Horatio Alger National Scholarship
Offered by Horatio Alger Association
About this scholarship
The Horatio Alger National Scholarship awards $25,000 to each of 105 high school juniors across the United States and District of Columbia who have overcome significant adversity and face critical financial need. Selection also considers integrity, perseverance, community service, co-curricular involvement, and commitment to completing a bachelor’s degree. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have adjusted gross family income of $100,000 or less, and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA. They must plan to begin a bachelor’s pathway immediately after high school at an accredited nonprofit public or private U.S. institution; beginning at a two-year college is permitted when the credits transfer to a four-year institution. The online application asks students to describe their adversity and American Dream, provide a high school transcript and income verification, and invite both a school counselor and an unrelated adult support provider to complete online forms. That support provider must be at least 21 and familiar with the circumstances described. The National Scholarship is one of more than 70 Horatio Alger undergraduate programs, and the shared application considers students for the programs for which they qualify unless a specialized scholarship requires its own form. The junior application period runs annually from December 1 through March 1 and closes at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Eligibility
- Be enrolled full time as a high school junior in the United States
- Be a U.S. citizen and provide proof if selected
- Have adjusted gross family income of $100,000 or less
- Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA
- Demonstrate integrity and perseverance in overcoming significant adversity
- Participate in co-curricular activities and community service
- Plan to begin a bachelor’s-degree pathway at an accredited nonprofit U.S. institution immediately after high school
- Submit the application, transcript, income verification, counselor form, and support-provider form by the published deadlines