Fidelity Scholars Program: Get Help
Applying for scholarships can be a daunting task, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Here, you can access resources and tips, sign-up for office hours for 1:1 support or check out the FAQs to empower students like you to navigate the application process with confidence.
Preparing for the 2025-26 application
1.) Register on UNCF.org
- We’ll send you an email in the fall when the application opens. Create your profile. Save your user ID / password!
2.) Start developing a school list
- Do your research. Check them out online, talk with others, or visit them if you can.
- Make sure to include in-state schools aligned with your academic goals.
- What type of environment do you thrive in?
- Write down those application deadlines.
3.) Talk with your family
- Share your aspirations. And have the money talk.
- Begin to create a financial plan and potential budget.
- Plan to complete the FAFSA, apply for grants and scholarships.
- Write down those FAFSA and scholarship deadlines.
Important dates
August 1 – Common App opens
Check out the essay prompts and being reflecting and crafting your essays.
October 1 – Fidelity Scholars Program application opens
The application closes on January 31, 2-25. You will be required to complete an essay, submit a video, transcript, student aid report and letter of reference.
FAFSA opens
Create your FSA-ID and have your parent/guardian create their FSA-ID ahead of that date.
Office hours and events – Coming Soon!
A schedule of office hours and events will be posted in the fall when the application opens.
FAQs
Q: What is the Fidelity Scholars Program?
Q: What are the goals of the Fidelity Scholars Program?
Q: Why is Fidelity launching this program?
Q: What demographics of students are eligible for the Fidelity Scholars scholarship?
Q: Is the scholarship open to incoming freshmen or first-year students, only?
Q: Tell me more about student eligibility requirements.
Q: Are there any special requirements for applicants from Washington, D.C.?
Q: Can students who participate in dual enrollment programs apply for the Fidelity Scholars Program?
Q: How will the scholarship funding be distributed? Is Fidelity handpicking the recipients?
Q: Are there GPA or performance requirements for the scholarship recipients? Could a student lose their scholarship due to sub-par academic performance?
Q: How do I complete the FAFSA?
Q: What is the Fidelity Scholars Program?
The Fidelity Scholars program is an individual scholarship designed to help students overcome barriers to success and graduate with little or no debt from a four-year college, two-year college or a certificate program. The Fidelity Scholars Program includes scholarships for students in underserved communities and a suite of ongoing support, including mentorship by Fidelity associates, internship, apprenticeship guidance and financial education programming.
The scholarship is part of the Fidelity initiative, Invest in My Education (ME)℠, a social impact initiative that provides access to education and ongoing support to Black, Latinx and historically underserved students. The program will take a holistic approach to driving transformational change by combining student scholarships with ongoing support, including resources to complete degree programs and pathways to post-graduation employment. Invest in My Education (ME) will also fund grants to non-profit organizations that broadly facilitate the success of Black, Latinx and historically underserved high school and college students.
Q: What are the goals of the Fidelity Scholars Program?
To provide access to resources and networks that help students enter jobs or careers that facilitate continued economic mobility, the program seeks to position historically underserved communities for greater economic mobility and generational wealth, improving long-term outcomes for all. Specifically, the program seeks to provide flexible scholarships, mentorship and support underserved students to complete their post-secondary programs with no education debt.
Q: Why is Fidelity launching this program?
Fidelity’s most fundamental value is to empower individuals to strengthen and secure their financial future. Fidelity is committed to removing systemic barriers so that anyone, regardless of their background, can access higher education and economic mobility.
Q: What demographics of students are eligible for the Fidelity Scholars scholarship?
Student applicants must come from underrepresented populations and historically underserved communities who have faced systemic barriers and challenges to economic mobility. We specifically encourage students from Black, Latino, Native American (with documented tribal affiliation) and underrepresented Asian American/Pacific Islander heritage to apply.
Q: Is the scholarship open to incoming freshmen or first-year students, only?
Student applicants must attend as an incoming 2025-26 freshman at a 4-year accredited college or university in the state that you reside. Students who have received an associate degree are not eligible to apply.
Q: Tell me more about student eligibility requirements.
The program is open to historically underserved and underrepresented students ages 16 to 24 who are permanent residents of Florida, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Carolina, New Jersey, Texas, District of Columbia, Colorado, Ohio, Kentucky, and Rhode Island.
- 2.5 – 3.5 unweighted GPA or GED
- Pell eligible and/or demonstrate financial need
- Attend as an incoming 2025-26 freshman at a 4-year accredited college or university in the state that you reside
- Student applicants must come from underrepresented populations and historically underserved communities who have faced systemic barriers and challenges to economic mobility. We specifically encourage students from Black, Latino, Native American (with documented tribal affiliation) and underrepresented Asian American/Pacific Islander heritage to apply.
Q: Are there any special requirements for applicants from Washington, D.C.?
Applicants from Washington, DC must plan to attend one of fourteen not-for profit DC Mayors’ Undergraduate Scholarship eligible institutions. Washington, DC applicants must apply for the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) when it opens, prior to being selected for the Fidelity Scholars Program.
Q: Can students who participate in dual enrollment programs apply for the Fidelity Scholars Program?
Students who participate in dual enrollment programs that do not result in an associate’s degree are eligible to apply.
Q: How will the scholarship funding be distributed? Is Fidelity handpicking the recipients?
UNCF will be responsible for scholarship candidate selection and funds distribution to the recipients’ institutions. Fidelity has no role in the selection process of Fidelity Scholars.
Q: Are there GPA or performance requirements for the scholarship recipients? Could a student lose their scholarship due to sub-par academic performance?
Yes. Students who fall below a 2.5 GPA will be at risk of losing their scholarship. However, students will have access to dedicated college success coaches throughout the academic year to help them keep on track and will have access to resources both on campus and through the program’s nonprofit partners to support their academic success.
Q: How do I complete the FAFSA?
The Federal Student Aid Department announced that the release of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2025-26 application year will now open October 1, 2024. Fidelity Investments has partnered with uAspire to offer the following resources to help you complete the required FAFSA that will help to establish financial need and unlock financial aid.
- FAFSA Checklist: List of steps for students to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has been updated to reflect changes to the 2024-2025 FAFSA. You can find versions of this checklist translated into Arabic, Cape Verdean, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
- Free Student Walkthroughs: uAspire hosts free virtual events to walk students and families through the financial aid process and applications, provide resources and guidance, and answer questions. Each session is one hour. More dates will be released soon.
- Wyatt Chatbot: Wyatt helps first-time filers complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) so they can get help paying for college. Wyatt will guide students through the application, texting helpful reminders and answering all their FAFSA questions.
- Financial Aid Checklist: Provides an overview of the financial aid process for students, with information and additional links for each key step. You can find versions of this checklist translated into Arabic, Cape Verdean, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
uAspire is a national non-profit providing support to high school and college students to access financial aid and navigate postsecondary systems through advising.