LoginsAn investment created by Congress
Congress established the Barry Goldwater Scholarship & Excellence in Education Foundation on November 14, 1986, to honor Senator Barry Goldwater as he retired after 30 years in the United States Senate and more than five decades of public service. The Foundation’s charter — the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Act — was enacted as Title XIV of that year’s National Defense Authorization Act (S. 2638 (opens in a new tab), Public Law 99-661). Its principal co-sponsors were Senators Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, Sam Nunn of Georgia, and John Warner of Virginia.
The findings that open the Act record why. Congress observed that Goldwater “has long maintained a special interest in the education of America’s youth, particularly in the fields of science and mathematics,” and concluded that establishing a scholarship program in his name would be “a fitting tribute to the leadership, courage, and vision of Senator Goldwater.” Rather than a monument, in other words, Congress chose something that matched his lifelong enthusiasm for science and technology: a program to develop the country’s future research talent. It is supported by a federal trust fund, and the first Goldwater Scholarships were awarded in 1989.
Nearly four decades of Goldwater Scholars
Since 1989, the Foundation has awarded more than 11,600 scholarships. Goldwater Scholars are selected on merit, and most go on to exactly the careers the program was designed to launch.
Findings from a Foundation survey of Scholars named 1989–2013
completed at least a bachelor’s degree.
had earned doctoral degrees — 49% a Ph.D. in science, mathematics, or engineering, and another 8% other doctorates — with the share projected to reach roughly 70% as younger Scholars finished graduate school.
were actively engaged in scientific, mathematical, or engineering research at the time of the survey — nearly three in four.
The Foundation continues to track its recently awarded Scholars and finds outcomes consistent with the results of the 2014 survey.
The record confirms that the Foundation is meeting its central objective: identifying, encouraging, and supporting highly qualified undergraduates who go on to become the country’s leading scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. Today, a Goldwater Scholarship is widely regarded as the preeminent undergraduate award in these fields, and Scholars regularly go on to become NSF Graduate Research Fellows, National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellows, Hertz Fellows, DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellows, Astronaut Scholars, and Churchill, Marshall and Rhodes Scholars.
Milestones
1986
Congress establishes the Foundation (Public Law 99-661) to honor Senator Barry Goldwater and creates a $40 million trust.
1989
First Goldwater Scholarships awarded.
2006–2018
Foundation adds Honorable Mention recognitions.
2014
Foundation survey documents Scholars’ exceptional rates of doctoral study and active research careers.
The CUR Goldwater Scholar Faculty Mentor Award is established.
2023
The Department of Defense National Defense Education Program selects the Foundation’s proposal for a $9 million award — one of only 13 in that funding cycle — doubling annual scholarships from 240 to 480 across FY2024–FY2028.
2024
Foundation creates its first private-sector partnership with UWorld.
2026
The Foundation marks 40 years of supporting the nation’s next generation of research leaders.
Goldwater Summer Research Internship program established.
2027
First Goldwater Summer Research Intern cohort join labs nationwide.