Gates Scholarship 2026 is open to apply for all eligible and aspiring US college and university students. The Gates Scholarships, established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is a prestigious and highly competitive scholarship program for the students of the United States.
Every year, these Scholarships are awarded to exceptional students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievements, leadership qualities, and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities and the world.
Table of Contents
- Gates Scholarship program
- Benefits of Gates Scholarships
- Eligibility to apply for Gates Scholarship
- Ideal Candidate
- Gates Scholarship Application Timeline
- How to Apply for Gates Scholarship 2025
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid – FAFSA
- FAQ’s
Gates Scholarship program
The Gates Scholarship is launched in 2017 as an expansion of the Gates Millennium Scholars program, which was established in 1999. The program aims to support talented, low-income minority students in their pursuit of higher education.
Through the Gates Millennium Scholars program, the Gates Foundation invested over $1.6 billion in scholarships, mentoring, and support services to help thousands of students achieve their educational goals.
The Gates Scholarships continue this legacy of empowering exceptional students to unlock their full potential.
Benefits of Gates Scholarships
Gates Scholars receive numerous benefits that support their educational journey and personal development.
Scholars who are selected for Gates Scholarship will receive funding for the full cost of attendance that 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, do not already cover.
The cost of attendance includes the following:
- Tuition,
- Fees,
- Books,
- Housing and Food
NOTE: Please note that the cost of attendance may include other personal costs as well.
Eligibility to apply for Gates Scholarship
To apply for Gates Scholarship, a student must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- The student must be a high school senior,
- Must be Pell-eligible
- Must be a US citizen 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.
Ideal Candidate
Following is the requirements from an Ideal candidate eligible for Gates Scholarships:
- The student must have an outstanding academic record in high school (in the top 10% of his/her graduating class)
- Should demonstrate leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities)
- Must have exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.)
Gates Scholarship Application Timeline
Following is the application timeline of Gates Scholarships:
- The opening date of Gates Scholarships application is July 15, 2025.
- The deadline to apply for Gates Scholarship is on September 15, 2025.
- The review of scholarship applications and announcement of list of semifinalists will take place in the months of December, 2026 – January, 2026.
- The finalists interviews will take place in March, 2026 and selection of scholars will take place in the month of April, 2026.
- Scholars will be awarded with Gates Scholarship in July, 2026 – September, 2026 in time for the fall semester.
How to Apply for Gates Scholarship 2025
All interested and eligible candidates can apply for the Gates Scholarship by visiting the online application portal.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid – FAFSA
The federal government provides financial aid to college students in the form of grants, work-study jobs, and/or student loans.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Opens on October 1st of every year.
This Student Aid is administered by the Office of Federal Student Aid. So, completing this form is critical!
It is the only way to qualify for federal financial assistance of any type. You must submit it, in order to apply for The Gates Scholarship!
To apply for FAFSA, visit fafsa.gov website.
FAQ’s
Students who meet the eligibility criteria can easily get the Gates Scholarships. It is not hard as it seems, with good GPA and academic record, one can easily get Gates Scholarships.
To apply for Gates Scholarships, students must have a household income of $80,000 or less per year.
The students selected for the Gates Scholarships will receive funding for the full cost of attendance to earn a bachelor’s degree that 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, do not already cover.
The GPA requirement for Gates Scholarship is a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) in good academic standing.
Gates Scholarships is legit because, it is launched in 2017 as an expansion of the Gates Millennium Scholars program, which established in 1999. The program aims to support talented, low-income minority students in their pursuit of higher education.
The deadline of Gates Scholarship is September 15, 2026.
The Gates Scholarships 2025 opens from July 15.
Around 300 students win Gates Scholarship every year. All these scholars receive funding for the full cost of attendance to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Yes, the Gates Scholarship is now open to apply.