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Pennies are displayed at Glenview Coin & Collectibles in Glenview, Illinois. Getty Images

If you want to see something truly scary for Halloween, just look at your tuition bill. The average annual cost of taking classes college at a four-year, in-state school is about $9,150 — and that's before you consider room and board.

Luckily, there are ways to bring the total down. While you're munching on candy corn or waiting for your Thanksgiving turkey to cook, take a stab at applying for scholarships. Some require an essay; others require YouTube videos or art projects. But in all cases, they're an opportunity to get free money to fund your higher education.

Here are 30 scholarships with deadlines in the coming months. Click the linked name of each award for details. Good luck.

October

The Minority Fellowship Program — $4,000 — Oct. 25

Horatio Alger National Scholarship — $25,000 — Oct. 25

Williams-Mystic/Joseph Conrad Essay Contest — $400 — Oct. 28

Cappex Easy College Money Scholarship — $1,000 — Oct. 31

Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship — up to $1,500 — Oct. 31

Jewish Family and Children's Services — up to $6,000 — Oct. 31

National Eagle Scout Association STEM Scholarship — $50,000 — Oct. 31

NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest — $1,000 — Oct. 31

Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship — $2,000 — Oct. 31

Dracula Dough Scholarship — $1,000 — Oct. 31

November

Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities IES Abroad Scholarship — up to $5,000 — Nov. 1

Voice of Democracy Scholarship — up to $30,000 — Nov. 1

PlasticPlace Scholarship — $1,500 — Nov. 1

Camp Counselor Appreciation Scholarship Program — $1,000 — Nov. 1

ValuePenguin Scholarship — $2,000 — Nov. 10

Start Standing Scholarship — $1,000 — Nov. 15

James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists — up to $2,500 — Nov. 15

American Copy Editors Society Scholarship — up to $2,500 — Nov. 16

Arizona Milk Producers Scholarship — up to $12,000 — Nov. 21

Youth Noise Scholarship Program — $1,000 — Nov. 21

December

No Bull Sports Scholarship — $5,000 — Dec. 1

Doodle 4 Google Contest — $30,000 — Dec. 2

Joseph T. Weingold Scholarship — $3,000 — Dec. 2

AREMA Educational Foundation Scholarship — up to $10,000 — Dec. 9

AdmitSee Scholarship — $5,000 — Dec. 15

ScholarshipPoints $10,000 December 2016 Scholarship — $10,000 — Dec. 15

Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize In Ethics — up to $5,000 — Dec. 19

Zagunis Student Leader Scholarship — varies — Dec. 31

The Fountain Essay Contest — up to $1,000 — Dec. 31

Trevor Coopersmith Urban Art Scholarship — $350 — Dec. 31