Scholarships for hearing impaired students are financial awards for students with documented hearing loss. Funders set different hearing-loss thresholds, from about 40 dB to 75 dB. Sertoma, AG Bell, Help America Hear and the Gallaudet-Nippon programs are the best-known options. Awards range from a USD 1,000 cash grant to hearing aids and tuition support.
Students with hearing loss face a measurable completion gap in higher education. EduMed reports that deaf and hard of hearing students graduate college at roughly 60% of the rate of their hearing peers. Scholarships reduce tuition pressure, and the right scholarship depends on one document: your audiogram. edumed
This guide covers eligibility, a side-by-side threshold table, the top scholarships, who should and should not apply, and a step-by-step application process. It also explains required documents, common mistakes, the selection process and previous years’ trends. A verification log and 12 FAQs close the guide.
What Are Scholarships for Hearing Impaired Students?
A scholarship for hearing impaired students is a financial award given to applicants with documented hearing loss. Funders include service clubs, charities, universities and international foundations.
Students search for “hearing impaired,” while many funders and community organizations say “deaf” or “hard of hearing” (D/HH). All three terms describe the same eligibility pool. What differs is how each funder defines the hearing loss. Disabled World advises students to read each scholarship’s definition of deafness or hearing loss carefully. disabled-world
Bilateral loss means hearing loss in both ears. Unilateral loss means hearing loss in one ear. This difference decides eligibility for many awards. Sertoma requires a minimum 40 dB bilateral loss, so single-sided hearing loss does not qualify. thecollegeinvestor
Hearing-Loss Requirements Compared
Funders measure hearing loss with an audiogram, a chart of hearing thresholds in decibels (dB) produced by a hearing health professional. Two related measures appear on many forms: the speech reception threshold (SRT) and the pure-tone average (PTA).
Funder / Award
Hearing-loss rule
Ear rule
Sertoma Scholarship
Minimum 40 dB, shown by SRT and PTA scores on an audiogram
Both ears (bilateral)
Louise Tumarkin Zazove Foundation
At least 50 dB unaided
Both ears (bilateral)
Hong Kong Society for the Deaf: Lee Scholarship
About 50 dB or more
Better ear
Hong Kong Society for the Deaf: Gregory Scholarship
About 75 dB or more
Better ear
AG Bell College Scholarship
Pre-lingual bilateral loss in the moderately-severe to profound range
A “better ear” rule is easier to meet than a “both ears” rule when your two ears differ. Check which rule applies before you invest time in an application.
Types of Scholarships for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
Hearing-related scholarships fall into four groups:
By basis: merit-based, need-based, or a mix of both.
By communication mode: spoken-language focused (AG Bell), sign-language or Deaf-community focused (Gallaudet, NTID), or mode-neutral (Sertoma).
By benefit: cash, tuition support, hearing aids plus cash, or interpreter and notetaker support.
By level and region: high school seniors, undergraduates, graduates, and country-specific awards.
Top Scholarships for Hearing Impaired Students (2026–27)
Scholarship
Amount
Window / Deadline
Level
Region
Sertoma Hard of Hearing or Deaf Scholarship
USD 1,000 for tuition, books and supplies
Opened Nov 1, 2025; closed Mar 31, 2026 (last cycle)
Bachelor’s, full-time
US citizens at US schools
AG Bell College Scholarship Program
USD 10,000 total pool
Usually early March
Undergraduate and graduate
US
Help America Hear Scholarship
USD 2,000–4,000 plus two ReSound hearing aids (sources differ)
Funder: Sertoma, a US service organization, with support from Oticon, Inc. delawarestudentsuccess
Amount: USD 1,000 for tuition, books and supplies.
Eligibility: Applicants need a 40 dB bilateral loss, US citizenship, full-time bachelor’s study at a US college or university, and a 3.2 cumulative GPA on an unweighted 4.0 scale. delawarestudentsuccess
Exclusions: Graduate degrees, associate degrees, community colleges and vocational programs do not qualify. petersons
Documents: The application form, a recent audiogram, a transcript and two letters of recommendation. petersons
Notification: Sertoma notifies recipients by June 30 and contacts only the winners. mykaleidoscope
Next cycle: One aggregator lists the next window as opening on November 1, 2026. thecollegeinvestor
Funder: Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Eligibility: Full-time students with pre-lingual bilateral loss in the moderately-severe to profound range, who use listening and spoken language, hold a 3.25 GPA, and study at an accredited mainstream college or university. unigo
Degree levels: Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs, excluding law and public policy. unigo
Basis: Merit-based. One state-hosted summary states that financial need is not considered. unigotexas
Odds: About 12% of applicants were selected over a six-year period. unigo
AG Bell is the best fit for students who communicate through listening and spoken language. Read the full criteria and current deadline on the AG Bell website.
Help America Hear Scholarship
This scholarship is open nationally to high school seniors who have hearing loss and use hearing aids. The award pairs cash with two ReSound hearing aids. One listing states USD 4,000 and a March 30, 2026 deadline. Another listing states USD 2,000 and a March 29 deadline. Treat the funder’s own page as the final authority. nrpdhh scholarships +2
TPA Scholarship Trust for the Hearing Impaired
The Travelers Protective Association (TPA) funds students who are deaf or hearing impaired. Applicants submit an online form that describes their hearing loss, any prior medical treatment, and how they plan to use the funds. tpahq
Gallaudet-Nippon World Deaf Leadership (WDL) and Sasakawa International Scholarships
The WDL Scholarship enables deaf and hard of hearing leaders from developing nations to attend Gallaudet University, and the Nippon Foundation of Tokyo funds it. Seventeen WDL scholarships have been awarded since 2003. The Sasakawa International Scholarship assists deaf international students in at least their second year of a degree program, and applicants must reside in a developing country. gallaudetgallaudet
Hong Kong Society for the Deaf Scholarships
The T. M. Gregory Memorial Scholarship and the S.K.Y. Lee & Lee Chi Hung Scholarship serve Hong Kong residents. Applicants must have lived in Hong Kong continuously for at least three years, and priority goes to students facing financial hardship. The 2025 funding items covered tuition fees, and the amount was set after document review and an interview. Recipients also host sharing sessions and join committee meetings. T. M. Gregory Memorial Scholarship / S.K.Y. Lee & Lee Chi Hung Scholarship for Hearing Impaired Students 2023/24 +2
More Options Worth Checking
The Louise Tumarkin Zazove Foundation and the Paris Mosely Scholarship appear on national deaf-education lists. The Paris Mosely Scholarship is open to students who are deaf or hard of hearing, or whose primary caregivers are. Gallaudet University and RIT/NTID also run merit scholarships for deaf and hard of hearing students. Optimist International and the Gavalas Kolanko Foundation (GKF) list awards for students with hearing loss. esu9
Who Should Apply and Who Should Not Apply
You should apply if…
You should skip or rethink if…
Your audiogram shows loss in both ears at or above the funder’s dB threshold
You have single-sided hearing loss and the award requires bilateral loss
You meet the minimum GPA (3.2 for Sertoma, 3.25 for AG Bell)
Your GPA is below the stated minimum
You plan full-time study at an eligible institution
You plan part-time, associate, community college or vocational study (Sertoma)
Your citizenship or residency matches the award
You are an international student applying to US-citizen-only awards
You use spoken language and want AG Bell
You use sign language as your primary mode and AG Bell requires listening and spoken language
Your audiogram is less than two years old
Your audiogram is older than the funder’s limit
Six-question self-check before you apply:
Does my audiogram meet the dB threshold?
Does the award require loss in both ears?
Does my citizenship or residency qualify?
Does my degree level and enrollment status qualify?
Do I meet the GPA minimum?
Does my communication mode match the funder’s focus?
Answer “no” to any question, and the award is probably not your best use of time.
Scholarships for International Deaf Students
International deaf students have fewer options, and funding proof matters. Gallaudet University makes international applicants responsible for securing funds for tuition, room, board, fees, transportation and personal expenses, and requires proof of sufficient funding. Gallaudet’s own partial funding cannot serve as the primary source of funds. gallaudetgallaudet
Most major US awards exclude non-citizens. Sertoma requires US citizenship. AG Bell’s program is listed for US students. International students should therefore target the Gallaudet-Nippon WDL and Sasakawa awards. The list of eligible developing countries is updated every July under the US Education of the Deaf Act of 1986. Check the current list before you apply. Residents of Hong Kong can also apply to the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf scholarships. Sertoma’s Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf +2
A practical tip: ask your audiologist for an English-language copy of your audiogram early, and keep a certified translation ready if the original is in another language.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
Book a new hearing test. Request a full audiogram that lists dB levels for both ears and SRT/PTA results where possible.
Shortlist by dB rule. Use the threshold table above and remove awards you cannot qualify for.
Build a deadline calendar. Add each award’s window, and work backward to set personal deadlines two weeks earlier.
Request recommendation letters. Ask teachers or counselors at least four weeks ahead, and tell them the scholarship’s purpose.
Order your transcript. Confirm that the GPA scale matches the funder’s 4.0 scale.
Draft your statement. Describe your academic goals, your hearing journey and how the funds will be used.
Submit early and save confirmation. Keep screenshots or emails showing that the application was received.
Track notifications. Some funders contact winners only, so silence after the notification date usually means you were not selected.
Required Documents Explained
Document
Why funders ask for it
Common pitfall
Audiogram
Verifies the hearing-loss threshold
Sertoma requires one no older than two years
Transcript
Confirms GPA and academic record
Using the wrong GPA scale
Letters of recommendation
Show character, ability and potential
Sertoma requires two letters, and late requests delay submission
Submitting an outdated audiogram. The funder can reject the application at the first check.
Ignoring the dB threshold. A 35 dB loss does not meet a 40 dB minimum.
Applying with unilateral loss to a bilateral-only award. Check the ear rule first.
Missing the window. Windows are fixed, and late applications are not reviewed.
Choosing weak recommenders. Pick people who know your work well.
Sending a generic essay. Tailor each statement to the funder’s mission.
Ignoring communication-mode fit. An AG Bell application needs spoken-language use, and a Gallaudet pathway fits sign-language users.
Relying on one scholarship. National awards are competitive, so apply to several.
Trusting aggregator deadlines. Always confirm dates on the funder’s own site.
How the Selection Process Works
Most hearing-loss scholarships follow five stages:
Eligibility screening: staff check the dB threshold, citizenship, GPA and degree level.
Document verification: reviewers match the audiogram, transcript and letters to the application.
Scoring: committees weigh merit, need or both. AG Bell’s program is merit-based. unigo
Interview or committee review: The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf sets the amount after document review and an interview. cuhk
Notification: Sertoma notifies only winners by June 30. mykaleidoscope
Previous Years’ Trends
Stable calendars. Sertoma runs a fixed annual window from November 1 to March 31. The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf listed a 4 September 2017 deadline, a 5 September 2022 deadline, and a 4 September 2023 deadline, and its 2025 window closed on 1 September. That is a clear early-September pattern. Simon K.Y. Lee & Lee Chi Hung Scholarship for the Hearing Impaired Students (2017-2018) +3
Shifting eligibility wording. The 2022/23 notice described both Hong Kong awards for profoundly deaf individuals, with 75 dB and 50 dB thresholds. The 2025 notice lists the same two thresholds and adds tuition and transport funding items. cityucuhk
Changing award counts. An older listing described twenty Sertoma awards of USD 1,000. Another listing shows 40 awards in the previous year, and a third shows 50. The sources are not dated consistently, so the numbers suggest growth without proving it. scholarships deaf us +2
High competition. AG Bell selected roughly 12% of applicants over six years. unigo
Early-fall timing. Sertoma’s next window is listed as opening on November 1, 2026, so students should prepare an audiogram, transcript and recommendation requests now.
Beyond Scholarships: Funding Hearing Aids, Interpreters and Notetakers
Scholarships cover tuition, but daily access costs also matter. A college’s disability services office arranges interpreters, notetakers and other accommodations for enrolled students. The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf may fund part of the cost of technical aids and supportive services such as sign language interpretation and note-taking, depending on need. US students should also file the FAFSA through StudentAid.gov to unlock federal aid. cityu
Research Notes: Editor’s Verification Log
Last verified: October 12, 2026. The table below lists conflicts found across sources. Confirm every figure on the funder’s own page before you apply.
Item
What sources say
Our recommendation
Sertoma minimum GPA
3.2 on an unweighted 4.0 scale in one source; 3.0 in another
Use 3.2 and confirm on sertoma.org
Sertoma award count
20, 40 and 50 in three different sources
Treat the count as variable
Sertoma deadline
March 31, 2026 in the funder-style listing; one aggregator lists four different 2026 dates on separate pages (June 30, August 31, September 30, October 31)
Trust the funder’s page
Help America Hear amount
USD 4,000 in one listing; USD 2,000 in another
Confirm with the funder
AG Bell deadline
Aggregators conflict; a state-hosted summary says early March
1. What scholarships are available for deaf students?
Deaf and hard of hearing students can apply to the Sertoma Scholarship, the AG Bell College Scholarship Program, Help America Hear, the TPA Scholarship Trust, and Gallaudet-Nippon awards. Hong Kong residents can apply to the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf scholarships. Each funder sets its own hearing-loss, citizenship and degree-level rules.
2. How much hearing loss do I need to qualify?
The threshold depends on the funder. Sertoma requires at least 40 dB loss in both ears. The Louise Tumarkin Zazove Foundation lists 50 dB unaided bilateral loss. The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf uses about 50 dB or 75 dB in the better ear. AG Bell targets moderately-severe to profound loss.
3. Can I get a scholarship with hearing loss in only one ear?
Most major awards need hearing loss in both ears. Sertoma states that single-sided hearing loss does not qualify, and AG Bell requires bilateral loss. Students with unilateral loss should check each funder’s rule and look at general disability scholarships, institutional aid and need-based awards instead.
4. Are there scholarships for hard of hearing graduate students?
Sertoma excludes graduate degrees, associate degrees, community colleges and vocational programs. AG Bell funds undergraduate and graduate students, including master’s and doctoral study, except law and public policy. Graduate students should prioritize AG Bell and university-level awards, and confirm current eligibility on the funder’s page.
5. Are there fully funded scholarships for deaf international students?
Fully funded awards are uncommon. The Gallaudet-Nippon World Deaf Leadership Scholarship enables deaf and hard of hearing leaders from developing nations to attend Gallaudet University, and the Sasakawa International Scholarship supports eligible students from their second year. Confirm the exact coverage with Gallaudet before planning your budget.
6. Does Gallaudet University offer scholarships to international students?
Yes, in limited form. Gallaudet offers partial international student funding, plus the Nippon-funded WDL and Sasakawa awards. Gallaudet states that this partial funding cannot be the primary source of funds, and international applicants must prove sufficient funding for tuition, housing, fees and living costs.
7. Do I need a recent audiogram to apply?
Usually yes. Sertoma requires an audiogram from a hearing health professional that is no more than two years old, and the hearing loss on the application must be verifiable from it. Schedule a new hearing test before applying if your latest audiogram is older, because appointments can take weeks.
8. Can high school seniors with hearing loss apply?
Yes. Help America Hear is open to high school seniors with hearing loss who use hearing aids, and Optimist International lists awards for seniors with at least 40 dB loss. Sertoma also accepts graduating high school students who plan to pursue a four-year bachelor’s degree.
9. Are there scholarships that include hearing aids?
Yes. Help America Hear pairs cash with two ReSound hearing aids. The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf may fund part of the cost of technical aids and support services, depending on need. Most other scholarships pay tuition, books and supplies, so check each award’s permitted uses.
10. Do deaf students get free college?
Not automatically. Scholarships, grants and institutional aid can lower costs, but no single program covers every deaf student’s expenses. Students should combine scholarships with federal or state aid, university disability services and accommodations. In the United States, completing the FAFSA is the first step toward federal aid.
11. Can hearing students, such as CODAs, apply?
Some can. CODA International’s Millie Brother Scholarship targets hearing children of deaf adults, and the Paris Mosely Scholarship covers students whose primary caregivers are deaf or hard of hearing. Several scholarship lists also include students with family members who have hearing impairments. Always confirm whether the applicant needs their own hearing loss.
12. How can I increase my chances of winning?
Match your audiogram to the funder’s threshold, submit documents early, and request recommendation letters weeks ahead. Write a specific statement about your goals and how you will use the funds. Apply to several scholarships, because AG Bell reports selecting roughly 12% of applicants, and competition at national awards is strong.
Conclusion
Scholarships for hearing impaired students reward preparation more than guesswork. Match your audiogram to each funder’s dB rule, confirm citizenship and degree-level requirements, and prepare your documents before the windows open. Sertoma, AG Bell, Help America Hear and the Gallaudet-Nippon awards cover different profiles, so build a shortlist instead of relying on one application.
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