Astronaut Scholarship

If a student is awarded the Astronaut Scholarship the recipient will receive:

• A scholarship up to $15,000 (full amount awarded unless scholar is “over-awarded” based on federal guidelines),
• A paid trip to ASF’s Innovators Symposium & Gala,
• Life-long engagement with the astronauts, Astronaut Scholar alumni, and the Foundation.

Note: The ASF Scholarship Selection Committee reserves the right to not award a scholarship at every university if it is deemed that the submitted candidates have not met the criteria or standard.

To apply, you must:

• be a citizen of the United States, either native born or naturalized
• be at least a sophomore applying for their junior year, or a junior applying to receive a scholarship for their senior year 
• be enrolled in one of the participating universities in the Scholarship Program (UC is a participating university)
• be enrolled for both semesters as a full-time student for the ASF-supported academic year
• be seeking a STEM degree with intentions to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their final degrees. Students intending to pursue a practice in professional medicine are not eligible for the scholarship. However, those intending to perform biomedical research are eligible. Review the STEM designated degrees that are eligible. 

Note: Special consideration is NOT given to aeronautical/astronautical engineering students or those intending to pursue careers as astronauts.

To be a competitive candidate, applicants should :

• have strong grades (we recommend a 3.7+)
• have conducted a considerable amount of work outside the classroom in their chosen field of study. This may include laboratory research, cooperative education, internships, relevant military experience, entrepreneurial endeavors, and/or documented independent work resulting in technical papers, patents, or similar work product
• display creativity and ability to move into unknown territory
• exhibit potential, ability, and drive to do research, develop new ideas, pursue inventions, and pursue innovative technologies
• exhibit motivation, imagination, and exceptional performance in their field of academics and/or research,
• convey intellectual daring and a genuine desire to positively change the world around them, from both, or either, within the classroom or in their community
• be recognized as a leader through their activities on campus or in the community

• Two letters of recommendation
• Personal statement (one page maximum)
• A copy of academic transcripts
• C.V. or resume
• UC nomination

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation only accepts nominations for the Astronaut Scholarship from its affiliated and participating universities. If a student is interested in being nominated, they should contact Dr. Ashley Paz y Puente (pazypuae@ucmail.uc.edu) regarding consideration for more details regarding the internal process.