Unlocking Potential: An Overview of the 1890 National Scholarship Program

The 1890 National Scholarship Program was created in 1992 to promote representation in the mechanical and agricultural sciences by collaborating with USDA and land-grant HBCUs. Students seeking degrees in agriculture, food, and natural resource sciences at 19 land-grant universities are eligible for full tuition, fees, books, and housing support under this program. USDA provided support to 94 scholars at 19 schools for the fiscal year 2024.

Eligibility for the 1890 National Scholarship Program

The USDA/1890 National Scholarship Program requires a student to:

• Have U.S. citizenship
• possess a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (out of 4.0).
• possess a minimum of 1080 SAT and 21 ACT scores.
• are enrolled in or have been admitted to one of the 19 Land-Grant Universities established in 1890.
• Learn about natural resource sciences, agriculture, food, or other relevant fields of study.
• Showcase your leadership and volunteerism.
• Send in an authentic transcript from each institution and high school you attended, signed by an authorized authority and bearing the school seal.

High school graduates starting their first year of college, as well as incoming sophomores and juniors, are eligible to apply for the USDA 1890 National Scholarship Program.

Award

• Complete tuition
• Board and room
• Opportunities for internships
• employment with the USDA full-time following graduation

How to Apply for the 1890 National Scholarship Program

Application forms and comprehensive information are available on the Tennessee State University website.

Depending on your present academic standing, fill out the relevant application component (component I for high school seniors, Section II for incoming college juniors).

Send in the application by the due date.

Other USDA-affiliated student programs

Although the primary scholarship program is the 1890 program, the USDA provides students and recent graduates with additional opportunities.

Pathways Programs: For students and recent graduates interested in pursuing careers with USDA, these programs offer internships and jobs.

The IAFP stands for the International Agricultural Fellowship Program: This program, which is run by the Foreign Agricultural Service, trains people for jobs as foreign service officers who represent USDA abroad.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Scholarships: Through initiatives like the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), NIFA, a branch of the USDA, provides a range of grants and fellowships for graduate and postgraduate studies.