Ford Philanthropy Scholarship
The Ford Philanthropy Scholarship is a program for two-year and four-year college students pursuing careers in STEM fields connected to the automotive and mobility industries. It also assists students participating in apprenticeship programs within these sectors. The scholarships will cover a range of costs associated with cost of attendance (COA), including tuition and fees, room and board, textbooks, supplies, and equipment. Additionally, they will fund experiences that are crucial for students to thrive in their studies, promoting the development of critical Future of Work skills that will help them succeed after graduation.
Ford Philanthropy scholarships can be used to help cover a wide array of indirect costs related to program completion in the following areas:
- Tuition and Fees
- Room and Board
- Books, Supplies, and Equipment
- Laptops and other computer hardware
- Career-related software applications
- Tools, or uniforms required
- Building Career-Related Professional Skills
- Certificate programs from accredited institutions
- Testing or licensing fees required for certification
- Living expenses to cover hands-on summer internship opportunities and co-ops
- Apprenticeship training opportunities
- Career-related student and professional organization memberships and subscriptions
Rising sophomore and junior college and university students from underrepresented communities, as well as those from Ford College Network schools who are first-generation college students, will be eligible to receive scholarships of up to $10,000.
Eligibility Requirements
For consideration of the Ford Philanthropy Scholarship program, applicants must meet the requirements below:
- Must major in Computer Science, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Software Engineering
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Must attend an accredited college or university full-time in one of the following colleges or universities found here.
Application
The Ford Philanthropy Scholarship program is currently closed.
Ford Philanthropy Impact
For 2025-2026, the Ford Philanthropy Scholarship program awarded 26 scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $10,000 across the country, totaling more than $210,000.
2026 Ford Philanthropy Scholars
Student Voices
“When I was granted the Ford Driving Dreams scholarship, it helped relieve my financial stress during my first year at the University of Texas at Arlington. I was able to focus more on myself and my studies, and because of that I have been able to become the better version of myself without having to worry about any financial burdens. Going into my senior year, I'm still grateful that I was able to receive the Ford Driving Dreams scholarship, the help I received from the beginning of my academic career has helped shape myself going forward to the end of my senior year.”
– Giobanni, University of Texas at Arlington, Business Administration & Finance
- Isha, Miami University, Computer Science
“The Ford Driving Dreams Scholarship has provided me with more than just financial assistance towards my college education, it has also been a source of inspiration and motivation to succeed in my college career. Over the last two years, I have had several opportunities to gain real-world experience within the film industry, along with being able to pursue countless extracurricular and personal goals/objectives of my own. Since 2015, I have had several opportunities to gain real-world experience as I started Mediaverse, my own multimedia production company. Last year, I produced some advertising content for a sports marketing company that is a sponsor for Team USA at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. After slowly building my business and expanding my media services and portfolio, I now have several large company clients, both national and internationally based.”
– Jackson, Ringling College of Art and Design, Film Production
“The Ford Scholarship first and foremost provided tremendous financial support, allowing me to fully commit to my studies. I received the scholarship during my junior year, and from that point forward, new opportunities began to open up for me. I was able to secure internships at major Fortune 500 companies, including Eli Lilly and Microsoft, where I gained invaluable professional experience during the summers.
After graduating, I went on to secure a full-time position at Microsoft as a Technical Program Manager. In hindsight, none of this would have been possible without the Ford Scholarship.”
- Siddhant, Miami University, Computer Science
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