Nationally competitive award
Harry S. Truman Scholarship
A merit-based scholarship for college students planning careers in government or public service, providing funding for graduate study, leadership development programming, and federal opportunities.
- Deadline
- February 2, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. (applicant's time zone)
- Award amount
- Up to $30,000 toward a public service-related graduate degree
- Participation in Truman Scholars Leadership Week at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri
- Optional eight-week Summer Institute in Washington, DC with internships and policymaker meetings
- Optional one-year Truman-Albright Fellows Program placing scholars in public service jobs in Washington, DC
- Must work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of a Foundation-funded graduate degree program
- Up to $30,000 for graduate school
- Access to Scholar programming, priority admission and financial support from public service graduate programs, advising and mentoring, and preferred hiring with the federal government
Overview
- United States citizen
- United States national from American Samoa
- Must be a full-time junior-level student at a four-year institution pursuing a bachelor's degree during the 2026-2027 academic year expecting to graduate between December 2027 and August 2028, or in third year graduating in 2026-2027
- Must be a United States citizen or a United States national from American Samoa
- Must be nominated by the Truman Scholarship Faculty Representative at your institution
- Must be in the upper quarter of your class
- Application form
- Policy proposal
- Nomination letter from institution
- Three letters of recommendation
- Transcript
- February 2, 2027: Truman Application Deadline (11:59 pm, your time zone)
- February 8, 2027: Foundation Confirms Receipt of Materials by
- February 15, 2027: Finalists Notified
- February 18, 2027: Finalist Confirmation Due by 9:00 am ET
- February 19, 2027: Finalist Posting
- March 1, 2027 to April 15, 2027: Regional Review Panels
- April 23, 2027: Scholar Posting
- May 25, 2027 to May 30, 2027: Truman Scholars Leadership Week