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USDA 1890 National Scholars Program

Offered by U.S. Department of Agriculture · Free to apply

Award
Full tuition, fees, books, room and board, plus a paid USDA internship
renewable in later years
Deadline
March 8, 2027
deadlines recur around March each year
Selection data
Not published
the provider publishes no counts
Application effort
~12 hrs
the time this application takes

The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program pays full tuition, fees, books, and room and board for up to four years, and adds a paid summer internship with USDA that carries federal employee benefits. In total value delivered it is one of the strongest awards available to a high school senior anywhere. The trade is that the student must attend one of the nineteen 1890 land-grant universities, which are historically Black land-grant institutions, and must major in agriculture, food science, natural resource sciences or a related field. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required. USDA confirmed the current cycle is operating in a January 2026 announcement.

How hard is the USDA 1890 National 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. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award.

Odds
not published by the provider
Paperwork
~12 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 rivalsRestricted to specific intended majors
  • Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
  • Fewer rivalsRequires at least a 3 GPA
  • 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 USDA 1890 National Scholars Program?

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
  • GPA of 3 or higher (unweighted)
  • Open to U.S. citizens
  • Planning to study STEM
Confirm these before applying
  • Must enroll at one of the nineteen 1890 land-grant universities.
  • Must major in agriculture, food science, natural resource sciences or a related discipline.

What the application takes

  • Essay required.
  • 2 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 March 8, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 8 each year.

Applications close
March 8, 2027
Apply on the official site →Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee.

Does your student actually qualify?

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Common questions about the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program

How much is the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program worth?

The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program awards full tuition, fees, books, room and board, plus a paid USDA internship and is renewable in later years.

When is the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program deadline?

The current deadline is March 8, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 8 each year.

Who is eligible for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program?

Key requirements: Open to high school seniors; GPA of 3 or higher (unweighted); Open to U.S. citizens; Planning to study STEM.

Does the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program require an essay?

Yes. The application requires an essay, 2 recommendations, and a transcript. Expect to spend about 12 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the USDA 1890 National 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. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award. 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 12 hrs of work.

Is the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program free to apply?

Yes. The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

More field of study

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.