Scholarship

The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. Original Source
Award

$3,000 - $15,000

Deadline

Apr 01, 2026

Due in 30 days
Location

United States

Applicants

individual

About This Opportunity

The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship is a national, highly competitive scholarship that makes annual awards to qualified, outstanding undergraduate and law school students. Established in 1964, the scholarship is named after the former Governor and United States Senator from New York in recognition of his integrity, courage, and persistence on behalf of numerous civil rights causes. The mission of the Herbert Lehman Education Fund is to help transform the promise of racial equality into a social, economic, and political reality by supporting talented undergraduate students with financial need to stay in school and successfully complete their bachelor's degree. The scholarship offers two tracks: undergraduate scholarships of $3,000 per year for up to four years for students attending four-year colleges or universities full-time, and law school scholarships of $15,000 per year for up to three years for students committed to pursuing careers in public interest law. Applicants must demonstrate financial need with a family/independent adjusted gross income of $70,000 or less for undergraduate awards, and must provide FAFSA documentation. The scholarship is only available to U.S. citizens attending accredited institutions in the United States.

Duration 36 - 49 mo
Renewable (4yr)
Decision Mid-August to early September

Who Can Apply

Region
United States
Citizenship
United States
Residency
United States
Project in
United States
Applicants
individual
Priority for
racial_minorities, low_income

Application Details

Stages

  1. 1 single_stage

Required documents

transcripts letters_of_recommendation

Review process

Holistic review considering GPA, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, financial needs, volunteer activities, and essays. No single component determines the award.

Restrictions

  • geographic_restrictions

Post-award obligations

  • reporting_requirements