Jefferson Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Jefferson Scholars Foundation
Overview
The Jefferson Scholars Foundation recruits and supports exceptional undergraduate students at the University of Virginia through two distinct scholarship programs. The Foundation focuses on developing leaders, scholars, and engaged citizens who contribute to the University and broader society. Recipients receive financial support alongside enrichment opportunities and access to a broad alumni and fellowship network. The programs emphasize long-term development rather than one-time aid.
Description: The Foundation administers the Jefferson Scholars Program and the Walentas Scholars Program to identify and invest in high-potential undergraduates for sustained academic and civic impact.
- Mission-driven support combining funding and development opportunities.
- Programs target leadership, scholarship, and citizenship.
- Integrated alumni and fellowship networks enhance student growth.
The Scholarships
The two scholarship tracks—the Jefferson Scholars Program and the Walentas Scholars Program—are designed to cultivate outstanding undergraduates by supporting intellectual, personal, and civic development. Each program provides financial aid, structured enrichment, and connection to the Foundation's network of Scholars, Fellows, alumni, and volunteers. Scholarship recipients are offered opportunities that complement their academic experiences and prepare them for leadership roles. The programs operate with coordinated selection and support mechanisms to maximize student impact.
Eligibility: Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students selected through the Foundation’s nomination and review process and are intended for those with exceptional records and demonstrated potential for impact.
- Two distinct programs tailored to high-achieving undergraduates.
- Support includes funding, enrichment programs, and network access.
- Selection emphasizes demonstrated achievement and future potential.
Awards
Scholarships are structured to cover the full cost of attendance at the University of Virginia for four years, with additional funding for supplemental enrichment experiences. The awards are calibrated to meet comprehensive educational expenses and to enable scholars to pursue developmental opportunities beyond tuition and fees. Award levels differ by residency status to reflect tuition and cost-of-attendance variations. The Foundation aims to remove financial barriers so scholars can engage fully in academic and extracurricular pursuits.
Award Value: Virginians receive over $42,000 per year (upward of $230,000 total for four years); non-Virginians receive over $83,000 per year (upward of $405,000 total for four years).
- Full cost of attendance covered for four years.
- Supplemental enrichment funding included.
- Award amounts vary by residency to address differential costs.
Enrichment
The Foundation supplements financial support with a broad portfolio of enrichment activities that expand scholars’ academic, professional, and cultural horizons. These opportunities include international experiences, leadership and citizenship institutes, career development, research collaborations, and speaker events. Enrichment funding and programs are designed to foster interdisciplinary learning, global engagement, and long-term professional networks. Participation in these activities connects scholars with mentors, alumni, and peers across fields.
Examples: Typical enrichment offerings include international travel, career development and networking, leadership institutes, alumni connections, exploratory funds, research collaborations, and speaker series.
- Programs promote global exposure and leadership development.
- Funding supports exploratory projects and collaborative research.
- Structured networking links scholars with alumni and professionals.
Selection Process
Scholarships are awarded following a rigorous, multi-stage selection process that evaluates candidates’ past accomplishments and future potential for impact. The process centers on three components: Nomination, Regional Review, and Final Selection, each designed to identify outstanding talent across diverse regions. Evaluators assess academic achievement, leadership, character, and contributions both inside and outside the classroom. The multi-tiered process ensures a comprehensive review by regional and final selection committees.
Process: Candidates are nominated by invited secondary schools, reviewed regionally, and then considered by final selection panels that select recipients based on holistic criteria.
- Three-stage selection: Nomination, Regional Review, Final Selection.
- Holistic evaluation of achievement, leadership, and character.
- Regional nomination system broadens candidate reach.
2025–26 Selection Highlights
The Foundation's recent selection cycle engaged thousands of schools and nominees across many regions, reflecting broad national outreach and competitive interest. For the 2025–26 cycle, thousands of secondary schools were invited to nominate students, and several thousand nominations were submitted. The Foundation continued substantial undergraduate support with multi-million-dollar awards made in the prior academic year. These metrics illustrate the scale of the Foundation’s recruitment and the financial commitment to scholars.
Recent Statistics: Invited schools, nomination totals, and aggregate award amounts reflect the Foundation’s extensive regional outreach and funding scale.
- 7,697 secondary schools invited to nominate across 85 regions.
- 3,289 high school students were nominated.
- $13,000,000 awarded in undergraduate support for the 2024–25 academic year.