WASHINGTON, D.C., January 16, 2026, USDA — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at the Congressionally created 1890 land-grant universities to pursue careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences. The application deadline is March 8, 2026.
Students around the country are invited to complete and submit their applications online through an online application. The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is available to eligible high school seniors entering their freshman year of college that will attend one of the 1890 land-grant universities and pursue degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The program is also open to rising college sophomores and juniors that meet the same criteria.
“Our land-grant universities, especially our 1890 land-grants, are critical in educating the next generation of agriculturists, and the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program supports this effort by providing students with real-world work experience and support for their education. Now more than ever we need to encourage our young people to join the noble and fulfilling profession of farming and feeding our fellow citizens,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “President Trump has made it a priority to promote excellence at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and USDA is proud to further these efforts through this important program.”
This program is a partnership between USDA and the 19 land-grant universities that were established under the Morrill Land Grand Act of 1890. Scholars accepted into the program will get work experience at USDA through summer internships and will also receive financial support from USDA for their education.
The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program supports Executive Order 14283, White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities , and continues USDA’s long history of developing leaders and providing support to public land-grant universities to build the next generation of the agricultural workforce.
The 19 members of the 1890 universities system are: Alabama A&M, Alcorn State University, Central State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Langston University, Lincoln University, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, South Carolina State University, Southern University and A&M College, Tennessee State University, Tuskegee University, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Virginia State University and West Virginia State University.
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Press release provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
