JACL National Scholarship Program for US Students

About the JACL National Scholarship Program

As of 24 July 2026, the exact application window for the JACL National Scholarship Program is unclear from published details, but the program is confirmed as an active annual award for the 2026 cycle. The JACL National Scholarship Program is run by the Japanese American Citizens League for its members across the United States. It supports students at several stages, from high school seniors through to graduate and professional study. Awards are grouped into distinct tracks, so applicants apply within the category that matches their current level.

The program stands out for one clear rule: you must already be an active National JACL member to qualify. This is a membership-based award, not an open public competition.

Who Runs the Scholarship

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) hosts and administers the program. JACL is a long-running civil rights and community membership organization in the United States. It offers these scholarships to its members as one of its benefits. Because the award is tied to membership, the organization manages both eligibility checks and the selection process directly.

Study Level and Eligible Fields

The program covers a wide span of education levels. You can apply if you are a high school senior, an undergraduate, or a graduate student. Specific tracks exist for freshmen, undergraduates, graduate students, law students, and students in the creative and performing arts.

Fields of study are broad rather than restricted to one subject. However, some tracks are field-specific, such as the law track and the creative and performing arts track. Applicants should choose the track that fits both their level and their area of study.

How Many Awards Are Offered

The number of scholarships available is not specified in the published details. JACL awards scholarships across each of its tracks, so multiple recipients are typically selected. For exact figures per track, check the official application and program information.

Who Can Apply for the JACL National Scholarship

This award targets active members of the National JACL who live and study in the United States. It is designed for students at three broad stages: those finishing high school, those enrolled in undergraduate study, and those in graduate or professional programs.

Because membership is mandatory, the program serves people already connected to the JACL community. If you are not yet a member, you would need to join before your application can be considered.

Funding and Benefits

The program provides scholarship funding to support your studies. The exact dollar value and duration of each award are not stated in the available details. Amounts can vary by track, since the freshman, undergraduate, graduate, law, and creative or performing arts categories are treated separately.

For the precise amount attached to your chosen track, review the official application form and any accompanying guidelines before you submit.

Eligibility Requirements

• You must be an active National JACL member at the time of application.
• You must be a resident studying in the United States.
• You must fall into one of the eligible levels: high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student.
• You must apply within the correct track for your situation: freshman, undergraduate, graduate, law, or creative and performing arts.

If any of these conditions are not met, the application will not qualify. Membership is the first requirement to confirm, because the rest of the process depends on it.

Application Process for the JACL National Scholarship Program

Applications are submitted through the official online form for the 2026 cycle. The exact closing date is not stated in the available details, so confirm the current deadline directly on the official website before you begin. Because the timing can shift each year, treat this as the 2026 cycle and verify the date early.

To apply, follow these steps:

1. Confirm that your National JACL membership is active.
2. Identify the correct track for your level and field.
3. Open the official application form linked below.
4. Complete every required field and attach any requested documents.
5. Submit before the stated closing date for the 2026 cycle.

The published details do not list specific supporting documents or a direct contact email. Since requirements can change, the official form is the reliable place to check what you must upload. If you miss the deadline, you would generally need to wait for the next annual cycle, as this is a recurring program.

Official Website

You can review full details and apply through the official form here: JACL National Scholarship Program application.