Gates Scholarship — Full Cost of Attendance (Underrepresented Minority Students)

About This Opportunity

The Gates Scholarship (formerly Gates Millennium Scholars) provides funding for the full cost of college attendance — tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, and personal expenses — to outstanding minority students with significant financial need. The scholarship covers up to four years of undergraduate study and can be extended into graduate school for students pursuing specific fields. Approximately 300 scholarships are awarded annually from a pool of thousands of applicants. To be eligible, students must be American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic American, or Asian Pacific Islander American; be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; have a GPA of 3.3 or higher; and be Pell Grant-eligible (demonstrated financial need). The Gates Scholarship is among the most generous scholarships in existence — recipients can attend virtually any accredited college with their costs fully covered. The application opens in September with a mid-October deadline. Gates Scholars also receive mentoring, networking, and leadership development support. Omaha and Council Bluffs students from these communities are encouraged to apply.

Who Can Apply

U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Must be American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic American, or Asian Pacific Islander American. Unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher. Pell Grant-eligible (demonstrated financial need via FAFSA — family income typically under $65,000 for a family of 4, but sliding scale applies for larger families). High school senior planning to enroll full-time at accredited U.S. college or university. Must NOT have previously enrolled in college. Apply at thegatesscholarship.org.