$50,000+ Scholarships

Graduate, predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior researchers may apply for in-resident fellowships to conduct independent research using Smithsonian collections, facilities, and staff advisors. Stipend amounts vary by fellowship tier and duration. Submit a research proposal and materials through SOLAA by the October deadline. Fellowships span anthropology, astrophysics, environmental science, evolutionary biology, and many other fields.

Recent J.D. or LL.M. graduates (or students graduating by spring of the fellowship start year, up to two years post-graduation) may apply for a two-year immigration legal services fellowship. Applicants must be eligible for U.S. work authorization for the full two years. Justice Fellows are employees of host organizations with a guaranteed minimum salary of $62,500, health insurance, and at least three weeks paid time off; IJC provides training and matching to host placements nationwide. The application portal for the September 2027 cohort opens July 13, 2026 and closes October 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST. Materials include a statement of interest, essay, resume, transcript, and two recommendations. Immigrant Justice Corps is a national nonprofit fellowship program dedicated to expanding access to immigration representation.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Success Through Academic Research Scholarship provides up to two years of undergraduate support and two paid summer internships, with possible additional support for a master's degree. Annual undergraduate support includes up to $36,000 for tuition, a $32,000 stipend, and a $5,000 education allowance.

U.S. high school seniors in their final year who have not previously entered the competition may submit original STEM research to the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation's oldest pre-college science competition. The top award is $250,000. The top 300 scholars each receive $2,000, and 40 finalists receive at least $25,000. Nearly 2,600 students enter annually. Submit a research report, essays, recommendations, and transcripts following official rules between June 1 and November 5. Regeneron STS identifies and inspires promising young scientists across critical scientific fields.

High-achieving U.S. high school seniors graduating in spring 2027 who plan to enroll full-time at an accredited four-year college, have a minimum 3.75 unweighted GPA, and demonstrate financial need (families with annual gross income up to $95,000 considered) may apply via the Common App. Scholarships provide up to $55,000 per year toward tuition, living expenses, books, fees, and required costs at the nation's top colleges and universities. Submit academic recommendations, counselor recommendation, school report, and transcripts through the Common Application. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation offers the largest undergraduate scholarship for high-achieving students with financial need.

Young people under age 23 with innovative project ideas who are willing to work full time on their ventures and skip or stop out of college may apply for the Thiel Fellowship. Fellows receive a $250,000 grant over a two-year program, plus access to the Thiel Foundation network of founders, investors, and scientists. Complete the online application with details about your project and background. Shortlisted candidates participate in interviews. A short deck or prospectus helps state your work clearly. Rolling applications are accepted with no fixed deadline. Peter Thiel founded the fellowship in 2011 for young people who want to build new things.

Global sustainability competition for high schools in six world regions. Student-led school teams propose a scalable project addressing health, food, energy, or water challenges to be implemented within 12–24 months. Winning schools receive up to $150,000 USD to fund the proposed solution (at least 80% must go to project costs); finalist schools receive $25,000. The 2026 cycle closed June 22, 2026; the next cycle typically opens in January with submissions due the following June.

Journalists with at least five years of full-time professional journalism experience (internships do not count). The program is not open to PR, government communications, or degree-seeking applicants. Fellows spend nine months at Stanford with a $130,000 stipend plus tuition and health coverage. Apply through the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships site when the cycle opens.

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation's Gifted Tuition Scholarships support exceptionally talented music students with a passion for Latin music who have financial limitations. Applicants must be 17-25 years old and admitted to start or continue a four-year bachelor's degree in music at the accredited institution of their choice in the fall. Three Gifted Tuition Scholarships of up to $120,000 each are awarded, covering tuition and housing over four years of full-time study, plus wrap-around services from the foundation. Recipients must maintain strong academic standing each semester. Apply online with two audition videos, two letters of recommendation, two essays, and a university acceptance letter; materials may be in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Applications open in December and closed April 10 for the 2026 cycle.

The Heald Scholarship is Illinois Institute of Technology's primary automatic merit award for domestic first-year undergraduates. Every eligible applicant is considered upon admission without a separate scholarship form. Awards range from eighty thousand to one hundred twenty thousand dollars over four years of full-time undergraduate study, applied toward tuition. Illinois Tech replaces the Heald award with a higher institutional scholarship if a student qualifies for a named full-tuition program such as Camras or Duchossois. Recipients must maintain good academic standing and full-time enrollment to renew the scholarship each year through degree completion.