Eligibility Requirements for U.S. Student Scholars

The Bezos Scholars Program prioritizes serving students attending public high schools that serve communities facing economic barriers. By centering eligibility on economically under-resourced schools, we aim to ensure that the program’s benefits—mentorship, resources, leadership opportunities and Community Change Projects designed by Scholars—reach students and educators whose schools often have fewer resources.

To be eligible to apply, a student must be enrolled in and attend an eligible U.S. public high school that meets ONE or more of the following criteria:

• At least 30% of the school’s students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
• The school is designated as a Title I school.
• The state has identified the school as economically underserved; it meets the threshold for a state or district “high need” or meets the equity index used to allocate additional funding.
  • This means the state identified a school as needing additional financial support because a large portion of its students come from low-income families or face other significant challenges that can hinder their learning.

Additionally, students must:

• Be a junior at the time they apply to the program.
• Have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0.
• Be enrolled in or have taken at least one advanced course (Honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or College Level).
• Be available to fully participate in the year-long program and attend all dates for the all-expenses-paid trip to Aspen, Colorado, June 24 through June 30, 2026.
• Nominate an educator, a willing and supportive adult from their school, to serve as a mentor, who will fully participate in the program and go on the trip to Aspen with them.

If they meet the program eligibility requirements, students with disabilities are fully encouraged to apply. BSP is committed to ensuring reasonable accommodations so that every Scholar can fully participate — this may include sign language interpreters, accessible materials, lodging adaptations while in Aspen and/or following what is in a student’s IEP or 504 Plan. We aim to ensure all eligible students can engage in the program, grow as leaders, and create meaningful change in their communities.

Ineligible Schools

Students currently attending a school from which a Scholar was selected in 2024 or 2025 are not eligible to apply for the 2026 cohort. This policy promotes fairness of opportunity, enabling us to extend the Scholar experience and the projects Scholars create to more schools and geographic locations.

If unsure whether your school qualifies, applicants are encouraged to ask someone at their school for help verifying eligibility using the most appropriate measure available in their state. Contact scholars@bezosfamilyfoundation.org for support on how to verify eligibility.