The Posse Scholarship is a pretty amazing opportunity for college-bound students: a prestigious, full-tuition merit scholarship awarded to high school students with strong leadership potential.
Posse Scholars also receive intensive pre-college training during their senior year of high school, four years of mentorship from Posse staff, and career advising to help them succeed after college.
What does it take to become a Posse Scholar? There’s a unique selection process that looks beyond grades and test scores. You also have to be nominated to apply, which means you can’t just submit an application on your own.
This guide will break down everything you need to know, from eligibility requirements to the application process. It will also help you decide if the Posse Scholarship is the right fit for you.
Let’s explore!
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(click to skip ahead)History of the Posse Foundation
In 1989, Posse President and Founder Deborah Bial heard a student say something that changed the course of her life:
“I never would have dropped out of college if I had my posse with me.”
That simple, heartfelt sentence sparked a movement built around the powerful idea that students need a community of support to thrive in college.
The Posse Foundation started small, partnering with Vanderbilt University to award scholarships to five students from New York City. But the impact of that first group was undeniable, and since then, Posse has grown into a nationally recognized program.
Today, Posse partners with 64 colleges and universities in over 20 cities across the United States. And the results speak for themselves: the program has provided a total of $2.45 billion in college scholarships to over 14,000 students, and Posse Scholars have an impressive 90 percent college graduation rate.
Deborah Bial’s work with the Posse Foundation was also honored with a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship in 2007. The program’s success even caught the attention of President Barack Obama, who awarded Posse a generous portion of his Nobel Peace Prize grant in 2010.
What is the Posse Scholarship?
The Posse Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship awarded to high school students with strong leadership potential, academic promise, and a commitment to making an impact in their communities.
What makes Posse different from other scholarships?
It’s not just about money (though a full-tuition scholarship is pretty incredible). It’s about community.
Posse Scholars enter college with a small, tight-knit group of peers who support each other every step of the way. And that support starts even before college begins, with months of training to build leadership skills, academic confidence, and a strong sense of purpose.
The Posse Scholars Program
The Posse Scholars Program is a leadership development program and support network designed to help students succeed in college and beyond. It places every Posse Scholar in a group of 10 students who attend the same partner college.
There are also faculty mentors, networking opportunities, and career development resources that continue throughout their college journey.
Posse’s Pre-Collegiate Training
Before heading off to college, Posse Scholars get a head start with an intensive Pre-Collegiate Training Program from January to August of their senior year. Think of it as a crash course in how to succeed in college, both in and out of the classroom.
The training covers everything from time management and public speaking to handling conflict and building relationships with professors.
Campus Program
Once in college, Posse Scholars continue receiving support through the Campus Program. The goal is not just for scholars to graduate but also to become leaders and changemakers who make a real impact on campus and beyond
Each scholar gets matched with a Posse faculty mentor, who guides them through academic and personal challenges.
Scholars meet as a group with their mentor every week, creating a space where they can connect, support each other, and tackle issues together.
During their first two years of college, scholars also meet one-on-one with their mentor every two weeks for extra support and guidance.
These check-ins help scholars stay on track academically while also giving them a space to talk through challenges and celebrate wins.
Posse also hosts an annual weekend retreat called the PossePlus Retreat. During the retreat, Posse members, faculty, and administration come together to discuss important social, political, and cultural issues affecting their campus and communities.
Career Program
Many college students struggle to figure out what comes after graduation or how to turn their degrees into real-world opportunities. The Posse Career Program helps scholars and alumni bridge that gap by connecting them with valuable resources and opportunities that set them up for long-term success.
Scholars get access to exclusive internships, career development workshops, and networking opportunities with top employers.
They also receive personalized career coaching to help them stand out in the job market and make a lasting impression.
The Career Program has partnerships with over 250 companies and organizations and an extensive alumni network. Many Posse Scholars go on to secure internships and full-time positions at major companies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.
(For more on summer internships for high school students, head here.)
The Career Program also includes the Graduate + Fellowships Program, which provides support for scholars interested in pursuing advanced degrees or competitive fellowships.
How much does the Posse Scholarship give?
The Posse Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship. That means it covers the entire cost of tuition at one of Posse’s partner colleges or universities. However, it does not cover room, board, or other expenses like books and personal costs.
It’s a pretty great deal, especially since Posse partner schools are top-tier academic institutions. But there are some important requirements to keep in mind, like the fact that you must attend the specific college you’re matched with, and you can’t transfer while holding the scholarship.
Posse Scholarship Requirements
To be eligible for the Posse Scholarship, students must:
Be nominated by their high school or a community-based organization
Be in the first term of their senior year of high school
Demonstrate strong leadership skills and academic potential
Show interest in teamwork and making an impact on campus
Commit to attending one of Posse’s partner colleges if selected
Complete the rigorous Dynamic Assessment Process (DAP), which includes multiple rounds of interviews and group activities
Posse Scholarship Nomination Process
You must receive an official nomination before you can apply for the Posse Scholarship. But how? And from whom?
Applicants must be nominated by their high school or a recognized community-based organization. For example, this could be a school counselor, a teacher, or a leader from a local community program who believes in your leadership potential and ability to succeed in college.
Nominators must also register with a Posse city or program office.
Once nominated, students go through the Dynamic Assessment Process to determine their fit for the Posse Scholars Program.
Dynamic Assessment Process (DAP)
The Posse Foundation’s Dynamic Assessment Process is a three-part evaluation designed to identify students who might be overlooked in traditional college admissions processes. It aims to assess leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills.
The DAP includes group interviews, where applicants work on collaborative tasks, and individual interviews that allow candidates to share their unique stories and experiences. The goal is to identify students who can contribute positively to their “posse” and their future college communities.
What does the Posse Foundation look for in students?
The Posse Foundation is looking for students with the potential to be future leaders. In their evaluation, grades and test scores are less important than qualities like leadership, teamwork, and the ability to make a positive impact on others.
If you’re someone who’s passionate about working with others, motivated to make a difference, and ready to take on challenges with an open mind, you might be exactly the kind of student Posse is looking for.
Posse Scholarship Acceptance Rate
The Posse Scholarship is highly competitive. Thousands of students are nominated every year, but only a small percentage are selected.
For example, in 2024, over 17,000 students were nominated. However, only 906 were chosen to receive a Posse Scholarship. That’s about a 5% acceptance rate.
But don’t let that scare you! If you believe in your leadership potential and are ready to put yourself out there, it’s absolutely worth applying.
The selection process focuses on qualities beyond grades and test scores, so if you excel in interviews and group discussions, you have a chance.
Tips to Help You Win a Posse Scholarship
What can you do to boost your chances of winning a Posse Scholarship? Here are five tips.
1. Build Leadership Skills Throughout High School
Posse is all about leadership potential, so look for opportunities to step up as a leader in your school or community. This could be through student government, school clubs, volunteer work, sports teams, or any activity where you can take initiative and inspire others. The more you can show that you’ve developed leadership skills over time, the stronger your application will be.
2. Prepare for the Dynamic Assessment Process (DAP)
The DAP is an interactive, three-part interview focusing on leadership, communication, and teamwork. You can prepare by sharing your thoughts confidently in classes or extracurriculars and learning how to stay calm under pressure during collaborative tasks.
3. Be Your Authentic Self
The Posse selection process is designed to identify students who will thrive within their “posse” and contribute to their college community. So, be genuine in sharing your personal experiences, perspectives, and motivations throughout the interview process.
4. Get a Strong Nomination
Since you can’t apply on your own, talk to your school counselor or a community-based organization as soon as possible to express your interest in the Posse Scholarship. Make sure they’re aware of your leadership potential so they know what to highlight when they write your nomination and explain why you’d be a great fit for the program.
5. Pay Attention to Deadlines
The Posse application deadlines vary. Stay on top of deadlines by checking with your school counselor or local Posse Foundation office, and make sure all your nomination materials get submitted on time.
Posse Scholarship Deadline
The deadline for the Posse Scholarship depends on your city and Posse’s regional offices. So, check with your high school counselor or your local Posse office. If you’re interested in becoming a Posse Scholar, start the conversation as soon as possible.
Remember, you must be nominated by their high school or a community-based organization to apply. Students usually receive their nomination in the spring or summer before senior year.
Posse Scholarship Schools List
Here’s the complete list of colleges and universities currently partnering with the Posse Foundation to provide full-tuition scholarships and ongoing college support.
Click the links to access each school’s financial aid department website, where you can find more information about the Posse Foundation partnership and information on additional scholarships.
Final Thoughts
The Posse Scholarship is an excellent opportunity for students with strong leadership potential who want a supportive community as they navigate college. It also ensures you receive mentorship, academic support, and career guidance throughout college and beyond.
Also, consider applying for additional scholarships that can lower your college expenses. For example, have you heard about the following merit-based scholarships?
For more tips on how to apply for and win college scholarships, check out this guide next: How to Apply for Scholarships: Your Ultimate Guide.
Ameer Drane is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college admissions and career development. Prior to freelancing, Ameer worked for three years as a college admissions consultant at a Hong Kong-based education center, helping local high school students prepare and apply for top colleges and universities in the US. He has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from UCLA. When he’s not working, Ameer loves traveling, weight lifting, writing, reading, and learning foreign languages. He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Top values: Growth / Diversity / Empathy
