About the Harry S. Truman Scholarship

The Truman Scholarship is meant to celebrate and prepare the nation’s next generation of public service leaders. Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school (excluding MBAs) as well as access to extensive Scholar programming, priority admission and financial support from public service graduate programs, advising and mentoring from other public service leaders, and preferred hiring with the federal government. The Truman Scholarship anticipates electing 55–65 Truman Scholars this cycle. Vassar can nominate up to four juniors to be considered for this scholarship. The Truman Scholarship Foundation Video and 2025 Webinar for Applicants are great resources for students considering applying to be a Truman Scholar.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Leadership: The selection committee considers leadership to be more than merely occupying a position of leadership. Truman Scholars either use their leadership position in unique ways or create opportunities for leadership where none existed.
• Commitment to a Career in Public Service: Truman Scholars have a lengthy record of service as well as detailed and ambitious plans for a future career as a leader in their area of interest.
• Likelihood of Success in Graduate School: The selection committee is less interested in a perfect academic record than they are in seeing a Truman Scholar who is intellectually curious and on track to succeed in their graduate program of choice.

Juniors who are planning to study away during the Spring semester are still eligible to apply. If you reach the finalist stage of the competition, you will be expected to return to the US for the interview. Many Truman Scholars ARE students who were studying away at least one semester of the junior year.

Vassar can nominate up to four juniors to be considered for this scholarship.

Campus Deadline: December 8 (This includes letters of recommendation)

Previous Vassar Truman Scholars

Search and view more Vassar Truman recipients

Truman Scholarship Eligibility

To be eligible for a Truman Scholarship, a student must:

• US Citizens, US National residents of American Samoa, or expecting their citizenship by the date of the award;
• Currently enrolled at a US-based accredited institution;
• Be in their junior year of college;
• Planning to attend graduate school in pursuit of a career in public service. The Foundation encourages time between undergraduate and graduate school, so candidates need not commit to going immediately.

Candidates can be:

• Pursuing any major likely to lead to a public service career;
• Interested in any graduate degree other than the MBA; and,
• Considering domestic or international graduate programs.

Campus Application Instructions

Sample application materials can be downloaded from the Truman website. Applicants will need to contact the Director of Fellowships (fellowships@vassar.edu) in the CCE to gain access to the official application. 

1. Visit the Truman website for information on How to Apply and review the Advice and Guidance section. Download the Application and Policy Proposal templates found at the bottom of the page. Make sure to note and follow character counts as the templates do not self-limit your typing. Once you’ve completed your sample application and policy proposal, schedule a Fellowships appointment on Handshake. You must meet with the Director of Fellowships after drafting your materials.
2. Contact three people to serve as your referees and provide them with the Truman Scholarship’s Guidance for Letters of Recommendation. Inform them that the letters are due by the campus deadline (December 8) and ask them to send their letters to fellowships@vassar.edu.
3. Submit your completed application through the Truman system by the campus deadline, the application will be forwarded to the Committee on Fellowships for review.