National

The Gates Scholarship

Award

Varies

Deadline

Rolling

Rolling — apply anytime

Overview

Last-dollar scholarship covering full unmet need at any U.S. accredited college. 300 winners selected annually from minority Pell-eligible high school seniors. The application typically opens in mid-July and closes in mid-September each year — confirm the current cycle on the official site before applying.

Who qualifies

U.S. high school senior; minority ethnicity (African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic American); Pell-eligible; minimum 3.3 GPA; planning to enroll full-time in a 4-year U.S. college; show leadership.

Topics

minorityneed basedfull ridenationalhighly competitivepell eligible

Apply on the official site

We don't process applications — clicking "Apply" sends you to the school's official scholarship page.

Last verified May 8, 2026 · source: nationals