NGC College Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by National Garden Clubs

Overview

NGC administers a college scholarship program providing financial support to students pursuing majors related to horticulture, landscape design, floral design, and environmental fields. The program emphasizes equitable opportunity and supports one-year awards for undergraduate and graduate study. Applicants should consult their state garden club federation for additional scholarship opportunities and state-specific submission details. Guidance and application resources are available through the National Garden Clubs website.

• Supports students in horticulture- and environment-related majors.
• One-year awards for undergraduates and graduate students.
• Additional state-level scholarships may be available.

Details of the Award

The number and amount of scholarships are set annually; up to 45 scholarships may be awarded each year with individual awards of up to $4,000. Eligibility includes juniors, seniors, and graduate students, and sophomores may apply for funding for their junior year. Institutions must be accredited and listed on the U.S. Department of Education accreditation site. Equal opportunity is provided to all applicants.

Award Value: Up to $4,000 per scholarship; total number determined annually.

Duration: Awards are one year in length and are intended for the academic year specified in the award.

• Up to 45 scholarships available annually.
• Maximum award: $4,000 each.
• Recipients must attend an accredited U.S. institution.

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents enrolled full-time as defined by NGC and meet minimum graded-hour requirements (undergraduates: 12 graded hours; graduate students: 6 graded hours). A cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) is required, and applicants must be planning a career related to gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design, or horticulture. Certain categories are ineligible, including international or foreign exchange students, most doctoral students (unless specifically approved), and Scholarship Chairmen. Previous applicants may reapply, and funds can be applied to overseas study only when it is a condition of the recipient’s degree with payment remaining with the accredited U.S. institution.

Ineligible Applicants: International/foreign exchange students, most doctoral students (except by NGC approval), Scholarship Chairmen, and applicants on study-abroad fellowships or internships.

Eligible Enrollment & GPA: Full-time enrollment (UG: ≥12 graded hours; Grad: ≥6 graded hours) and a minimum 3.25 GPA.

Eligible Majors:

• Agronomy; Agriculture; Floriculture; Horticulture
• Landscape Design; Botany; Biology; Forestry; Wildlife Science
• Plant Pathology/Science; City (Rural & Urban) Planning; Habitat or Forest/Systems Ecology
• Environmental Concerns/Management; Environmental Conservation; Land Management and related fields

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents only.
• Minimum GPA and graded-hour requirements apply.
• Major must be in an eligible, related field.

Selection Criteria

Applications are first judged at the state level to select up to one winner per state (two winners for states meeting a larger membership threshold), then reviewed by the NGC Scholarship Committee after the March deadline. The national committee includes the NGC Scholarship Chairman and eight Regional Directors; final judging occurs before the annual NGC Convention. Winners are announced at the Convention, and all applicants are notified in writing by NGC Headquarters following the event.

Evaluation Factors: Judging typically follows a points-based scale including academic record, applicant letter, extracurriculars/work experience, financial need, recommendations, and conformance.

Notification Timeline: State judging precedes national review after the March deadline; winners announced at the NGC Convention with written follow-up from Headquarters.

• State-level judging determines initial winners (one per state, with exceptions).
• NGC Scholarship Committee performs final national judging.
• Common evaluation categories include academics, applicant letter, and financial need.

Description of Funds

Awarded funds are disbursed in late July from NGC Headquarters to the Financial Aid Office of the recipient’s accredited institution; funds are not sent directly to students. The recipient and the institution’s Financial Aid Office will determine how the funds are applied (tuition, housing, books, etc.). If a recipient changes majors to a field outside the eligible list or withdraws from school, any remaining funds must be returned to National Garden Clubs.

Disbursement: Payments are made to the institution’s Financial Aid Office, typically mailed in late July.

Restrictions: Funds must be used for student-related expenses and must be returned if the recipient’s major changes to an ineligible field or if the student withdraws.

• Payments sent to the institution, not the student.
• Funds cover customary student expenses as determined with Financial Aid.
• Unused funds may be reclaimed by National Garden Clubs under specific conditions.

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit a complete package including the NGC Scholarship Application form, NGC Financial Aid Form, complete academic transcripts, a one-page applicant letter, a list of extracurricular activities/honors from the last three years, and two one-page letters of recommendation. Documents should be submitted as specified (front side only for listed items) and not bound or stapled. Applications are submitted to the State Garden Club Scholarship Chairman in the applicant’s state of legal residence; submission may be online, by email, or by mail. The application deadline is the February due date, and previous applicants must submit a new, updated package.

Required Documents: Application form, financial aid form, transcripts, applicant letter, activities/honors list, and two recommendation letters (front side only).

Submission: Submit online at https://gardenclub.org/collegescholarships or by email/mail to the State Scholarship Chairman. Applications may also be submitted via the NGC college scholarships webpage: https://gardenclub.org/college-scholarships.

• Complete application packet required; do not staple or bind documents.
• Submit to the State Scholarship Chairman of your legal resident state.
• Deadline: received by the February due date; previous applicants must reapply with updated materials.