Paying for college feels impossible when money is tight. But there’s a scholarship out there that could cover everything FAFSA and other aid don’t. It’s called The Gates Scholarship, and it’s one of the most generous awards available to low income students.
Here’s what you need to know, including who qualifies and how to apply before the deadline.
What Is The Gates Scholarship?
The Gates Scholarship, sometimes called TGS, is a highly selective scholarship for high school seniors from low income households. It’s a “last-dollar” scholarship, which means it steps in to cover whatever costs are left over after your other financial aid is applied.
Every year, TGS picks outstanding student leaders and helps them get to college without the financial stress hanging over their heads.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
This is the part that makes The Gates Scholarship stand out. Scholars get funding for their full cost of attendance that isn’t already covered by other financial aid or your Student Aid Index (the number FAFSA calculates for you).
That cost of attendance includes:
- Tuition and fees
- Books
- Housing and food
- Some additional personal costs
In other words, if you fill out the FAFSA and qualify for the Pell Grant or other aid, The Gates Scholarship can fill in the rest of the gap so you’re not stuck with a bill. If you haven’t filled out your FAFSA yet, that’s your first step.
It’s also how many other scholarships for low income students determine what you qualify for, so it’s worth filling out that FAFSA early.
Who Can Apply?
There are a handful of hard requirements you have to meet before you can even submit an application:
- You’re finishing your senior year of high school
- You’re a US citizen or permanent resident
- You qualify for the Pell Grant based on your family’s income
- You’re carrying roughly a 3.3 weighted GPA or better
- You plan to enroll full-time in a four-year degree program at an accredited, not-for-profit college or university in the US
- Preference is given to students with a strong academic record, such as those who are in the top 10% of their class
Community college plans, part-time schedules, and for-profit schools won’t fit these requirements. Pell eligibility is usually where families get tripped up, since it comes down to your household’s income and size.
If you’re not sure whether you’d qualify, our guide on the Federal Poverty Level walks through how income-based programs like this one typically set their cutoffs.
But checking those boxes only gets your application in the door. The people reviewing it are also weighing how you’ve spent your time outside the classroom. They want to see that you’ve stepped up and led somewhere, whether that’s a club, a team, a job, or your own household, and that you’ve pushed through hard things without giving up. If you’ve had to work harder than most just to keep up in school, work a job to help your family, or take care of siblings while managing your classes, that’s exactly the kind of resilience this scholarship wants to see. Don’t sell yourself short when you write about it.
Key Dates to Know
The Gates Scholarship runs on a set yearly schedule. Here’s how it breaks down for this cycle:
- Applications open: July 15
- Deadline to apply: September 15
- Semifinalist phase: December through January
- Finalist interviews: March
- Selection notifications: April
- Awards distributed: July through September
Mark your calendar now if you’re planning to apply. Scholarship applications like this one take time to put together well, especially the personal essays, so don’t wait until the week before the deadline to get started.
How to Apply
You’ll apply directly through The Gates Scholarship’s website by creating a profile and signing in to start your application. Because this scholarship is so competitive, give yourself plenty of time to gather everything you need, including your GPA information, activity list, and any essays the application requires.
While you’re at it, it’s smart to apply for other aid at the same time. Many students layer The Gates Scholarship with other awards and with schools that offer free tuition for low income families, which can stretch your money even further.
Relief Recap
A scholarship that covers your entire remaining cost of attendance doesn’t come around often, and that’s exactly why The Gates Scholarship is worth the effort it takes to apply. If you’re a high school senior who qualifies, this could be the difference between graduating debt-free and graduating buried in loans.
Next, take a look at our full list of scholarships for low income students to see what else you might qualify for while you wait to hear back.
