What is the Barry Goldwater Scholarship
- It’s a U.S. national undergraduate scholarship (through the Barry Goldwater Scholarship & Excellence in Education Foundation) designed to encourage and support students in natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering who are pursuing research‑oriented careers. goldwaterscholarship.gov+2goldwaterscholarship.gov+2
- It is not for graduate students. Only lower division undergraduates (sophomore / junior) are eligible. goldwaterscholarship.gov+2Center for Research & Fellowships+2
Eligibility Criteria (for 2026)
Here are the main requirements:
- Academic level
- Must be a sophomore or junior (i.e. with 1‑2 years of undergraduate study remaining depending on your year) at the time of application. Full‑time enrollment is required during the terms when the scholarship would be active. goldwaterscholarship.gov+2goldwaterscholarship.gov+2
- Field of study
- Must be in a field of natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering. goldwaterscholarship.gov+2ceenve-dev+2
- Research is a must: the intention to pursue a research career and evidence of research engagement are important. Medicine/veterinary work is eligible only if research is a central part of the career plan. goldwaterscholarship.gov+2ceenve-dev+2
- Citizenship / Residency
- U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident. goldwaterscholarship.gov+1
- GPA / Academic standing
- Minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. But in practice, successful applicants often have much higher GPA and strong academic record. goldwaterscholarship.gov+2financialaid.ucdavis.edu+2
- Nomination
- You can’t apply directly as an individual to the national competition. Your college/university must have a Goldwater Campus Representative, and they must nominate you. goldwaterscholarship.gov+2goldwaterscholarship.gov+2
- Institutions usually have internal deadlines ahead of the national deadline. whitman.edu+2career.grinnell.edu+2
Benefits / What the Scholarship Covers
- The Goldwater Scholarship offers up to US$ 7,500 per year for eligible expenses (tuition, fees, books, room & board). goldwaterscholarship.gov+3goldwaterscholarship.gov+3goldwaterscholarship.gov+3
- If you are a sophomore when you receive it, you can get funding for two years (junior and senior years). If you’re a junior at the time, then funding is for one year (senior year). goldwaterscholarship.gov+2goldwaterscholarship.gov+2
Key Dates for the 2026 Cycle
- Application opens: September 2, 2025. goldwaterscholarship.gov+1
- Nomination deadline (by institutions): January 30, 2026. goldwaterscholarship.gov+2goldwaterscholarship.gov+2
- Award announcement: Last Friday in March 2026. goldwaterscholarship.gov+1
What Makes a Strong Application
Here are things that tend to make successful candidates:
- Strong research experience: participation in labs, independent projects, publications, or presentations. Even if not published, showing active involvement is helpful. Center for Research & Fellowships+2goldwaterscholarship.gov+2
- Clear commitment to research: your essays / research proposal should show why you want to do research, how your current work ties into that, what your future goals are. ceenve-dev+1
- Good letters of recommendation, ideally from professors or mentors who know your research potential.
- Solid academic performance — while 3.0 is minimum, most successful applicants have much higher.
- Meeting internal nomination deadlines at your institution (campus representative), as well as national deadlines.
Limitations & Things to Know
- Only U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents.
- It’s for undergraduates (sophomores / juniors), not for Master’s or PhD students.
- Funds are for tuition, fees, books, room & board. Other costs (travel, etc.) usually not covered. goldwaterscholarship.gov
