Dell Scholars Program Opening Soon
Offered by Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
About This Scholarship
Dell Scholars is built for grit rather than perfect transcripts: the GPA floor is just 2.4, applicants must be Pell Grant-eligible, and selection looks for a strong sense of purpose, perseverance, and self-motivation in students who have pushed through real obstacles on the way to college. The one structural requirement that trips people up is participation in an approved college readiness program, plus plans to enroll full-time at an accredited four-year university.
The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation started the program in 2004 and now names 500 scholars a year. To date it has supported 6,000 scholars, more than 4,500 of whom have finished a college degree.
The $20,000 scholarship is flexible, and the wraparound support is unusually deep: a laptop, textbook credits, emergency funds, academic advising with regular check-ins, career coaching and internship guidance, free teletherapy, and discounted legal, financial, and health services that continue through graduation.
Applications open December 15 and close February 15, with finalists notified March 1 and the new class announced June 1.
Eligibility
- High school senior participating in an approved college readiness program (see their list)
- Minimum 2.4 GPA
- Pell Grant-eligible
- Plan to enroll full-time at an accredited four-year institution right after graduation
How To Apply
- Confirm your college readiness program is on Dell's approved list, then apply online (last cycle ran mid-December to February 15)
- Finalists submit transcripts, FAFSA documentation, and a recommendation by mid-May
- Scholars are announced around June 1
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an approved college readiness program?
Programs like AVID, Upward Bound, GEAR UP, and similar organizations partnered with Dell. If you're not in one, you're not eligible — check the list on dellscholars.org early in junior year.
Is the $20,000 paid all at once?
No. It's a flexible award you draw down over your college years for tuition, housing, and other costs, alongside support services like mentoring and mental health resources.