USDA/1890 National Scholars Program

What is the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program? Answer

What does a scholarship under the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program provide? Answer

What are the eligibility requirements for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program? Answer

What are the 1890 Land-Grant Universities? Answer

What is the application deadline for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program? Answer

Where can an application for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program be obtained? Answer

When are successful USDA/1890 National Scholars Program applicants notified? Answer

What is the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program?

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities. The program awards scholarships to students to attend one of 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities.

What does a scholarship under the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program provide?

A scholarship under the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program provides:

• Full tuition;
• Employment with the USDA during the summer and after graduation;
• Employee benefits while employed with USDA;
• Fees;
• Books;
• Use of a laptop computer, printer, and software while on scholarship;
• Room and board for each of the 4 academic years.

Return to Top

What are the eligibility requirements for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program?

Eligibility requirements for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program are as follows: Applicants must be U.S. citizens who have a high school diploma or a G.E.D. certificate and are starting their first year of college for a bachelor's degree. (Note: Since this program is intended to increase the number of students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related disciplines at participating institutions, currently enrolled bachelor-level students in these institutions are not eligible to apply.) Applicant must:

• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be an entering freshman;
• Hold a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate;
• Have a high school GPA of 3.0 or better;
• Have a combined verbal/math score of 1,000 or more on the SAT or a composite score of 21 or more on the ACT;
• Attend one of the eighteen 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Institutions;
• Study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related disciplines;
• Demonstrate leadership and community service;
• Apply for admission to the institution(s) of his or her choice;
• Submit an official transcript with the school seal and an authorized official's signature;
• Sign all applications (original signature only);
• . All application materials must be postmarked no later than February 1 and sent to the institution(s) selected by the applicant to attend.

Return to Top

What are the 1890 Land-Grant Universities?

The 1890 Land Grant Universities are:

• Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL
• Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS
• Delaware State University, Dover, DE
• Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL
• Fort Valley State University,
  Fort Valley, GA
• Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY
• Langston University, Langston, OK
• Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO
• North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, NC
• Prairie View A&M University,
  Prairie View, TX
• South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC
• Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA
• Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
• Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL
• University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, AR
• University of Maryland-Eastern Shore,
  Princess Anne, MD
• Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA
• West Virginia State University,
  Institute, WV

What is the application deadline for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program?

The application deadline for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is February 1 of each calendar year.

Return to Top

Where can an application for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program be obtained?

Applications for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program can be obtained by contacting the USDA/1890 office by email at 1890init@usda.gov

When are successful USDA/1890 National Scholars Program applicants notified?

Notification procedures are as follows:

• The university acknowledges all candidate applications within two weeks of the application deadline.
• The ten finalists are notified 4-5 weeks after the university selections are made and forwarded to USDA.
• Scholarship offers are usually made within 90 days of application deadline.

Return to Top