awards four current and future graduate students with $20,000 for their graduate or professional degree. You can view the winners from the previous year on the Sallie Mae site to see what it takes to receive the scholarship.

The application process for the 2019 year is currently closed, but check back next year for your chance at receiving the 2020 award.

Healthy Lifestyle Scholarships

Sleep is often sacrificed by college students who become overwhelmed with assignments and managing their own time. These scholarships are intended for those who are dedicating themselves towards a healthy lifestyle in college. Start by talking about the importance of your sleep and see if you have a shot at one of these aid opportunities.

Montem Health and Wellness Scholarship

Montem Outdoor Gear offers an annual scholarship of $1,500 to high school, undergraduate, or postgraduate students who are committed to following healthy habits for a lifetime. Having a passion for a healthy lifestyle is a must to be eligible for this award.

To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must create a piece of content between 500-1,000 words promoting a practical approach to living a healthy lifestyle as a student and methods for sustaining these habits for the rest of your life. Montem asks that applicants demonstrate knowledge of health and wellness and explain why healthy living for a lifetime is an important endeavor to them.

The final date for submission is September 30, 2019 and the winner will be notified by October 30, 2019.

Haffizulla Family Scholarship

The Haffizulla Family Scholarship Fund was started in 2015 by President Dr. Farzanna Haffizulla during her term of office as she promoted nationwide health, fitness, and wellness. This program awards two scholarships, each of $1,000, to students who are involved in the prevention of disease and the promotion of national health and wellness.

For eligibility, students must be actively involved in the student division of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) for at least two years and remain in good standing with the AMWA. The open application period is November 15, 2019 – December 31, 2019.

iVein Health & Wellness Scholarship

The iVein Health and Wellness Scholarship is offered by IVC (iVein.com), a trusted leader in preventing and treating vein disease. iVein is passionate about encouraging students to practice healthy habits during the formative college years, which is why they reward students who are committed to maintaining healthy habits for a lifetime.

Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university full time (12 credit hours) with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.7. To apply students will need to write an essay between 800 and 1000 words promoting a practical approach to a healthy lifestyle during college and discuss how to sustain these habits for a lifetime. Winners will be selected based on a demonstrated detailed knowledge of health and wellness and an explanation of why healthy living is important based on personal experiences.

The deadline for the fall semester is August 31, 2019 and the deadline for the winter/spring is December 31, 2019.