The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), funded by The Hearst Foundations, selects two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity for a week in Washington and a $12,500 college scholarship. It is for high school students who are actively serving in a high-level elected or appointed leadership position. You apply through your state’s selection contact, and states must submit their delegates by December 1, 2026.
This profile is based on the United States Senate Youth Program website, checked in November 2026. State-level rules and deadlines are on the program’s State Contacts and Deadlines page.
Who is eligible for the United States Senate Youth Program
The core requirement is leadership office. The program says students must be “actively serving in high-level elected or appointed leadership positions to qualify to apply.” The national site does not publish a list of qualifying offices, and your state’s selection administrator judges whether a position counts.
The national site leaves the other details, such as grade level and the exact list of qualifying offices, to each state’s selection process. That is why your first step is your state contact, not the national office. The rules you are judged against are your state’s.
What the award pays
- Scholarship: each delegate receives a $12,500 college scholarship for undergraduate study.
- Washington Week: The Hearst Foundations cover all transportation, hotel and meal costs.
- Course encouragement: delegates are encouraged to take coursework in “history and political science.” The site sets no other restriction on how the scholarship is used.
The program has a history of requiring full participation. For its online 2021 program, it said “students must attend the entirety of the program to receive the scholarship.” Plan to be present for the whole week.
| Feature | What the program publishes |
|---|---|
| Delegates | Two per state, plus two from D.C. and two from DoDEA |
| Scholarship | $12,500 for undergraduate study |
| Washington Week costs | Transportation, hotel and meals covered |
| 2027 Washington Week | March 6 to 13, 2027 (the 65th annual) |
How selection works
Selection happens at the state level. Each state has a selection administrator, listed on the program’s State Contacts and Deadlines page, who sets the state’s application, deadline and process. States then submit their two delegates to the national program. The national deadline for those submissions is December 1, 2026.
📨 Get Free Scholarships Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Because only two students per state are chosen, competition is tight in every state. The program does not publish applicant numbers or acceptance rates.
Deadlines and timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| State application deadlines | Set by each state, before December 1 |
| States submit delegate selections | December 1, 2026 |
| 65th Washington Week | March 6 to 13, 2027 |
State deadlines come before the national December 1 date, often by weeks. If you are reading this in November 2026, check your state’s page today. Your state may already have closed for the 2027 program, in which case you can prepare for the next cycle if you will still hold office.
How to make a strong application
- Confirm your office qualifies. The requirement is a high-level elected or appointed position that you hold now. Ask your state contact whether your specific role counts before you apply.
- Find your state’s process early. Use the program’s State Contacts and Deadlines page. Tell your counselor too, since a state process may ask for school paperwork you cannot produce overnight.
- Show what you did in office. Holding a title is the entry ticket. What separates applicants is what changed because of your work, such as a policy you pushed, an event you ran or a problem you solved.
- Know your government. The program is a week inside the Senate and federal government, and it encourages history and political science study. Expect your state’s process to look for real interest in public service, and read its instructions for any test or interview.
- Keep the March dates free. Delegates need to attend the full Washington Week, March 6 to 13, 2027.
Similar programs to consider
- The GE Aerospace-Reagan Foundation Scholarship rewards leadership and citizenship with up to $40,000.
- The VFW Voice of Democracy contest is an audio-essay competition on a patriotic theme for grades 9 to 12.
- The Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship judges seniors on leadership, scholarship and need.
- Our scholarship finder filters by public-service and leadership awards.
Senate Youth Program FAQ
How many students are chosen?
Two from each state, two from the District of Columbia and two from the Department of Defense Education Activity.
Do I apply to the national program?
No. You apply through your state’s selection contact, who submits the state’s two delegates by December 1, 2026.
Who pays for the trip?
The Hearst Foundations cover all transportation, hotel and meal costs for Washington Week.
Can I use the scholarship at any college?
It is for undergraduate study. The program encourages history and political science coursework but publishes no other restriction.