Udall Scholarship
Before you spend hours on this
Will this scholarship actually lower your cost?
Not always. Many colleges reduce your financial-aid package when you win an outside scholarship — sometimes dollar-for-dollar — so the money can end up saving the school instead of you. It's called scholarship displacement. Two free tools tell you where you actually stand:
General guidance, not financial advice — your school's financial aid office is the only authority on how they treat outside awards. Always confirm with them before deciding.
Best fit for
College SOPHOMORES or JUNIORS (high school seniors are NOT eligible — this is on the post-HS roadmap). Best fit: students in environmental studies, public policy, Native American studies, or pre-med with tribal health focus, who've already done concrete work in the field (internship, research, advocacy).
What they actually look for
Udall is a $7,000 college award — paid in your junior or senior year — for sophomores/juniors committed to careers in environment, tribal policy, or Native healthcare. About 55 winners per year. The single biggest credential it gives you isn't the money — it's joining the Udall Scholars network, which is a feeder to top grad programs and federal jobs in environmental and tribal policy.
What you'll need
- College SOPHOMORE or JUNIOR — NOT a high school senior (this is a college-year award)
- Major or career commitment to one of: environment, tribal public policy, or Native American healthcare
- Your university's faculty representative must nominate you through the Udall portal
- Multiple long-form essays on your commitment, leadership, and goals
- Three recommendations from professors / mentors
- Strong academic record (~3.5+ GPA typical)
When to start
If you're a high school senior: bookmark this for sophomore year of college. If you're already in college: contact your campus Udall faculty rep in October of sophomore or junior year. National deadline is early March.
Watch out for
You can ONLY apply through your college's Udall faculty rep, not directly. Some smaller colleges don't have one — you'll need to ask the dean of fellowships or honors program office to set up the nomination pathway. Also: even if you're not Native American, you can apply for the environment track — Udall splits its slots across both tracks each year.