Scholarship programs are powerful tools for advancing equity, but only if the right students can access and complete the application. In 2025, designing a scholarship program that’s equitable, ADA-compliant, and inclusive by design isn’t just a best practice; it’s a baseline expectation.
Whether you’re a foundation, nonprofit, or brand offering scholarships, the way your program is built can either invite or unintentionally exclude qualified applicants. This guide walks through the core principles and tactical tips to help you create scholarships that align with your mission and expand your reach to more diverse, deserving applicants.
1. Language Matters: How Wording Affects Who Applies
Many potential applicants self-select out of scholarships, not because they aren’t eligible, but because the language of your application makes them feel like they don’t belong.
Use plain, inclusive language:
- Avoid jargon, academic buzzwords, or overly formal tone
- Write at an 8th-grade reading level to support broader comprehension
- Use “you” and “your” instead of passive constructions (“applicants must…”)
Avoid gatekeeping language:
❌ “Must demonstrate extraordinary leadership in academic research”
✅ “Tell us how you’ve made a difference in your school, home, or community.”
Add context and encouragement:
Explain why you’re asking for sensitive details (e.g., income, race/ethnicity) and how that information will be used. Build trust upfront.
2. Accessibility Isn’t Optional: Make Your Scholarship ADA-Compliant
An inaccessible application is a legal and ethical liability. It also shuts out qualified students who use assistive technologies or require alternative formats.
Tips to make your application accessible:
- Ensure compatibility with screen readers (use semantic HTML, label form fields clearly)
- Provide alt text for images and icons
- Avoid time limits or autosave timeouts that penalize students with cognitive or physical disabilities
- Allow applicants to save progress and return later
- Offer audio, video, or visual submission options for essays
- Include clear accessibility contact information or include a request accommodation option
🔎 Fact: According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with a disability. ADA compliance isn’t “nice-to-have”, it’s essential.
3. Design With Equity in Mind: Process Tips That Improve Access
Equity begins before your application opens. Consider how every part of your process affects who applies and who makes it to the finish line.
Application timing:
- Align deadlines with FAFSA, academic calendars, and seasonal schedules
- Allow at least 4–6 weeks for submission
- Avoid heavy holiday or final exam periods
Format flexibility:
- Allow students to choose from text, video, or visual formats for essays or personal stories
- Offer phone or live chat support during key deadline weeks
Rubric transparency:
- Publish your evaluation criteria so students understand how their applications will be judged
- Train reviewers on bias reduction and inclusive evaluation practices
4. Outreach Strategies to Reach More Diverse Students
Even the most inclusive application won’t matter if the right students never hear about it.
Outreach ideas:
- Partner with high schools, HBCUs, HSIs, tribal colleges, and community orgs
- Promote in multiple languages if serving multilingual populations
- Use student ambassadors or past recipients as advocates
- Market your scholarship on mobile-friendly platforms (SMS, Instagram, TikTok, etc.)
- Leverage existing FAFSA or Common App partnerships to surface your opportunity
🔗 Want more outreach tips? Read: 10 Ways to Reach More Students
5. Build Long-Term Trust and Representation
It’s not just about one application cycle. Applicants from marginalized backgrounds want to see that your commitment to equity is ongoing and authentic.
Show your values:
- Feature diverse past recipients in your storytelling
- Publish annual reports on demographic reach and improvements
- Commit to continuous improvement through feedback surveys
Conclusion: Equity and Accessibility Are the Future of Scholarship Design
A modern scholarship program should reflect the world we live in and the future we want to build. By focusing on clear language, ADA compliance, equitable processes, and inclusive outreach, you won’t just boost application numbers, you’ll build deeper trust, drive greater impact, and fulfill the promise your scholarship was meant to deliver.
Want to make your scholarship review process scalable, fair, and efficient?
Let’s talk about how Kaleidoscope’s platform can help you design equitable and accessible scholarships to attract a more diverse pool of applicants.
👉 Book a quick walkthrough with our team
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