The Elks Most Valuable Student (MVS) Scholarship, from the Elks National Foundation, awards 500 four-year scholarships to U.S. high school seniors, judged on scholarship, leadership and financial need. Awards range from $1,000 to $7,500 a year, and the Top 20 receive $30,000 each. You do not need any family connection to the Elks. The 2027 contest closes November 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.
The facts here come from the Elks National Foundation’s Most Valuable Student page and its MVS FAQ, checked in November 2026.
Who is eligible for the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship
The Foundation says: “Current high school seniors, or the equivalent, who are citizens of the United States are eligible to apply.” In detail:
- You must be a U.S. citizen on the date you submit. Permanent legal residents do not qualify.
- High school graduates are not eligible.
- No family connection to an Elks member is needed.
- The award is for a four-year undergraduate program at an accredited U.S. college or university. Starting at a two-year college for the first two years is acceptable, according to the FAQ.
- Homeschooled students can apply. The FAQ asks that a third party complete the Counselor Report where possible.
Standardized tests are not required. The FAQ says “we have waived the standardized test requirement for the MVS contest.”
What the award pays
Scholarships range from $1,000 to $7,500 a year for full-time study, with a minimum of 12 semester hours. Male and female students compete separately. The Foundation’s table for the 2026-27 through 2029-30 years shows:
| Tier | Four-year award | Number | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Place (Top 20) | $30,000 | 20 | $600,000 |
| Runners Up | $4,000 | 480 | $1,920,000 |
| Total | 500 | $2,520,000 |
Awards are certificates conditional on full-time enrollment. The Top 20 are invited to a Leadership Weekend in Chicago, with all expenses covered, and attending is required to be part of the Top 20 and receive $30,000.
One limit to know: a student may apply for, but cannot accept, more than one Elks National Foundation scholarship or grant in any one academic year. Local lodges, districts and state associations also offer their own scholarships through this application, and the Foundation notes those are separate from the 500 national awards.
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How selection works
“Applications must advance through local, district and state levels to reach the national competition,” the FAQ says. The rounds run in this order:
- Lodge selection
- District selection
- Quarter Finalist judging (you upload a transcript and your FAFSA Submission Summary in January)
- State selection
- 500 National Semi-Finalists (you submit updated information, an additional essay and a teacher’s evaluation)
- Top 20 National Finalists, chosen from the 500
The committee considers leadership, academic achievements and records, community involvement and financial need. The Foundation does not publish weights, but it says financial need “counts towards the total number of points an application can receive,” and it considers extenuating circumstances you explain. Decisions are final, cannot be appealed and come without feedback.
Deadlines and timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | November 12, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Pacific |
| Lodge-level advancement notices | Late December 2026 |
| Quarter Finalist notices | Mid-January 2027 |
| National Semifinal notices | March 2027 |
| National Semi-Finalists emailed | Late March 2027 |
| National winners announced | April 2027 |
| Leadership Weekend, Chicago | April 29 to May 2, 2027 |
How to make a strong application
- Get the Counselor Report in before November 12. It is required. Ask your counselor now, given how close the deadline is.
- Explain your finances fully. Need adds points, and the Foundation reviews extenuating circumstances you describe. If something is not obvious from the numbers, such as medical costs or a parent’s job loss, say so.
- File your FAFSA early. Quarter Finalists upload the FAFSA Submission Summary in January. Our FAFSA walkthrough explains how to get it.
- Use a personal email. The FAQ warns that some high school email systems block outside mail.
- Confirm your status reads Complete. The application is hosted by ISTS, and you are responsible for checking that it shows Complete, not just Submitted.
- Keep the Chicago dates free. If you reach the Top 20, attending April 29 to May 2, 2027 is required for the $30,000 award.
Similar programs to consider
- The GE Aerospace-Reagan Foundation Scholarship also weighs leadership and pays renewable four-year awards.
- The VFW Voice of Democracy contest is another community-organisation program that runs from the local level up.
- Our local scholarships guide explains how to find lodge, club and foundation awards near you.
- Our scholarship finder lists other awards for seniors.
Elks MVS FAQ
Do my parents have to be Elks members?
No. The Foundation says no family connection to an Elks member is needed.
Do I need SAT or ACT scores?
No. The standardized test requirement has been waived.
Can a permanent resident apply?
No. You must be a U.S. citizen on the date you submit.
What happens if I win a local Elks scholarship too?
You may apply for more than one, but you cannot accept more than one Elks National Foundation scholarship or grant in the same academic year.