Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) - Get Involved vs Ron Brown Scholar Program

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

Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) - Get Involved Ron Brown Scholar Program
Prestige Tier Tier 1 — Elite Tier 2 — Highly Competitive
Type Scholarship Scholarship
Organization Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation / Gates Millennium Scholars Program Ron Brown Scholar Program
Acceptance Rate Approximately 3-5% (extremely competitive) Estimated 5-10% (highly competitive; exact data not publicly available online)
Applicants Estimated 50,000-80,000+ applications annually Likely 500-2000+ annually (estimate based on prestige tier and award amount)
Deadline Rolling
Award $40,000
Cost to Apply Free Free
US Only Yes Yes
Grades High school seniors and current college freshmen/sophomores (varies by year) High school seniors only
College Impact Gates Millennium Scholars is viewed as ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS scholarships by college admissions officers and employers. Being named a GMS Scholar significantly enhances college applications (tho... The Ron Brown Scholar Program is highly respected by college admissions officers as a prestigious national scholarship. Winning this award significantly strengthens a college application and demonstra...