Boren Scholarship
Offered by National Security Education Program (NSEP) · Free to apply
The Boren Scholarship supports undergraduate students participating in intensive language study abroad in world regions critical to U.S. national security. Funding ranges from $8,000 to $25,000 depending on the program length, with longer immersion programs preferred. In exchange for funding, recipients commit to working for at least one year in federal public service.
Other deadlines near this one
- Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVisionDue January 27, 2027 · $2,500 to $5,000 per student (or a $5,000 to $10,000 EE savings bond at maturity)
- Community Foundation Santa Cruz County ScholarshipsDue January 28, 2027 · Varies by fund
- Ventura County Community Foundation ScholarshipsDue January 29, 2027 · $500 to $11,000 by fund
How hard is the Boren 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. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure.
- Odds
- no published selection data
- Paperwork
- ~3 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 rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
- More rivalsA large award draws far more applicants
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 Boren 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 current college students
- Open to U.S. citizens
- Must be at least 18 years old by the time the application is submitted and have a high school diploma or GED.
- Must plan to study abroad in a destination outside Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand of which you are not a citizen.
- Must maintain undergraduate matriculation through the end of the overseas program and cannot graduate before completion.
- Summer programs lasting 8 to 11 weeks are reserved exclusively for STEM majors.
- Deadline is 5:00 PM Eastern Time on January 27, 2027. Campus representatives may set earlier campus review deadlines.
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
- Essay required.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is January 27, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 27 each year.
- Applications close
- January 27, 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 Boren Scholarship
How much is the Boren Scholarship worth?
The Boren Scholarship awards $8,000 to $25,000.
When is the Boren Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is January 27, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 27 each year.
Who is eligible for the Boren Scholarship?
Key requirements: Open to current college students; Open to U.S. citizens.
Does the Boren Scholarship require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay. Expect to spend about 3 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Boren Scholarship?
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. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure. What is known: an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and open to a single grade level only. Plan on about 3 hrs of work.
Is the Boren Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The Boren 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
- 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
- California Credit Union Foundation Student Scholarship$1,000 · due March 6, 2027
- California Teachers Association ScholarshipsUp to $5,000 · due February 6, 2027
- Cameron Impact ScholarshipFull tuition + qualified expenses for 4 years · due May 1, 2027
- Carson Scholars Fund Scholarship$1,000 (invested until college) · due January 13, 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.