Barry Goldwater Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence In Education Foundation

Subject: 2026 Goldwater Scholarship — Key Dates, Eligibility, and How to Prepare

Hello colleagues and students,

Here’s a clear, teacher-friendly summary of the 2026 Goldwater Scholarship competition so you can plan and act with confidence.

What this scholarship is for
- The Goldwater Scholarship supports promising college sophomores and juniors who plan research careers in science, engineering, or mathematics.
- The Foundation seeks students from all types of institutions — community colleges through research universities — who are serious about research.

Important dates
- Competition opens: September 2, 2025
- Institution nomination deadline: January 30, 2026
- First Campus Representative Open House: August 20, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern
- Student Open Houses: September 17, 2025 (two sessions: 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET) and November 5, 2025 (4:00 p.m. ET)
- Weekly Campus Representative Open Houses: every Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET beginning August 20, 2025

Who is eligible
- Must be a college sophomore or junior at the time of application
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Must intend to pursue a research career in science, engineering, or mathematics
- Transfer students and veterans are encouraged to apply — please contact your campus representative for guidance

How to proceed (students)
- Contact your Goldwater Campus Representative as early as possible in the cycle. Early contact gives you time to prepare a strong nomination.
- Find Campus Representative contact information using the Campus Representative Locator at the top of the Goldwater web page.

What to expect at Open Houses
- Weekly sessions for Campus Representatives (Wednesdays, 4:00 p.m. ET) will include presentations by Foundation staff, Scholarship America representatives, Goldwater reviewers, and past Goldwater Scholars, plus time for Q&A.
- Student sessions on Sept. 17 will give you the chance to meet current Goldwater Scholars.
- The Nov. 5 student session will offer a chance to meet Goldwater reviewers.
- Zoom links for Campus Representative sessions will be emailed to all Campus Representatives in August.

A few practical tips
- Start early: talk with your faculty mentor and campus rep well before the nomination deadline.
- Treat this like preparing for a research fellowship: clarity about research goals and strong letters matter.
- If you’re a transfer student or veteran, don’t hesitate to reach out — the program welcomes diverse pathways.

If you have questions, your campus representative is the best first contact. They will also receive the detailed Zoom invitations and additional guidance in August.

Good luck — and plan ahead. This is a competitive but excellent opportunity for students serious about research.