National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program

Organization: National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program—Click here to apply

Application Opens: 12/01/2024

Application Deadline: 07/08/2025

Overview: The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Scholarship Program is the largest of its kind, awarding over $250,000 in cash and prizes annually to blind scholars across the U.S., the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Thirty $8,000 scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, community service, and leadership. Winners participate in the NFB National Convention in July, where they are recognized for their achievements and receive their awards. Additionally, the Jim Halladay HumanWare/NFB Scholarships provide four recipients with a Brailliant BI40 braille display and $1,000 to support their STEM development and educational journey.

Key Information

• Location: U.S., District of Columbia, Puerto Rico

• Modality: Applicable to full-time post-secondary programs (five scholarships available for part-time students working full-time)

• Compensation:

  • $8,000 merit-based scholarships (30 available)

  • $1,000 plus a Brailliant BI40 braille display (4 HumanWare scholarships)

• Time Commitment: NFB National Convention in July is mandatory for all finalists

Eligibility Requirements

• Legally blind in both eyes (proof required)

• Residing in the U.S., D.C., or Puerto Rico

• Must be 18 years old by July 8, 2025

• Pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time degree program at a U.S. institution in Fall 2025

• Must participate in person in all scheduled NFB National Convention scholarship program activitie