Applications are now open for the Gates Scholarship Program 2026 in the USA. This is a fully funded scholarship for students to study in the United States at accredited institutions. To be eligible for the Gates Scholarship, applicants must plan to enrol in a full-time, four-year undergraduate degree program. This scholarship is for a bachelor's degree program in any field. The scholarship aims to relieve the financial burden on students. Selection will take place in April 2026, and the scholarship will begin in September 2026. The Gates Scholarship program was launched in 2017 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. There are no restrictions on majors or fields of study. The TGS scholarship will cover all expenses for the duration of the bachelor's degree. More details are below.
Details about the Gates Scholarship Program 2026 in the United States of America
- Host country: United States of America
- Degree level: University
- Financial Benefits: Fully Funded
- Deadline: September 15, 2025
Financial benefits
The Gates Grant is final funding, covering all expenses, such as
- teaching
- expenses
- room
- blackboard
- books
- communications
- Other personal expenses.
TGS Scholarship Duration
Each student will receive funding for 5 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
Gates Scholarship Requirements
- Students must be from low-income families.
- High school student
- The student must plan to enrol full-time in a four-year bachelor's degree program.
- Bill Award Eligible. What does "Bill Award Eligible" mean? Read more about this on the Gates Eligibility Criteria page.
- US citizen, national, or permanent resident.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) is required.
Selection criteria
The ideal candidate should have
- Outstanding academic record.
- Demonstrated leadership ability through extracurricular or other activities.
- Exceptional personal success skills such as motivation and emotional storytelling.
Documents required from students
- A copy of the latest texts.
- Student Aid Report (SAR), once the FAFSA is completed
- CSS Profile
- headshot
- biography
- Financial Aid Grant Letter
- Letter of acceptance into a four-year bachelor's degree program at a nonprofit, private, or public university.
Use the College Finder tool to see a list of colleges affiliated with the Gates Scholarship Program.
How to apply for the Gates Scholarship 2026?
Applicants must apply online. Register and create a profile on TGS. Upload documents. The official link is below.
The link to the application process is https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/help-center/student/application-process.