We’re building a pipeline of future video game professionals.
To inspire future creators in the video game industry and encourage diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM), the ESA Foundation established a scholarship fund providing support for women and minority students across the United States.
Since 2007, the program has awarded more than 450 scholarships, to power the dreams of underrepresented students earning a computer science or video game arts and sciences-related degree.
2024-2025 Scholarship Applications
Applications for the 2024-2025 school year are now open!
The deadline for submission is April 15th, 2024 11:59 PM EST.
Meet the 2021-22 ESA Foundation Scholars
31 Scholars, 2 Scholarship Funds — an Inspiring and Resilient Class
The Student Network
Providing exceptional, yet underrepresented, students with the tools and resources needed to succeed in STEAM careers is essential to diversifying the video game and related industries. While the ESA Foundation wishes it could award a scholarship to every deserving student, we simply do not have the monetary capacity. By creating the Student Network we hope to offer qualified students the same non-monetary benefits our scholars receive—including professional development, interacting with mentors and accessing internships in the video game industry.
Scholarship Opportunities
The ESA Foundation encourages and supports those who aspire to careers in the video game industry, whether it’s playing or helping to create games. We also know that a college education is expensive—and that the industry is continually seeking ways to increase its diversity. Our three scholarships offer opportunities for everyone. Take a look!
For students pursuing careers as video game creators
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For students who play or manage esports on a collegiate team and are pursuing a four-year, academic degree
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When Caitlyn Kenney was an ESA Foundation scholar, she studied abroad in Montreal, where she learned video game-making skills from the pros. Today, she’s an environment artist for Ubisoft.
Read MoreGrowing up, Tré Lannon led a relatively rootless existence, living with his family in towns across the country. So video games became a refuge for the computer programming major at USC.
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Past Scholarship Recipients
Get an insight into the passion it takes to be an ESA Foundation Scholar from our past scholarship recipients.