Application Deadlines for Eligible Students Start in March and Continue through May
College dreams just got a major boost! Miami-Dade County students can now apply for more than $2 million in college scholarship opportunities through The Miami Foundation. Backed by generous contributions from city, county partners, and private donors, these scholarships support students pursuing diverse academic and career paths, including – science, the arts, community service, law, and other fields – while unlocking educational access without the financial burden.
With some application deadlines as early as March 2026, students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to maximize their financial aid opportunities. Applications are available at: https://miamifoundation.org/scholarships/#students.
As part of its commitment to educational equity and workforce development, The Miami Foundation has expanded its online resources to better support students and families navigating the college process. New tools available include a free Financial Aid Help Desk staffed by experts, a college cost calculator, guidance for planning life after graduation, and access to hundreds of additional external scholarships. These resources can be found at miamifoundation.org/scholarships/resources.
“Distributing scholarships to provide resources to well-deserving students in Miami? Challenge accepted!” said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “We want to extend every education tool in our toolbox to Miami students because education changes futures, not just the futures of students, but future employers, parents, and community leaders. We are deeply grateful to our generous donors and corporate partners who make learning accessible through nine unique scholarship opportunities.”
The Miami Foundation is also inviting individual donors and businesses to establish or contribute to scholarship funds to further expand opportunities for local students. These investments create meaningful, long-term impact to encourage students to complete their degrees in Florida and contribute their talents back to Miami-Dade’s future workforce. Custom and named scholarship opportunities are available.
“Establishing a scholarship with The Miami Foundation is one way we keep the spirit of our brother alive,” said Michael Epstein, representing the Alan R. Epstein ‘Reach for the Stars’ Scholarship, created in memory of Alan Epstein, who died in a tragic car accident in 2018 while returning from the University of Florida. “Each year, it’s a joy to select students who embody Alan’s vision, drive, and academic promise. This scholarship is about more than financial support; it’s about students knowing their community sees them, believes in them, and recognizes the obstacles they’ve overcome. We welcome every eligible student to apply.”
In addition to the Epstein family, scholarship partners include The Related Group, The Aronovitz Family, The Ortega Foundation, Give Kids A Chance, The City of Miami, The Little Haiti Revitalization Trust, DRRT, The Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation, and The College Assistance Program (CAP). CAP operates in full cooperation with The Miami Foundation and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), supporting students who have exhausted all other financial aid options but still face significant unmet need.
Last year, The Miami Foundation helped 888 students access scholarships totaling $2.29 million.
This year, The Miami Foundation also sponsored the transportation for the first inaugural Miami Scholarships Fair, hosted by Infinite Scholars and the YMCA South Florida. More than 900 M-DCPS high school seniors attended, collectively receiving over $22 million in on‑the‑spot scholarship offers. Infinite Scholars and YMCA South Florida also led a two‑day scholarship fair in Broward County, awarding $55,245,572 in scholarships to students there. Combined, the Miami and Broward events made South Florida the largest scholarships fair in Infinite Scholars’ national history, delivering more than $77 million in scholarship opportunities to local students.
To explore available scholarship opportunities, visit www.miamifoundation.org/scholarships.
About The Miami Foundation
The Miami Foundation is building a Greater Miami where everyone can thrive. Since 1967, The Foundation has invested more than $905M to strengthen our community in partnership with more than 1,000 fundholders and 60,000 donors. By accelerating leadership, generosity, and a sense of belonging across Miami, we inspire people to become changemakers, and we create ways for donors, nonprofits, leaders, and locals to work together on solutions for our community. At The Miami Foundation, everyone has a role they can play in creating a thriving Greater Miami.
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