Princeton Prize in Race Relations
Offered by Princeton University Alumni (Princeton Prize in Race Relations) · Free to apply
The Princeton Prize in Race Relations is run by Princeton University alumni volunteers and recognizes high school students in grades 9 to 12 who have led volunteer work that advances racial equity or racial understanding in their school or community. Each prize recipient receives $2,500 in cash and an all-expenses-paid weekend at Princeton for a Symposium on Race with other winners, and is honored at a local ceremony. The prize runs through about 25 regional committees plus an at-large committee for areas without one, so students compete within their region. The online application has two parts: the student describes the project and its impact, and an unrelated adult sponsor such as a teacher, advisor or community leader completes the second part. Grades and test scores are not considered, and the project generally must have taken place in the last 12 months. Applications are due online by January 31.
Other deadlines near this one
How hard is the Princeton Prize in Race Relations 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
- ~5 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
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 Princeton Prize in Race Relations?
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
- Must have led or significantly carried out volunteer work focused on advancing racial equity or racial understanding, generally within the last 12 months
- Must be enrolled in grades 9-12 at a US school (public, private, charter, magnet or homeschool)
- An unrelated adult sponsor completes Part II of the application; letters of recommendation are not accepted
- This is a cash prize plus a symposium trip, not a scholarship paid to a college
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.
Deadline and application cycle
The next projected deadline is January 31, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual January 31 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. The 2027 date had not been posted when checked; the last cycle closed January 31, 2026. Invite the adult sponsor through the portal well before the deadline.
- Symposium on Race at Princeton
- Spring 2026
- Online application due
- January 31, 2027 (estimated)
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the Princeton Prize in Race Relations
How much is the Princeton Prize in Race Relations worth?
The Princeton Prize in Race Relations awards $2,500.
When is the Princeton Prize in Race Relations deadline?
The next projected deadline is January 31, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual January 31 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. The 2027 date had not been posted when checked; the last cycle closed January 31, 2026. Invite the adult sponsor through the portal well before the deadline.
Who is eligible for the Princeton Prize in Race Relations?
Key requirements: Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors.
Does the Princeton Prize in Race Relations require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay and 1 recommendation. Expect to spend about 5 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Princeton Prize in Race Relations?
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 5 hrs of work.
Is the Princeton Prize in Race Relations free to apply?
Yes. The Princeton Prize in Race Relations is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More community service
- 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
- Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes$10,000 (top winners) · due April 15, 2027
- Modern Woodmen High School Senior Scholarship$1,000 to $10,000 · 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.