Undergraduate Scholarships

Horatio Alger Association administers over 70 scholarship programs, offering opportunities for students in various stages of their academic careers to achieve their educational goals and realize their potential. Learn more about our programs below.

How it Works

  1. Determine Eligibility & Apply
  2. Craft Essay Responses
  3. Connect with Counselor
  4. Connect with Support Form Provider
  5. Submit Documents

Determine Eligibility & Apply

  • Review the section below to determine the scholarships for which you are eligible.
  • By filling out one application, you will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible, except for some
    Specialized Scholarships (see Scholarship Programs section further below).
  • Click the Apply Now button to start your application. Some Specialized Scholarships require a separate application and you will find the button in the Scholarship Program section.

Craft Essay Responses

  • Describe your Horatio Alger story.
  • Share your American Dream experience.
  • Choose a Horatio Alger Member whom you admire and reflect on the opportunities they were presented in order to succeed.

Connect with Counselor

  • Enter your Counselor’s email address so that they will receive a request to submit the Counselor Certification Form on your behalf.
  • Contact your Counselor to ensure that they have received the request (sometimes school accounts block emails, so you may need to resend).

Connect with Support Form Provider

  • Enter the email address of an adult over the age of 21 who is not related to you and is familiar with the adversities you have written about in your short responses (e.g. neighbor, family friend, counselor, pastor, teacher, etc.). This individual will serve as your Support Form Provider and will receive a request to review and confirm the accuracy of the information you provided in your adversity section. 
  • Contact your Support Form Provider to ensure that they received the request. Once your Support Form Provider completes their review, you will not be able to edit your adversity section.

Submit Documents

  • High School Transcript (must include your fall grades)
  • Income Verification (most often your parents’ tax form: if you have a unique situation and a tax form is unavailable, please refer to our FAQ section to determine alternative documentation)
Applicant FAQView More
Counselor/Provider FAQView More

Scholarship programs

High School Junior All 50 States & D.C.

National Scholarship

Award Amount: 105 scholarships at $25,000 each

  • Be enrolled full time as a high school junior in the United States
  • Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States immediately after high school graduation (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
  • Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
  • Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities
  • Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0
  • Be a United States citizen
High School Junior Iowa

Belle Plaine Community Schools Scholarship

Award Amount: 4 scholarships at $10,000 each (funded by Henry B. Tippie)

  • Be enrolled full time as a high school junior enrolled at Belle Plains Community School in Belle Plains, Iowa
  • Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States immediately after high school graduation (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
  • Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
  • Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
  • Be a United States citizen
High School Senior Florida

Bergeron Everglades Environmental Steward Scholarship

Award Amount: 2 scholarships at $20,000 each (funded by Association Member Ronald M. Bergeron)

  • Be enrolled full time as a high school senior in the state of Florida
  • Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at a college or university in Florida
  • Must pursue a degree in environmental sciences/studies
  • Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
  • Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0
  • Be a United States citizen
High School Junior South Dakota

Buntrock South Dakota State Scholarship

Award Amount: 2 scholarships at $20,000 each

  • Be enrolled full time as a high school junior in Brown County, South Dakota
  • Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States immediately after high school graduation (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
  • Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
  • Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities
  • Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0
  • Be a United States citizen
High School Senior All 50 States & D.C.

Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation Scholarship – College of Idaho

Award Amount: 5 scholarships at $52,000 each (funded by the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation)

  • Be enrolled full time as a high school senior in the United States
  • Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue a bachelor’s degree at the College of Idaho immediately after high school graduation
  • Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
  • Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0
  • Be a United States citizen
High School Senior Montana

Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

Award Amount: 50 scholarships at $10,000 each (additional $5,000 awarded by partnering institutions) (funded by Dennis R. Washington)

  • Be enrolled full time as a high school senior in the United States
    • Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree in one of the following institutions immediately after high school graduation:
    • The University of Montana or one of its affiliates:
      • Helena College
      • Missoula College
      • Montana Tech at Butte
      • The University of Montana at Missoula
      • The University of Montana Western at Dillon
    • Montana State University or one of its affiliates:
      • Great Falls College MSU
      • Montana State University Billings
      • Montana State University at Bozeman
      • Montana State University Northern at Havre
    • Community Colleges: 
      • Dawson
      • Flathead Valley
      • Miles
      • Tribal Colleges
  • Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
  • Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0
  • Be a United States citizen and a resident of Montana
High School Senior All 50 States & D.C.

Denny Sanford Arizona State University Scholarship

Award Amount: 25 scholarships at $10,000 each (funded by T. Denny Sanford)

  • Be enrolled full time as a high school senior in the United States
  • Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at Arizona State University immediately after high school graduation
  • Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
  • Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
  • Be a United States citizen
High School Senior All 50 States & D.C.

Denny Sanford Augustana University Scholarship

Award Amount: 6 scholarships at $25,000 each (funded by T. Denny Sanford)

  • Be enrolled full time as a high school senior in the United States
  • Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at Augustana University immediately after high school graduation
  • Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
  • Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
  • Be a United States citizen
High School Senior All 50 States & D.C.

Denny Sanford Black Hills State University Scholarship

Award Amount: 12 scholarships at $12,500 each (funded by T. Denny Sanford)

  • Be enrolled full time as a high school senior in the United States
  • Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at Black Hills State University immediately after high school graduation
  • Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
  • Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
  • Be a United States citizen
High School Senior All 50 States & D.C.

Denny Sanford Dakota State University Scholarship

Award Amount: 15 scholarships at $10,000 each (funded by T. Denny Sanford)

  • Be enrolled full time as a high school senior in the United States
  • Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at Dakota State University immediately after high school graduation
  • Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
  • Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
  • Be a United States citizen

College always seemed like an unaffordable dream for the majority of my life. I never expected to come to college, but the only reason I am here is because of scholarships like this. The HAA scholarship not only helped lighten the burden of financial stress, but it also gave me access to a support system I could turn to whenever I felt like I did not belong.

Juan Daniel Fernandez
2019 Oklahoma Scholar