The 2023 Voyager Scholarship
Live application window: January 25, 2023 through March 22, 2023 4:00 pm EST
Shaping the next generation of public service leaders
An increasingly globalized world needs young leaders who can bridge divides and help solve our biggest challenges together.
The Voyager Scholarship was created by the Obamas and Brian Chesky, Airbnb Co-founder and CEO, to help shape such leaders. Even though they come from different backgrounds, both the President and Brian believe that exposure to new places and experiences generates understanding, empathy, and cooperation which equips the next generation to create meaningful change.
This scholarship gives college students financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them.
Have questions about the program? Read our FAQ sheet for more information.
The application and scholarship disbursement is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team and the Obama Foundation. Awards for this scholarship are granted to eligible recipients without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability, or national origin.
Applicants to the Voyager Scholarship must:
- Plan to enroll full-time in their junior year of study at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States (including U.S. Territories) in Fall 2023. Eligible students are finishing their sophomore year in Spring 2023 and will be considered juniors based on total number of credits earned at their institution by Fall 2023. (Students transferring from a two-year to a four-year college as juniors for the 2023-2024 academic year are eligible.)
- Have four (4) semesters or six (6) quarters of full-time academic coursework remaining before graduating
- Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent
- Have demonstrated a commitment to public service
- Plan to pursue a career in public service upon graduation*
- Be a United States (U.S.) citizen, U.S. permanent resident (holder of a Permanent Resident Card), or an individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA)
*We have a broad definition of public service, which includes careers in government, non-profits or the private sector. A career in public service includes a range of occupations—from community organizing to social work and from entrepreneurship to the arts—all committed to solving our biggest challenges together.
No employee, consultant, officer, or director of the Obama Foundation, member of the scholarship selection committee, or family member of any employee, consultant, officer, director, or member of the selection committee is eligible to apply.