Your type 1 diabetes diagnosis could help you pay for a higher education. If you or your child are a high school or college student, it’s worth exploring scholarships, grants, and financial aid options for students with diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

While some college scholarships require participation in extracurricular activities, community service, a minimum GPA, and more, you’ll also find scholarships open to any student with type 1 diabetes attending an accredited college or trade school. “Accredited” means a school provides a high-quality education and meets academic standards.

Here’s a list to help with your scholarship search. Below each option, you’ll find a link to more information. Be sure to research the eligibility requirements and application deadlines to ensure you qualify and submit your application on time.

Scholarships for Students With Type 1 Diabetes

The first two opportunities are for students with type 1 diabetes who are pursuing a higher education.

1. Beyond Scholars

Beyond Scholars is a program from Beyond Type 1, a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of everyone living with diabetes. Formerly known as the Diabetes Scholars Foundation and Diabetes Scholars, this scholarship program helps pay for tuition, textbooks, room and board, and other college expenses.

• Description — Available to high school seniors who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Benefits — Up to $5,000
• Eligibility — Must be planning to attend an accredited four-year university, two-year community college, or a technical or trade school

Students involved in the diabetes community with a history of high academic performance and who can demonstrate that they are living well with type 1 diabetes are encouraged to apply.

To learn more, visit Beyond Type 1.

2. The TraceBrave Foundation

Each year, The TraceBrave Foundation provides five college scholarships to students with type 1 diabetes. The founders of this nonprofit organization named the scholarship after their son Trace, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 18 months old. They want to help other families of children with type 1 diabetes.

• Description — Available to graduating high school seniors with type 1 diabetes
• Benefits — $250
• Eligibility — No requirements beyond being a graduating high school senior planning to attend college

To learn more, visit the TraceBrave Foundation.

Scholarships for Athletes With Type 1 Diabetes

Extracurricular activities like sports can open up additional opportunities for educational scholarships. The scholarships in this section are for students with a type 1 diabetes diagnosis who participate in organized sports. Some have minimum GPA requirements.

3. Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation

The Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation exists to help young people with type 1 diabetes pay for a college education. Scott Verplank, a professional golfer, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 9.

• Description — Available to high school seniors who are U.S. citizens and had a childhood diagnosis of type 1 diabetes
• Benefits — Up to $10,000 for tuition, student fees, and books
• Eligibility — Participation on an organized athletic team while maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher

Applicants should also be able to show that they are successfully managing diabetes with proper diet, exercise, and medication. These scholarships are renewable for up to four years for recipients who continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

To learn more, visit the Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation.

4. Team Type 1 Foundation Global Ambassador Scholarship Program

Team Type 1 Foundation is on a mission to show the world that anyone with diabetes can achieve their dreams through proper health, exercise, and equal access to medicine. The foundation’s Global Ambassador Scholarship Program is one way the organization supports athletes with type 1 diabetes.

• Description — Available to student athletes with type 1 diabetes who are willing to use their sport as a platform to inspire others
• Benefits — Up to $10,000 to offset the cost of diabetes care so students can focus on their college education
• Eligibility — Attending an accredited National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) or National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) school and playing a sanctioned sport for that school while maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher

Students who earn this college scholarship must be willing to attend an online training session and represent Team Type 1 in their local diabetes community.

These scholarships are renewable for up to four years for recipients who continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

To learn more, visit Team Type 1 Foundation.

5. Novo Nordisk Donnelly Awards

Tennis player Billie Jean King created this college scholarship in 1998 to support young tennis players with type 1 diabetes. In 2002, Novo Nordisk became the title sponsor. In 2021, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) came on board. The award is named after two successful collegiate athletes — Diane Donnelly Stone and Tracey Donnelly Maltby — who competed in tennis while living with type 1 diabetes.

The USTA Foundation awards 12 Novo Nordisk Donnelly Awards annually. Two national winners each receive $10,000, 10 regional winners each receive $5,000, and two more earn National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) education program grants of $2,500 each.

• Description — Available to high school students and those currently enrolled in college who have type 1 diabetes and play tennis on a team or in a league
• Benefits — From $2,500 to $10,000 paid directly to the college or university
• Eligibility — Attending a four-year college or university program as a tennis student-athlete

Students who demonstrate excellence in academics and tennis, actively engage in community service, and have strong leadership skills are encouraged to apply for these awards.

To learn more, visit the USTA Foundation.

Scholarships for Musicians With Type 1 Diabetes

Sports aren’t the only extracurricular activity that can help students with type 1 diabetes pay for a college education. At least one program recognizes those with musical talents.

6. VSA International Young Musicians Program

The VSA International Young Musicians Program recognizes young musicians who are thriving while living with a disability, including type 1 diabetes. In addition to earning money for school, it’s a chance for a recipient to further their musical education.

• Description — Available to U.S. and international musicians ages 14 through 25 living with a disability, including type 1 diabetes
• Benefits — $2,000
• Eligibility — Young musicians of any genre or instrument, including voice

This program also includes professional development and performance opportunities through the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

For more information or to apply, visit the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Scholarships for Students With Disabilities

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are recognized as disabilities under most laws in the United States. As you search for scholarship opportunities, look beyond diabetes scholarships to those that cover disabilities of all kinds, especially those protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

7. AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability

The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) is dedicated to reducing health disparities for people living with disabilities. One way they do this is by providing scholarship money to students with disabilities who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies at an accredited college or university.

• Description — Available to full-time undergraduates who have completed at least one full year of college or to part- or full-time graduate school students pursuing a postgraduate degree; must also be a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. residents and have a disability protected by the ADA
• Benefits — Generally $1,000
• Eligibility — Studying a field related to health and disability at an accredited university in the United States

Students with a history of community service and/or volunteerism are encouraged to apply.

To learn more, visit the AAHD Scholarship Program.

8. Google Lime Scholarship

Google and Lime Connect, a nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of students and professionals living with disabilities, co-established the Google Lime Scholarship. This scholarship is specifically for students living with disabilities who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in computer science, computer engineering, or related technological fields.

• Description — Awarded to full-time college students (including incoming first-year students)
• Benefits — $10,000 for U.S. residents or $5,000 for Canadian residents
• Eligibility — Enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited college or university and studying computer science or a related field

To learn more, visit Lime Connect.

Scholarships Based on Location

Some local, regional, and state organizations and schools offer financial assistance and scholarship opportunities to students in their area.

9. Julie Sargent Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is open to full-time students with type 1 diabetes pursuing an undergraduate degree at Arizona State University (ASU). To learn more, visit the ASU Financial Aid and Scholarship Services page.

10. Thomas J. Seefred Trust Scholarship

This scholarship is open to Ohio-based students with type 1 diabetes pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Awards of up to $3,000 are given to students based on financial need and academic performance. To learn more, visit the Thomas J. Seefred Trust.

11. Diabetes Incorporated

This scholarship is open to residents of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. To be eligible, the applicant or one of their family members must have type 1 diabetes. You must also be a member of Diabetes Incorporated. The current membership rate is $10 annually for a family. To learn more, visit Diabetes Incorporated.

Scholarship Resources

To search for more college scholarships or financial aid resources, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website and the U.S. Department of Labor’s free scholarship search database.

Leading diabetes organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association and Breakthrough T1D might also have additional information about scholarship opportunities for students with financial needs.

If your health care provider works with other young people with type 1 diabetes, ask if they know of any diabetes scholarships or financial aid programs for which you might qualify.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myT1Dteam, the social network for people living with type 1 diabetes and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with those who understand life with type 1 diabetes.

Have you applied for a scholarship or grant for students with type 1 diabetes? What tips or questions do you have? Share your experience in a comment below, or start a conversation on your Activities page.