Top Eagle Scout Scholarships (Updated May 2025)

If you’re an Eagle Scout (or almost there), congratulations! You’ve already accomplished something only a small percentage of Scouts ever do. You’ve led projects, served your community, and shown grit, heart, and serious leadership skills. Now, it’s time to let that hard-earned rank work for you—in the form of college scholarships made specifically for Eagle Scouts.

Yes, you read that right. Your Eagle badge isn’t just a symbol of who you are—it’s also a golden key to financial aid opportunities you won’t want to miss! We've compiled a list of exclusive scholarships, National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) awards, local council scholarships, and even college-specific grants. There’s a wide world of support just waiting for Scouts like you.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to find, apply for, and win Eagle Scout scholarships—with step-by-step advice, insider tips, and answers to your biggest questions. At Bold.org, our experience as a leading student fintech organization will help you get a leg up on all those valuable scholarships!

Whether you’re prepping for college apps or already juggling classes and coursework, you’re in the right place. Let’s unlock those scholarships and make your next adventure, college, just a bit more affordable!

Sign up for a free profile with Bold.org to scout exclusive scholarships you're eligible for! Apply for scholarships in minutes with our easy, on-site application process.

Best Eagle Scout Scholarships

1. Merit Scholarships

Eagle Scouts accomplish a lot throughout their time in the Boy Scouts, setting them apart from many other students. With all the accomplishments they've amassed, whether to earn merit badges or simply because of the virtues cultivated by the program, they're often in high contention for these merit-based scholarships!

2. Full-Tuition Scholarships

As the holy grail of scholarships, full-tuition scholarships cover all your tuition, usually for the four years of an undergraduate program. As an Eagle Scout, you've already distinguished yourself from the rest of the competition, so you have a good shot at some of these highly competitive full-tuition scholarships!

3. National Scholarships

Eagle Scouts are distinguished from many other American students through their dedication and leadership qualities. Applying for these nationwide scholarships can be intimidating since they're open to the entire country, but your experience as an Eagle Scout may put you one step further towards a high-value scholarship!

4. American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship

This American Legion Eagle Scout scholarship is one of the biggest ones out there. With an enormous $10,000 award in store for the winner and $2,500 for three runner-ups, you can't miss out on applying! Additionally, you'll be able to attend an annual national convention and meet a network of like-minded members of the American Legion.

Scholarships Based on Eagle Scout Project Requirements

1. Leadership Scholarships

In order to become an Eagle Scout, you must serve in an active leadership position within your Boy Scout troop. By the time you've earned the prestigious Eagle Scout award, you'll have honed your leadership skills so well that these leadership scholarships will be a breeze for you!

2. Scholarships by Majors

There are 21 merit badges required to become an Eagle Scout, which means you've explored many different subjects of study, from environmentalism to personal fitness. If you already have an academic path in mind, apply for these major-specific scholarships to fund your college education!

3. Community Service Scholarships

A core tenet of the BSA program is serving your community, and Eagle Scouts must have accomplished a service project in order to obtain the highest BSA rank. Accomplishing this Eagle Scout project already puts you ahead of many students in the country, so you should definitely apply for these community service scholarships!

Eagle Scout Scholarships for Minorities

1. Scholarships for Hispanic Students

Joining the BSA program can be a great way for minority students to gain access to more opportunities and expand their network. If you're a Hispanic Eagle Scout student, these scholarships will be a great way to continue gaining access to opportunities in college!

2. Scholarships for Black Students

As a Black student, you may have faced obstacles because of your race that many others didn't have to. These scholarships try to close that gap by providing you with valuable financial aid. With your Eagle Scout background, you have a fighting chance at many of these!

3. Scholarships for Asian American Students

If you're an Asian American Eagle Scout student, these scholarships are a great way to ensure you graduate debt-free. Many of these are merit-based, so your experience in the BSA program will be a huge point in your favor!

Graduating high school seniors, you're in luck! We've got a selection of exclusive scholarships for high school seniors that can help you pay for college!

How to Apply to Eagle Scout Scholarships

Step 1: Know What’s Out There

Before diving into applications, explore the types of scholarship opportunities available. Some are offered directly by the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA), while others come from local councils, civic groups, and even colleges.

Here are a few popular options:

1. NESA Scholarships – These are nationally competitive and include academic, merit, and field-specific scholarships.
2. Local Council Scholarships – Many Boy Scouts of America (BSA) local councils offer smaller, regional awards.
3. Religious or Civic Organization Scholarships – Groups like the American Legion, National Catholic Committee on Scouting, Elks, and Rotary often support Scouts.
4. College-Based Scholarships – Some schools award scholarships to Eagle Scouts as part of their admissions process. Many of these will be need-based or academic scholarships.

Make a list of all the scholarships you qualify for, along with their deadlines and requirements.

Step 2: Join the Eagle Scout Association (NESA)

While not all scholarships require you to be a NESA member, many of the prestigious national awards do. Luckily, joining is easy.

You can sign up through the official NESA website. Membership comes with other perks as well, like networking opportunities and lifelong connections.

Step 3: Collect Key Documents for Academic Scholarships

A crucial step in applying for scholarships is gathering the right materials. If you don't submit all the required materials, you won't be considered, and you'll have wasted an opportunity to win some valuable financial aid. Most applications ask for:

1. Your Eagle Scout board of review date
2. A transcript showing academic performance
3. SAT or ACT scores (if required)
4. Letters of recommendation
5. A list of extracurriculars, leadership roles, and community service
6. A personal statement or essay

Learn about some of the best extracurriculars for impressing colleges in this ultimate list of extracurriculars for students!

Step 4: Write a Standout Essay

Many Eagle Scout scholarships will ask you to write an essay on topics like leadership, service, or how Scouting shaped your life. Be authentic and specific—tell your story with heart.

Think about:

1. Challenges you overcame on your Eagle project
2. The lessons you’ve learned through Scouting
3. How you’ve made an impact in your community

Keep your tone genuine, and don't be afraid to show passion.

Step 5: Ask for Recommendations Early

Most scholarship applications require 1–3 letters of recommendation. Ask mentors who know you well, such as:

1. Scoutmasters
2. Teachers
3. Coaches
4. Community leaders

When applying for academic scholarships, try to get recommendations from teachers whose classes you passed with high marks. If it's a leadership or community scholarship you're applying for, choose a recommender who knows about your extracurricular or service accomplishments.

Give them at least 2-3 weeks’ notice and share a resume or list of accomplishments to help them write a strong, detailed letter.

Step 6: Apply Online (and On Time!)

Most NESA and local scholarships are submitted through an online portal. Carefully review instructions and make sure you:

1. Answer every question fully
2. Double-check your grammar and spelling
3. Upload all required documents
4. Hit “submit” before the deadline

Tips for Applying to Eagle Scout Scholarships

1. Set Calendar Reminders

To ensure nothing slips through the cracks, make sure to set calendar reminders for each scholarship deadline. This will help you keep track of the most time-sensitive applications and effectively plan your your schedule.

2. Tie Your Eagle Project to Future Goals

Most applicants talk about what they did. Go one step further and connect your project to who you want to become. If your project involved environmental conservation and you're studying biology or environmental science, make that link crystal clear. Show how your project was a launchpad for your aspirations.

3. Use the Language of Leadership

Scholarship committees love leadership, but you can do more than say "I was a leader." Using action verbs and metrics ensures your leadership impact is loud and clear:

1. “I organized a 20-person team to complete a 200-hour restoration project.”
2. “I managed a $2,000 budget and secured 80% through in-kind donations.”

The way you tell the story of your project communicates so much to scholarships, so be precise and confident. Creating an emotional appeal with your essay is important, but numbers can help back up your narrative with concrete evidence.

Additional Resources for American Legion Eagle Scouts

1. National Eagle Scout Association

The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) is the official organization presiding over Eagle Scouts. For the 2024-2025 year, they offered six national Eagle Scout scholarships ranging from $50,000 to $6,000. To qualify, you must be either rising college freshmen, sophomore, or junior. Unfortunately, graduate students and undergrads at military academies do not qualify.

2. Scouting America

As the official Boy Scouts of America website, this organization encompasses everything from NESA to the first beginning cadets in the Boy Scouts program. They have a helpful scholarship awards search function where you can search for scholarships according to your Boy Scout rank. They have a database of both university-specific and nationwide scholarships available for you to try your hand at!

3. Alpha Phi Omega Eagle Scout Service Scholarship

Alpha Phi Omega is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States and champions the ideals of leadership, friendship, and service. By partnering with NESA, they now offer a scholarship between $2,000 and $5,000 to Eagle Scouts who most embody their ideals.

Discover more amazing scholarships through our Bold.org scholarship search engine!

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