The Udall Undergraduate Scholarship, from the federal Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation, pays $7,500 to college sophomores and juniors who are committed to environmental careers, or who are Native American or Alaska Native students headed for Tribal public policy or Native health care. In 2027 the Foundation expects to award up to 65 scholarships. Your school’s faculty representative must register you, and the national deadline is March 4, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. MST.
The facts below come from the Foundation’s Udall Scholarship page, its FAQ, and its important dates and how-to-apply pages.
Who is eligible for the Udall Scholarship
According to the Udall FAQ, you must:
- Be “a sophomore or junior-level college student,” pursuing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in 2026-27.
- Be “a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.”
- Be nominated by your school, through its faculty representative.
There is no minimum GPA. The FAQ says, “The most important thing is that your GPA be generally on an upward trend, or steady.” You may not apply more than two times.
The scholarship has three categories, as described on the Foundation’s Who Should Apply page:
| Category | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| Environment | “Undergraduates interested in conservation and environmental issues” |
| Tribal Policy | “Native Americans and Alaska Natives working on an array of policy issues in Indian country” |
| Native Health Care | “Native Americans and Alaska Natives pursuing health-related careers” |
The Foundation also asks whether applicants are committed to “civility, integrity, consensus, nonpartisanship, and public service.” Detailed rules are in the Foundation’s 2027 Eligibility Criteria document, linked from its scholarship page.
What the award pays
“In 2027, the Udall Foundation anticipates awarding up to 65 scholarships of $7,500 each.” Scholars are announced publicly on udall.gov on May 12, 2027.
How selection works
- Internal campus competition. Students compete at their school first. Each school “may submit only eight nominations to the Foundation.”
- Registration. “Only your school’s faculty representative can give you access to the online application.”
- National application. You submit the online application with an essay, three letters of recommendation and a current transcript.
- Foundation review and notification. The Foundation emails all applicants with results.
In the essay you are “encouraged to reference the contributions of Morris and/or Stewart Udall,” though it is not required. The Foundation posts a sample application on its How to Apply page.
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Deadlines and timeline for 2027
From the Udall important dates page:
| Step | 2027 date |
|---|---|
| Online application available | October 9 (already open for 2027) |
| Faculty reps must register students | March 3, 2027 |
| Application deadline | March 4, 2027, 11:59 p.m. MST |
| Faculty reps can check results | April 21, 2027 |
| Email to all applicants | April 22, 2027 |
| Scholar Award Reply form due | April 29, 2027 |
| Scholars announced on udall.gov | May 12, 2027 |
The How to Apply page warns that “many schools have internal deadlines up to six months earlier” than March 4. That means some campus deadlines fall in the early fall.
How to make a strong Udall application
- Find your faculty representative now. You cannot reach the application without them, and your campus deadline may already be close.
- Pick one category and commit. Your record, essay and letters should all point to environment, Tribal policy or Native health care.
- Use the Udall legacy where it fits. The essay is the place to connect your work to Morris or Stewart Udall’s contributions, which the Foundation encourages.
- Show a steady or rising GPA. There is no cutoff, but the Foundation looks at the trend.
- Revise with your rep. The Foundation’s advice is to “work closely with your faculty rep” and “revise, revise, revise.”
- Apply as a sophomore. Because you may apply twice, a sophomore try leaves room for a junior try.
Similar programs to consider
Students in ocean and atmospheric science should also look at the NOAA Hollings Scholarship. Juniors planning public service careers can compare the Truman Scholarship. First-generation and Native students can find more help in first-generation scholarships and scholarship essay tips, or search our scholarship finder.
Udall Scholarship questions
Can community college students apply?
Yes. Sophomore and junior-level students pursuing associate’s or bachelor’s degrees are eligible.
Is there a minimum GPA?
No. The Foundation looks for a GPA that is steady or trending upward.
Can permanent residents apply?
Yes. U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and U.S. permanent residents are eligible.
How many times can I apply?
No more than two times.