Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship
Offered by The Vegetarian Resource Group · Free to apply
The Vegetarian Resource Group, the organization behind Vegan Journal, treats this scholarship as an investment in the vegetarian and vegan movement's next generation of advocates. The scholarship money comes entirely from anonymous donors, and the 2019 cycle alone drew 280 applications. VRG itself is a Baltimore-based nonprofit that educates the public on vegetarianism and the interrelated issues of health, nutrition, ecology, ethics, and world hunger. One $10,000 award and five $5,000 awards go each year to US high school seniors who have actively promoted vegetarianism or veganism, not merely followed the diet themselves; runner-up prizes are also given and funds are paid to a US college. Judges weigh compassion, courage, and sustained outreach, so evidence of what the student actually changed matters more than grades. The application is heavy: a long set of assigned essay topics, three or more recommendation letters with at least one from a teacher, two years of transcripts, and documentation of the advocacy work. Entries must be postmarked by February 20, and only students graduating that spring may enter. Winners are contacted by phone or email and named in the group's magazine later in the year.
How hard is the Vegetarian Resource Group College 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.
- Published odds
- roughly 1 in 47 applicants
- Reported applicant field
- ~300 students
- Awards each cycle
- 6
- Payoff per hour of work
- $20 / hr
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 rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
- More rivalsA five-figure award attracts a bigger field
Where this number comes from: This provider publishes its real applicant and winner counts, so the rate above is the actual published rate from a recent cycle, not a Solyo model. Rates shift a little from cycle to cycle, and nobody can promise a win, but this is as real as scholarship odds get.
Who can apply for the Vegetarian Resource Group College 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
- Must have actively promoted vegetarianism or veganism in their school and/or community; judging emphasizes compassion, courage, and commitment to a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle
- Extensive essay requirement covering a long list of assigned topics (how the student became vegetarian/vegan, outreach efforts, successes, challenges, future goals, strengths and weaknesses)
- Requires three or more recommendation letters, at least one from a teacher
- Transcripts or report cards for the past two years must be included
- Documentation of the student's vegetarian/vegan outreach activities is required
- Award is paid only to US-based colleges; winners must permit release of their names to media and applications become VRG property
What the application takes
- Essay required. The prompt centers on community impact.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is February 20, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around February 20 each year. Mail time counts: the packet has to carry a February 20 postmark, so collect letters and transcripts in January.
- Entry must be postmarked
- February 20, 2027
- Winners contacted and named in the group's magazine
- Later in the year
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship
How much is the Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship worth?
The Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship awards $5,000-$10,000 (plus smaller runner-up awards). 6 awards are made each cycle.
When is the Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is February 20, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around February 20 each year. Mail time counts: the packet has to carry a February 20 postmark, so collect letters and transcripts in January.
Who is eligible for the Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship?
Key requirements: Open to high school seniors.
Does the Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay. Expect to spend about 8 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship?
Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 47 applicants, against a modelled field of ~300 students. The pool stays that size because an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and open to a single grade level only. At 8 hrs of work, that is about $20 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.
Is the Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The Vegetarian Resource Group College 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.