Important Updates

The priority filing date for the 2024-25 FAFSA and CADAA has been extended to May 2, 2024. Visit Apply for Financial Aid for details.
The Department of Education has announced they will send information from the 2024-25 FAFSA to schools in mid-March. This may result in a delay in financial aid packaging and offers for the 2024-25 academic year. While awaiting your financial aid offer, we encourage you to utilize the UC Davis Financial Aid Estimator to estimate your potential aid.

National Scholarships

The prestigious scholarships listed in this section represent opportunities for students with an interest in remaining in the United States. Programs below provide funding and some also provide other opportunities such as internships, professional networking, post-graduate employment, and scholar programming. Eligibility varies by program, but includes opportunities for students in any undergraduate year. Explore the individual program pages for more information about eligibility, what makes a strong candidate, and the application process. Students who are interested in programs outside of the United States should check the International Scholarships listing.

International Scholarships

Recipients

Four Year Plan

Prestigious Scholarships FAQs

Prestigious Scholarships Events

In-Person Presentation: Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Interested in earning a graduate or professional degree from Stanford University? Would you like to join a fully-funded cohort from throughout the world while also receiving programming and leadership development? Come learn about the engaging

Webinar: Rhodes Scholarship Overview

Are you interested in attending graduate school at the University of Oxford? Do you like the idea of joining an elite scholarship community that fully-funds your degree and provides additional programming? If so, come hear Prestigious Scholarship Advisor Scott Palmer share about the e

Webinar: Fulbright U.S. Student Program Overview

Interested in spending a post-graduate year abroad teaching English, conducting independent research, or studying for a Master’s degree? Then come learn about the exciting Fulbright U.S.

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Purpose

1-2 year scholarships that recognize outstanding students who plan to pursue research careers in mathematics, natural sciences, or engineering.

Eligibility

U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
Sophomores or Juniors
3.0 or greater GPA

Application Information

Harry S. Truman Scholarship

Purpose

1-2 years of graduate funding for a degree pertaining to public service.

Eligibility

U.S. Citizen
Junior

Application Information

James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program

Purpose:

1 year paid program to work as research assistants to senior endowment associates in one of the Carnegie areas of focus for the year.

Eligibility:

Graduating seniors or graduated in prior year and not started grad school
Eligible to work in the U.S. for 12 months

Application Information

Knight-Hennessy Scholarship

Purpose

Full funding to pursue any graduate program at Stanford University (JD, MA, MBA, MD, MS, or PhD)

Eligibility

Citizens of any country
Graduating seniors or graduated in previous 4 years
Must be admitted to Stanford graduate program separately from scholarship application

Application Information

National Institute of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship

Purpose

1 year scholarship for students pursuing research careers related to NIH interests

Eligibility

U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
Undergraduate students
GPA of 3.3 or greater or top 5% of class
Have exceptional financial need

Application Information

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Ernest F. Hollings

Purpose

2-year scholarship to prepare students for careers pertaining to oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education.

Eligibility

U.S. Citizen
2nd year of 4-year program or 3rd year of 5-year program
Majors related to NOAA’s mission including sciences, mathematics, engineering, physical and social sciences, and teacher education

Application Information

Samvid Scholars

Purpose

Up to $100,000 for the first two years of an MD, MBA, JD, MPP, MPH, EdD, or MS/MA in a social science or STEM program

Eligibility

U.S. Citizen or DACA recipients
3.5 or greater GPA
Will enter the first-year of a graduate program in the year applying for the scholarship

Application Information

SMART (Science, Mathematics & Research for Transformation) Scholarship

Purpose

1-year scholarship to pursue a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).

Eligibility

U.S. Citizen
Undergraduate and graduate students
GPA of 3.0 or greater

Application Information

Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship

Purpose

1-2 years of graduate funding in any field at a U.S. university.

Eligibility

U.S. Permanent residents, naturalized citizens, or children of naturalized citizens
Graduating seniors and first-year graduate students

Application Information

Donald A. Strauss Scholarship

Purpose

1 year of funding to perform a public service project.

Eligibility

Sophomores or Juniors
GPA in top 1/3 of class
Submit a public service proposal

Application Information

Udall Scholarship

Purpose

1-year scholarship for careers relating to the environment (not just environmental studies), tribal public policy, or Native American health care.

Eligibility

U.S. Citizen, national, or permanent resident
Sophomores or Juniors
Pursuing a career related to the environment or Native American and Alaska Native students can pursue careers in tribal public policy or Native American health care

Application Information

Voyager Scholarship for Public Service

Purpose: 2-year scholarship along with leadership development and travel funding for sophomores planning to enter public service careers

Eligibility:

U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients
Sophomores enrolled full-time with GPA’s of 3.0+
Demonstrated financial need.
Demonstrated commitment to public service and plans for a public service leadership career.

Application Information

Other National Prestigious Scholarships

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship - Up to $84,000 in funding towards a 2 year graduate degree leading to U.S. Foreign Service Employment.
Charles B. Rangel Summer Enrichment Program - Fully-funded undergraduate summer program at Howard University to prepare for careers in international affairs.
James Madison Memorial Fellowship - Up to $24,000 towards a graduate degree leading to fellows becoming secondary teachers specializing in the U.S. Constitution.
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program - Up to $48,000/year for three years of research based Master’s or Ph.D. programs in STEM or STEM education.
Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship - Up to $84,000 in funding towards a 2 year graduate degree leading to U.S. Foreign Service Employment.
USAID Donald M. Payne Fellowship - Up to $96,000 in funding towards a 2 year graduate degree leading to USAID Foreign Service Employment.