1-07-2025 6:13pm

USDA Now Accepting Applications for the 1890 National Scholars Program

Donnella Tilery Editor

WASHINGTON, January 7, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue career paths in food, agriculture, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The application deadline is March 1, 2025.

Young people around the country are invited to complete and submit their applications online through an e-application. Administered through USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is available to eligible high school seniors entering their freshman year of college as well as rising college sophomores and juniors.

“The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program enhances career opportunities for students at 1890 land-grant universities,” said USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement Director Lisa Ramirez. “The program has also been an effective tool to help USDA recruit and retain highly qualified students into careers in food, agricultural science, natural resources and related fields.”

The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between USDA and the 19 land-grant universities that were established in the Morrill Land Grand Act of 1890. USDA partners with these 1890 universities to provide scholarship recipients with full tuition, fees, books and room and board. Scholarship recipients attend one of the 1890 land-grant universities and pursue degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The scholarship also provides work experience at USDA through summer internships. Scholars accepted into the program are eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment with USDA upon successful completion of their degree requirements and program requirements by the end of the agreement period. The program awarded 94 scholarships in the 2024 cohort of 1890 Scholars.

Learn more and apply online at USDA 1890 National Scholars Program. For more information, contact partnerships@usda.gov.

USDA has a long history of developing the next generation of agricultural leaders at, and providing support to, public land-grant universities, such as those established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890. These institutions emphasize building and sustaining tomorrow’s food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences workforce.

The 19 members of the 1890 universities system are: Alabama A&M, Alcorn State University, Central State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Langston University, Lincoln University, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, South Carolina State University, Southern University and A&M College, Tennessee State University, Tuskegee University, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Virginia State University and West Virginia State University.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.