Amtrak, the only long-distance intercity passenger railroad in the United States, is offering eleven scholarship opportunities to high school, college, and graduate students.
As the U.S. government focuses on advancing interstate rail services (passenger and freight), Amtrak parallels this sentiment by investing in students who are interested in the railroad industry. According to Amtrak, the Amtrak Scholarship Program was created to support students and encourage academic achievement within railroad programs. Totaling $41,000, the program will ultimately fuel a dynamic future for the railroad industry.
Winners’ scholarship money can be used for tuition, fees, books, and equipment required for classes to attain a college degree. Students are encouraged to submit more than one scholarship application if they fit the scholarship criteria. Awards are available within eight scholarship categories.
Deadline: 1/31/25
Award Amount: $5,000
The Amtrak Asian Pacific American Islander Scholarship is available to high school seniors who are of Asian Pacific American Islander heritage.
Deadline: 1/31/25
Award Amount: $5,000
The Amtrak African American Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are of African American heritage.
Amtrak Scholarships for High School Students
High school students only qualify for the Hispanic/Latinx heritage, Black or African American heritage, Asian Pacific American Islander and Allies Scholarship, and A. Phillip Randolph scholarships.Amtrak Asian Pacific American Islander and Allies Scholarship
Available to: High School SeniorsAmtrak African American Scholarship
Available to: High School SeniorsAmtrak Hispanic/Latinx Scholarship
Available to: High School Seniors Deadline: 1/31/25 Award Amount: $5,000 The Amtrak Hispanic/Latinx Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are of Hispanic or Latinx heritage.A. Philip Randolph Scholarship
Available to: High School Seniors through College Graduate Students, Year 5 Deadline: 1/31/25 Award Amount: $5,000 The A. Philip Randolph Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are dependents (children or spouses/civil union partner/domestic partner) of Amtrak employees, retirees, or furloughed employees. High school students must submit their official high school transcripts as well as their college acceptance letter to be fully consideredAmtrak Scholarships for College Students and Grad Students
Amtrak Non-Technical Degree Scholarship
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5 Deadline: 1/31/25 Award Amount: $3,000 The Amtrak Non-Technical Degree Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students majoring in Business, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain or similar majors.Amtrak Women in STEM Scholarship
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5 Deadline: 1/31/25 Award Amount: $3,000 The Amtrak Women in STEM Scholarship is available to female undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing a degree in a STEM field.Amtrak IT Scholarship
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5 Deadline: 1/31/25 Award Amount: $3,000 The Amtrak IT Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing a degree in computer science or information technology.Amtrak Engineering Scholarship
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5 Deadline: 1/31/25 Award Amount: $3,000 The Amtrak Engineering Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing a degree in engineering.Amtrak Scholarship Criteria
There are several criteria students must meet to qualify for the scholarship awards. Student applicants must: • Be pursuing an undergraduate degree or graduate degree as a full-time student. • Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8 at time of award as proven by an official transcript. • Fill out an electronic application with contact/personal information. • Submit a resume. • Include a 500-word essay. Each scholarship has unique scholarship essay prompts such as: Importance of Sustainable Development in Rail Importance of Urban Transportation and Amtrak’s Role The Impact of Technology on Public Transportation and Diversity in the Railroad Recent Amtrak scholarship winner, Elizabeth Samayoa accredits her scholarship win with helping her later secure an Amtrak job. Samayoa encourages scholarship applicants to be creative when writing their scholarship essays. She recommends “...leverage[ing] the resources around you to create a great response.” The National Passenger Corporation, also known as Amtrak, is America’s high-quality, safe, on-time rail passenger service that exceeds customer expectations. For 50 years, Amtrak has connected businesses and communities across the country; and as Amtrak celebrates its 50th anniversary, it looks to the next 50 years and beyond to move America’s workforce toward the future.More Scholarship Opportunities
Create your free Fastweb profile to find scholarships you should consider applying for. Customize your profile with details such as your GPA, class year and activities to get even more customized scholarship matches! Check out these scholarship lists in the meantime: 24 Scholarships to Apply for in 2025 Scholarships for College Students Scholarships for High School Seniors Scholarships for High School Juniors Quick & Easy ScholarshipsYou Might Also Like
Shawna Newman
Managing Editor, Contributing Writer
Shawna Newman is the Managing Editor and a writer at Fastweb. She has over 10 years of experience in higher education. Her direct work with college admissions teams, financial aid officers, college deans, ...
