The Horsemen Scholarship provides college tuition scholarships to children of equine industry workers.  Students may receive up to $6000 for tuition only. Please check website for deadline information. Please apply online.

The Thoroughbred Scholarship provides college tuition scholarships to young people who are pursuing a career in an equine-related industry, but not from an equine industry family.  Students may receive up to $6000 for tuition only.  Please check website for deadline information. Please apply online.

In addition, RFE sponsors a variety of more specific scholarships, including:

The ASHADO Scholarship provides up to $6000 for tuition per year for four years for a student pursuing a career in an equine-related industry.  The ASHADO recipient should exhibit outstanding qualities and show great determination.  The recipient is chosen from the female Thoroughbred Scholarship applicants. Please apply for Thoroughbred Scholarship online.

The FLEET INDIAN Scholarship provides up to $6000 for tuition per year for four years for a NY resident pursuing a career in the equine industry.  Please check website for deadline information. Please apply online.

The KY Equine Education Project Scholarship provides four scholarships of $1000 to KEEP members.  Deadline is May 1st. The KEEP Scholarship remains one of the only scholarships that must be applied for by mail.

Racing Officials Accreditation Scholarship
This scholarship is designed to reward students who have graduated from the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, University of Louisville Equine Industry Program, or another equine-related program. The purpose of these scholarships is to allow students the opportunity to pursue a career in the horse racing industry as a racing official. Two $500 scholarships will be awarded for the rotating Racing Officials Accreditation Schools. Must apply by mail.

Washington State Thoroughbred Foundation Scholarship
The Washington State Thoroughbred Foundation Scholarship is available to Washington state residents from any background wishing to pursue a career in pre-veterinary medicine (equine practice only), equine science, racetrack management, equine business management or pasture management as it pertains to horse farms, and other related fields. Please apply online.

The Winner’s Circle Scholarship program provides one scholarship to be awarded to a deserving student at each of the 36 Colleges of Veterinary Medicine throughout North America and the West Indies that sponsors a national chapter of SCAAEP.  Contact chapter for additional information. 

To be eligible for most of the scholarships, a young person must meet the following criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen or have a valid student visa;
• Have a 2.85 grade point average;
• Have a household income of $50,000 or less;
• Be accepted to an accredited university, college or vocational school in the United States;
• Be 24 years old or younger as of September 1 of the application year.

Please check the website for more specific information regarding eligibility requirements for each scholarship.

Scholarship applications are accepted from November 15 until February 28 each year for most of our scholarships, although some scholarships differ.  It is best to check RFE’s website for specific deadline information each year.

As of May 2010, The Race For Education has awarded nearly $3 million in scholarships to over 250 students.  RFE has given scholarships to students from across the country. 

The three scholarships that require you be a resident of a particular state are:

• KY Equine Education Project Scholarship (must be legal resident of KY),
• Washington Thoroughbred Foundation Scholarship (must be legal resident of WA), and
• FLEET INDIAN Scholarship (must be a legal resident of NY).

Although financial need is a consideration for all of the available scholarships, the Racing Officials Accreditation Scholarship, Kentucky Equine Education Project and Winner’s Circle Scholarship Programs do not have a specific household income eligibility requirement. 

The Horsemen and Thoroughbred Scholarships require the applicant’s household income to not exceed $50,000 annually.

The FLEET INDIAN Scholarship requires a household income to not exceed $75,000, and is for NY residents.

You may apply for the Winner’s Circle Scholarship when you are in your third year of vet school to be used for your fourth and final year.  Vet students are not eligible for any of our other scholarships.

Almost all of the scholarships require an official transcript be submitted with the application, and most of the scholarships require at least one, two, three or four recommendation letters. 

If you are applying for a scholarship that requires online application, you will be asked to upload required materials (like a transcript, recommendation letters, etc.) during the online process. If you are applying for the KEEP, Winner's Circle or ROAP Scholarships (the only scholarships that permit application by mail) then you will send the required materials with your application.

Note: You should allow at least a month to receive your transcript, and it usually takes a month or longer for individuals to write recommendation letters for you.  Do not wait until the last minute- incomplete applications will not be considered.

Yes, you can apply for as many scholarships as for which you are eligible. Please check requirements carefully. If you apply for more than one scholarship and each one requires a transcript, recommendation letters, etc., please submit a copy with each application.

ROAP and KEEP scholarship applications should be mailed to The Race For Education, 1818 Versailles Road, Lexington, KY 40504.  Winner’s Circle applications should be given to the advisor of the SCAAEP at your college or university.  All of other scholarships must be applied for via the RFE website.

If you are awarded with a scholarship from RFE, you will be eligible to participate in RFE’s Mentoring/Shadowing Network.  There are several ways to participate.  Some students prefer being paired with a student and adult mentors in their area for a long period of time.  Other students prefer shadowing their mentor for a semester on designated days.  Each student has different needs as do RFE mentors.

RFE can also help its recipients find internships while in school. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Student Services Manager to request an internship placement, and to provide necessary information needed for placement.  RFE has assisted students with finding internships that match their interests throughout the country.

RFE also requires its recipients to complete a financial literacy course online at no cost to them.  This course is a way for students to learn about managing money as they transition to college. Far more than static textual information, Financial Literacy 101 is an engaging multimedia experience that combines a robust curriculum tailored to the needs of students with a learning model designed to actually prevent financial problems before they start.  It is RFE’s goal to help students graduate from college with little to no financial debt and move into the work force without that added pressure and stress. 

ATTENTION RFE SCHOLAR:

Please take the online financial literacy course at
www.financialliteracy101.org. 

You MUST complete and pass this course before you can receive a scholarship allocation. Contact the Student Services Manager for the access code to complete the course.