The Gates Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Bill Gates Foundation

Overview

The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding high school seniors from low-income households. It targets exceptional student leaders and is intended to enable recipients to realize their full academic potential. The scholarship supports students who plan to pursue a four-year bachelor’s degree at an accredited, not-for-profit U.S. college or university. Selection emphasizes both academic performance and demonstrated leadership potential.

Description: A national scholarship program that covers remaining college costs after other financial aid and the Student Aid Index are applied; awarded to high school seniors meeting program criteria.

• Last-dollar support for low-income, high-achieving high school seniors.
• Focus on leadership and potential for impact.
• Intended for full-time enrollment in a four-year U.S. institution.

Award Value

The scholarship funds the remaining cost of attendance that is not covered by other financial aid and the Student Aid Index, as determined by FAFSA or the institution’s methodology. Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, books, housing, and food, and may also cover additional personal expenses. The award is designed to remove financial barriers that would otherwise prevent matriculation and degree completion. Payment amounts and coverage are determined per scholar by each recipient’s college or university.

Award Value: Full remaining cost of attendance after other aid, subject to institutional cost calculations and FAFSA-derived measures.

• Covers tuition, fees, books, housing, and food.
• May include other personal costs depending on institutional policy.
• Calculated as the remaining balance after other aid and the Student Aid Index.

Eligibility

Applicants must be high school seniors who meet specific financial and academic requirements. Eligible students are Pell-eligible and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applicants must be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent. Candidates must plan to enroll full-time in a four-year degree program at an accredited, not-for-profit U.S. college or university.

Eligibility: High school senior; Pell-eligible; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; minimum 3.3 weighted GPA; planning full-time enrollment at a four-year accredited institution.

• Must be a high school senior at time of application.
• Financial need demonstrated through Pell eligibility.
• Minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 (or equivalent).
• Full-time enrollment in a four-year accredited U.S. institution required.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal Gates Scholar combines strong academic performance with demonstrated leadership and personal resilience. Typical candidates rank among the top of their graduating class and show leadership through community service, extracurricular activities, or other sustained responsibilities. Selection also favors candidates with emotional maturity, motivation, and perseverance that indicate likely success in college and beyond. These attributes complement academic achievement in the evaluation process.

Ideal Candidate: A top-performing student with clear leadership experience and strong personal success skills such as motivation and resilience.

• Academic excellence (often in the top 10% of the class).
• Demonstrated leadership and community engagement.
• Personal qualities like emotional maturity, motivation, and perseverance.