Barry Goldwater Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence In Education Foundation
Subject: 2026 Goldwater Scholarship — Information for Campus Representatives and Student Applicants
Dear Goldwater Campus Representatives and Prospective Applicants,
The Goldwater Scholarship Foundation is pleased to announce the opening of the 2026 competition on September 2, 2025. Institutional nominations will be due no later than January 30, 2026. We expect to award approximately 400–450 new scholars in the 2026 cycle.
Purpose and eligible applicants
- The Goldwater Scholarship supports talented college sophomores and juniors who plan to pursue research careers in science, engineering, or mathematics by providing recognition and financial assistance.
- Eligible nominees must be current college sophomores or juniors and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- We welcome candidates from all types of institutions — from community colleges to R1 research universities. Transfer students and military veterans are encouraged to consult their campus representative for advice on the nomination process.
How to proceed
- Students who wish to be considered for nomination should contact their Goldwater Campus Representative as early as possible in the cycle. Campus Representative contact details are available via the Campus Representative Locator at the top of this webpage.
Information sessions and support
- Beginning August 20, 2025, the Foundation will hold weekly Open House sessions for Campus Representatives every Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. These sessions will include presentations and Q&A with Foundation staff, Scholarship America representatives, Goldwater reviewers, and current Goldwater Scholars.
- In addition, there will be Open House sessions aimed specifically at students on September 17, 2025 (two sessions: 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET) and November 5, 2025 (4:00 p.m. ET). The September 17 student sessions will provide an opportunity to meet current Goldwater Scholars; the November 5 student session will include meetings with Goldwater reviewers.
Logistics
- Zoom links for the Campus Representative sessions will be distributed to all Goldwater Campus Representatives by email in August.
If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to your institution’s Campus Representative. We look forward to another strong cohort of applicants for 2026.