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ESA Card Scholarship

ESA Card gives $1,000 a year to college students who live with an emotional support animal.

Write 500 to 800 words about how your animal has helped you in college. Two $500 awards, one in each round.

Enter the scholarshipNext round closes January 31, 2027
A ginger cat curled on its owner's lap, looking up, a hand resting on its back
$500for each winner
2 awards a year
for each winner
$500
awards every year
2
entries close
Jan 31Jul 31
words in your essay
500-800

You enter in three steps.

1

Write your essay

Answer one question in 500 to 800 words: How has your emotional support animal helped you in college?

2

Send it with your details

Add your name, email, school and expected graduation year, and submit the form below.

3

Wait for the announcement

The winner of the round that closes Jan 31 is announced by February 28, 2027.

A golden retriever lying across a lap on a cream sofa, hands resting on its back

You can enter if all four of these are true.

  • You live in the United States.
  • You are 18 or older.
  • You are enrolled in or accepted to an accredited US college, university, community college or trade school, undergraduate or graduate.
  • You live with an emotional support animal.

Two $500 awards are given every year, one in each round.

$500 award

Open now

  1. Entries close

    January 31, 2027

  2. Winner announced by

    February 28, 2027

$500 award

  1. Entries close

    July 31, 2027

  2. Winner announced by

    August 31, 2027

The same dates repeat every year.

Each round has one winner, and the essay decides who it is.

The essay decides

The ESA Card team picks the winner on how clearly and honestly the essay answers the question.

Paid within 30 days

The winner is paid within 30 days of the announcement.

Enrollment may be confirmed

Winners may be asked to confirm that they are enrolled.

Your entry stays private

Entries are used only to run the scholarship and are never sold or shared.

Send your essay and your details to enter.

No purchase necessary. Being an ESA Card customer is not required and gives no advantage.

The question

How has your emotional support animal helped you in college?

500 to 800 words

Write 500 to 800 words

Most questions about the scholarship are answered here.

The ESA Card team does. The winner is the essay that answers the question most clearly and most honestly.
Official rulesShow
  1. The ESA Card Scholarship is run by ESA Card.
  2. Who can enter: US residents who are 18 or older, are enrolled in or accepted to an accredited US college, university, community college or trade school (undergraduate or graduate), and live with an emotional support animal.
  3. Rounds: entries close on January 31 and on July 31 every year. The winner of each round is announced by February 28 and by August 31.
  4. How to enter: use the form on this page with your name, email, school, expected graduation year and an essay of 500 to 800 words answering "How has your emotional support animal helped you in college?"
  5. Award: $500 to one winner in each round, $1,000 a year in all.
  6. Judging: the ESA Card team picks the winner on how clearly and honestly the essay answers the question.
  7. Payment: the winner is paid within 30 days of the announcement and may be asked to confirm enrollment.
  8. Your entry: entries are used only to run the scholarship and are never sold or shared.