AG Bell College Scholarship Program
Offered by Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing · Free to apply
AG Bell awards more than $100,000 a year in college scholarships to students who are deaf or hard of hearing, with individual awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. It is one of the largest programs of its kind in the country. The eligibility rule is specific and catches families out: the student must have bilateral hearing loss in the moderately severe to profound range AND use listening and spoken language as their primary mode of communication. Students whose primary mode is American Sign Language are not eligible for this particular award. Applications are accepted from January through March for the following fall.
How hard is the AG Bell College Scholarship Program to win?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award.
- Odds
- not published by the provider
- Paperwork
- ~6 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
- Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
- Fewer rivalsRecommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip
- Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
- Fewer rivalsRequires a specific life circumstance
- More rivalsA five-figure award attracts a bigger field
How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the AG Bell College Scholarship Program?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Open to high school seniors and current college students
- For students with a documented disability
- Requires documented bilateral hearing loss in the moderately severe to profound range.
- Requires use of listening and spoken language as the primary communication mode. Students whose primary mode is ASL are not eligible for this award.
What the application takes
- Essay required.
- 1 letter of recommendation. Ask teachers or counselors early; good letters take time.
- Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is March 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 31 each year. Applications open January.
- Applications open
- January 2027
- Applications close
- March 31, 2027
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the AG Bell College Scholarship Program
How much is the AG Bell College Scholarship Program worth?
The AG Bell College Scholarship Program awards $1,000 to $10,000.
When is the AG Bell College Scholarship Program deadline?
The current deadline is March 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 31 each year. Applications open January.
When do AG Bell College Scholarship Program applications open?
Applications open January, and close March 31, 2027.
Who is eligible for the AG Bell College Scholarship Program?
Key requirements: Open to high school seniors and current college students; For students with a documented disability.
Does the AG Bell College Scholarship Program require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay, 1 recommendation, and a transcript. Expect to spend about 6 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the AG Bell College Scholarship Program?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award. What is known: an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and recommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip. Plan on about 6 hrs of work.
Is the AG Bell College Scholarship Program free to apply?
Yes. The AG Bell College Scholarship Program is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More identity & background
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.