Truman Scholarship

Deadline

Overview

The premier national scholarship for those aspiring to careers in public service. Truman Scholars are future "change agents" who demonstrate the passion, intellect, and leadership potential that in time should enable them to improve the ways that public entities - be they government agencies, nonprofit organizations, public and private educational institutions, or advocacy organizations - serve the public good.

Benefits

Provides up to $30,000 in funding to students pursuing graduate degrees leading to career in public service, including education, social service or social work, public advocacy law, non-profit management, public health, politics, and any other field that serves the public through government or non-profit careers.

The Truman Foundation also provides its scholars assistance with career counseling, internship placement, graduate school admissions, and professional development. Scholars are invited to participate in a number of programs: Truman Scholar Leadership Week, The Summer Institute, The Truman Fellows Program, and the Public Service Law Conference. 

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the Truman Scholarship, one must be...

• A full-time student pursuing a bachelor's degree with junior-level academic standing; or, senior-level standing in the third year of college enrollment.
• U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
• Nominated by ASU
• 3.5< GPA (and top-25% class status)

Award requirements

Truman Scholarship recipients are required to attend Truman Leadership Week at the Truman Memorial Library in Liberty, Missouri.

Selection criteria

A good candidate for the Truman Scholarship meets the above eligibility requirements and also

• has an extensive record of public and community service;
• has outstanding leadership potential and communication skills; and
• is committed to a career in government or elsewhere in public service, as defined by the Foundation.

Application Process

Students who wish to apply for the Truman must be nominated by ASU. Up to four candidates may be nominated per year.  

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to thoroughly review all of the guidance to applicants available on the Truman Scholarship website (http://truman.gov). 

Full information on the nomination process is outlined on the 'Apply Now' page of the ONSA website.

Upcoming events

For a schedule of upcoming information sessions, visit the 'Info Sessions' calendar on the ONSA site. Past information sessions are available for review on our YouTube page.

Related stories

• Alexa Scholl, Prescott City Councilwoman, Selected as Truman Scholars (2018)
• Work to Help Former Foster Kids Garners ASU Junior a Prestigious Truman Scholarship (2015)
• Economics Student Leah Luben Wins Truman Scholarship (2012)
• Campus Activist Wins $30k Truman Scholarship (2011)