8 great scholarships for Eagle Scouts

Updated Dec. 5, 2018


These days, higher education comes with a higher price tag. These scholarships for Eagle Scouts will help take out some of the sting.

If you know of a scholarship not listed here, please share the name and link in the comments.

Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship for Catholic Scouts

How much: Seven scholarships: one at $5,000 for first place, one at $4,000 for second, one at $3,000 for third, and four at $2,000. (The 2019 scholarships, totaling $20,000, represent a 67 percent increase over the 2018 award amounts.)

Who’s eligible: Catholic high school seniors who are Scouts or Venturers in any BSA program. Applicants must have earned the Eagle Scout Award, Silver Award, Summit Award or Quartermaster Award.

Deadline: March 1, 2019

What’s required: Photo and application listing service to Scouting, church and the community

Link: National Catholic Committee on Scouting scholarship

Questions: Email nccs@scouting.org

Note: Sixty-seven Boy Scouts have been awarded the Emmett J Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship since its inception in 2005.

National Jewish Committee on Scouting scholarships

How much: Ranging from $500 to $4,000

Who’s eligible: Active Eagle Scouts who have earned the Ner Tamid or Etz Chaim religious emblem and are active in their synagogue. Some of the scholarships require the applicant to demonstrate financial need.

Deadline: Jan. 31, 2019

What’s required: Application listing school and Scouting record.

Link: National Jewish Committee on Scouting scholarships

Questions: Email office@jewishscouting.org

American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year

How much: $10,000 for the winner and $2,500 apiece for three runners-up

Who’s eligible: Eagle Scouts who are at least 15 and registered, active members of a Boy Scout Troop, Varsity Scout Team, or Venturing Crew chartered to an American Legion post, American Legion Auxiliary unit or Sons of The American Legion squadron — or Eagle Scouts who are registered, active members of a chartered Boy Scout Troop, Varsity Scout Team, or Venturing Crew, and the son or grandson of a Legionnaire, Sons of The American Legion or Auxiliary member,

Deadline: March 1, 2019

What’s required: Application, photograph, school participation record, Scouting record, community service record, religious award record and four letters of recommendation.

Link: American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year

Questions: Email scouting@legion.org

Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year

How much: $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place

Who’s eligible: Young people who are are least 15 and registered, active members of a Boy or Girl Scout Troop, Venturing Crew, or a Sea Scout Ship who have received the Eagle Scout Award, Girl Scout Gold Award, Venturing Summit Award or Sea Scout Quartermaster Award.

Deadline: March 1, 2019

What’s required: Application, photograph, school participation record, Scouting record, community service record and three letters of recommendation.

Link: VFW Scout of the Year

Questions: Email scouting@vfw.org

Mervyn Sluizer Jr. Scholarship for Philadelphia-area Scouts

How much: Two scholarships at $1,000 apiece

Who’s eligible: Eagle Scouts who have been active in BSA at least five years and live in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Deadline: March 29, 2019

What’s required: Application, essay, school transcript and two letters of recommendation.

LinkMervyn Sluizer Jr. Scholarship  

Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting scholarships

How much: $1,000 for first place and $500 for runner-up

Who’s eligible: Eagle Scouts who are active in an Eastern Orthodox Church and have received the Alpha Omega Religious Scout Award.

Deadline: May 1, 2019

What’s required: Application and four letters of recommendation.

Link: Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting scholarships.

Questions: Call 516-868-4050

National Eagle Scout Association scholarships

How much: At least 150 scholarships available, ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 per recipient

Who’s eligible:National Eagle Scout Association members. (Note: Eagle Scouts can apply for a NESA scholarship before you apply for a NESA membership.)

Deadline: Oct. 31 each year

What’s required: Application (though one scholarship requires a reference letter).

Link: NESA scholarships

Questions: Email NESA@scouting.org

Arthur M. and Berdena King Eagle Scout Award

Presented by the Sons of the American Revolution

How much: $10,000 for first place, $6,000 for second place and $4,000 for third place

Who’s eligible: All Eagle Scouts under 19 years old

Deadline: Varies by chapter. Find your state’s SAR society contact at the link below.

What’s required: Application listing Scouting and school achievements and an essay about the Revolutionary War.

Link: Sons of the American Revolution scholarship

Questions: Email your state’s contact person at the link above.

Institution-specific scholarships

There are a number of scholarships for Scouts attending specific institutions of higher learning.

Find a nice list here and always check with your college or university to see whether they recognize Eagle Scouts in this way.

Council-specific scholarships

Check your council’s website — or give them a call or email — to see whether there are scholarship opportunities exclusive to Scouts in your council.

Service academies

Eagle Scouts have a leg up when applying to our country’s military academies, where all tuition, room and board is paid by the government.

The academy admission process puts young people in the pool for ROTC scholarships, and graduates leave with a guaranteed job.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.