Black at Microsoft Scholarship Program 2026: Up to $5,000 for High School Seniors

Black at Microsoft Scholarship Program 2026: Up to $5,000 for High School Seniors

The Black at Microsoft Scholarship Program is a scholarship for high school seniors preparing to begin full-time undergraduate study at a four-year college or university in the United States. The program is administered by Scholarship America for The Seattle Foundation and the Black at Microsoft Inclusion Network. Its focus is students who want to study technology-related or selected business fields and build a career connected to the technology industry.

There is an important status nuance for this page. The official Scholarship America listing shows the 2026 program with a published deadline of March 16, 2026 at 3:00 PM Central Time, but it also currently displays Status: Open. Because the official listing still identifies the application as open, the page metadata uses rolling rather than treating the published date as a hard expiration. That does not guarantee that a late application will be accepted. Check the official listing and the application portal before preparing a submission, and contact the program team if the portal does not accept an application.

2026 program at a glance

The official page is the right place to confirm whether the application portal is accepting a submission. The old page-specific sign-up URL previously shown here was a temporary session link and is no longer the right public reference. Use the stable program page above, then follow its current application link.

What the scholarship pays

Selected students receive between $2,500 and $5,000. The program can make up to 55 awards in the 2026 cycle. The award structure is specific:

• Five $5,000 awards can be renewed for up to three years or until the recipient earns a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.
• Renewal depends on satisfactory academic performance, a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, full-time enrollment, and continued enrollment in an eligible major.
• Fifty $2,500 awards are one-time awards. Past recipients of the one-time award cannot reapply for that track.

These are undergraduate awards. Scholarship America processes payments for The Seattle Foundation, and the official program page says payments are made to the recipient’s school. The page also says payment is made in early August. A recipient should therefore give the college financial-aid office accurate information and follow any instructions that arrive after selection.

The award is not automatic money for every eligible applicant. Financial need, as calculated by Scholarship America, must be demonstrated for a student to receive an award. The published award amount is useful for planning, but it should not be treated as a promise that every applicant who meets the minimum GPA will receive funding.

Eligibility requirements

The official eligibility rules are narrower than a general “STEM scholarship” description. You should be able to answer yes to each of these points before investing time in the application:

1. You are a current high school senior.
2. You plan to attend a four-year college or university in the United States in the fall immediately following high school graduation.
3. You will enroll full-time in undergraduate study for the entire upcoming academic year.
4. Your intended program is Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Business Administration, Finance, or Marketing.
5. Your school is an accredited four-year U.S. college or university.
6. You can demonstrate a passion for technology and leadership at school or in the community.
7. You have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or an equivalent result.

International students may apply if they will enroll in a U.S. college or university. That permission does not remove the school, enrollment, documentation, or financial-need requirements. If your academic records are issued outside the United States or in a language other than English, plan for the extra documents and translations described below.

Microsoft employees and children of Microsoft employees are not eligible. Students already in college are not the target group for this program because the official rule is limited to high school seniors entering four-year undergraduate study after graduation. A student entering a community college rather than a four-year institution also does not meet the stated school requirement.

The official page does not make race a separate eligibility test. The program name reflects the Black at Microsoft Inclusion Network, but applicants should rely on the published academic, enrollment, major, leadership, technology-interest, and financial-need requirements rather than assume an unstated restriction.

What the reviewers consider

Scholarship America says applications are evaluated using academic performance, leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, educational and career goals, unusual personal or family circumstances, a short essay, and an online recommendation. Financial need is also required for a student to receive an award.

That combination rewards a coherent application. A transcript establishes academic readiness, but it does not explain how you use your time or what you hope to do. Activities, employment, family responsibilities, and community work can show persistence and leadership when you describe your actual role and results. A student who repaired computers for neighbors, organized a coding club, worked to help pay household expenses, taught younger students, or managed a family responsibility can all have relevant evidence. The strongest examples are concrete: what problem existed, what you did, who benefited, and what you learned.

The technology requirement also does not mean you must already have a professional software portfolio. Engineering and computing applicants may discuss classes, projects, robotics, programming, systems work, or technical problem-solving. Business applicants should connect Business Administration, Finance, or Marketing to the technology industry through examples such as product work, data-informed decisions, technology sales, fintech, operations, digital marketing, or helping people use technical products. The point is to show a credible interest in participating in the technology industry, not to repeat a list of buzzwords.

Essay guidance

The official essay prompt is: “Describe how you plan to engage in the technology industry in your career.” The limit is 2,000 characters, approximately 500 words or less.

A useful response can be short and specific. Start with the direction you are considering, then connect it to evidence from your life. For example, an applicant interested in cybersecurity might describe protecting a school network, helping a community group recover from a phishing incident, or studying how small organizations handle sensitive information. An applicant interested in technology marketing could explain how a student project or work experience showed the importance of translating a complicated product into something customers can use. A business student does not need to pretend to be an engineer; the essay should explain the role that student wants to play.

Avoid writing a broad speech about how technology changes the world. The prompt is asking about your career and your engagement with the industry. Name a problem, skill, or community you care about. Describe an action you have already taken. Then explain how the scholarship’s support would help you continue that path. Leave enough room for a real conclusion instead of filling the character limit with general claims.

Required application materials

The official requirements identify these materials:

• A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted.
• A transcript that displays your name, school name, grades, and credit hours for each course and term.
• An upper secondary school diploma or certificate if earned, for international applicants.
• Examination results for international applicants.
• English translations for documents that are not in English.
• SAT or ACT score reports if those scores are not already listed on the high school transcript. If you submit a college transcript, the test scores are not required.
• One online recommendation form from a faculty or staff member at your school.

The recommendation is not simply a file you attach yourself. Your recommender submits the online form on your behalf, and the official page says it must arrive no later than three business days after the application deadline date. Ask a teacher, counselor, or other school faculty or staff member early enough to read the prompt, prepare a specific response, and complete the upload. Give that person a short résumé, your intended major, a draft or outline of your essay, and a few reminders of projects or responsibilities they have personally seen.

Before uploading, open each document and check that it is legible. A screenshot of a grade portal is not a substitute for the complete transcript the program requests. Keep the student name consistent across documents, and use a personal email address that you will continue to access. Scholarship America specifically advises applicants not to use a school or work email for the account and asks applicants to add its student-support address and the program email to their safe-sender list.

How to apply while the listing says open

Begin at the stable official Scholarship America program page. Do not rely on the expired session-specific sign-up URL that appeared in the older version of this page. Follow the page’s application link into the Scholarship America Student Hub.

First, confirm that the portal will accept a new application. The official page displays the published March 16, 2026 deadline and also says Status: Open. Since that combination is unusual after the published deadline, treat the portal’s behavior as decisive. If it permits submission, complete the application electronically and retain the confirmation. If it rejects new applications, do not claim that a late application is possible; contact the program team using the address on the official page and watch the stable listing for the next update.

Next, complete the eligibility questions carefully. Select the actual intended major, confirm full-time enrollment at the four-year U.S. institution, and answer the financial-need questions accurately. Prepare the transcript and any international records before you begin uploading. Draft the essay outside the portal so you can count characters, edit for clarity, and keep a copy. Enter your recommender’s information exactly as requested, then confirm that the recommendation has been submitted within the permitted post-deadline window if the portal accepts your application.

Finally, review the application as a package. The essay should match the activities and goals you describe elsewhere. The transcript should prove the GPA you report. The recommendation should come from the required school contact. All required materials must be submitted electronically for the application to be complete. Save the confirmation page or email, and keep copies of every uploaded document.

Questions applicants often ask

Is this scholarship still available?

The official Scholarship America listing currently displays Status: Open, even though its published deadline is March 16, 2026. This page therefore uses rolling in the deadline field. Availability is not guaranteed; check the official portal before applying.

Can the award be renewed?

Only the five $5,000 awards are described as renewable. Renewal can continue for up to three years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever comes first, and requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA, full-time enrollment, and continued enrollment in an eligible major. The $2,500 awards are one-time only.

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen?

The official eligibility text says international students may apply if they will enroll in a U.S. college or university. International applicants should expect to provide the additional school records, examination results, and English translations listed in the requirements.

What if my parent works for Microsoft?

Microsoft employees and their children are ineligible under the published rules.

Where should I verify the current application status?

Use the Scholarship America program page, not the old session-specific application link. The official page provides the current application route and the program contact information.