Visual Impairment Scholarships

Undergraduate scholarship for blind or visually impaired students enrolled full-time in STEM fields such as computer science, engineering, biology, mathematics, or information technology with a 3.0+ GPA. Part of the Lulu J. Alonso Scholarship Fund offering up to $20,000 for undergraduates, renewable annually. Scholars participate in AFB mentorship, an approved annual conference, and end-of-year reflection. Apply online during the January–February window with transcript and disability documentation.

Visually impaired students enrolled in at least 6.1 units at any California State University campus with a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA may apply for the Dale M. Schoettler Scholarship for Visually Impaired Students. The award is $10,000. Submit the application packet with a Confirmation of Visual Disability form and personal statement to the campus Disability Programs and Resource Center. Applications are accepted year-round. Dale M. Schoettler, a blind businessman from Mountain View, left a bequest that expanded the program to all 23 CSU campuses.

The American Council of the Blind, in partnership with organizations including the American Foundation for the Blind, awards educational scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $7,500 to students who are legally blind. Entering college freshmen, current undergraduate and graduate students, and students attending technical college are all eligible; in 2026 ACB awarded $112,300 to 21 students. Scholarship funds can cover tuition, fees, room and board, and assistive technology costs. Applicants must register for an ACB account and apply online, submitting materials that include proof of legal blindness and proof of acceptance from a post-secondary school for entering and transferring students. Applications for the 2027-2028 school year open November 1, 2026 and are due February 14, 2027 at 11:59 pm CST. The program has run annually since 1982.

The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, awards four Fred Scheigert Scholarships of $3,000 each year to full-time college students with low vision. Separate applications are offered for entering freshmen, current undergraduates, and graduate students, so graduating high school seniors headed to college may also apply. Applicants must meet the program's visual acuity guidelines, verified through an eye report form completed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, maintain a strong GPA (3.2 minimum), and be involved in school or community activities. Finalists participate in a telephone interview with committee members before recipients are chosen in late spring. The online application for the 2026-2027 academic year was open January 1 through February 15, 2026; the scholarship is offered annually on the same schedule.

Christian Record Services, a nonprofit serving people who are blind or visually impaired since 1899, awards the Anne Lowe Scholarship annually to undergraduate and graduate students who are legally blind and attending an accredited college or university in the United States. The non-renewable award is $2,000, paid directly to the recipient's school. Applicants must complete the online application and upload a personal financial budget, a doctor's note documenting legal blindness dated within the last year, a written essay covering their background, achievements, educational goals, and life goals, a recent photo, and three letters of recommendation from non-family members dated within the last six months. Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required if awarded. Applications are accepted January 1 through April 15 each year; the 2026 cycle closed April 15, 2026, and winners are notified in June.

Undergraduate or graduate students who are blind or visually impaired and studying rehabilitation or education may apply for the Delta Gamma Foundation Florence Margaret Harvey Memorial Scholarship. The award is $1,000. Recipients are selected by committee criteria.

High school seniors or current college students in the United States with a documented disability, enrolled or planning full- or part-time undergraduate study at a US two- or four-year college or technical school. One $1,000 award is given each year. Email proof of enrollment, disability documentation, and a minimum 500-word essay on personal trials and triumphs related to your disability to scholarships@healthproductsforyou.com by August 15 annually. Supporting letters are optional. Selection is based on the essay and materials. Health Products For You sponsors the award to support students whose disabilities have not stopped their ambitions.