American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship
Offered by The American Legion · Free to apply
Each year The American Legion names one Eagle Scout of the Year, who receives a $10,000 scholarship, and three runners-up who each receive $2,500. The award honors Eagle Scouts with strong records of service, and nominations run through the Legion's state organizations, called Departments. Scouts complete the nomination packet during the window from November 1 to March 1 and send it to their state American Legion Department, which must receive it by March 1. Each Department's selection committee picks its best candidate and forwards that packet to national headquarters by April 1 for the national judging. Winners can use the money at an accredited trade school, college or university in the United States, and must use it within four years of high school graduation, with time on active military duty or a religious mission excluded. The Eagle Scout of the Year also travels to the Legion's National Convention in August as part of its Youth Champion Delegation. Questions go to the state Department.
Other deadlines near this one
- American Legion Auxiliary Children of Warriors National Presidents' ScholarshipDue March 1, 2027 · $5,000
- Arkansas Governor's Distinguished ScholarshipDue March 1, 2027 · Up to $10,000 a year for 4 years ($40,000 total)
- Coastal Bend Community Foundation ScholarshipsDue March 1, 2027 · $100 to $16,000 by fund (average about $1,000)
How hard is the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship 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.
- Estimated odds
- roughly 1 in 1,890 applicants
- Modelled applicant field
- ~7,500 students
- Awards each cycle
- 4
- Payoff per hour of work
- $1 / hr
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 rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
- 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 American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship?
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
- Must be an Eagle Scout; nominations go through the state American Legion Department
- Award must be used within four years of high school graduation
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is March 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 1 each year. Applications open November 1. The March 1 deadline is when the state Department must receive the packet, so mail or deliver it well before.
- State winner forwarded to national
- April 1, 2026
- Nomination window opens
- November 1, 2026
- Nomination packet due to state Department
- March 1, 2027
- Honored at National Convention
- August 2027
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship
How much is the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship worth?
The American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship awards $10,000 (winner); $2,500 (3 runners-up). 4 awards are made each cycle.
When is the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is March 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 1 each year. Applications open November 1. The March 1 deadline is when the state Department must receive the packet, so mail or deliver it well before.
When do American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship applications open?
Applications open November 1, and close March 1, 2027. The March 1 deadline is when the state Department must receive the packet, so mail or deliver it well before.
Who is eligible for the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship?
Key requirements: Open to high school seniors.
Does the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 5 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship?
Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 1,890 applicants, against a modelled field of ~7,500 students. The pool stays that size because open to a single grade level only. At 5 hrs of work, that is about $1 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.
Is the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More merit-based scholarships
- Arkansas Governor's Scholars Program - Achievement ScholarsUp to $5,000 a year ($20,000 total) · due July 1, 2027
- Bandera Electric Cooperative Scholarships$2,500 · due January 31, 2027
- Bezos Scholars ProgramAll-expenses-paid year-long leadership program + Aspen Ideas Festival trip (not a cash award) · due January 15, 2027
- Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Scholarships of Excellence$2,500 · due March 5, 2027
- Breakthrough Junior Challenge$250,000 scholarship (one winner) · due September 15, 2027
- CCSNH Valedictorian Tuition WaiverOne year of tuition (up to 32 credits) · due June 30, 2027
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.