USDA Scholarships in Agriculture
USDA Scholarships
If you are considering apply for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program agriculture scholarships, there are several things that you need to know about what is required and expected of you in order to win these scholarships in agriculture, to attend school, and to find employment after your graduation. These USDA scholarships in agriculture are offered from the United States Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the 1890 Black Land Grant Universities.
First, these USDA scholarships are only available for students who will attend one of the 18 Black Land Grant Universities. These Universities include Florida A&M, Kentucky State University, Prairie View A&M, the University of Arkansas, Alabama A&M, Langston University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Southern University, West Virginia State University, Tennessee State University, Lincoln University, Tuskegee University, Virginia State University, North Carolina A&T University, Fort Valley State University, Alcorn State University, South Carolina State University, and Delaware State University.
Attending one of these colleges isn’t the only thing that is required for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Scholarship Program. The student must also major in agriculture, nutrition or food science, or other fields related to the agriculture and natural resources industries. You must be a citizen of the United States, have a GPA of at least 3.0, and have leadership qualities and have verifiable proof of community service. You must also have a score of at least 1500 on the SAT or a score of 21 on the ACT.
If you are not currently a high school student, but are instead a sophomore or junior in college, you must also submit a resume, two letters of recommendation, and an essay to apply for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program. Applications can be obtained online, but must be mailed in once they are completed, and postmarked on or before the February 1st deadline each year. Winners are notified between March 1st and April 30th, and those who did not win the USDA scholarships are notified by mail during the month of May. The applications are not sent to the USDA, they are sent directly to the school that you will be attending.
If you are awarded one of these agricultural scholarships, you will be required to work for the United States Department of Agriculture for a certain number of years beginning immediately after your graduation. The number of years coincides with the number of years that you received the award while attending school; so at most, you would be required to work for the USDA for a period of four years.
There are approximately 36 USDA scholarships for agriculture awarded under the program each year, and each ag scholarship provides the students with full tuition and associated fees, books, a laptop computer with a printer and software, room and board, and summer employment with the USDA while you are still attending school. Essentially, your entire education is paid for, which is what makes the USDA scholarships in agriculture offered under this program so attractive, and the application process so competitive.
You should also note that you can apply for the USDA scholarship program at more than one 1890 Landmark University by sending a copy of the application to each school that you are interested in attending. However, with the copy of the application, all signatures and transcripts must be original.
The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program should definitely be considered and applied for if you will be attending a qualifying college, if you meet the eligibility requirements and you will be going into an agriculture field, as you not only get the financial aid, but you will also get almost immediate experience in your chosen field upon graduation – guaranteed.
ARMS Agriculture Scholarship from USDA
