McConnell Scholars Program
Offered by The McConnell Foundation · Free to apply
The McConnell Scholars Program provides up to $8,500 per year (up to $34,000 total) plus mentoring and summer retreats to students residing in or attending high school across selected Northern California counties. Applicants must demonstrate financial need (SAI of $6,655 or less) and show a strong commitment to service and community. Selection involves a written application with personal essays followed by an interview for top candidates.
Other deadlines near this one
- 10,000 Degrees ScholarshipsDue March 2, 2027 · Up to $1,500 per academic year
- Army ROTC 4-Year High School ScholarshipDue March 4, 2027 · Full tuition and fees (or room and board) + stipends
- Cal Grant A (High School Entitlement)Due March 2, 2027 · Full systemwide tuition & fees at UC/CSU; $9,358/yr at private nonprofits (2026-27 maximum)
How hard is the McConnell Scholars 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. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure.
- Odds
- no published selection data
- Paperwork
- ~3.3 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.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to California residents
- Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
- Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
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 McConnell Scholars Program?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of California
- Open to high school seniors, transfer students, and adult learners
- Must have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $6,655 or less from the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application.
- Must live or attend high school in Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, or Trinity County, attend Big Valley HS (Lassen) or Hoopa Valley HS (Humboldt), or transfer from Shasta College or College of the Siskiyous.
- Must plan to enroll at a qualified, regionally accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution in the upcoming fall term.
- Cannot currently attend college (unless transferring from Shasta College or College of the Siskiyous), hold a bachelor's degree, or be related to foundation leadership or selection staff.
- Applications are due at 11:59 PM on March 3, 2027.
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.
- Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is March 3, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 3 each year. Applications typically open in October.
- Applications open
- October 2026
- Applications close
- March 3, 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 McConnell Scholars Program
How much is the McConnell Scholars Program worth?
The McConnell Scholars Program awards $8,500 per year and is renewable in later years.
When is the McConnell Scholars Program deadline?
The current deadline is March 3, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 3 each year. Applications typically open in October.
When do McConnell Scholars Program applications open?
Applications typically open in October, and close March 3, 2027.
Who is eligible for the McConnell Scholars Program?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of California; Open to high school seniors, transfer students, and adult learners.
Does the McConnell Scholars Program require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay and a transcript. Expect to spend about 3.25 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the McConnell Scholars 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. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure. What is known: open only to California residents and an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants. Plan on about 3.3 hrs of work.
Is the McConnell Scholars Program free to apply?
Yes. The McConnell Scholars Program is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More need-based scholarships
- Missouri Kids' Chance Scholarship (state program)Tuition and fees up to the program cap · due April 30, 2027
- Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alabama ScholarshipLast-dollar scholarship · due March 1, 2027
- New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Scholarships$100 to $7,500 · due December 11, 2026
- New Haven Scholarship Fund Scholarship$200 to $2,900 · due March 15, 2027
- New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)$200 to $3,050 per year · due September 15, 2027
- New Mexico Student Incentive Grant$200 to $2,500 per year · 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.