Daniels Scholarship Program College Scholarship 2026 – Full Cost of Attendance

Daniels Fund High School Senior Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming

Daniels Scholarship Program College Scholarship - Full Cost of Attendance

Scholarship Description

The Daniels Scholarship Program is one of the most comprehensive and generous college scholarships in the United States. It helps make college possible for high-achieving, values-driven students in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Scholars receive up to a full cost of attendance scholarship and can attend the college or university of their choice throughout the country.

Daniels Scholars are known for their strong character, leadership, and commitment to service. United by shared values, they are tomorrow's leaders committed to making a difference. Through financial assistance and personal support, the Daniels Scholarship opens doors and builds lifelong networks. It is more than a scholarship — it is a launchpad for lives of purpose and impact.

The scholarship was established by Bill Daniels, a cable television pioneer known for his compassion for those in need and his unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. Daniels Scholars are selected because they embody the criteria Bill Daniels defined for the program: strength of character, leadership potential, commitment to serving their communities, academic performance or promise, well-rounded personality, and emotional maturity and stability.

Scholarship Location

The scholarship is open to graduating seniors who are residents of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming. Scholars may attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States.

Scholarship Deadline

For the 2027 application cycle (for students graduating in the 2026-2027 academic year), the application opens in mid-September and closes in mid-October 2026.

Application Opens: Mid-September 2026

Application Closes: Mid-October 2026

Semi-Finalists Notified: Late October 2026

Finalists Notified: Mid-January 2027

Scholars Announced: Late March 2027

Orientation Conference: June 2027 (required for all new Scholars)

Host Institution / Organizer

The Daniels Fund, established by Bill Daniels, administers the scholarship program. The Fund is dedicated to supporting education and youth development in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, and to promoting ethics and integrity nationwide.

Level and Fields of Study

Level: High School Senior (applying for undergraduate study).

Fields: All fields of study are eligible. The scholarship can be used at any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States.

Target Group

The scholarship targets high school seniors who are residents of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and demonstrate financial need, strong character, leadership potential, and commitment to service.

Scholarship Duration & Amount

Duration: The Daniels Scholarship is a four-year, annually renewable scholarship.

Funding Options:

Partner Schools and Programs: If you attend a partner school, the Daniels Fund and the institution combine funding to cover up to your full cost of attendance (COA), including tuition, fees, housing, books, and more.
Non-Partner Schools Outside the 4-State Region: You will receive up to $25,000 per year.
Non-Partner Schools Within the 4-State Region: You will receive up to $7,500 per year.

Covered expenses include:

Tuition and Fees
Room and Board
Books and Supplies
Miscellaneous Educational Expenses

Additional Benefits:

A new MacBook
Personalized support from the Daniels Fund team throughout college
Leadership and community-building opportunities
Exclusive fellowship and internship opportunities
Career development resources

📊 Summary of Scholarship:
Partner Schools: Full cost of attendance
Non-Partner (Outside 4-State Region): Up to $25,000/year
Non-Partner (Within 4-State Region): Up to $7,500/year
Duration: 4 years (renewable)

Scholarship Eligibility

Essential criteria:

Residency: Be a graduating senior and resident of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming.
Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
GPA: Have an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Test Scores: Have an ACT score of 18+ in each category OR an SAT Math score of 490+ and Reading & Writing score of 490+.
Financial Need: Demonstrate financial need through Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $100,000 or less on the federal tax return on which the applicant is claimed as a dependent. For each additional dependent, $10,000 of additional income is allowed.
Character: Demonstrate strength of character, leadership potential, commitment to service, and well-rounded personality.
College Plan: Plan to attend an accredited nonprofit college or university in the U.S. (the scholarship may also be used for students planning to attend a two-year college if they intend to complete a bachelor's degree).

✅ Eligible Candidates

High school seniors in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming.
U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher.
ACT 18+ in each category OR SAT Math 490+ & Reading/Writing 490+.
AGI of $100,000 or less (with additional allowance for dependents).
Strong character, leadership, and service orientation.

❌ Ineligible Candidates

Residents outside Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming.
Non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent residents.
GPA below 3.0.
ACT below 18 in any category or SAT below 490 in any section.
AGI above $100,000 (unless additional dependents allow for higher income).
Trade school or certificate program applicants (must intend to complete a bachelor's degree).

Application Procedure

Check eligibility – Ensure you meet all residency, citizenship, GPA, test score, and financial need requirements.
Visit the official website – Go to danielsfund.org/our-work/scholarships/ when applications open in mid-September.
Register and complete the online application – The initial application takes approximately one hour to complete.
Submit by the deadline – Applications must be submitted by mid-October 2026.
Semi-finalist stage – All applicants are notified of their status in late October. Semi-finalists are asked to submit essays, recommendation letters, and documents for verification.
Finalist stage – Finalists are notified in mid-January and are interviewed in February or March.
Scholars announced – Daniels Scholars are announced in late March.
Orientation conference – All new Daniels Scholars must attend the required orientation conference in June.

Required documents for semi-finalists:

Previous year's federal tax return (Form 1040) that lists the applicant as a dependent
Qualifying ACT or SAT scores
Proof of state residency
Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
FAFSA Submission Summary

Important notes: The Daniels Scholarship is highly competitive. Applicants are evaluated on strength of character, leadership potential, commitment to service, and academic promise. Bill Daniels valued ethics and integrity, honesty, respect for people, loyalty and reliability, entrepreneurial spirit, patriotism, and commitment to excellence.

Official Website & Application Link

Daniels Scholarship Program – Official Website

Daniels Fund Main Website: danielsfund.org

Scholarships groups Join Facebook Group Join Telegram Channel

💡 Final Thoughts and Key Requirements

The Daniels Scholarship Program is one of the most generous college scholarships available, offering up to full cost of attendance for high-achieving students from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. With comprehensive financial support, a new MacBook, personalized mentoring, and exclusive leadership opportunities, the scholarship provides far more than just tuition assistance — it invests in students' long-term success.

Key strategies for a successful application:

Ensure you meet all residency, GPA, test score, and financial need requirements.
Demonstrate strength of character, leadership, and service in your application.
Apply early — the application window is only open for about one month (mid-September to mid-October).
If selected as a semi-finalist, prepare strong essays and secure recommendation letters from teachers or mentors who know you well.
For partner schools, the scholarship can cover the full cost of attendance — research partner schools to maximize your scholarship benefits.
Remember that the Daniels Fund values ethics, integrity, honesty, and community service — highlight these qualities in your application.

Important reminders: The scholarship is only open to graduating seniors who are residents of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The application opens in mid-September and closes in mid-October. All new Scholars must attend the required orientation conference in June.

Daniels Scholarship Program 2026 – FAQ

What does the Daniels Scholarship cover?

The scholarship covers tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and other educational expenses. At partner schools, it covers up to the full cost of attendance. Non-partner schools receive up to $25,000/year (outside the 4-state region) or $7,500/year (within the 4-state region).

Who is eligible to apply?

High school seniors who are residents of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming, with a 3.0+ GPA, ACT 18+ in each category (or SAT 490+ each section), and an AGI of $100,000 or less. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

What is the application deadline?

The application opens in mid-September 2026 and closes in mid-October 2026.

Can I attend any college with this scholarship?

Yes. Scholars may attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States. Funding levels vary depending on whether the school is a partner school or a non-partner school.

Is this a renewable scholarship?

Yes. The Daniels Scholarship is a four-year, annually renewable scholarship.

What are partner schools?

Partner schools are colleges and universities that have an agreement with the Daniels Fund to combine funding to cover the full cost of attendance for Daniels Scholars. The list includes schools in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and other states.

What additional benefits do Scholars receive?

Scholars receive a new MacBook, personalized support from the Daniels Fund team, leadership and community-building opportunities, exclusive fellowship and internship opportunities, and career development resources.