Scholarships
the 2026 USA Scholarship Program Application is now open!
APP DEADLINE: SUNDAY, MAY 17th
This year, we are introducing the NEW Graduate Platinum Award! USA students of Lao descent at the undergraduate OR graduate level are eligible to apply.
‘Lao descent’ includes ALL ethnicities of Laos, such as Hmong, Mien, Khmu, etc.
Award Information
Scholarships totaling $25,000 will be granted to 17 recipients.
Awards will be distributed in three tiers:
Platinum Graduate Award: $2,500 for 2 graduates
Gold Undergraduate Award: $2,000 for 5 undergraduates
Silver Undergraduate Award: $1,000 for 10 undergraduates
Dates & Deadlines
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15: Application Opens
SUNDAY, MAY 17: Application Deadline
Timeline: Decisions will be made by July and applicants will be notified via email. Once notified, winning students must accept their award by the established deadline or they will be forfeiting it to runner up applicants. Funds will be distributed in August.
Eligibility
Undergraduate Eligibility
US Citizen or Permanent Resident
Descendant of Laos (open to ALL ethnicities of Laos)
Minimum 3.0 Cumulative GPA
Full-time (12+ credits) undergraduate at an accredited college/university during the Fall 2026 semester
Graduate Eligibility
US Citizen or Permanent Resident
Descendant of Laos (open to ALL ethnicities of Laos)
A graduate enrolled in a master’s, doctoral, or professional program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.) at an accredited college/university during the Fall 2026 semester.
Note: Family members of Jai Lao Foundation officers and directors are not eligible to apply.
Application Requirements
Recipients are chosen based on a culmination of merit, financial need, and community involvement.
The application will require you to fill in blanks and upload supplemental documentation, including:
Personal Information
School Information (File Upload: Transcript and Fall 2026 Class Schedule)
Essay (File Upload: 3 Part Essay)
Please do not hesitate to reach us at info@jailao.org with any questions.
About the Program
Our Scholarship Program was first established in 2011 to help the educational endeavors for college students of refugee descent from Laos. Our recipients are chosen based on merit, need, and community involvement. It is our hope that through this program we can recognize and reward the students who are determined to build a strong cultural foundation to strengthen and illuminate the Lao community. We are so proud to have awarded the following:
2011: $10,000 awarded to 8 students
2012: $15,000 awarded to 12 students
2015: $10,000 awarded to 10 students
2017: $3,000 awarded to 5 students
2023: $25,000 awarded to 23 students
2024: $25,000 awarded to 25 students
2025: $25,000 awarded to 25 students
We are continually honored to support these incredible students of Lao refugee descent, and with your support we can continue to do so. According to a 2019 survey completed by the Pew Research Center, only 14% of Laotians aged 25 and older have graduated with a bachelor’s degree, which is 40% below the national average for Asian Americans. There is great need for increased access and support for students of Laotian descent in higher education. By investing in our youths through the gift of education, we are growing a generation of scholars with great minds and giving hearts.
Congratulations to our 2025 Scholarship Award Recipients!
Congratulations to our 2024 Scholarship Award Recipients!
2023 Scholarship Recipients
