Great news for high school seniors! Applications are now open for the Horatio Alger Scholarship, one of the largest undergraduate financial aid programs in the United States. In this article, we outline the scholarship’s benefits, eligibility criteria, and the application process.
The Horatio Alger Scholarship 2026–2027 is a fully funded undergraduate award for U.S. students, valued at $25,000. Each year, it is granted to 106 exceptional candidates planning to enroll in a U.S. college.
As one of the nation’s most significant scholarship initiatives, the Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program supports high school students who have faced and overcome substantial challenges. Funded by Horatio Alger Members—successful leaders who share similar life experiences—the program helps recipients achieve their academic and professional goals.
Awards are open to eligible students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. National Scholars also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the National Scholars Conference, which is required to receive the award.
The application period runs from August 1 to October, using a common application that considers students for multiple Horatio Alger scholarship opportunities. All required materials must be submitted online by 5:00 p.m. ET on October.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate
- Institution(s): American Colleges and Universities
- Study Location: USA
- Deadline: March 1
Scholarship Coverage
Horatio Alger Scholarship provides the recipient with:
- Grant $25,000 to 106 students for four years of undergraduate studies at any college of USA.
Eligibility Criteria for Horatio Alger Scholarship
To qualify for Horatio Alger Scholarship, candidate must fulfill all of the following requirements below:
- Required Language: English
- Eligible Countries: USA
- Be enrolled full time as a high school senior in the United States; be progressing normally toward graduation in spring/summer of 2020 with plans to enter a college in the United States no later than the fall following graduation.
- Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution).
- Demonstrate critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required).
- Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities.
- Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
- Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
- Be a United States citizen
