National Catholic Committee on Scouting Scholarships

The National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) awards fourteen college scholarships totaling $38,000 through the NCCS Scholarship Program. Applicants submit one application to be considered for any of the fourteen scholarship awards. NCCS Scholarships are awarded to service-oriented high school seniors who are Catholic Scouts in a Scouting America program and continuing their education in college.

An additional $2,000 continuing education scholarship is awarded to a former NCCS scholarship recipient who demonstrates a commitment to service and is actively enrolled in college or graduate school and continuing their studies. Eligibility requirements are detailed on this page.

Since 2005, NCCS has awarded a total of $308,000 in scholarships to 131 service-oriented Scouts nationwide.

How to Apply

NCCS Scholarship Application 2026

Applications must be submitted online. The application requires the following:

Two (2) digitally signed letters of recommendation. One letter from a Religious institution, the second from either your Community, School OR Scouting Unit. You will be prompted in the application about who may write your letters of recommendation and how to submit them.

Eligibility Requirements 

(All Scholarships-with the exception of St. Katharine Drexel)

• Be a practicing Catholic
• Be a full-time high school senior
• Be a registered young man or woman actively involved with a Scout Troop, Venturing Crew, or Sea Scout Ship
• Earned the Eagle Scout, Summit Award, or Quartermaster Award
• Earned the Ad Altare Dei, Pope Pius XII, or Light is Life (Eastern Rite) Religious Emblem
• Provided service and leadership to your Church, community, school and Scouting

Details

• Applications are reviewed by the NCCS Scholarship Committee.
• Submitting a scholarship application is not a guarantee that a scholarship will be granted. There is no appeal, and the decision of the Scholarship Committee is final.
• Applications become the property of the Scholarship Committee. Submitted applications and supporting materials will not be returned.
• Only complete applications are reviewed by the NCCS Scholarship Committee. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.
• NCCS is not responsible for lost or misdirected scholarship applications.
• The fourteen (14) scholarship recipients will be selected no later than May 15th.
• Names of the winners will be listed on the NCCS website by June 1st.
• All decisions of the Scholarship Committee are final.
• The scholarship is intended to be used for the year awarded, but may be deferred for up to two years if approved by the Scholarship Committee.
• Disbursement from the scholarship fund will be made directly to an accredited institution of higher learning at the beginning of the enrollment period.
• The scholarship may be used to defray the necessary costs of the awardee’s tuition, room or board, books, and/or fees.