Davidson Fellows Scholarship vs Dell Scholars Program

Comparing two elite interdisciplinary opportunities. Both are scholarships for high school students.

Davidson Fellows Scholarship Dell Scholars Program
Prestige Tier Tier 1 — Elite Tier 2 — Highly Competitive
Type Scholarship Scholarship
Organization Davidson Institute for Talent Development Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
Acceptance Rate Extremely competitive; estimated 1-3% acceptance rate (specific data not publicly disclosed) Approximately 10-15% estimated (500 scholars selected annually from a likely 3,000-5,000+ applicants, though exact applicant numbers not publicly released)
Applicants Hundreds of applicants annually across all categories (exact number not publicly disclosed) Not officially published, but highly competitive given 500 winners and national scope; likely 3,000-5,000+ applications annually
Deadline Rolling
Award $100,000 $20,000
Cost to Apply Free Free
US Only Yes Yes
Grades Must be in high school or younger (any grade level acceptable as long as under 18) High school seniors only
College Impact Davidson Fellows is viewed with extremely high regard by college admissions officers at top universities. Winning or being named a finalist demonstrates exceptional achievement and intellectual capabi... The Dell Scholars Program is highly regarded in college admissions and demonstrates significant commitment to college completion. Colleges and universities view Dell Scholars selection as meaningful v...