EARTH recruits students from low-income, rural areas throughout the world, seeking individuals committed to returning to their communities after graduation. In order to accomplish its mission, EARTH provides full scholarships to 50 percent of the student body, and partial scholarships to another 30 percent.

EARTH’s commitment to substantial scholarship funding not only ensures socioeconomic parity, but is vital to its success effecting change in economically depressed communities.

The campaign will fund four-year and endowed scholarships as follows:

Four-Year Scholarships:
Scholarship support is needed for the majority of EARTH students to defray the costs of tuition, room and board over the course of their four-year program. The University’s endowment covers approximately half the total cost to educate EARTH students. EARTH must raise the other half, roughly four million dollars in additional scholarship support each year, to supplement its endowment earnings.

Endowed Scholarships:
Endowing a scholarship enables EARTH to provide a full scholarship to a deserving student every four years in perpetuity. Growing the scholarship endowment will provide the University with greater financial flexibility and will ensure emerging leaders from all economic levels have the opportunity to become agents of change in their communities.

For each four-year or endowed scholarship funded, EARTH provides donors information about the scholarship recipient, as well as periodic updates on his or her academic performance. At the end of four years, donors are invited to attend graduation, where they are able to celebrate with the student they have assisted and his or her family and friends.

“I am thankful for the help of all the people who paved the way for me to be here. But I am also grateful for my own efforts, my own strong desires and the will I have to better myself.”
-José Itzep – Class of 2007

“EARTH made it possible for me to accomplish a dream that seemed impossible. Without possibilities to continue my education, I was to follow the tradition in my village of working in agriculture with many obsolete practices and limited possibilities for progress. EARTH provided me with a high quality education, the necessary tools to face tough challenges in my country and provide a light of hope to my family and my community.”
-Wilmer Barrera, El Salvador, Class of 2005