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HOLA at Microsoft Scholarship

The HOLA at Microsoft Scholarship was launched by employees passionate about uplifting the next generation of Hispanic and Latinx talent. This community-led effort supports students pursuing higher education and careers in technology, with the goal of empowering future innovators 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 the HOLA at Microsoft Scholarship, applicants must:​

  • Be a US-based high school senior​.
  • Be a US citizen, permanent legal resident, or an individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.​
  • Plan to enroll full-time in undergraduate study in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or one of the following business programs: business administration, finance, or marketing.​
  • Attend an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year.​
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent.)​
  • Require financial assistance to attend college.​

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

Selection criteria

The program will use the following selection criteria:

Essay (weighted as 35%): Please describe your future plans to either pursue a career and / or engage in the technology industry and explain how you are currently working towards achieving those goals. Also, if you have any notable achievements or experiences using technology during high school, please describe them too. Your response should be clear and concise and should demonstrate your passion for and commitment to the field of technology / STEM. 

Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience (weighted as 20%)

Reference One (weighted as 10%)

Financial Need (weighted as 25%, recipients must demonstrate need): Describe any significant and or unusual family, personal, or financial challenges you have faced and how they impacted your academic and personal growth, including school achievement, work experience, or participation in activities. Provide specific examples to illustrate how you have persevered and overcome these challenges. Financial need will be considered. 

Academic Performance (weighted as 10%)

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 HOLAscholarship@microsoft.com. 

Frequently asked questions

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

  • Yes, Scholarship applicants must be planning to pursue an associate or bachelor's degree and attend a two- or four-year college or university in the US.  

  • Applicants must be either a U.S. citizen, a permanent legal resident, or an individual with deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA).

  •  

    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 HOLA at Microsoft Scholarship is open to all applicants—regardless of ethnicity, race, gender identity, or other protected characteristics—who meet the eligibility requirements.

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