Miss America 2026 to Award Over $300,000 in Scholarships This September

The Miss America Organization has just announced that more than $300,000 in scholarships will be awarded at the upcoming 2026 Miss America and Miss America’s Teen competitions this September. With this impressive figure, the organization continues its long-standing mission of empowering women through education, leadership, and service.

Scholarship awards will be presented across both competitions, including top placements, semifinalist recognition, preliminary category awards, and national community service honors. The full breakdown of scholarships includes:

Miss America 2026 Scholarships

• Winner: $50,000

• 1st Runner Up: $10,000

• 2nd Runner Up: $8,000

• 3rd Runner Up: $6,000

• 4th Runner Up: $5,000

• Semifinalists (6–11): $4,000 each

Miss America’s Teen 2026 Scholarships

• Winner: $30,000

• 1st Runner Up: $9,000

• 2nd Runner Up: $7,000

• 3rd Runner Up: $5,000

• 4th Runner Up: $4,000

• Semifinalists (6–11): $3,000 each

Preliminary awards will be given in Evening Wear, Talent, and Fitness categories at both competitions, along with impactful community service recognitions such as:

• Quality of Life Awards (Miss): $10,000 for the winner

• Teens in Action Awards (Teen): $3,000 for the winner

• AHA Go Red for Women Leadership Awards

• Charles & Teresa Brown Awards

• Show Us Your Shoes State Scholarship

Also returning are the Heart of the Advocate Award and Teens in Action Community Service Awards, highlighting the commitment of delegates to making a difference in their communities. Each recipient not only walks away with scholarship dollars but also national recognition for their service, leadership, and ambition.

Miss America 2025, Abbie Stockard, shared her thoughts on the upcoming competition:

“While it will be so bittersweet to crown the next Miss America, I am so excited to watch the dreams of 52 incredible young women come true as they have the chance to compete on the Miss America stage. It’s truly one of the most empowering, exhilarating, and rewarding weeks of your life — and an experience like no other, and one they will never forget.”

Since first awarding scholarships in 1945, Miss America has become the nation’s largest scholarship program for women. With the Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation now overseeing awards nationally, the organization continues to grow and evolve—offering young women unmatched opportunities to pursue higher education and make meaningful change.

This September, when 104 delegates from across the country take the stage, they’ll be competing for more than just a crown. They’ll be claiming the resources, recognition, and platform to shape the future.