Fellows Scholarship

2- or 4-year accredited public college or university, attended either in person or online. This may be a community college or a state school, either in person or online.

No! As long as you are fulfilling the requirements of the scholarship you are eligible for an annual renewable scholarship of up to $10,000 in tuition assistance.

NEXT will consider applicants attending colleges or universities in the United States.

Unfortunately, no. First-time funding is only available to incoming freshmen and rising sophomores. Funding is renewable annually.

Yes!

If you are under the age of 21 you must include a copy of your parents' 1040 tax return.  If you are over the age of 21 you will need to provide a copy of your 1040 tax return.

Approved majors include Education, Health Profession - PT, OT, SLP, RN, Psychology, and Social Work. Other majors could be considered, either subject to approval by NEXT or if the applicant demonstrates it’s a similar major to one in this list.

Please submit this brief form, we’d be happy to review it.

NEXT for AUTISM Fellows should be studying in the field of Health and Human Services. Priority will be given to stud. Priority will be given to students committed to serving individuals with autism in their careers post-graduation. There are a range of options that you can utilize your degree to serve the autism population including but not limited to: Assistant Behavior Analyst, Social Worker, Case Manager, Special Education Teacher, Psychologist, and Nurse.

Scholarship money will fund tuition and fees. It does not include room, board, books, or other expenses.

Up to 30 credits or whatever your institution qualifies as a full course load.

Approved work sites must serve adults with autism and intellectual disabilities.  This may be a group home, day program, or residential facility. The NEXT team will help identify viable programs within 15 miles of your school.

Yes, you will need to apply and interview to work at approved locations. Most locations will require a background check. Some may also require a drug test.

NEXT will assist in finding an approved provider within 15 miles of your school.  If you are unable to meet the onboarding requirements of the position, NEXT for AUTISM reserves the right to revoke your scholarship award.

We suggest that NEXT for AUTISM Fellows work 12-20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters and 20-35 during the summer. We require Fellows to work a minimum of 800 hours per year in order to qualify for scholarship renewal.

NEXT for AUTISM and Scholarship America are responsible for getting you your scholarship check, it is up to the employer that you work for to determine your wage.

NEXT for AUTISM will collect your paystubs on a monthly basis, and calculate a running total of what you worked this year.

We encourage you to collaborate with the approved provider agency to set up a schedule that works best for you.  As long as you achieve 800 hours of work annually, you will qualify for scholarship renewal.

We encourage you to collaborate with the approved provider agency to set up a schedule that works best for you. As long as you achieve 800 hours of work annually, you will qualify for scholarship renewal. In the case of studying abroad, this may require you to increase hours during other semesters to reach this target.

NEXT for AUTISM will host 4 virtual, 1-hour long sessions yearly. We expect Fellows to attend and participate with cameras on. Training cover topics that will allow you to improve your performance as a DSP, will troubleshoot ways to improve care, and will help you work on skills and resume builders that directly tie to your chosen profession.

• You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a scale of 4.0. 
• You will be required to submit proof of work on a monthly basis to NEXT for AUTISM. 
• You will need to submit a Cost of Attendance form every spring to have your award reevaluated.

NEXT for AUTISM Fellows scholarships cover the cost of tuition and fees AFTER other scholarship and state funding is applied. You will be required to provide a tuition bill after receiving notification of your award.