BEA Scholarships
Offered by Broadcast Education Association
About This Scholarship
The Broadcast Education Association, the professional association for professors and students of electronic media founded in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters, awards a slate of named scholarships each year to students studying broadcasting, audio, and electronic media. Awards for the current cycle include the $4,000 Vincent T. Wasilewski Award, the $4,000 Richard Eaton Foundation Award, the $3,500 Peter B. Orlik Award, three $3,500 Abe Voron Awards for radio and audio media study, the $4,000 John Bayliss Award, the $3,000 Library of American Broadcasting Foundation Award for broadcast history research, and the $1,000 Edward O. Fritts and Bob Freeman awards.
Eligibility runs through the applicant's school rather than the student: applicants must be juniors, seniors, or graduate students attending one of BEA's member institutions, which include hundreds of colleges and universities with broadcasting and media programs. Individual student membership in BEA is not required, so there is no cost to apply if your school is a member.
Scholarships are awarded for study in the following academic year — the current cycle funds the 2027-28 year, with winners announced by mid-December and funds disbursed the following summer. Several awards target specific paths, such as radio/audio careers or broadcast history research, so applicants should match their materials to the award criteria.
Eligibility
- Junior, senior, or graduate student for the award year
- Attending a BEA member institution (check the member list on beaweb.org)
- Studying broadcasting, audio/radio, electronic media, or a related field
- Individual BEA student membership is not required
How To Apply
- Review the award descriptions on the BEA scholarships page, confirm your school is a BEA member institution, and submit the online application with transcripts, references, and materials matched to the specific award(s) you are applying for by the October deadline. The application form is linked from the BEA scholarships page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a BEA member to apply?
No individual membership is required, but you must attend one of BEA's member colleges or universities. The association maintains a list of member institutions on its website.
When is the money paid out?
BEA scholarships are awarded for the following academic year. Winners in the fall cycle are announced by mid-December, and funds are disbursed the next summer for the upcoming school year.
Can I apply for more than one BEA award?
The application lets you be considered for the named awards you qualify for — several are field-specific (radio/audio, broadcast history research), so tailor your materials to the awards that match your focus.