Overview:

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship is a distinguished undergraduate scholarship initiative that provides up to $7,500 per year for college sophomores and juniors in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering pursuing careers in research. This highly prestigious and competitive award is granted to up to 300 students nationwide.

Eligibility:

• U.S citizen, national, or permanent resident
• Sophomore or junior (1-2 years of study remaining after applying)
• 3.0 GPA or higher (3.7 or higher, highly recommended)
• Intend to pursue a research career in a natural science, mathematics or engineering

Application Materials:

• A completed application
• Research essay (three pages; guidance here)
• Three letters of recommendation from research mentors, research active faculty members, or course instructors (guidance here)
• Transcripts
  • For the campus evaluation process, we will print advising transcripts on your behalf. If chosen as a nominee, an official transcript will need to be submitted.
• Permanent resident card and letter of intent to become a citizen, if applicable
  • This is only required if chosen as a nominee

Application Procedure:

Office Pre-Application Deadline – October 12, 2026 at 5 P.M. EST

To be considered, you must first submit a pre-application in the Goldwater application system. The pre-application includes:

1) Biographical Information
2) Names and contact information for 3 recommenders (see the Goldwater website for information on appropriate recommenders)

You do not need recommendations or a completed application for the pre-application deadline.

After the office pre-application deadline has passed, pre-applications will be reviewed and approved as long as you meet Goldwater’s criteria for eligibility. You will be notified by email whether your pre-application has been approved. If approved, you will be sent instructions on how to set up an appointment with a member of the office and how to proceed with your application.

You are expected to meet with a member of the office to confirm that your recommenders fall into the following categories: research mentors, research active faculty members, and course instructors. Once your recommenders have been approved, they will receive an email notifying them of your intent to apply.

Office Application Deadline – November 13, 2026 at 5 P.M. EST

Given that the University is required to nominate its candidates, there is an office application deadline and evaluation process.  The University can nominate up to four applicants who have been enrolled exclusively at University Park and one additional for transfers (from other Penn State campuses or different colleges).

Students may begin working on their applications in the Goldwater application system before the office application deadline. However, do no submit your application through the Goldwater portal. Submitting the application is final and is not part of URFM's nomination process. 

Due to changes to the Goldwater application portal, students must instead complete a separate Google Form provided by URFM. This form will collect application materials for the University's nomination and evaluation process. The completed URFM Google Form must b submitted by November 13, 2026, at 5 P.M. EDT. 

            National Application Deadline - January 29, 2027

Students selected for nomination will receive further instructions regarding the final application process. Applications must be submitted directly using the online application system.