Tillman Scholarship

The Pat Tillman Foundation recognizes remarkable service members, veterans, and military spouses as the next generation of leaders. Through academic scholarships, lifelong leadership development, and a global community of peers and supporters, the Foundation empowers these individuals to make a meaningful impact as they transition into their next chapter of service beyond self.

Find eligibility requirements, scholar benefits, and step-by-step instructions below.

Applications for the 2026 class of Tillman Scholars now open!

Applications for the 2026 Class of Tillman Scholars are now open. Submit yours below by February 1, 2026.

The Pat Tillman Foundation unites and empowers remarkable military service members, veterans, and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self. The fellowship program supports Tillman Scholars with a national network, professional and leadership development opportunities, and academic scholarships so they are empowered to make an impact in the world. For more information on the Pat Tillman Foundation and the impact of the Tillman Scholars, visit our website and Tillman Scholars page.

The 2026 Tillman Scholar application is now open and will close on February 1, 2026, at 23:59 PT.

Please read before registering and beginning your application,

When creating your account, do not use (.edu,.mil, or .gov) emails as they will block our email notifications from coming through. It is preferred to use your personal email account, such as Gmail or Yahoo.

How the Pat Tillman Scholarship Works

Tillman Scholars Leadership Development

The Pat Tillman Foundation selects up to 60 Tillman Scholars each year. The scholarship helps cover tuition, books, and living expenses, along with:

• ​​Leadership development opportunities
• Mentorship and career support
• Access to national events and programming
• Connection to a global network of nearly 1,000 Tillman Scholars

How We Choose Tillman Scholars

• Service: Serves beyond self in and out of uniform
• Scholarship: Pursues lifelong learning and intellectual growth
• Humble Leadership: Leads by example with selfless commitment
• Impact: Unites others and advances ideas that change the world

Tillman Scholars go on to become physicians, educators, founders, national security experts, astronauts, and leaders across every sector.

1. When creating your account, do not use (.edu, .mil, or .gov) emails as they will block our email notifications from coming through. It is preferred to use your personal email account, such as Gmail or Yahoo. 

• In order to receive email notifications about the status of your application, you must verify your email address when ed.
• It's highly suggested to use the most current version of Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to complete your application.

2. You are submitting an application for a scholarship for the next fall/spring academic year, not the current academic year.

3. Once you enter your application, each task will open in a box on the left side. Be sure to scroll up and down to reveal all the tasks to be completed. Additional tasks will populate as you progress in completing tasks.

Application Resources

We have compiled all of our Tillman Scholar Application videos here. Included in this playlist is an overview of the entire application process and information about the Tillman Scholar program. On a related note, check out the advice and best practices from Tillman Scholars themselves in our TS Perspectives videos.