Truman Scholarship

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About

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, established by Congress in 1975, awards merit-based scholarships to college students planning to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in public service. Each year, in a national competition, 75 - 100 scholarships are awarded, with at least one being awarded in each of the 50 states. Since its creation in 1975, the Foundation has supported almost 3,000 Truman Scholars who are making a difference in all corners of the nation and around the globe. 

Eligibility

Each nominee for the Truman Scholarship must be:

• a full-time junior-level student at a four-year institution pursuing a bachelor's degree
• nominated by the Truman Scholarship faculty representative at his or her institution
• in the upper quarter of his or her class
• a United States citizen or a United States national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

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.

The Foundation defines public service as employment in government at any level, uniformed services, public-interest organizations, nongovernmental research and/or educational organizations, public and private schools, and public service-oriented nonprofit organizations.

One scholarship will be available to a qualified resident nominee in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and, considered as a single entity, the Islands: Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. (Residency is generally determined by home address for school registration, family's primary residence, and voter registration.) The Foundation may select up to 15 at-large scholars.

Application Procedure

1. Connect with the Undergraduate Advising Support Office (scholarshipsandfellowships@case.edu), preferably during your junior year but no later than Nov. 15 prior to your senior year, to discuss your goals and plan to compete in this scholarship process.
2. If the above deadline is met and you're eligible to apply, CWRU campus representative, Dr. Raj Ghosh will grant you access to the online application portal. 
3. Submit your online application materials by the campus deadline of Dec 1, 2026. Required materials include:
   1. Preliminary Information
   2. List of Activities
   3. Shorty Essays
   4. Research Proposal
4. Submit the name and contact information of your three letter writers to scholarshipsandfellowships@case.edu by Dec. 1, 2026.
5. The Campus Selection Committee will review completed applications to determine who will advance to the next stage, which is an interview with the Campus Selection Committee.
6. Following campus interviews, up to four applications will be endorsed and nominated by CWRU.
7. If selected as one of the four candidates to represent CWRU, candidates will work directly with Dr. Raj Ghosh on submission to the national competition, including contacting letter writers.

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