Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at EARTH University

EARTH University's model blends classroom instruction with hands-on farm work, service-learning projects, and entrepreneurship training, producing graduates equipped to lead in agriculture, sustainability, and rural development across the Global South. Roughly two-thirds of scholars at EARTH come from Latin America and the Caribbean, with the remainder from Sub-Saharan Africa, making it one of the few truly cross-continental undergraduate scholarship cohorts hosted in Central America.

The scholarship is explicitly targeted at students who would otherwise be unable to afford a university education: candidates from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, including those with disabilities and refugees or displaced persons, are specifically encouraged to apply and receive dedicated support throughout the selection process. Full tuition, housing, meals, and medical insurance are covered for the four-year undergraduate program, currently valued at roughly USD 36,800 per year in total institutional cost.

Beyond the classroom, scholars receive mentoring, career counseling, leadership training, service-learning placements, and internship opportunities designed to build the practical and professional skills needed to drive change back in their home communities after graduation. The program's selection criteria weigh not just academic merit but also leadership potential and demonstrated commitment to giving back, reflecting the Mastercard Foundation's broader mission of developing next-generation African and Latin American leaders.