Ron Brown Scholar Program vs Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) - Get Involved
Comparing two highly competitive interdisciplinary opportunities. Both are scholarships for high school students.
| Ron Brown Scholar Program | Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) - Get Involved | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Scholarship | Scholarship |
| Organization | Ron Brown Scholar Program | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation / Gates Millennium Scholars Program |
| Acceptance Rate | Estimated 5-10% (highly competitive; exact data not publicly available online) | Approximately 3-5% (extremely competitive) |
| Applicants | Likely 500-2000+ annually (estimate based on prestige tier and award amount) | Estimated 50,000-80,000+ applications annually |
| Deadline | Rolling | — |
| Award | $40,000 | — |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | High school seniors only | High school seniors and current college freshmen/sophomores (varies by year) |
| College Impact | 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... | 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... |