Harry S. Truman Scholarship
Offered by The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation · Free to apply
The Truman Scholarship provides up to $30,000 for graduate study to college juniors committed to public service leadership. Applicants must be officially nominated by their undergraduate institution and plan to enter public interest or government careers. Recipients must also attend the mandatory Truman Scholars Leadership Week.
Other deadlines near this one
- Collier Scholars Common ApplicationDue February 2, 2027 · Varies by fund across more than $2.2 million awarded annually
- Elks Legacy AwardDue February 2, 2027 · $4,000 ($1,000/yr over 4 years)
- Houston Rodeo Agricultural and Affiliation ScholarshipsDue February 2, 2027 · $20,000 total, paid across four years
How hard is the Harry S. Truman 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
- ~4.8 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 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 Harry S. Truman 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 nominated by your current or former undergraduate institution (schools are capped at four nominees plus three transfer nominees).
- Must plan to attend graduate school in preparation for a career in public service.
- Must be currently enrolled at an accredited U.S.-based institution in the penultimate year (for 4+ year programs) or final year (for programs of 3 years or fewer).
- Must commit to attend Truman Scholars Leadership Week if selected.
- Materials must be received by 11:59 pm in the candidate's time zone; individual colleges may set earlier internal 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, about 500 words.
- 3 letters 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 February 2, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around February 2 each year.
- Applications close
- February 2, 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 Harry S. Truman Scholarship
How much is the Harry S. Truman Scholarship worth?
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship awards $30,000.
When is the Harry S. Truman Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is February 2, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around February 2 each year.
Who is eligible for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship?
Key requirements: Open to current college students; Open to U.S. citizens.
Does the Harry S. Truman Scholarship require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay of about 500 words, 3 recommendations, and a transcript. Expect to spend about 4.75 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Harry S. Truman 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 recommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip. Plan on about 4.8 hrs of work.
Is the Harry S. Truman Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More community service
- Modern Woodmen High School Senior Scholarship$1,000 to $10,000 · due February 1, 2027
- Princeton Prize in Race Relations$2,500 · due January 31, 2027
- Prudential Emerging Visionaries$5,000 - $15,000 · due November 2, 2026
- Bill of Rights Institute Community Impact Contest$500 to $10,000 · due April 19, 2027
- Bonner Scholars ProgramVaries by campus, commonly a few thousand dollars per year across four years · due February 1, 2027
- California State PTA Graduating Senior Scholarships$500 (Dr. Ralph E. White Scholarship, 2 recipients). Volunteer Service Scholarship amount not published · due February 1, 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.