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Black at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarships

The Black at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarship was created by Microsoft employees committed to helping students pursue higher education and build careers in technology. Through this grassroots effort, we aim to empower future generations to achieve more and become more.
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Scholarship award

Each year, Microsoft employees come together to support students pursuing higher education through a community-hosted scholarship program. This effort reflects our shared belief in creating opportunities and the impact of collective generosity.

Details for the 2026 scholarship cycle—including the number of awards and scholarship amounts—will be announced in January.

Check back for updates or explore other employee-led initiatives that help empower the next generation of changemakers.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered for a Black at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a high school senior.
  • Plan to attend a four-year college or university in the United States beginning the fall immediately after high school graduation.
  • Plan to enroll full-time in undergraduate study in one of the following fields at an accredited four-year U.S. institution:
    • Engineering​
    • Computer Science​
    • Computer Information Systems​
    • Business Administration​
    • Finance​
    • Marketing
  • Demonstrate a passion for technology.​
  • Demonstrate leadership in school or the community.​
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent.)​
  • Require financial assistance to attend college.​
  • International applicants are welcome if they currently attend school in the United States.​

Note: Microsoft employees and their children are not eligible to apply.

Selection criteria

The program will use criteria including the consideration of academic performance, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, a statement of career and educational goals and objectives, unusual personal or family circumstances, an online recommendation, and a short essay.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit the following:

One letter of recommendation:

  • At least one letter must be from a faculty or staff member at your school. Letters of recommendation should be original and should not be duplicates of college recommendation letters. (Letters must be on letterhead.)
  • If you request a letter to be uploaded by your recommender, please ensure they have done so by the deadline (March 18, 2025 by 3pm CST). All materials must be received by the deadline.

Transcript:

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display student name, school name, and credit hours for each course and term in which the course was taken.
  • Note, if you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.

One Essay

  • Describe how you plan to engage in the technology industry in your career. (2,000 characters- approximately 500 words or less). (If you have done exemplary work using technology during high school, please describe that also.)

Financial need will be considered. Recipients must demonstrate need.

How to apply

The 2026 scholarship cycle will open in January 2026. Application details, eligibility criteria, and deadlines will be shared at that time.

Applications will be submitted through the Scholarship America Hub.

For questions, email the organizing team at BAMScholarshipInfo@microsoft.com.

Frequently asked questions

  • No. The BAM Scholarship is open to high school seniors only.

  • No, the BAM Scholarship is only for high school students enrolling full-time at a four-year accredited college or university in the U.S.

  • International applicants planning to study in the US can apply. However, if selected and you do not attend college in the US, you will become ineligible for the scholarship.

  • Yes, only applicants who plan to attend a school based in the USA will be considered for this scholarship.

  • Yes, all applications must contain a current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display the student name, school name, grades, and credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.

  • Yes, recipients of the renewable scholarship award are eligible to renew their scholarships for a duration of up to three years

  • To learn more about Microsoft Internships, please visit Early in profession | Microsoft Careers

  • Yes, you can take advantage of Microsoft’s student certification offer.

  • These scholarships are championed and funded by Microsoft employees who are passionate about supporting future talent. While a dedicated internal team helps coordinate efforts, the scholarships themselves are administered by external partners—including the Seattle Foundation and Scholarship America—who manage application processing and fund disbursement.​

  • No. The Black at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarships are open to all applicants—regardless of race, gender, or other protected characteristics—who meet the eligibility requirements.

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