We award up to 46 new $20,000
Schulze College Scholarships each year.

The Schulze Family Foundation College Scholarship was first awarded in 2014 to help students graduate from college with minimal student debt.

Seven years of Schulze scholars have now:

Our scholarships allowed them to:

  • graduated college,
  • entered the work force, or
  • enrolled in graduate school programs.
  • borrow less for tuition,
  • work less and study more, and
  • live the college experience with less distraction.

Important Dates

We will accept new applications for 2025-26 from January 6, 2025 to April 1, 2025.


Application Steps

Schulze College Scholarships are awarded to U.S. citizens for four consecutive years of full-time college enrollment with satisfactory academic performance at a four-year accredited college or university.

Prepare

Check your eligibility, your school’s eligibility and gather materials needed to apply.

Apply

Check the dates and deadlines and have everything you need to upload and submit.

Prepare

Get ready to apply. Check your eligibility, your school’s eligibility, and the materials you’ll need to submit.

Successful candidates will show they have distinguished themselves through school, community, and/or church activities while showing strong academic achievement in high school. Scholarships are awarded for four consecutive years of full-time college enrollment with satisfactory academic performance.

To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • A 2025 graduate of an eligible high school
  • Have a minimum of a 3.0 unweighted cumulative GPA (4.0 scale)
  • Show unmet financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Will not receive need-based federal grant assistance (Pell Grant)
  • Enroll in a four-year accredited college or university as a full-time degree-seeking student
  • Minnesota Catholic high school students must have completed their elementary education at a Catholic school

Eligible High Schools

What you’ll need to submit your application by 11:59 pm on April 1, 2025:

  • the name & email address of the high school official who will upload your official high school transcript;
  • a resume (.doc or .pdf version) of your participation and achievements, leadership activities, and experiences;
  • names and email addresses of two people from whom you will request letters of recommendation — they must be letters from high school teachers, counselors, or staff;
  • a 500-word or less essay (.doc or .pdf version). Mr. Schulze believes the skills he learned as a young newspaper delivery boy helped him both personally and as the founder of Best Buy. Tell us about an experience in your own life (positive or negative) that taught you a lifelong lesson that you carry with you today;
  • information from your FAFSA Submission Summary; and
  • your Financial Aid Notification of Award from your chosen college.
  • You will have until 11:59 pm CDT on April 1, 2025, to complete and submit your application.

Apply

  • We will accept new 2025-26 applications from January 6, 2025, to 11:59 pm CDT on April 1, 2025.
  • the name & email address of the high school official who will upload your official high school transcript;
  • a resume (.doc or .pdf version) of your participation and achievements, leadership activities, and experiences;
  • names and email addresses of two people from whom you will request letters of recommendation — they must be letters from high school teachers, counselors, or staff;
  • a 500-word or less essay (.doc or .pdf version). Mr. Schulze believes the skills he learned as a young newspaper delivery boy helped him both personally and as the founder of Best Buy. Tell us about an experience in your own life (positive or negative) that taught you a lifelong lesson that you carry with you today;
  • information from your FAFSA Submission Summary, and your Financial Aid Notification of Award.

You will have until 11:59 pm CDT on April 1, 2025, to submit your application. Our goal is to notify all applicants of their status by May 1, 2025.

Apply
Questions? See the contact information below.
CA, CO & MN Students

Contact Marla Friederichs, Senior Program Officer – Scholarships
612-801-1431

Florida Students

Contact Ana DiMercurio, Senior Program Officer
239-451-3033

Page feature photo courtesy of Emma.