Education Forward Arizona is opening applications for its 2026–27 scholarship programs, designed to strengthen Arizona’s workforce by helping students complete education and training beyond high school. By pairing financial support with advising and mentorship, these scholarships help students stay on track to earn degrees and credentials that align with the state’s current and future workforce needs.
“Access to postsecondary education remains one of the most powerful drivers of opportunity and economic mobility,” said Rich Nickel, President and CEO of Education Forward Arizona. “These scholarships are designed not only to help students enroll, but to ensure they have the support they need to persist, complete their education, and contribute to Arizona’s future.”
Scholarships available for the 2026–27 school year include:
- Education Forward Arizona Scholarship: Provides up to four years of funding for Pell Grant-eligible students committed to completing a bachelor’s degree in Arizona. Recipients are paired with one of Education Forward Arizona’s expert Success Advisers who provide one-on-one guidance throughout their postsecondary journey. (application open Jan. 15 – March 6, 2026)
- Adelante Scholarship: Offered in partnership with Helios Education Foundation and Aliento, this scholarship supports DACA and Prop 308-eligible students enrolled in community college or university. In addition to financial assistance, recipients gain access to Aliento’s holistic student programming, including guidance, peer networking, and personalized coaching to support academic and personal success. (application open Jan. 15 – March 22, 2026)
- Native American Scholarship Program: Funded by the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, this scholarship provides financial support to Native American students pursuing higher education at the associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree level, as well as trade or professional certificates. Recipients also receive mentoring and advising from Education Forward Arizona. (application open Feb. 1 – April 1, 2026)
Students are encouraged to visit each scholarship’s web page to learn more about eligibility, application deadlines and award details. Beyond that, Education Forward Arizona’s Guide to Your Future website, which is available in both English and Spanish, provides free resources that will help families explore career options, understand what education or training they need to get there, and determine how to pay for that education.
Polling conducted by Education Forward Arizona shows that cost continues to be the number one barrier preventing Arizona students from pursuing education and training after high school. The scholarships administered by Education Forward Arizona and its partners directly address this challenge by pairing financial support with advising and mentorship proven to improve student outcomes.
Increasing postsecondary attainment is also critical to Arizona’s economic future. Research from Education Forward Arizona shows that reaching the state’s Achieve60AZ goal would generate billions in economic gains through higher earnings, increased tax revenues, and reduced public assistance costs, strengthening communities across the state.
About Education Forward Arizona
Education Forward Arizona is a statewide education advocacy organization dedicated to championing education as the key driver to improving Arizona’s economy and quality of life. Education Forward Arizona serves as the leading voice for promoting the state’s Achieve60AZ education attainment goal and a shared action plan to move the goals of the Arizona Education Progress Meter forward. The organization’s work also includes mobilizing people and communities to advocate for policies and funding to improve educational outcomes across the Pre-K to postsecondary continuum, as well as providing scholarships and programs that improve postsecondary attainment for Arizona’s diverse student population. Learn more at EducationForwardArizona.org.