This page provides information specifically for the Gates Millennium Scholarships. Check below for more scholarships to apply for as a high school student, e.g. based on your grade level.
For outstanding minority high school seniors with significant financial need, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program is one of the most transformative scholarship opportunities in the United States. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this prestigious program covers the full cost of tuition, fees, and other educational expenses not already met by financial aid, enabling recipients to attend any accredited U.S. college or university. Each year, 1,000 scholarships are awarded, providing a pathway for students to excel not only during their undergraduate studies but also through graduate programs in select fields.
Recipients of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership qualities, and a deep commitment to community service. Typical scholars maintain a GPA of 3.3 or higher, rank among the top of their graduating class, and have made meaningful contributions to their communities. The program seeks to support students from diverse minority backgrounds, including African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students. Past recipients have pursued degrees across a wide array of disciplines, with particular encouragement to enter critical fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), education, public health, and library science.
Michael Ortiz, a 2015 recipient now working as a software engineer, shares, “The Gates Millennium Scholars Program changed my life. It allowed me to attend my dream school without the burden of debt, and the mentoring resources helped me navigate my career in technology.” Similarly, Ayesha Patel, a 2018 scholar pursuing a Master’s degree in public health, reflects, “This scholarship opened doors I didn’t even know existed. The community of scholars and alumni has been incredibly supportive, and the financial freedom has allowed me to focus entirely on my studies and research.”
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program stands out for its comprehensive approach to student success. In addition to covering all unmet educational costs, it provides scholars with personalized support tailored to their academic and career goals. Mentorship opportunities connect students with experienced professionals who can guide them through complex decisions and help them build impactful careers. For those pursuing graduate studies, the program’s commitment extends to funding advanced degrees in high-demand fields, ensuring that scholars are equipped to lead and innovate in their chosen industries. What distinguishes the program is its commitment to ensuring that scholars can focus on their studies without the burden of tuition, fees, and other expenses. A Gates Millennium Scholar can receive up to the full cost of attendance, which may include tuition, fees, books, and living expenses, for the duration of their academic career, depending on the program of study and institution. This comprehensive support allows students to fully engage in their education without the distraction of financial constraints.
To apply for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, eligible high school seniors must complete an online application, including essays, recommendation letters, and a demonstration of financial need. Applications are reviewed based on academic merit, leadership potential, and a commitment to community service. The application process typically opens in the fall, with deadlines in early January.
Email: info@gmsp.org
Website: www.gmsp.org
Address: Gates Millennium Scholars Program,
1805 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Tel: 877-690-4677
The scholarships provided in the following pages are organized by grade level in high school; there is, thus, no longer any need to go through thousands of resources to find those applicable to you. Having been prepared with high school students in mind, highscholarships.com makes the task rather easy for you.
On this page, you will find numerous scholarships that are specifically for high school seniors. This is when you qualify the most number of scholarships! Do not wait longer!
SHOW ME ↓This page is dedicated to scholarships that are for high school juniors, of which there are plenty. Some of these can be applied for by high school seniors as well.
SHOW ME ↓Here, you can find scholarships for high school sophomores, although some of them are available also to high schoolers at other levels. Start early!
SHOW ME ↓There are also scholarships are for high school freshmen! These are not as many in number as other grade levels, but provide a reason to start early.
SHOW ME ↓It is not too difficult to fully fund your college dream via scholarships. Once you have identified the right opportunities/matches among countless resources, an endeavor highscholarships.com makes easy for you, statistically speaking, even if you had a low success rate, you can fully fund a private college education.