5 Strong Scholarship Atlanta Application Form

Scholarship Information

The 5 Strong Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing college retention and graduation rates by partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The foundation specifically targets promising, resilient student leaders—often focusing on students in the "academic middle" who have strong GPAs but may have average standardized test scores.

The program provides unique, comprehensive support broken down into three main pillars:

Full-Tuition Funding: Through direct partnerships with a growing network of HBCUs, selected scholars receive full-tuition scholarships to cover their undergraduate studies.

The Cohort Model: Accepted students don't go to college alone; they are placed into tight-knit permanent teams of 5 scholars who attend the same university together, providing immediate peer support.

Intentional Prep & Coaching: Before setting foot on campus, scholars must complete intensive, mandatory "College Ready Prep Sessions." Once at school, they receive ongoing, structured mentorship from dedicated 5 Strong coaches from their first day of classes all the way through graduation.

Requirements

To be eligible for the 5 Strong Scholarship, all applications must:

*Reside in the Atlanta, GA metropolitan area (Fulton County and all surrounding counties).

*Attend one our HBCU partners

*Be a current-year graduating high school senior

*Demonstrate the potential to be a leader in the classroom and on campus

*Have earned a GPA of at least 3.0 (Some HBCU Partners have higher GPA Requirements)

*Have a minimum ACT score of 19 or a combined SAT score of 990 for both Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math sections (Some HBCU Partners have higher test score requirements, and some do not require a test score)

*Commit to 5 Strong and the selected HBCU that you will be attending

*Be available to attend all mandatory bimonthly College Ready Prep Sessions in person in Atlanta

*Attend a mandatory college visit

You must have at least a HOPE 3.0 GPA for Fort Valley State, Albany State and Savannah State U: If you don't know your HOPE GPA, please go to gafutures.org - (What's my HOPE GPA) Albany State, Fort Valley State and Savannah State Scholars' tuition will be paid by The HOPE Scholarship.

Required GPA/Test Scores:

*Alabama A&M - 3.0 /19 ACT/990 SAT

*Alabama State U - 3.0/20 ACT/1100 SAT

*Benedict College - 3.4 GPA

*Bennett College - 3.0 GPA

*Lincoln University - 3.3 GPA

*Stillman College - 3.0 GPA

*Voorhees University - 2.8 GPA

*Wilberforce University - 3.25 ($10,000), 3.5 ($12,000)

Deadline

To be considered for this scholarship, you must submit this application on or before Thursday, December 31st, 2026.