Equitable Excellence Scholarship^®

The Equitable Excellence Scholarship^® supports students from across the country who strive to be a force for good in their communities. By pursuing a postsecondary degree, these students show fortitude and resilience, and plan to inspire others in their community to pursue higher education.

In alignment with Equitable’s own mission of helping people achieve financial security so that they can face the future with confidence, the Equitable Excellence Scholarship^® places an emphasis on empowering students’ future plans so that they can continue to have positive impacts in their community. We are thrilled to share that our 2025 Equitable Excellence Scholarship^® recipients have been announced.

This year’s scholarship recipients will receive a $5,000 renewable scholarship for all four years of their undergraduate study, for a total of $20,000 in financial support. Scholarship recipients will also receive special access to workshops centered around financial wellness, mental wellness and crucial professional leadership and development sessions tailored to support resume building and personal branding.

Each year, the scholarship program aspires to reach students in need, with nearly 60% of this year’s recipients being first-generation college students. Scholarship winners hail from 24 states, representing 63 different high schools. Since the program’s inception, Equitable has awarded $30 million in scholarships to 7,400 students. Equitable Foundation manages the delivery of the awards program in partnership with Scholarship America, a national nonprofit dedicated to administering scholarship opportunities.

As the largest 403(b) provider for educators across the country, we realize it’s important to our mission that we help support the educators that are empowering today’s students. To make an even bigger impact directly to educators, we ask each recipient to identify a teacher who made a significant difference in his or her academic journey. To express our gratitude, Equitable will provide a $500 gift card to each identified educator to ensure their classrooms and students are set up for success. 

The Equitable Excellence Scholarship^® is supported through strategic partnerships between Equitable and Scholarship America that includes, CommonApp, National College Attainment Network (NCAN) and college access community-based organizations to assist students who apply for the scholarship and are seeking resources to support the college application process.

Eligibility

We’re committed to students who show potential. Those with the courage to pursue what’s possible; display strength in managing challenges; share wisdom with others. The Equitable Excellence Scholarship^® is our promise to those individuals dedicated to achieving their dreams. 

• Be a current high school senior that resides in one of the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico, who plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year.
• Demonstrate ambition and self-drive to be a force for good in their communities by encouraging others to pursue higher education.
• Be willing to provide a release to publicize their identities and information about their plans or achievements along with photographs for use in Program promotion/information.
• Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).

To learn more, visit

https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/equitableexcellence/.