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Jefferson Scholarship

Offered by Jefferson Scholars Foundation · Free to apply

The Jefferson Scholarship is a premier four-year merit award for high school seniors planning to attend the University of Virginia. Students cannot apply directly and must be nominated by their high school based on excellence in leadership, scholarship, and citizenship. The award provides comprehensive funding covering tuition, room, board, books, and general expenses for eight semesters.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Jefferson 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
~3.8 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

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 Jefferson 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
Confirm these before applying
  • Students cannot apply directly and must be nominated by an eligible high school.
  • Must apply to and gain admission to the University of Virginia.

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.

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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 December 1, 2026. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around December 1 each year.

Applications close
December 1, 2026
Save this scholarshipApply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the Jefferson Scholarship

How much is the Jefferson Scholarship worth?

The Jefferson Scholarship awards full scholarship for four years and is renewable in later years.

When is the Jefferson Scholarship deadline?

The current deadline is December 1, 2026. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around December 1 each year.

Who is eligible for the Jefferson Scholarship?

Key requirements: Open to high school seniors.

Does the Jefferson Scholarship require an essay?

Yes. The application requires an essay, 1 recommendation, and a transcript. Expect to spend about 3.75 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Jefferson 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 3.8 hrs of work.

Is the Jefferson Scholarship free to apply?

Yes. The Jefferson Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

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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.