$5,000 Rare Disease Student Scholarship

The #RAREis Scholarship Fund supports adults living with rare diseases in pursuing higher education, regardless of treatment status. It is designed to reduce barriers to education by providing financial support for tuition and related expenses.

Benefits

• $5,000 one‑time award (up to 58 recipients)
• Applicable to community colleges, four‑year universities, graduate schools, and vocational/trade schools
• Awards are not renewable, but students may reapply annually (up to 4 times total)
• Payments made directly to the institution in August

• Must be a U.S. resident diagnosed with a rare disease (physician verification required)
• Must be enrolled or planning to enroll full‑time or part‑time in Fall 2026 at an accredited institution
• Must be 17 years or older (no upper age limit)
• Most recent transcript (high school, GED, college, etc.)
• Diagnosis Verification Form completed by a physician
• Optional SAT/ACT scores if not listed on transcript
• Selection based on: essay, leadership, community involvement, work experience, academic performance, and financial nee
• In college or university
• Graduate student
• Just graduated
• In a postgraduate program