National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
Offered by U.S. Department of State · Free to apply
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, this merit-based program provides high school students with scholarships to study critical languages through immersive summer or academic-year study abroad programs, or online courses. Languages include Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Russian. Applicants must be high school students aged 15 to 18 with at least a 2.5 GPA.
Other deadlines near this one
How hard is the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) 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 rivalsRequires at least a 2.5 GPA
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 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)?
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 freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors
- GPA of 2.5 or higher (unweighted)
- Open to U.S. citizens
- Must be between 15 and 18 years of age at the start of the program.
- Language proficiency in the target language must be within the Beginner to Advanced Low range on the ACTFL scale.
- Applicants for summer abroad programs must reside in the United States at the time of application.
- Department of State employees and their immediate family members are ineligible.
- Application deadline for 2027-28 summer and academic year programs is 4:00 PM ET on November 12, 2026.
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.
- 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 November 12, 2026. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around November 12 each year.
- Applications close
- November 12, 2026
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
How much is the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) worth?
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) awards varies.
When is the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) deadline?
The current deadline is November 12, 2026. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around November 12 each year.
Who is eligible for the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)?
Key requirements: Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors; GPA of 2.5 or higher (unweighted); Open to U.S. citizens.
Does the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) 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 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)?
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 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) free to apply?
Yes. The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) 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.