DECA Student Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by DECA Scholarship Program
Program Overview
DECA’s scholarship program awards scholarships annually to qualified DECA student members during the International Career Development Conference (ICDC). The program is administered by DECA Inc. according to donor-established guidelines and is strictly merit-based. Applications are submitted online through DECA’s scholarship portal and evaluated based on the criteria set by each donor. The program exists to recognize academic and leadership achievement among high school and collegiate DECA members.
Description: A merit-based scholarship program for DECA student members administered by DECA Inc. and awarded at ICDC.
- Scholarships recognize academic and leadership accomplishments.
- Administered by DECA Inc. under donor guidelines.
- Applications are submitted online through the DECA scholarship portal.
Eligibility
To be eligible for DECA scholarships, applicants must be current DECA members. Membership eligibility spans all grade levels, from high school freshmen through Collegiate DECA, unless an individual scholarship specifies a particular grade or collegiate status. If your school has a DECA chapter, register through the chapter advisor or consult your school counselor about joining. Winners are not required to attend ICDC in order to receive their scholarship.
Eligibility: Current DECA membership is required; most scholarships are open to members at all grade levels unless otherwise specified.
- Must be a current DECA member to apply.
- Open to high school and collegiate members unless an award specifies otherwise.
- Attendance at ICDC is not required to receive the award.
Application Process
Applicants must apply online through the DECA scholarship website and create an account to begin the application. Each application typically requires an official transcript and three letters of recommendation, plus any additional documents specified by individual scholarships. Follow the instructions on the portal carefully and ensure all required materials are submitted by the stated deadline. For the 2026–2027 cycle, there will be no preliminary round; all required items must be submitted by the closing date.
Application Timeline: Applications will open soon and will remain open until the January deadline; all materials must be submitted by the due date.
Required Materials: Common requirements include an official transcript and three letters of recommendation, in addition to any scholarship-specific documentation.
- Create an account on the DECA scholarship portal to apply.
- Prepare transcript and three recommendation letters before starting the application.
- Confirm scholarship-specific requirements and submit all materials by the deadline.
Award Details
DECA’s scholarship program provides more than $200,000 in awards each year to eligible high school and collegiate members. Awards are distributed according to donor guidance, and recipients are selected on a merit basis consistent with those guidelines. Individual award amounts and eligibility criteria vary by scholarship, so review each listing carefully on the scholarship portal. DECA Inc. administers the disbursement and selection process in accordance with donor stipulations.
Award Value: Over $200,000 in scholarships awarded annually; amounts and criteria vary by individual scholarship.
- Total annual scholarship funding exceeds $200,000.
- Awards are merit-based and vary by donor-specific criteria.
- Individual award amounts and eligibility should be confirmed on each scholarship listing.