Bulldogs Give Back
The University of Georgia and its donors are committed to supporting the entire student experience by providing scholarships that recruit the best and brightest to enroll at UGA, help them overcome financial barriers, enhance in-classroom learning, and assist students in seeing the world.
When students are financially stable, they’re able to fully embrace UGA’s dynamic learning environment, pursue leadership opportunities, and make the most of their time on campus.
When the UGA community rallies together, they’re not just funding an education, they’re investing in the next generation of Bulldogs, and the future of the state and the world.
“Receiving a scholarship has given me a sense of freedom and control over my story. It’s amazing to know other students have that same freedom and hope for the future.”
– Hailey Covarrubias,
Fourth-year student, scholarship recipient
“Giving back is a really personal thing, so you have to figure out what you’re passionate about and how to make sure it impacts as many people as possible.”
– Johnelle Simpson II AB ’16, BBA ’16
Donor and former recipient of the Let All the Big Dawgs Eat Scholarship
“I wanted to provide students hands-on resources and access in the hopes of inspiring students on their own journeys to fulfill their dreams, just like I was able to.”
– Anne Barge Clegg BSEd ’69,
Alumna and donor
UGA offers an expansive portfolio of merit-based scholarships to recognize academic excellence and leadership. Many of these donor-funded scholarships support thousands of students each year with awards that often include tuition support, stipends, and experiential learning opportunities to support the total cost of attendance. In the 2024-2025 academic year, over 8,000 students were awarded more than $27 million in donor-funded, merit-based scholarships.
One such merit-based scholarship is the Foundation Fellowship, UGA’s premier academic scholarship. The Foundation Fellowship gives students the freedom to pursue mentoring, internships, research, and hands-on learning opportunities to enrich their educational experience.
With need-based scholarships, the Bulldog community can bridge the funding gap for students whose circumstances make a quality education appear out of reach. In 2024, UGA donors helped the university surpass 1,000 endowed, need-based scholarships awarded to talented students who pursue education in the face of financial strain.
In the 2024-2025 academic year, UGA awarded more than $9 million in need-based aid, impacting almost 3,000 students. For Georgia residents, the average cost of attendance at UGA is $29,566 per year. Even after receiving the Federal Pell Grant and other financial aid, students from the lowest income backgrounds still face an annual unmet need of approximately $10,228. Need-based scholarships play a critical role in bridging this gap by opening lasting pathways to higher education for both current and future Bulldogs.
“What our donors have done for those students is life changing, and the effects extend to the students’ families and communities.”
– Jill S. Walton BSA ’99, MPA ’03,
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Experiential learning is required for all UGA students and these scholarships aim to ensure that all Bulldogs have the opportunity to gain new perspectives and experiences through hands-on learning. Individual donors and giving societies can prioritize their giving toward supporting opportunities for students to study away, take on internships, leadership experiences, research opportunities, service-learning and creative programs.
Endowing Scholarship Funds
Individuals who are interested in supporting scholarships have a variety of options—from pledges to estate gifts and one-time contributions of any size. Many donors choose to establish a legacy by endowing a scholarship. Gifts to support endowments are invested to maximize an annual return and create income that funds the scholarship in perpetuity.
The minimum gift donation amount to endow a scholarship through the UGA Foundation is $50,000, but that amount isn’t expected all at once. A multi year pledge is the standard, with contributions spread out over several years to make participation more manageable.
