USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities. The program awards scholarships to students attending one of 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities, pursuing a bachelor degree in agriculture, natural resources, food science, nutrition, or related academic disciplines, and willing to work full-time in the USDA upon graduation.
Each award provides annual tuition, employment, employee benefits, use of a laptop computer, printer, and software while on scholarship, fees (lab and activity), books, and room & board for each academic year. Each annual scholarship renewal is contingent upon satisfactory performance and normal progress toward the bachelor's degree. Upon completion of the scholar's academic degree program, there is an obligation of one year of service to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for each year of financial support.
Applicants may apply for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program as graduating high school seniors up to rising college juniors attending any accredited university in the U.S., but must transfer to the 1890 University to receive the scholarship. Scholarships are awarded to applicants that meet the eligibility criteria, including minimum academic requirements, and demonstrating leadership and community service.
To be eligible for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program scholarship, a student must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be a graduating high school senior or expect to hold a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate
- Have a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale)
- Have a combined verbal/math/written score of 1,500 or more on the SAT (note: 1,000 or more combined for those universities that only accept verbal/math score) or a composite score of 21 or more on the ACT
- Be interested in attending one of the eighteen 1890 Land-Grant Universities
- Intend to study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related academic disciplines
- Demonstrate leadership and community service
- Submit an official transcript with the school seal and an authorized official's signature
- Submit a signed application (original signature only)