Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

The Microsoft Disability Scholarship, funded by the Disability at Microsoft employee resource group through the Seattle Foundation and administered by Scholarship America, supports graduating high school seniors living with a disability who plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school in the United States. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and declare a target major in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, law, business, or a related field. The award is $5,000 per year, renewable for up to four years (up to $20,000 total) while the recipient maintains a 2.0 GPA, at least half-time enrollment, and an eligible major. Applications are submitted through Scholarship America's online portal and include essays and a recommendation. The 2026 application deadline was March 16, 2026; the program runs each year with deadlines in mid-March.

Undergraduate or graduate students with a visible or non-visible disability who are enrolled full time at a four-year university in the U.S. or Canada and major in business, computer science, engineering, math, physics, statistics, or a related field may apply. Applicants should have interest in a financial services career, ideally in capital markets. U.S. recipients receive $10,000. Apply through Lime Connect after joining The Lime Network. Submit contact and education details, a resume, current transcripts, an essay on your career goals and scholarship fit, and one letter of reference from a professor, advisor, or supervisor.

High school seniors and undergraduate or graduate students with disabilities pursuing media, communications, or entertainment careers may apply for the NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship through AAPD. Eight awards of $5,625 each are offered for college enrollment. Scholarship funds apply to tuition costs. Complete the application with proof of enrollment or admission, a personal statement on career goals, and documentation of disability status as required. Named for Tony Coelho, former U.S. Representative and primary House sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

U.S. adults age 18 or older with Down syndrome who are pursuing postsecondary education, employment training, a private-pay enrichment program, or local community classes may apply for the Bright Future Fund through the National Down Syndrome Society. NDSS awards up to ten grants annually, each up to $5,000, for tuition, registration fees, or other program-related costs. Grant funds must be used within six months of notification. Complete the online application with required personal materials and two recommendation letters from non-family members. The fund, formerly the O'Neill Tabani Enrichment Fund, honors Joshua O'Neill and his experience with postsecondary education.

Emerging U.S. visual artists with disabilities ages 16 to 25 may submit work to this national juried Kennedy Center program. Fifteen selected artists each receive a $3,000 stipend, professional development at the Kennedy Center, and inclusion in a touring exhibition. Artists must be comfortable publicly identifying as artists with disabilities. The VSA Emerging Young Artists Program, part of the Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program, amplifies voices of emerging artists seeking to advance their professional development.

Students with disabilities who reside in designated northwest Ohio or southeast Michigan counties and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA may apply for Ability Center scholarships toward college, trade school, or certification programs. Awards are up to $2,500 applied to tuition. Applicants must be enrolled or accepted in a post-secondary degree program. Submit an online application with an 800- to 1,000-word essay, transcript, and three references. The Ability Center and its Auxiliary support students with disabilities pursuing higher education.

U.S. citizens or legal residents with an identified disability or long-term recurring condition affecting major life activities and a minimum 3.0 GPA who are high school seniors, graduates, or current undergraduates planning full-time or half-time enrollment (minimum 6 credits) at an accredited U.S. two- or four-year institution may apply through Scholarship America. Recipients receive up to $2,500 per year for full-time study or $1,250 for half-time study, renewable up to three additional years (full-time) or seven years (half-time) with a 2.5+ GPA. Only the first 700 completed applications are considered. Complete the online application as early as possible. Notification occurs in late June.

Individuals age 25 and under with sickle cell disease verified by a doctor may apply for Inspiring More Minds' Paradise Scholarship to support workshops, continuing education, degree programs, or vocational training. Awards range up to $1,500, with amounts from $250 to $1,500 based on application quality and available funds. The number of recipients varies. Prepare a formal application explaining how you will use the funds, include the required consent form, and submit before the posted deadline. Email info@helpimm.org for the current deadline. Selected recipients submit an impact statement after a designated period.

Individuals age 26 or older who live with sickle cell disease, documented by a physician, and are pursuing education broadly defined (workshop, continuing education, degree, or vocational training) may apply. Awards range from $250 to $1,500 based on application quality and available funds. Submit a formal application explaining how you will use the funds plus a signed consent form; recipients provide an impact statement after receiving the award.

U.S. citizens majoring in STEM or STEM education at Alaska colleges or universities may apply for competitive Alaska Space Grant Program undergraduate scholarships of up to $1,000. Freshmen and sophomores are preferred. Past recipients may reapply. Women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Submit the application with a research proposal or project description and academic records during the application window from February 15 through September 16.