The Gates Scholarship 2026: Eligibility, Award and Deadline
The Gates Scholarship is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding high school seniors from low-income households. The current application cycle is open, with a deadline of Sept 15, 2026. Selected scholars receive support toward attendance costs not already covered by other financial aid and the Student Aid Index.
Quick Overview
Programme: The Gates Scholarship
Opportunity Type: Last-dollar scholarship
Target Group: Outstanding high school seniors from low-income households
Application Status: Open
Available From: July 15, 2026
Deadline: Sept 15, 2026
Study Requirement: Full-time enrolment in a four-year degree programme at an accredited, not-for-profit US college or university
Award: Funding for attendance costs not already covered by other financial aid and the Student Aid Index
About The Gates Scholarship
The Gates Scholarship supports exceptional student leaders as they pursue undergraduate education. The programme aims to help selected students realise their maximum potential.
The scholarship uses a last-dollar funding model. This means the award is calculated after considering other financial aid and the applicant’s Student Aid Index. The Student Aid Index is determined through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or the methodology used by the scholar’s college or university.
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Award and Financial Coverage
Scholars receive funding for the full cost of attendance that is not already covered by other financial aid and the Student Aid Index.
The official scholarship page defines the cost of attendance as including:
✓ Tuition
✓ Fees
✓ Books
✓ Housing
✓ Food
✓ Additional personal costs when included in the scholar’s attendance costs
The exact award therefore depends on the financial aid already available to the selected scholar and the attendance costs determined by their college or university.
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Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet all the basic eligibility requirements published by The Gates Scholarship.
Students must:
• Be a high school senior
• Be Pell-eligible
• Be a US citizen or permanent resident
• Be in good academic standing
• Have a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent
• Plan to enrol full-time in a four-year degree programme
• Plan to attend a US-accredited, not-for-profit private or public college or university
Ideal Candidate Profile
In addition to the basic requirements, the programme describes the qualities expected from an ideal candidate.
An ideal candidate will have:
• An outstanding high school academic record and rank within the top 10% of their graduating class
• Demonstrated leadership through community service, extracurricular activities or other involvement
• Exceptional personal success skills, including emotional maturity, motivation and perseverance
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Application and Selection Timeline
The current scholarship cycle follows several stages between July 2026 and September 2027.
• Application available: July 15, 2026
• Application deadline: Sept 15, 2026
• Semifinalist phase: Dec–Jan 2027
• Finalist interviews: March 2027
• Selection: April 2027
• Awards: July–Sept 2027
Application Process
The official scholarship page provides options for new and returning applicants.
New applicants can begin by selecting the “Start Profile” option. Applicants who already have an account can use the “Sign in to apply” option to access the scholarship application.
Students should confirm that they meet every basic eligibility requirement before creating a profile and completing the application.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for The Gates Scholarship is:
Sept 15, 2026
Applications became available on July 15, 2026. The semifinalist phase is scheduled for Dec–Jan 2027.
Official Link
Review the official scholarship details and use the application options provided on the official page.
