Who Can Apply:
- U.S. residents who have been diagnosed* by a physician as having any form of rare disease regardless of treatment status. Applicants will be asked to provide a Diagnosis Verification Form provided by a physician verifying diagnosis.
- Currently enrolled or planning to enroll full-time or part-time** in undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical/trade school for the Fall 2026 semester.
- 17 years old or older (no upper age limit, veterans and non-traditional students are encouraged.)
*Undiagnosed applicants may apply with completed Diagnosis Verification Form by a physician.
**There is no minimum amount of credit hours to be part-time (example, one class is considered part time).
Submission: Essay topic: Reflecting on your own journey or what you’ve observed in others, what do you believe is the most overlooked challenge in the rare disease community, and how do you think it could be addressed?
Deadline: April 28, 2026
Amount: $5,000
Learn More: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/rareis/