Call for 2026-2027 UNCF STEM Scholars Program for US citizen is open now!!!
The UNCF STEM Scholars Program is an initiative designed to identify and provide scholarship and academic support for students who aspire to earn STEM degrees and to pursue careers in STEM fields. The program will award 75 scholarships.
The program enables highly capable young people to pursue undergraduate STEM majors and prepares them for successful careers in a variety of STEM professions. The application is open for high school seniors who are entering college as first-time freshmen in fall 2026.
Get the Youth Opportunities iOS App here for the fully-funded opportunities.
Please be advised that the Fund II UNCF STEM Scholars Program is a last-dollar scholarship program. This means that funding is need-based, and will be awarded based on the funding gap between your tuition and the financial aid you have received from other sources. Awards will be made up to, and not exceeding, the amount of $2,500 (freshmen and sophomores) or $5,000 (juniors and seniors) annually, and applied equally over Fall and Spring semesters. Need is determined based on the Student Aid Index (SAI) indicated on your FAFSA. For more information about how SAI is determined, please see this official studentaid.gov FAFSA resource.
In the Application, there is a drop-down menu that asks you to identify your “Classification of academic level”. Please indicate what academic level you will be in the Fall of 2026. Applicants who are selected will be freshmen who will begin college in Fall 2026.
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1. Youth Opportunities: https://m.me/j/AbZTmgEzD1UchDte/
2. Fully Funded Conferences: https://m.me/j/AbZTfhFTiPCnXf2D/
3. Full Scholarships: https://m.me/j/AbbrjbkOMM6I68Cs/
4. Paid Internships/Jobs: https://m.me/j/AbaAskb6jFFnRser/
5. Circle: https://m.me/j/AbY0vVKSPJULUnE4/
Here are some things you can do to prepare for submitting a competitive application: Begin thinking and talking to parents, counselors, and teachers about your plans and what you will need to do to be ready to be a strong candidate for college admission and student aid; Carefully consider which of your teachers and STEM program sponsors to ask for a letter of recommendation. They will help us better understand what type of student you are by providing insight into your academic performance and potential. Apply for federal student aid. Go to www.FAFSA.ed.gov to familiarize yourself with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to get more information on federal student aid. If you are a finalist, they will use this form to confirm your citizenship and better understand your financial needs; Review your transcript to be sure that your GPA and the courses you have taken make you eligible for this program; Let them get to know you through your essays and help us to better understand your interests, goals, motivation, and experiences that have shaped your decision to pursue an undergraduate STEM degree.
Location:
United StatesBenefits
- Tiered tuition scholarship with funding up to $25,000:
- Up to $2,500 per academic year for freshmen and sophomores, $5,000 for juniors and seniors, and an additional $5,000 for students whose academic programs require a fifth year.
- Scholarships are renewable for five undergraduate years, contingent upon:
- Maintenance of a 3.0 (out of 4.0) GPA + continued full-time enrollment to a degree in an eligible STEM major
- A $5,000 stipend based on a STEM-related project/internship of the student’s interest
- Academic support and mentoring
- Access to online academic support services and resource platform, as well as other STEM-discipline support services
Eligibilities
- Be a citizen, legal permanent resident, or national of the United States
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on an unweighted 4.0 scale
- Pursued a rigorous course of study in high school in math and science courses, including pre-calculus
- Have demonstrated financial and unmet need as measured by the student’s college or university
- Show evidence of readiness for and commitment to pursue STEM majors, including biological/life sciences, physics, chemistry, computer science/engineering, information sciences, engineering (industrial, mechanical, electrical or chemical), mathematics
- Complete all of the application essays
- Arrange for a letter of recommendation to be submitted via the UNCF application portal
- Be enrolled for the first time at a U.S.-located, accredited college or university (with the exception of students concurrently pursuing a high school diploma while taking college-level courses) in the fall as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student
- Complete and submit the application by the deadline of Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 5:00pm EST / 2:00pm PST
Application Process
- A high school STEM teacher or a STEM program sponsor/mentor (an individual who has engaged the student in a STEM program during the school year and/or summer, and who can provide insight into the student’s academic performance and potential for success in pursuing a STEM degree)
- Completion of all written essays
- Completion of a one minute video essay
- Completion of the application form to include demographic information and student record of leadership and community service record
Application Deadline: April 16, 2026 (40 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
