Jefferson Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Jefferson Scholars Foundation

Overview

The Jefferson Scholars Foundation attracts outstanding undergraduate students to the University of Virginia through two scholarship programs: the Jefferson Scholars Program and the Walentas Scholars Program. The Foundation focuses on developing leaders, scholars, and citizens who will contribute to the University and the broader world. Both programs combine financial support, enrichment opportunities, and access to an active network of Scholars, Fellows, alumni, and volunteers.

Description: Two competitive, merit-based undergraduate scholarship programs administered by the Foundation that provide funding and developmental experiences to exceptional students attending the University of Virginia.

• Two programs: Jefferson Scholars Program and Walentas Scholars Program.
• Emphasis on leadership, scholarship, and citizenship.
• Combines funding, enrichment, and network access.

The Scholarships

Both the Jefferson Scholars Program and the Walentas Scholars Program cultivate outstanding undergraduate students, supporting them as they pursue academic passions and community engagement. The programs provide comprehensive support including tuition coverage, enrichment funding, and mentoring from the Foundation’s network. Scholars are encouraged to develop their talents and engage in leadership and service during and after their time at the University.

Description: Scholarship programs designed to identify and support students with exceptional records and the potential for significant impact inside and outside the classroom.

• Holistic support for academic, leadership, and community development.
• Access to mentorship and alumni networks.
• Designed for high-achieving, service-oriented undergraduates at UVA.

Awards

The Jefferson and Walentas scholarships are intended to cover the full cost of attendance for four years at the University of Virginia, plus supplemental enrichment experiences. Award packages vary by residency status to reflect tuition differences and additional enrichment funding. The Foundation aims to remove financial barriers so Scholars can pursue educational and developmental opportunities without undue financial burden.

Award Value: Virginians receive over $42,000 per year (upwards of $230,000 total); non-Virginians receive over $83,000 per year (upwards of $405,000 total). These figures include tuition, fees, and supplemental enrichment support.

• Covers full cost of attendance for four years.
• Includes supplemental enrichment funding beyond tuition and fees.
• Different award packages for in-state and out-of-state recipients.

Enrichment

The Foundation provides Scholars with a broad range of enrichment activities to broaden perspectives and accelerate development. These opportunities include international travel, leadership institutes, career development, research collaboration, and connections with alumni and Fellows. Enrichment resources are intended to complement academic work and enable experiential learning and professional growth.

Opportunities:

• International Travel
• Career Development and Networking
• Institute for Leadership and Citizenship
• Alumni Connections
• Exploratory Fund
• Research Collaboration with Jefferson Fellows
• Speaker Series
• Wide variety of experiential and professional development offerings.
• Funding supports travel, research, and exploratory projects.
• Strong emphasis on mentorship and alumni engagement.

Selection Process

Jefferson and Walentas Scholarships are awarded following a rigorous, multi-stage selection process that identifies students with exceptional achievement and potential for impact. The process evaluates candidates’ records, leadership, scholarship, and service through successive review stages. Only a subset of nominated students advance through regional review to final selection by Foundation committees.

Process Components: The selection process comprises three main components: Nomination, Regional Review, and Final Selection.

• Multi-stage process to identify top candidates from nominations.
• Evaluates academic achievement, leadership, and community impact.
• Final selection completed by Foundation review panels.

2025–26 Selection Highlights

The Foundation issued invitations to nominate from thousands of secondary schools and conducted regional and final reviews to identify Scholars for 2025–26. For the 2024–25 academic year, the Foundation awarded significant undergraduate support across its programs. These metrics reflect the breadth of the nomination pool and the scale of the Foundation’s investment in student support.

Highlights:

• 7,697 secondary schools invited to nominate across 85 regions.
• 3,289 high school students nominated.
• $13,000,000 awarded in undergraduate support for the 2024–25 academic year.
• Large national and regional nomination reach.
• Thousands of nominations demonstrate competitive selection.
• Millions in financial support awarded to undergraduate Scholars.