The Elks National Foundation’s 2027 Most Valuable Student scholarship is a national competition for students who are still in their final year of high school. Its deadline is November 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. The program evaluates scholarship, leadership, and financial need; applicants do not need to be related to an Elks member. The foundation profile links to the competition, the official application, and its contact details.
The award is limited to U.S. citizens who are current high-school seniors—or meet the accepted equivalent—and plan to enroll full time in a four-year undergraduate program at an accredited U.S. college or university. A student who has already graduated high school cannot apply for this round. Permanent residency alone does not meet the citizenship rule. The scholarship is for undergraduate study and remains conditional on full-time enrollment.
The foundation awards 500 four-year scholarships. Its official page lists a general range of $1,000 to $7,500 per year; the top 20 finalists may receive $30,000 over four years, while the other 480 national finalists receive $4,000 total, subject to contest terms and the required Leadership Weekend attendance for the top group. Treat these as competitive awards, not as guaranteed aid for meeting minimum criteria.
Applications start online from the Most Valuable Student page; if the system asks for a program code, the site lists “ElksMVS.” Before submitting, gather academic and financial information, leadership activities, and details about the intended college. National applicants compete separately by gender, and the review considers financial circumstances along with scholarship and leadership. Local lodges, districts, and state Elks associations may offer their own awards, but those are separate from the 500 national scholarships and can have different rules and deadlines.
Elks expects to announce national winners in April 2027. A practical step is to review the official form and instructions on the day you submit, save the confirmation, and make sure the email address can receive foundation messages. Applicants who do not meet the citizenship, school-year, or degree-plan rules should look for other scholarships rather than assume a local lodge can change the national requirements. For national-program questions, the foundation lists scholarship@elks.org and 773-755-4732.
Most Valuable Student Scholarship — Elks National Foundation.
MVS Scholarship Guidelines — Elks National Foundation.
Informational guide based on official sources checked on October 12, 2026. Programs, awards, deadlines, and eligibility may change; confirm the current cycle on the official site before submitting information.
Review the national application and rules now: the November 12 deadline is close and does not depend on lodge membership.
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Elks National Foundation — Most Valuable Student Scholarship
2750 North Lakeview Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
U.S. citizens in their final year of high school who plan to study full time toward a four-year undergraduate degree at an accredited U.S. institution. The national contest announces 500 awards; the general range is $1,000 to $7,500 per year, subject to competition and enrollment. Selection weighs academics, leadership, and financial need.
National college scholarship competition for high-school seniors
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Elks National Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Elks National Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Elks National Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Elks National Foundation — Most Valuable Student Scholarship ↗
Primary source
Elks National Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Elks National Foundation — Most Valuable Student Scholarship ↗
Primary source
Elks National Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.