Scholarship America Dream Award
Scholarship America has established a scholarship program to help students currently enrolled in higher education programs (two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school).
Scholarship America Dream Award
Scholarship America has established a scholarship program to help students planning to enroll or are currently enrolled in higher education programs (two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school).
The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria as of the application deadline date:
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- Be at least 17 years of age. Please note high school seniors are not eligible.
- Be U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card), or individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA).
- Current college undergraduates who have completed at least one year of full-time undergraduate study who plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school in the United States for the entire 2026-2027 academic year.
- Be studying to obtain their first Associate’s or first Bachelor’s degree.
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).
- Demonstrate financial need.
Selection of Recipients
The selection process for the Scholarship America Dream Award happens in two steps:
Step 1: Apply to Become a Semi-finalist
After you submit your application, a group of semi-finalists will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Financial need
- Academic record
- Demonstrated leadership and involvement in school or community activities
- Work experience
- A personal statement that shares your educational and career goals and any personal or family challenges you’ve overcome
Special emphasis will be placed on financial need and your ability to overcome barriers.
Step 2: Semi-Finalist & Recipient Selection
From the pool of semi-finalists, Scholarship America will select semi-finalists and potential recipients. If you are chosen as a semi-finalist, you will be asked to submit further documents (see “Requirements” below).
The Scholarship America Dream Award Leadership Team will review and confirm the final list of recipients.
Financial need will be considered when deciding how much each award will be. You must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for an award.
Not all applicants will be selected as semi-finalists or recipients. All applicants will be notified of their semi-finalist status in January.
If you do not receive the award, you may reapply each year as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements. All applicants agree to accept the selection decision as final.
Notifications are sent via email. When setting up your account, avoid using a school or work email. Instead, use an active, personal email address that you will continue to have access to.
Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address as safe senders in your email contact list.
Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America will process payments in one installment in July.
Awards
If selected as a recipient, award amounts will be up to $10,000 each, and will be granted in the following categories:
Available to current college undergraduates:
- General Dream Award scholarships
- Scholarship America Honor Roll Trustee Award
- STEM scholarships (for study in science, technology, engineering and math-related majors)
- World Journal Award
Awards are renewable up to three additional years or until a first bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first, on the basis of full-time enrollment, satisfactory academic performance, and availability of funding.
A deferral of up to one year may be granted for any reason. Previous recipients are not eligible to reapply.
Awards are for undergraduate study only.
Requirements
If you are selected as a semi-finalist, you will need to provide:
- A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
- Student name
- School name
- Grades
- Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
- Proof of Citizenship.
- 1040 Tax Forms.*
- One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf.
*If you or your parent(s) do not file a 1040, you will need to upload a letter indicating no 1040 filed along with other documentation showing income earned: for example, Social Security or other disability income statement, etc.
