The Gates Scholarship
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Opens laterRenews each year
Full cost of attendance not covered by other aid and the Student Aid Index (last-dollar, full ride)
- How much
- Full cost of attendance not covered by other aid and the Student Aid Index (last-dollar, full ride)
- Who qualifies
- High school senior; Pell-eligible; minimum cumulative weighted GPA 3.3; plans full-time enrollment in a four-year degree at a US accredited not-for-profit public or private college. Ideal candidates: top 10% of class, demonstrated leadership, strong personal success skills.
- For high school seniors
- US citizen or permanent resident
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Opens later annual; opens Jul 15, closes Sep 15; semifinalist phase Dec-Jan, finalist interviews March, selection April, awards Jul-Sep (2027 cycle: Jul 15 - Sep 15, 2026)
- How to apply
- Create a profile and apply online at thegatesscholarship.org
- Multi-phase process: online application (Jul 15 - Sep 15), semifinalist phase Dec-Jan, finalist interviews in March, selection in April
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + essay + interview
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (thegatesscholarship.org)
The details
Last-dollar award covering the full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, housing and food, possibly other personal costs) not already covered by other financial aid and the Student Aid Index (from the FAFSA or the college's own methodology). Renewable. Award count per cycle is not stated on the official page.
More federal and national aid
- QuestBridge National College Matchfull four-year scholarship to a partner college (worth $360,000+; tuition, room/board, no loans)
- Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship Programup to $55,000/yr for up to 4 years (last-dollar after institutional aid)
- Davidson Fellows Scholarship$100,000, $50,000, or $25,000 (one-time)
- Burger King Scholars Program$1,000 to $60,000 (most general-track awards $1,000 or $5,000; up to three $60,000 James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarships)
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)$37,000/yr stipend + $16,000/yr cost-of-education allowance to the school, for 3 years
Keep looking
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.