Voyager Scholarship FAQs

The Voyager Scholarship helps students pursue careers in public service by providing access to barrier-reducing financial aid, travel experiences, a network of leaders and mentors, and programming designed to support them as they refine their vision for the type of impact they plan to make.

The Voyager Scholarship is administered by The Obama Foundation. Airbnb will provide Airbnb travel credits and other support to participants. The 2026 application and scholarship disbursement is administered by International Scholarship & Tuition Services (ISTS). The program is funded by a $100 million gift from Brian Chesky, Airbnb Co-Founder and CEO.

Voyagers will receive the following:

• Up to $50,000 in financial aid: Students will receive up to $25,000 per year in “last dollar” financial aid for their junior and senior years of college. This financial aid should alleviate the burden of college debt so that students can afford to pursue a career in public service.

• Summer Voyage: President Obama and Brian come from different backgrounds but share the fundamental belief that exposure to new places and experiences broadens our horizons and redefines what we believe is possible. Voyagers are provided with a $10,000 stipend and free housing in Airbnb listings (up to $4,200) to carry out an immersive work-travel experience during the summer between their junior and senior years of college. Voyagers may travel within the United States and/or internationally and may choose to complete an internship, volunteer experience, research opportunity, or combination of these as their learning experience. These experiences will broaden their horizons and prepare them for careers in public service.

• 10-year travel stipend: After graduation, Airbnb will provide students with a $2,000 travel credit every year for 10 years, totaling $20,000. This will allow students to continue to broaden their horizons and forge new connections throughout their public service careers.

• Fall Summit:  During their Junior Year, Voyagers may have the option to attend an in-person convening where they will engage in community building activities with fellow Voyagers, build their leadership skills, and learn from experienced leaders in public service. 

• Network of leaders: Throughout the program, students will be invited to an ongoing speaker series, giving them access to a network of leaders . This network of leaders will expose them to new areas of service and innovations happening in their fields. After graduation, they will join The Obama Foundation’s global community, providing them with Foundation resources and programming.

Voyagers are selected on the basis of academic performance; current and past public service experiences; work experience; school and community activities; access to other leadership development programs; a video answer submission; and essay submissions focused on a vision for their public service path; their approach to working with others to bring this vision to life; and the ways in which this program can help them accomplish these goals. All applicants must demonstrate financial need (as calculated by ISTS) to be considered. The application will include sections related to each of these components.

No, we do not require letters of recommendation as part of the application.

Applicants must meet ALL of the following eligibility criteria. Applicants must meet these eligibility requirements both at the time of application and enrollment for the Fall 2026 term.

• Current college Sophomores who plan to enroll full-time in their junior year of study at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States in Fall 2026. Eligible students are:

  • Finishing sophomore year in Spring 2026. Applicants should be considered “juniors” based on the total number of earned credits at their institution by Fall 2026 or having two years of full-time enrollment remaining before earning your Bachelor’s degree

  • Or transferring from a two-year to a four-year college for their 2026-2027 junior academic year

• Demonstrate financial need—this is calculated using a similar formula to the FAFSA.

• Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent. Students are required to upload unofficial transcripts as part of the application process. 

• Have demonstrated a commitment to public service.

• Plan to pursue a future career in public service upon graduation.

• Be a United States (U.S.) citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident (holders of a Permanent Resident Card), or individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA).

• Able to commit to fully participating in once per month programming including individual meetings with coaches and network connections as well as developing an actionable Summer Voyage plan.

Preference may be given to applicants with no or limited prior engagement with other robust leadership programs with significant financial benefits in their undergraduate experience. Students must demonstrate financial need to be considered for the program.

ISTS, who is administering the application and disbursing scholarships to selected students, uses a formula similar to that used by college financial aid offices (Federal Methodology), using information provided in the Financial Data section of the application and financial aid documentation provided by the student.

We want to engage students who have already been exposed to learnings that have piqued their interest in public service but for whom the financial burden of tuition might prevent them from pursuing those dreams in their final years. Juniors will have had an opportunity to demonstrate this interest in public service through their studies and activities to date and be able to articulate how this scholarship will solidify their commitment to pursue a career that contributes to the public good.

100 rising Juniors will receive a scholarship, with the option to renew as Seniors if, in the Foundation’s discretion, you maintain good standing with the Voyager program and eligibility requirements.

Public service can include careers in government, nonprofit, or the private sector, ranging from school teachers, community organizers, social workers, entrepreneurs with ideas for socially impactful businesses, journalism, arts, and design — a range of fields through which people are committed to creating a more connected, just, and equitable world.

No. Public service is broadly defined, and eligibility is not limited to specific areas of study or degree programs.

• Application Open: January 28, 2026

• Application Deadline: March 17, 2026

• Notification of Program Finalists: May 2026

• Scholarship Notifications: July 2026

• Funds Disbursed: August - October 2026

Applicants will submit their completed applications by Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Time (UTC-6). Applications will then be reviewed and scored by a selection committee. Finalists will be notified in May, and selected Voyagers will be notified in July.

No. The Voyager Scholarship is a non-partisan, non-political program that is not affiliated with any political party or entity. We are looking for participants who will bring a diverse set of perspectives to the program.

No. Applicants who are running campaigns for public office during the program term do not meet the eligibility criteria to apply for the program. We encourage you to apply again in the future, should you meet eligibility criteria.

If a Voyager Scholarship recipient participates in a study abroad program at any time during their junior or senior year, they are eligible to receive scholarship funds only if:

• The study abroad program is offered through an accredited U.S. 4-year college or university

• The student will be earning credits toward their degree

• Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the U.S. college or university for the study abroad program

• The Obama Foundation approves the student’s participation in the study abroad program

The Obama Foundation reserves the right to deny scholarship funding to any Voyager Scholarship recipient if a study abroad program interferes with the student’s ability to be satisfactorily involved in the Voyager Scholarship program.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback on applications. We truly appreciate your interest and encourage you to carefully review the eligibility criteria and guidelines before you apply. 

For the 2026-2027 academic year, students will receive scholarship funds beginning in August. 

No, scholarship recipients will not be able to defer their scholarship funding for use in later semesters.

The Voyager Scholarship can only be applied to undergraduate studies. Participating in programming during the junior and senior year are required components of the Voyager Scholarship.

Recipients are advised to touch base with their financial aid office to get the most accurate information for the financial aid implications of this scholarship and how it might affect your other awards.

Voyagers must be enrolled full-time in order to receive scholarship funding. Accommodations may be made in extenuating circumstances.

To be eligible to renew their scholarship for their senior year, students must maintain a 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale or equivalent. They must also actively engage in required monthly programming sessions.

The program begins in August 2026.

Junior Voyagers have the opportunity to build community with their fellow Voyagers from across the country, engage with leaders in the public service sector, and engage in leadership development workshops.

Additional details will be shared with selected applicants. Round trip economy domestic airfare (or ground transportation equivalent) and accommodations will be booked for and provided to scholarship participants for travel to the Fall Summit.

Attendance at the Summit is expected but not mandatory.

Voyager Scholarship program will require participation in monthly virtual programming sessions that include:

• Speaker Series and Mentorship Roundtables - During these sessions, Voyagers will have the opportunity to engage with experienced leaders in public service and gain insight into their values-based leadership approach and career journeys. 

• Summer Voyage Design Workshops - These virtual workshops walk Junior Year Voyagers through the process of developing a meaningful Summer Voyage travel plan with clearly defined and learning goals that exposes them to new communities and is connected to their desired interest areas.

• Summer Voyage Coaching Sessions - Voyagers participate in individualized coaching sessions support to develop their Summer Voyage plans. 

• Network Connections - Voyagers are connected to a robust network of leaders and mentors affiliated with The Obama Foundation who can provide insight and guidance as they develop their Summer Voyage travel plans and plan for their future careers in public service. 

• Pre-Departure Know Before You Go Session - This session focuses on preparing Voyagers for their Summer Voyage including skills for building bridges across communities. 

Voyagers will meet virtually over Zoom once per month for approximately 90 minutes. They will also participate in individual coaching and network connection sessions as they develop their Summer Voyage plans. Some months will require additional hours of work outside of the required program sessions to ensure a timely submission of an actionable Summer Voyage plan.

No. However, during their two years in the program, students will receive valuable professional connections and experience that will support their pursuit of a career in public service.

During the summer between their junior and senior years, students will participate in an immersive summer experience where they’ll gain hands-on experience within their chosen path of service. Students can pursue a traditional internship or design their own experience, which may include a combination of volunteering, research, attending conferences, etc. Internships or other experiences must be at least six weeks long, and each participant’s Summer Voyage plan and budget must be reviewed and approved as part of the planning process taking place from September to February. The Voyager Scholarship provides $10,000 to support students’ travel and living expenses associated with the Summer Voyage. Additionally, Airbnb will provide $4,200 in travel credits for each student during their Summer Voyage.

The Summer Voyage takes place during the summer between a student’s junior and senior year. Students will design the Summer Voyage that best suits their needs and public service career aspirations, so experience length may vary, but a minimum of 6 weeks is required.

Students will receive a $10,000 stipend to cover travel and living expenses during their Summer Voyage. Students will also have access to up to $4,200 in Airbnb travel credits to support housing costs. The stipend will be released to students upon approval of their Summer Voyage.

Students will identify a potential Summer Voyage theme as part of their scholarship application. Students own this very important part of their own public service journey by defining the shape of this experience and articulating how and why they’d like to further explore their own public service purpose in this way. Between October and February of their junior year, students will then engage in a series of Summer Voyage Design Workshops, which include virtual workshops that guide them through the planning and implementation process. Students will then continue planning at the Fall Summit and will be provided connections within the network to support them through the process.

No. Students are not guaranteed an internship as part of this experience. Students will be responsible for developing and implementing their own Summer Voyage, with the Foundation offering support for shaping and executing their plan.

Students will be provided with $4,200 of Airbnb travel credit to support their housing during their Summer Voyage. Stays outside of Airbnb listings or exceeding $4,200 will be paid for by the student out of their Summer Voyage stipend.

No. Students are responsible for coordinating their own travel arrangements as part of this experience and funding their travel out of their summer stipend.

Yes, students are able to travel internationally, but travel must be approved by program staff as part of their Summer Voyage design process. Students will not receive additional funds for international travel and are responsible for securing their own passport and/or visa and for meeting any applicable international travel requirements.