| 2011 | In 2011, the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act (P.L. 112-10) resulted in the discontinuation of funding for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program and the Jacob K. Javits Fellowships Program. |
| 2000 | In 2000, the College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act (P.L. 106-420) was enacted as a response to increasing reports of scholarship fraud. The act made it illegal for individuals or organizations to offer scholarship services in exchange for payment or to make false claims about scholarship opportunities. The law also required the Federal Trade Commission to establish a scholarship information clearinghouse to provide information and resources to students and families about scholarship opportunities and how to avoid scholarship scams. |
| 1999 | In 1999, the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) was established to bring together scholarship providers and support the advancement of scholarship programs. The NSPA provides resources and professional development opportunities for scholarship providers and advocates for the value of scholarships in supporting student success. In the same year, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program was also established, with a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The program aims to support outstanding students from low-income backgrounds, providing them with scholarships to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies in any field of their choosing. |
| 1997 | The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation was established in 1997 by the estate of Jack Kent Cooke, a businessman and philanthropist. The foundation is dedicated to supporting high-achieving students with financial need, providing scholarships and other resources to help them succeed in school and beyond. Over the years, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has awarded more than $200 million in scholarships and grants to thousands of students and educational institutions across the United States. |
| 1996 | The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched Project ScholarScam to crack down on scholarship scams that were preying on students and their families. The project involved investigations and enforcement actions against companies that were making false promises about scholarships or charging students for services that were never delivered. |
| 1995 | In 1995, the first free online scholarship matching service was launched, providing students with a new way to search for scholarship opportunities. The service allowed students to create a profile and receive personalized lists of scholarships that matched their qualifications and interests. The idea behind Scholarships.world was adapted from this 1995 scholarship milestone. |
| 1994 | In 1994, the US 4th District Court of Appeals issued a ruling in the case of Podberesky v. Kirwan, which addressed the legality of race-based scholarships at the University of Maryland. The case was brought by Daniel J. Podberesky, a white student who argued that he had been unfairly denied a scholarship because of his race. |
| 1986 | The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987 (P.L. 99-661) established the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious scholarship program that supports undergraduate students who plan to pursue careers in science, mathematics, and engineering. The scholarship program was created in honor of former US Senator Barry Goldwater, who was a strong supporter of science and technology education. |
| 1986 | The Tax Reform Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-514) brought about changes in the way scholarships and fellowships are taxed. Under this act, tax-free treatment of scholarships and fellowships was restricted to students who are degree candidates. This meant that non-degree-seeking students would be required to pay taxes on the scholarships they received. |
| 1985 | The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1986 (P.L. 99-178) established the Federal Merit Scholarship Program, which was later renamed the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program. |
| 1980 | The National Graduate Fellowship Program (NGFP) was established to provide financial support to graduate students pursuing degrees in the arts and humanities. The NGFP was later renamed in 1986 as the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program, in honor of the late senator from New York who was a champion of higher education. |
| 1980 | The Tax Treatment Extension Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-541) made the portion of a scholarship or fellowship that is payment for services taxable income. Prior to this act, only the portion of a scholarship or fellowship that exceeded the cost of tuition and related expenses was considered taxable income. |
| 1975 | The Harry S Truman Memorial Scholarship Act (P.L. 93-642) was a significant moment in the history of scholarships, as it established scholarships for public service. |
| 1975 | The establishment of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund was a key milestone in the global history of scholarships. |
| 1972 | Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (P.L. 92-318) was a landmark moment in the history of scholarships, as it banned discrimination on the basis of sex in student aid and education programs, and required gender equity in institutional athletic scholarships. |
| 1965 | The Higher Education Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-329) was a pivotal moment in the history of scholarships, as it had far-reaching impacts on higher education funding and accessibility. |
| 1963 | The establishment of the Winston Churchill Scholarship Program was a noteworthy moment in the global history of scholarships, as it enabled American students to pursue graduate study in science, mathematics, and engineering at Cambridge University. |
| 1955 | The National Merit Scholarship Corporation was a significant development in the history of scholarships, as it aimed to recognize and reward academic achievement among American high school students. |
| 1954 | The Internal Revenue Code of 1954 played a crucial role in the history of scholarships, as it provided unlimited exclusion from income for scholarships and fellowships, making them more accessible to a wider range of students. |
| 1953 | The establishment of the Marshall Scholarships was a momentous occasion in the global history of scholarships, as it enabled American students to pursue two years of graduate study in the United Kingdom. |
| 1952 | National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program was a major milestone in the history of scholarships, as it aimed to support and fund research in the sciences. |
| 1946 | Launch of the Fulbright Scholarships was a significant moment in the global history of scholarships, as it established scholarships for international study, promoting cross-cultural exchange and understanding. |
| 1945 | National Honor Society (NHS) Scholarship Program, established by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), was a key moment in the history of scholarships, as it aimed to recognize and reward academic achievement among American high school students. |
| 1944 | United Negro College Fund (UNCF) was launched in 1944, as it aimed to provide financial support and access to higher education for African American students. |
| 1942 | Westinghouse Science Talent Search started in 1942, later renamed the Intel Science Talent Search, recognized and supported academic achievement in sciences among American high school students. |
| 1937 | 1937 marked the start of Public Health Service fellowship program aimed to support research and education in the field of public health. |
| 1913 | New York Regents College Scholarship Program established. |
| 1902 | The popular Rhodes Scholarships, established by the will of Cecil John Rhodes, aimed to promote international understanding and leadership through graduate study at the University of Oxford. |
| 1643 | First scholarship award ever in the history of human kind. Lady Anne Radcliffe Mowlson’s endowed scholarship at Harvard College was the first of its kind and paved the way for similar opportunities for students worldwide. |
