BFOA Broadens Eligibility For College Scholarships.

The Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA) is expanding its needs-based College Scholarship Program to include more students pursuing careers in radio and television, regardless of whether they come from a broadcasting family.

Less than six months after launching the program, the foundation has revised its eligibility requirements to broaden access to students who meet its academic and financial criteria. The changes increase the number of scholarships available and the total annual funding.

The program previously offered a $10,000 scholarship to a qualifying student from a broadcast family. Under the expanded structure, the BFOA will continue that award while adding six scholarships worth $2,500 each annually. The program will now distribute a total of $25,000 across seven scholarships each year.

“The future of broadcasting depends on attracting talented, creative people with fresh ideas and a passion for our industry,” said BFOA President Tim McCarthy. “We want to make sure that financial circumstances or family background don’t stand in the way of a promising student pursuing a career in radio or television.”

BFOA Chair Scott Herman said the scholarship program builds on the foundation's longstanding mission of helping broadcasters through difficult circumstances.

“Supporting the next generation of broadcasters is a natural outgrowth of that commitment,” Herman said. “By investing in students pursuing careers in radio and television, we’re helping build a stronger future for our industry while ensuring that talented individuals have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their family background.”

Candidates can apply for the expanded scholarship program in early Spring 2027.

The first two scholarships were presented in September.