The Frederick Douglass Scholarship Program
“Education means emancipation. It means light and liberty. It means the uplifting of the soul of man into the glorious light of truth, the light by which men can only be made free.”
– Frederick Douglass
Scholarships Range in Amount and Can Cover Up to the Full Cost of Attendance
The great 19th century statesman and former slave Frederick Douglass was a strong believer in the freedom that an education offers. The Frederick Douglass Scholarship Program, open to all students irrespective of nationality, color, or sex, seeks to provide high-achieving students from underserved communities with the opportunity to attend Hillsdale College with little or no out-of-pocket expenses. Scholarships range in amount and can cover up to the full cost of attendance for all four years at Hillsdale College.
Underserved students are defined as:
- Those coming from families with high financial need
- First-generation college students
- Those who have experienced foster care or homelessness
- Those who have overcome challenging life circumstances
Underserved students identified through the Frederick Douglass Scholarship Program who are interested in applying to Hillsdale follow the same application process as all prospective students.
My experience at Hillsdale College has been a huge blessing in my life. I never thought I would be able to attend college at a young age: my grandfather went to college for the first time in his 50s, my mother in her late 30s; so being here often feels like a dream. Coming from Venezuela, I found a welcoming community and a vibrant intellectual life. Professors, fellow students, and college staff have all made me feel like I belong. It would have been impossible for me to be a Hillsdale College student without the generosity of this institution and its supporters. I am often greatly challenged to grow, asked to work hard, and to become a better and more virtuous person. I will always be thankful for my time here.
– Alba Blanco Padron, Class of 2026
Working with Community-Based Organizations: The Ambassador Visit Program
To reach students with the greatest needs, Hillsdale College seeks to create connections with community-based organizations that reach young people in underserved communities. These essential leaders are heavily involved in their local schools, churches, and nonprofits and can help identify students who may be a great fit for Hillsdale College.
In addition to hosting regional community dinners and educational workshops throughout the country, we invite community leaders to travel to campus through our Ambassador Visit Program. Twice each year, we bring leaders together to learn more about the Frederick Douglass Scholarship and life at Hillsdale College.
“Hillsdale has been instrumental in moving us toward thinking about what the next steps are for kids who have experienced foster care. Before attending the Ambassador Visit Program, we were running a strong program for kids up to 5th grade, but nothing for youth beyond. Since that weekend, we have added youth classrooms to our program, hosted meet-ups for our youth families and hosted trainings. Hillsdale even taught our youth how to apply for college, which inspired them to think beyond high school and believe that they could pursue higher education.”
– Ashley Wambach, Executive Director, Compelled to Care
Inviting students to visit Hillsdale:
Frederick Douglass Leadership Seminar
Our Frederick Douglass Leadership Seminar allows for high school students from underserved backgrounds to spend five days at Hillsdale College learning from faculty, staff, and their peers. Hillsdale College aims to give students a vision of what it looks like to overcome life’s challenges so that they are empowered to achieve their goals. Many of the students attending this seminar come from low-income families, single-parent households, or have experienced foster care.
How to Learn More
Jolie Ballantyne
Associate Director of Admissions
(517) 607-2327
[email protected]