USA Scholarships
Partial Funding Undergraduate the USA

Tom and Judith Comstock Scholarship 2027 - $2,000

Deadline February 1, 2027 (expected; portal opens late October 2026) 135 days left · Hosted by ARRL Foundation · Published

The Tom and Judith Comstock Scholarship 2027 helps Texas and Oklahoma amateur radio operators pay for community college or university study through the ARRL Foundation. One $2,000 award goes to a resident of Texas or Oklahoma who holds any active FCC amateur license and is either a high school senior accepted at a two- or four-year college or a student already enrolled at such an institution. Field of study is open. You file the shared ARRL Foundation Kaleidoscope application, upload transcripts covering your full high school career or every college semester graded to date, and select Comstock among funds you qualify for. The 2026 cycle is closed; for 2027-2028 study, plan on late-October 2026 opening, February 1, 2027 deadline, June notification, and July disbursement to your bursar.

One award per year
$2,000
College enrollment
2 or 4 yr
Expected deadline
1 Feb 2027
Residency required
TX or OK
How to apply Am I eligible? Official website

What is the Tom and Judith Comstock Scholarship?

Tom and Judith Comstock funded an ARRL Foundation award that stays close to home for Southwest hams paying community college tuition or finishing a bachelor degree. Two thousand dollars will not cover a full semester, yet Comstock is one of the friendlier ARRL gates because Technician privileges count and majors are wide open.

Residency is the hard line. ARRL publishes Texas or Oklahoma as the geographic requirement, so students who moved out of state for school but still claim a parent address need to read the live Kaleidoscope questions carefully and match ARRL wording. Seniors should upload a transcript that covers every high school term, while enrolled undergraduates need every graded college semester in the PDF.

Because license class is flexible, newer hams can compete on service stories instead of upgrade speed. Write about ARES shifts, SKYWARN nets, or the club project that got you on the air, then link those habits to what you plan to study on campus.

You can stack Comstock with other ARRL funds only when you honestly meet each rule set. Compare the Michael R Ware Scholarship if you later relocate to the mid-Atlantic or New England for STEM, or browse the Harry A Hodges Scholarship if California ties appear in your future plans.

February 1 still beats most spring break travel plans. Submit Kaleidoscope a day early, double-check that Comstock stays checked, and keep your school bursar contact ready in case you win a July disbursement.

Who can apply

Eligibility

Your progress 0 / 5
  • ✓
    Active FCC amateur radio license
    Hold any active amateur radio license class when you apply. Comstock does not require General or Extra privileges, unlike many STEM-focused ARRL funds.
  • ✓
    Texas or Oklahoma residency
    ARRL restricts the Comstock scholarship to residents of Texas or Oklahoma. Verify your mailing address and section affiliation match the published geographic requirement on arrl.org.
  • ✓
    High school senior or enrolled undergraduate
    Be a high school senior accepted at a two- or four-year college, or a student currently enrolled at a two- or four-year college pursuing any field of study.
  • ✓
    Accredited two- or four-year institution
    Attend or plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year college. Trade programs outside that scope may not fit unless ARRL updates the live description.
  • ✓
    Complete online application package
    Submit the Kaleidoscope form before the deadline with transcripts attached in the same session. ARRL will not review incomplete files or transcripts emailed separately after the close.
What you get

Benefits

  • Cash scholarship $2,000 one-time
  • Number of awards One Comstock recipient per cycle
  • Payment method Mailed to your school bursar
  • Eligible expenses Applied to accredited college costs
  • Renewal Not renewable
  • Ham gear or exam fees Not included
What to prepare

Document checklist

Documents gathered 0 / 6
  • ✓
    ARRL Foundation Kaleidoscope application
    Sign in to the ARRL general scholarship program on apply.mykaleidoscope.com when the 2027 cycle opens. Select the Tom and Judith Comstock Scholarship and any other ARRL funds you qualify for in one submission.
  • ✓
    Official academic transcript
    Upload transcripts covering your entire high school career to date if you are a senior. Enrolled college students must include every semester for which grades have been awarded.
  • ✓
    FCC license verification
    Enter your call sign and license class accurately in the application. Technician through Extra all qualify for Comstock.
  • ✓
    College acceptance or enrollment proof
    Be ready to document acceptance at a two- or four-year school if you are still in high school, or current enrollment if you are already taking college classes.
  • ✓
    Financial and contact details
    Provide the mailing address ARRL should use, your school name, and the bursar office that will receive the award if you win. Checks go directly to the institution.
  • ✓
    Essay or activity responses
    Answer every open-ended prompt with specifics about your amateur radio service, academics, and plans. Generic copy weakens your file against other TX and OK operators.
Step by step

How to apply

Read the Comstock entry on arrl.org/scholarship-descriptions and verify your home address qualifies before you draft essays.
Request PDF transcripts from your high school or college registrar. Partial transcripts cause ARRL to discard the application.
Visit arrl.org/scholarship-program for the live link when applications open, usually in late October. Use the general ARRL Foundation application and check Comstock.
Describe club work, public service, contesting, or emergency nets that show you use your license beyond the exam session.
List your call sign, school, and acceptance status. Select additional ARRL scholarships only when you meet their separate geographic or major rules.
Upload documents inside the portal and click submit at least a day early. ARRL states that late or incomplete applications are not considered.
Recipients are typically notified in June with checks mailed to schools in July. Check the email tied to your Kaleidoscope account through early summer.
When

Deadline and timeline

Application deadline
February 1, 2027 (expected; portal opens late October 2026)
135 days left
Oct 2026
ARRL Foundation scholarship portal expected to open for the 2027 cycle, following the late-October pattern used in 2026.
Nov - Jan 2027
Applicants finalize transcripts, license renewals, and Kaleidoscope essays before the annual winter close.
1 Feb 2027
Expected deadline for completed ARRL Foundation applications, including the Tom and Judith Comstock Scholarship.
Spring 2027
ARRL Foundation Scholarship Committee reviews eligibility and selects recipients across all named funds.
Jun 2027
Winners notified by email through Kaleidoscope; non-selected applicants may receive status updates in the portal.
Jul 2027
Award checks mailed directly to recipients accredited schools for the upcoming academic term.
Questions

FAQ

What is the Tom and Judith Comstock Scholarship?

It is a $2,000 ARRL Foundation scholarship for licensed amateurs who live in Texas or Oklahoma and study at or plan to attend a two- or four-year college. Any amateur license class and any major qualify.

Who is eligible for the Comstock scholarship?

You need an active FCC amateur license, residency in Texas or Oklahoma, and status as a high school senior accepted at college or a student already enrolled at a two- or four-year school.

Does the Comstock scholarship require General class?

No. ARRL accepts any active amateur license class for Comstock, including Technician. Other ARRL funds may require General or Extra, so read each description before you check boxes.

How much is the Tom and Judith Comstock scholarship worth?

The award pays $2,000 as a one-time scholarship. ARRL mails the check to your school rather than to your personal address.

When is the Comstock scholarship deadline?

ARRL Foundation scholarships historically close on February 1 each year. For the 2027-2028 academic year, expect the same deadline after the portal opens in late October 2026.

Can Oklahoma residents apply for the Comstock scholarship?

Yes. ARRL lists both Texas and Oklahoma as eligible residency states for this fund.

Can community college students apply?

Yes. ARRL allows high school seniors accepted at two- or four-year colleges and students already enrolled at two- or four-year institutions.

When are Comstock scholarship winners announced?

ARRL notifies scholarship recipients in June after committee review, with award checks typically mailed to schools in July. Monitor the email on your Kaleidoscope account.

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Always verify scholarship details on the official source before applying. Information on this page may change.

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