Boston University Trustee Scholarship

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FOR SENIORS

The Boston University Trustee Scholarship is BU’s most prestigious merit scholarship, covering full undergraduate tuition and fees for exceptionally accomplished students with outstanding academic and leadership abilities. Applicants need a strong GPA, high standardized test scores, and significant extracurricular and leadership experience. The application requires a separate scholarship essay and is typically due around December 1st, though the scholarship’s availability for future incoming classes has been questioned recently.

Eligibility and selection

  • Academic excellence: High GPA (often 4.0), strong performance in a rigorous curriculum, and placement in the top 1-5% of the high school class are expected.
  • Standardized test scores: A strong SAT (1500+) or ACT (33-35+) score is recommended, although tests may be optional for some applicants.
  • Leadership and extracurriculars: A proven record of leadership, community service, and outstanding achievements in extracurricular activities is crucial.
  • Scholarship essay: A separate essay is required as part of the application process.
  • Nomination: A nomination is sometimes required.
  • International students: International students are eligible, but must also demonstrate English proficiency through tests like TOEFL or IELTS, if applicable.

Award details

  • Coverage: The scholarship covers full undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees.
  • Duration: It is renewable for up to four years, provided certain criteria are met each year.
  • Renewal requirements: Recipients must maintain a certain GPA (e.g., 3.50 or higher) and be in good disciplinary standing.

Application process

  • Application: You must apply for admission to Boston University first.
  • Application materials: The application includes the Common or Coalition Application, transcripts, and test scores (if submitted), as well as the required Trustee Scholarship essay.
  • Deadline: The typical application deadline for the upcoming academic year is December 1st.

Other program features

  • Community: Recipients become part of a special community of scholars.
  • Housing: Scholars have the option to live in a designated brownstone residence hall with other recipients, but are not required to.
  • Flexibility: Scholars are not required to follow a specific curriculum or enroll in the Kilachand Honors College, though many choose to.

 

Northeastern University Torch Scholarship

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FOR SENIORS

The Northeastern Torch Scholars Program is a full-ride scholarship for first-generation college students who have overcome exceptional odds to demonstrate potential for academic excellence and leadership. The scholarship covers full tuition, fees, room, and board for up to eight semesters, along with other support like a summer immersion program, academic advising, and professional mentoring. Students must be nominated by someone who knows their achievements, such as a school counselor, teacher, or mentor.

A typical Northeastern University freshman class profile is academically accomplished, globally-minded, and demographically diverse. For the Class of 2028, the middle 50% of enrolled students had a GPA range of 4.2 to 4.5 and an average SAT score of 1490 (with a range of 1450-1490 for the middle 50% of the middle 50% range). This class is also characterized by its interest in experiential learning, including the university’s signature co-op program and global opportunities.

If you are definitely applying to Northeastern, your guidance counselor can nominate you for this scholarship. Speak with your guidance counselor as soon as possible, but definitely by December 1.

 

Massachusetts JCI Senate Scholarship

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FOR SENIORS

The Massachusetts JCI Senate will award two (2) $1,000 scholarships to graduating students in Massachusetts.

For the application and application checklist, click below.

JCI website.

Thrive Scholars

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FOR JUNIORS

For more than 20 years, Thrive Scholars has been providing high-achieving, diverse and underrepresented students, including students of color from under-resourced communities, the opportunities they need to thrive at top colleges and in meaningful careers, all at no cost to the students.

We have two exciting announcements!

  1. The application for Thrive Scholars is now LIVE!
  2. We recently launched a brand new admissions site full of useful information for educators, students, and their families!

From guides to webinars, here are some of our favorite resources that are useful for educators, students, and their families:

  • Info Sessions: Learn more about Thrive Scholars and have your questions answered by our admissions team and current Scholars at a virtual information session. We host sessions each month from September to December on a variety of topics!
  • Resource Library: You can find resources such as an Application toolkit, an essay writing guide, flyers, and our slide deck to disseminate to prospective students!
  • FAQs: Have a question? Check out our dedicated FAQ space to see if your question is listed here!

Programs Offered

All of our programs are designed to support high-achieving students of color from low-income backgrounds on their path to college and successful careers.

You can view the minimum eligibility requirements here for the three free programs we offer.

  1. The 6-Year Program – for high achieving 11th graders
  2. Thrive Academies Program – for high achieving 11th graders

 

The Coolidge Scholarship

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FOR JUNIORS

The 2025-26 Coolidge Scholarship application is now live. We hope you will share this opportunity with interested high school juniors at your school.

A quick refresher: the Coolidge Scholarship is a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship that recipients may use for undergraduate study at any accredited college or university in the United States. Any high school junior who plans to enroll in college in the fall of 2027 and is an American citizen or legal permanent resident is eligible to apply (current high school seniors are not eligible to apply). Winners may use the scholarship to pursue any academic major.

Academic excellence is the primary criterion considered by the Coolidge Scholarship. Secondary criteria include an interest in public policy and an appreciation of the values President Coolidge championed. Successful candidates will also demonstrate humility and have a record of genuine service to their communities. A complete description of the scholarship’s criteria is available here.

The competition for the Coolidge Scholarship is significant — only a few new Coolidge Scholarships are awarded each year from a pool of candidates that spans the entire country. Even so, students have reported to us in past years that they were glad to have applied even if they didn’t win, because the experience helped prepare them for college applications later on. Furthermore, the Coolidge Foundation invites one hundred of the top Coolidge Scholarship applicants to participate in the Coolidge Senators Program, which includes an all-expenses-paid summit gathering and a $1,000 scholarship. Scholarship applicants are automatically considered for the Senators Program.

Please know that the application requires that candidates read President Coolidge’s Autobiography and a few other reading assignments, and then write three essays. We therefore encourage students to begin the application early. Candidates who begin the application at the last minute are unlikely to be successful. The submission deadline is 5:00 PM Pacific time, Tuesday, December 16, 2025. 

We hope you will share this opportunity with outstanding high school juniors at your school. The scholarship application, along with additional information, can be accessed on our scholarship site: www.coolidgescholars.org. Questions? We can be reached by email at coolidgescholars@coolidgefund.org or by phone at (202) 827-4291.

Simon Youth Foundation Scholarships

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FOR SENIORS

Every student with the determination to learn deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education. Each year, SYF awards an average of $1 million (based on available funding) in scholarships to help offset post-secondary expenses. By focusing on first-generation college students and those with financial need, we ensure more young people have the chance to chase their dreams—no matter their circumstances.

  • Shari Simon Greenberg Community Scholarships of the Simon Youth Foundation are available to high school seniors living near a Simon mall or in the surrounding communities.
  • Simon Youth Academy Scholarships are available only to graduates of Simon Youth Academies.
  • Greg Saunders Legacy Program Scholarships are available only to dependents of a Simon Property Group employee.

The application period for the 2025-2026 academic year will open Tuesday, September 2, 2025, and remain open through February 13, 2026

To apply, click Simon.

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

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FOR SENIORS

JRF Scholars receive college scholarships of up to $35,000 over four years and are financially sponsored to attend JRF‘s annual, four-day “Mentoring and Leadership Conference“ in New York City and other events throughout the year. Aside from generous financial support, Scholars benefit from a comprehensive, four-year program that includes career guidance, internship and permanent job placement, travel abroad, and leadership and practical life skills training.

To apply, click Robinson.

Elks Foundation Scholarships

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FOR SENIORS

Applications for the 2026 Most Valuable Student Scholarship are open until November 12, 2025. All high school seniors who are United States citizens are eligible to apply. Judged based on leadership, service, academics, and financial need, the Top 20 applicants receive $30,000 scholarships. The 480 runners-up receive $4,000. Learn more and apply at https://www.elks.org/scholars/scholarships/mvs.cfm.

Henry David Thoreau Foundation Scholarship

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FOR SENIORS

Do you have the capacity for environmental leadership? Apply for this $26,000 tuition scholarship.

For more information on a flyer and how to apply, click Henry David Thoreau

QuestBridge National College Match

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FOR SENIORS

The National College Match is a college admission and scholarship process through which high-achieving, students from low-income backgrounds can be admitted early with full four-year scholarships to some of the nation’s top colleges and universities. Through the National College Match application, students who have excelled academically despite financial hardship can highlight their unique story and stand out in the college admissions process. In the fall, QuestBridge selects top applicants as Finalists and students are able to rank up to 15 colleges to be “matched” – admitted early with a Match Scholarship – to the college that appears highest on their list and is able to match with them. Finalists who do not match or choose not to rank colleges can use the QuestBridge application to apply to our college partners through other early and regular decision opportunities. Please note that students who plan to apply only through QuestBridge Regular Decision must still submit a National College Match application by the late September deadline.

You can learn more about the National College Match process by reviewing the following pages on our website:

National College Match

Ranking Colleges

Dates and Deadlines