National Garden Clubs Scholarship
Offered by National Garden Clubs, Inc.
About This Scholarship
National Garden Clubs, Inc., the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world, awards $4,000 one-year scholarships to students pursuing careers connected to the garden: horticulture, floral design, landscape design, environmental studies, and related fields. It is one of the longest-standing special-interest scholarship programs run by a hobby organization in the country.
The program targets students already committed to the field: college juniors, seniors, and master's students at accredited U.S. institutions, with a minimum 3.25 GPA and plans for a gardening- or environment-related career. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required, and financial need is part of the evaluation via a required financial aid form.
Applications are submitted online and include transcripts, a one-page letter from the applicant, an activities and honors list covering the last three years, and two recommendation letters. Student applications are due February 1, and awards are paid to the school's financial aid office in late July.
Eligibility
- Full-time college junior, senior, or master's student at an accredited U.S. institution
- Majoring in a field related to gardening, horticulture, floral or landscape design, or the environment, with career plans in the field
- Minimum 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; financial aid form required
- No application fee and no garden club membership required
How To Apply
- Submit the NGC Scholarship Application and Financial Aid Form through the online form linked at gardenclub.org/college-scholarships
- Include transcripts, a one-page applicant letter, a three-year activities and honors list, and two one-page recommendation letters
- Applications are due February 1; funds are mailed to your school's financial aid office in late July
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a garden club member to apply?
No. The scholarship is open to qualifying students regardless of membership, though many state garden club federations run additional scholarships of their own.