Amtrak Academic Scholarships

The National Passenger Corporation, also known as Amtrak, is a corporation striving to deliver a high-quality, safe, on-time rail passenger service that exceeds customer expectations. For 50 years, Amtrak has connected businesses and communities across the country and as Amtrak celebrates its 50th anniversary it looks to the next 50 years and beyond to move America’s workforce toward the future.

The Amtrak Scholarship Program provides academic scholarships to undergraduate and graduate college students who have an active interest in the railroad industry. This program has been established to provide support to help encourage academic achievement within railroad programs, ensuring a future in this industry.

Scholarship Application Minimum Criteria

• Student pursing a degree (undergraduate or graduate) as a full-time student.
• Must maintain minimum GPA of 2.8 at time of award as proven by official transcript.
• Fill out electronic application with contact/personal information.
• Submission of resume.
• Submission of essay 500 words or less. Each scholarship will have unique questions to answer such as: Importance of Sustainable  Development in Rail, Importance of Urban Transportation and Amtrak’s Role, The Impact of Technology on Public Transportation & Diversity in the Railroad.
• Candidates are encouraged to submit to more than one scholarship that is available if criteria is met. Only one scholarship awarded per person within the academic year.
• All scholarships are paid with the understanding that, unless otherwise indicated, the money will be used for tuition, fees, books, and equipment required for classes to attain a college degree from a college or university.
• Scholarship awards will be paid out upon completion of a W-9.
• High school students must submit their official H.S. transcripts as well as their college acceptance letter to be fully considered

Scholarships Awarded

Amtrak will award a total of eleven scholarships in the below categories.

• $3,000 scholarship for Non-Technical degree candidates
  • Students majoring in Business, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain or similar major.
• $3,000 scholarships for IT degree candidates
  • Students must be majoring in Information Technology or Computer Science related.
• $5,000 A. Phillip Randolph scholarship
  • For dependents (children or spouses/civil union partner/domestic partner) of Amtrak employees, retirees, or furloughed employees - Attending or planning to attend college or university.
  • A. Phillip Randolph scholarship that applicants must provide the name and SAP# of the A. Phillip Randolph member they are a dependent of.
• $3,000 scholarships for Engineering degree candidates
  • Engineering students enrolled in an undergraduate/graduate program nationwide are eligible for this award. Students should have an interest in railroad engineering.
• $3,000 scholarships for Women in STEM degree candidates
  • Identify as a female/woman, Pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree and majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematic (STEM).
• $5,000 scholarship for high school seniors belonging to Hispanic/Latinx heritage.
  • Who are interested in attending a trade school, vocational school, or 
    associate’s/bachelor’s degree program - Identify as Hispanic or Latinx, Official school 
    acceptance letter.
• $5,000 scholarship for African-American high school seniors
  • Who are interested in attending a trade school, vocational school, or associate’s/bachelor’s degree program - Identify as Black or African American, Official school acceptance letter.
• $5,000 Asian Pacific American Islander and Allies Scholarship for high school seniors
  • Belonging to APA heritage who are interested in attending a trade school, vocational school, or associate’s/bachelor’s degree program - Identify as APA, official school acceptance letter.