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Dolphin Scholarship Foundation

Dolphin Scholarships

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This is a group of awards reached through one application. Each award inside it has its own rules.

Award
Core Dolphin grants are $1500-$4500 annually; administered awards differ, including Bowfin $2500/$5000 and Laura W. Bush $4500. The eligibility page caps core awards at eight semesters/$16000, while the 2026-27 policy says eight semesters/$18000. Confirm the applicable cap and new policy.
Timeline
  1. Oct 1, 2026Applications reopen . Eligibility screening due February 15, 2027 at EST
  2. Mar 15, 2027Complete application due at EDT. Official transcripts must be received
  3. Mar 15Mailed transcripts postmarked after are rejected. Future acceptance/renewal deadlines are not published.
How to apply
Complete sponsor-service/relationship eligibility screening first, then essay, activities, transcripts, SAT/ACT scores and three recommendations by the full deadline. Use the student’s name/email. Sponsor documents must show exact submarine/assignment dates. Official transcript receipt is part of completion. Current public forms and policy are still for 2026-27.
What you'll need
  • A separate scholarship application
Who can apply
Core award: unmarried dependent children/stepchildren under 24 by March 15, pursuing their first full-time associate/bachelor’s or vocational certification; sponsor needs six active submarine years or eight support years, with stated injury/death exceptions. Spouses may study part-time, but published credit requirements conflict. Named vessel awards have different service lengths and may serve crew members, descendants or graduate students; service academies are excluded.
Good to know
Need is checked after other aid: the award is a payer of last resort and not issued without remaining need. Only Dolphin/Laura W. Bush renew without a new competitive application; named vessel awards generally require reapplication. The 2026-27 policy requires good standing or GPA 2.0, whichever is higher, and continued eligibility/need; the new policy is unpublished. Washington service length and spouse credit loads conflict across official pages.
Details
Need requiredBefore Early Action