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2026/2027 BetterLife National Scholarship Applications are now closed.

Winners will be announced by May 31, 2026 and will be featured in the November 2026

BetterLife Magazine

For the 2026–2027 school year, BetterLife will award up to 61 scholarships totaling $110,000 in National Scholarship Benefits to members pursuing higher education distributed as follows:

  • One (1) $10,000 Presidential Scholarship
  • Nine (9) $5,000 Annual Scholarships
  • One (1) $5,000 Bradley Family Scholarship Donated by BetterLife Board Director Mary Bradley and family.
  • Fifty (50) $1,000 Annual Scholarships
 
Eligibility for BetterLife Scholarships:
  • Applicants themselves must be BetterLife Policyholders (insured life or annuity holder).
  • Students must be enrolled on a full-time basis each semester which includes:
    • Undergraduate degrees 
    • Graduate degrees
    • Associate degrees
    • Accredited trade and technical school certificates
    • Returning adults

Current requirements/guidelines for Applications

  • BetterLife member group involvement (if applicable) or local community/volunteer involvement.
  • Members are eligible to win the $10,000 Presidential Scholarship once only.
  • Members are eligible to win the $5,000 and $1,000 scholarships a maximum of two times. Previous winners are eligible, and must apply each year. 
  • Applicant must be accepted or attending as a full-time student, each semester at a College/University or Vocational/Technical Institution for the entire 2026/2027 school year. A copy of the verification must be included.
  • Recipients of other BetterLife scholarships—branch/lodge, district, or state are eligible for the National Scholarship.
  • Award checks will be mailed directly to the School Financial Aid office to apply funds towards tuition, books, and incidentals.
  • Video and essay giving a compelling personal statement highlighting four components. Each component will be scored based on how effectively you communicate and support why you should be chosen for a scholarship. The 4 scored components are:
      1. Passion for your field of study
      2. Future career goals 
      3. BetterLife group engagement (if applicable) and future intent to give back to your community and seek future leadership opportunities. 
      4. Financial need (a short summary of your family’s ability to help financially support your education, as well as any extenuating circumstances that could be affecting your family’s finances, such as medical issues and job loss).

To ensure your application is included in the 2026/2027 judging process: 

  • Applications can be submitted from January 1 to March 15, 2026.
  • Applications received after March 15, 2026 11:59pm will not be accepted.

Please note: During the online application process, you may save your progress and return to finish later. 

If you experience difficulties with the online process or have questions, contact the Member Engagement team at 1-800-779-1936 (option 7) or email MemberEngagement@betterlifeins.com. Please allow 48 hours for a response. 

Additional Local Scholarship Opportunities:

Did you know? 

Some BetterLife Member Groups may offer additional local scholarships beyond the National Scholarship Program, and students
can apply for both opportunities. Contact the groups directly for more information, application details, and submission dates. 

Spearfish, SD, surrounding Black Hills and Western Wyoming – Jerri Heggem | (605) 642-2093 | jerriheggem@yahoo.com | Application Form | closing date for applications: April 22, 2026. 

Minnesota BetterLife Scholarship – https://rochesterarea.org/scholarships/apply-for-a-scholarship | Margaret Kelley (Rochester Area Foundation) | (507) 282-0203 | mkelley@rochesterarea.org | Open to all Minnesota BetterLife Group Members | closing date for applications: April, 5, 2026.

Bohemian Hall Lodge #141 Scholarship (Cadott, WI) – JoAnn Parks | Lodge_141@yahoo.com | Application Form | Open to BetterLife Members of Cadott Member group and students enrolled in Cadott High School | closing date for applications: April, 15, 2026.