The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced a new $500 million scholarship fund aimed at increasing diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The Gates STEM Scholars program will award full-tuition scholarships plus living stipends to 5,000 students annually from underrepresented backgrounds, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year.
Eligible students must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, and pursue a degree in a qualifying STEM field at any accredited US college or university. The scholarships are renewable for up to five years to accommodate students pursuing combined bachelor's and master's programs. The program also includes mentorship, internship placements, and networking opportunities with industry partners.
The initiative addresses persistent gaps in STEM representation, where Black, Hispanic, and Native American students collectively earn only 24% of STEM bachelor's degrees despite comprising 39% of the college-age population. Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman called the scholarship fund one of the largest private investments in STEM education equity in American history and expressed hope that it would serve as a catalyst for additional corporate and philanthropic commitments.
