Ft Wayne Times

Today, Congressman Jim Baird announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for the USDA's 1890 Scholars Program until March 15, 2025. This scholarship covers full tuition, fees, books, and room and board for students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, or natural resource sciences at one of the 19 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that are part of the 1890 land grant institutions.

"I'm pleased to announce that the USDA has reopened its 1890 National Scholars Program," said Rep. Baird. "This program provides vital educational scholarships to students in Indiana and across the country who wish to attend an HBCU and pursue a valuable degree that will equip them to tackle the agricultural challenges of our time, develop innovative farming practices, better manage crops, enhance management practices for our farm animals, fight food insecurity, and so much more. I encourage qualifying students to apply and wish them the best of luck in their educational pursuits."

The list of participating universities includes Alabama A&M University; Alcorn State University in Mississippi; Central State University in Ohio; Delaware State University; Florida A&M University; Fort Valley State University in Georgia; Kentucky State University; Langston University in Oklahoma; Lincoln University in Missouri; North Carolina A&T State University; Prairie View A&M University in Texas; South Carolina State University; Southern University in Louisiana; Tennessee State University; Tuskegee University in Alabama; University of Arkansas Pine Bluff; University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Virginia State University; and West Virginia State University.

USDA 1890 National Scholars must study disciplines such as Agriculture, Agricultural Business/Management, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering/Mechanics, Agricultural Production and Technology, Agronomy or Crop Science, Animal Sciences, Botany, Food Sciences/Technology, Forestry and Related Sciences, Home Economics/Nutrition, Horticulture, Natural Resources Management, Soil Conservation/Soil Science, Farm and Range Management or other related fields like non-medical biological sciences or pre-veterinary medicine.

For more details on eligibility requirements or additional information about the scholarship program visit the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program webpage.