Student FAQs
To apply, students must be:
- A high school senior
- From at least one of the following ethnicities: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
- Pell-eligible
- A US citizen, national, or permanent resident
- In good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
Additionally, a student must plan to enroll full-time, in a four-year degree program, at a US accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university.
*For American Indian/Alaska Native, proof of tribal enrollment will be required.
Pell-eligibility is calculated by the U.S. Department of Education after a student submits the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is based on family contribution, status as a full-time student, and the student’s academic plans. The household income of Pell-eligible students varies. In recent years, 99% of Pell-eligible students came from households with incomes of $80,000 or less per year.
For more information regarding Pell-eligibility, visit the The Federal Student Aid Estimator by clicking here.
The application is only be open to high school seniors (i.e., class of 2023).
No. Students who have a GED diploma instead of a high school diploma are not eligible to apply for The Gates Scholarship.
Although we are unable to assist you, we hope the following websites may be helpful: College Board Scholarship Search and College Greenlight.
Yes. There are no restrictions on major or field of study. The program funds the completion of a bachelor’s degree in the Scholar’s choice of major.
Yes. A student must attend a US accredited, four-year, not-for-profit, private or public college or university. The institution must be based in the United States or a US territory.
No. The Gates Scholarship is only awarded to high school seniors who matriculate in a four-year program, directly after graduating from high school, without interruption.
Yes. However, the student must show evidence that s/he will enroll full-time as a freshman, in a four-year, bachelor’s degree program at a community college.
Yes. Students can attend a US accredited, not-for-profit, private or public university in Puerto Rico.
Scholarship recipients will receive funding for a maximum of five years of study, with the expectation that s/he will complete a bachelor’s degree during that period.
However, should the need arise, a student may seek approval to defer the next period of study, for up to one year. No scholarship funds would be disbursed to the student for that period.
We encourage students on deferment to work with The Gates Scholarship Scholar Advocacy Team, and to utilize on-campus academic support services, to remain engaged and to help facilitate re-enrollment and graduation.
To remain eligible, you must submit:
- A completed FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) prior to each academic year.
- A Renewal Form, with current transcripts showing that you are continuing to meet your institution’s academic requirements
- Enrollment Verification forms dated the day after the start of each new term.
Additionally, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress towards bachelor's degree attainment.
A nationwide search will identify the top high school seniors who qualify for this prestigious scholarship. All eligible students are invited to apply. Students must create a myTGS Profile in order to apply.
Online applications will open on July 15, 2022. The sixth scholarship cohort will be selected in April 2023, with awards disbursed in the fall.
| - Application, Phase I opens. |
| - Deadline for Application, Phase I. |
| - Semi-finalists announced. |
| - Application, Phase II opens (semi-finalists only). |
| - Deadline for Application, Phase II. |
| - Finalists announced. |
| - Finalists interviews. |
| - Scholars announced. |
| - Financial awards are disbursed. |
The myTGS Profile is your portal for everything related to The Gates Scholarship. This includes the application, and – if selected as a Scholar – all associated support services, such as mentoring; academic support; career and internship guidance, advice, and opportunities; financial literacy; and more, for the life of the scholarship.
Yes. In order to apply, a student must first create a myTGS Profile, which will serve as his/her personal portal to all The Gates Scholarship resources, for the life of the scholarship. Prior to the application open date, students can complete their myTGS Profile, but will not have access to The Gates Scholarship application.
Students will need to upload the following documents, which will be requested at various points during the application process.
- A copy of his/her most recent transcript(s) (submitted by counselor)
- Student Aid Report (SAR), once the FAFSA has been completed
- CSS Profile
- Headshot photo
- Resume
- Financial Aid Award Letter
- Letter of admission to a four-year bachelor’s degree program at a not-for-profit, private or public university
The Gates Scholarship will facilitate in-person interviews with Finalists. Virtual interviews will be arranged when interviewers are not within a reasonable distance of Finalists.
Students are responsible for their transportation costs to attend an interview.
The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.
Selected Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance to earn a bachelor’s degree, that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university. Costs covered include tuition, fees, books, room and board, and may include additional personal costs.
TGS also provides Scholars with various online support services designed to help them excel in their degree programs, graduate, and make a successful transition to their chosen careers. These include career services, mentoring, leadership development, wellness, and knowledge building.
Eligible students must be members of one or more of the following ethnic minorities: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian and Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American.
*For American Indian/Alaska Native, proof of tribal enrollment will be required.
The first applications for The Gates Scholarship opened in July of 2017. The first scholarships were awarded in April 2018.
Having launched in 2017, the scholarship is being awarded to exceptional student leaders each year, over the life of the grant, with the intent of helping outstanding minority students who come from low-income backgrounds realize their maximum potential. Each awarded student will be funded for a maximum of five (5) years to complete a bachelor's degree. Online applications will open every summer, through 2026.
An ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- Outstanding academic performance (Students in the top 10% of his/her graduating class)
- Leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities)
- Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.)
Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance* that is not already covered by other scholarships and the expected family contribution, as determined by FAFSA, or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university.
*Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, and transportation, and may include other personal costs.
Funding will be for a maximum of five (5) years of study, with the expectation that s/he will complete a bachelor’s degree during that period.
However, should the need arise, a student may seek approval to defer the next period of study, for up to one year. No scholarship funds would be disbursed to the student for that period.
We encourage students on deferment to work with The Gates Scholarship Scholar Advocacy Team, and to utilize on-campus academic support services, to remain engaged and to help facilitate re-enrollment and graduation.
No. The program does not provide funding for graduate school.
Funding from The Gates Scholarship Program will be disbursed directly to Scholars' colleges/universities. The program will not disburse funds directly to students or non-university third party vendors.
Yes. Funding for off-campus housing will depend on what the Scholar's institution discloses in the cost of attendance. We recommend that you contact your financial aid counselor to discuss educational expenses (including housing) and your full cost of attending that institution.
Yes, but The Gates Scholarship funds can only be applied to such costs if:
- You remain enrolled in your US accredited home university;
- Your program occurs during the normal academic year (not during summer term); and
- You will receive US college credit towards your degree.
To qualify, you must submit an Enrollment Verification form from your US accredited home university. Enrollment Verifications from institutions abroad will not be accepted.
A portion of each scholarship award may be considered taxable by the US Internal Revenue Service. Scholarship recipients are responsible for ascertaining tax liability for the scholarship, and for reporting the taxable portions of their scholarship as income. For details, please visit the IRS website and read through Topic 421.
Yes. In addition to funding, The Gates Scholarship also provides Scholars with various online support services designed to help them excel in their degree programs, graduate, and make a successful transition to their chosen careers. These include career services, mentoring, leadership development, wellness, and knowledge building.
The Gates Scholarship program does not disclose confidential information about our Scholars to third parties, including parents, unless previously authorized by the Scholar.
The Gates Scholarship Program does not offer other scholarships. However we encourage you to visit the following websites for additional scholarship resources:
- Native Forward Scholars Fund – NATIVEFORWARD.org
- APIA Scholars – APIASCHOLARS.org
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund – HSF.net
- United Negro College Fund – UNCF.org
- College Board Scholarship Search - BIGFUTURE.COLLEGEBOARD.org