Truman Scholarship: Funding for Undergraduates Headed Into Public Service

What the Scholarship Funds

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship provides up to $30,000 toward a graduate or professional degree, on top of priority admission and financial aid consideration at some partner graduate schools. Scholars also join a week-long leadership development program and gain access to a network of Truman alumni working across government, nonprofits, and public policy.

The money applies after you finish your undergraduate degree, so it funds the next step: law school, a public policy master's, or another graduate program tied to your public service goals.

Who Can Apply

You need to be a full-time junior expecting to earn a bachelor's degree the following year, with US citizenship or national status, which includes applicants from the Pacific Islands. There is no fixed major requirement, but you need a demonstrated record of leadership, public service, and a stated intent to pursue a career in government, nonprofit work, education, or another public service field.

Your college nominates you rather than you applying directly to the foundation. Each accredited 4-year institution can nominate up to 4 students, plus up to 3 transfer students, for a maximum of 7 nominees a year, so talk to your school's fellowship office early to secure a nomination slot.

How Many Scholars Get Selected

The foundation selected 54 Truman Scholars in 2025 from 743 candidates nominated by 288 colleges and universities, and the trustees expect to select 55 to 60 scholars for the 2027 competition. The selection rate runs well under 10 percent of nominees, so a nomination from your school is a strong credential but not a guarantee.

Application Timeline

For the 2027 competition, the application deadline is February 2, 2027 , with materials due by 11:59 PM in your local time zone. Finalists get notified around February 15, regional interviews run from March through mid April, and the foundation announces new scholars in late April. These dates hold firm each year, so build your nomination timeline around your school's internal deadline, which typically falls weeks before the national date.

What Committees Look For

Selection panels weigh 4 things: leadership experience, a genuine record of public service rather than a resume padded with one-off volunteering, communication skills demonstrated through your policy proposal, and the likely impact of your future graduate work. Every Truman application includes a policy proposal addressing a specific public problem, and reviewers use it to judge how clearly you think about real institutional change.

Building a Strong Nomination

• Meet with your fellowship office in the fall of your sophomore year to understand your school's internal nomination process.

• Build a public service record with depth in one area instead of scattered short-term activities.

• Draft your policy proposal around a problem you have direct experience with, and back it with specific data and sources.

• Practice explaining your public service goals out loud, since committees interview finalists directly on their proposals.

A Brief History

Congress created the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation in 1975 as the federal government's official memorial to President Truman, funded through a trust fund rather than a private endowment. That federal charter is part of why the scholarship focuses so tightly on public service careers, distinguishing it from privately endowed awards like Rhodes or Marshall.

Common Questions

• Do I need to attend graduate school right after finishing my bachelor's degree? No. Many scholars work for a few years first and use the funding when they later enroll in graduate school.

• Does the scholarship require a specific major? No. Truman Scholars come from public policy, biology, engineering, and many other majors, as long as their career plans point toward public service.

• What happens if my college does not nominate me? You cannot apply to the Truman Foundation without an institutional nomination, so if your school reaches its cap, ask your fellowship office about the internal selection process for next year.

• Can I use the funding for any graduate program? The funding applies to a graduate or professional degree connected to your public service plans, and the foundation reviews your specific program choice as part of the scholar experience.

Where Truman Scholars End Up

Truman alumni work across federal, state, and local government, nonprofit leadership, law, and public health, reflecting how broadly the foundation defines public service. The scholarship's leadership programming continues after your undergraduate years, including a summer institute and ongoing professional development, so the award functions as a long-term network as much as a one-time payment toward graduate school.