Scholarship Details

A Four-Year Scholarship for Exceptional Students

The Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship (CDB) is one of the nation’s only merit-based, need-blind high school scholarships for gifted students.

Each year, 7th graders apply, and a select group of Scholars receives a four-year scholarship matched to their intellectual and personal needs. Support includes individualized guidance and a national peer community united by depth of learning, challenge, and discovery.

What the Scholarship Provides

A Four-Year Scholarship

Full funding for a high school program—traditional or alternative—aligned to each student’s goals and abilities.

Support & Counseling

Ongoing, personalized guidance through high school selection, academic planning, and beyond.

Community of Intellectual Peers

A lifelong network of scholars connected through curiosity, rigor, and purpose, including participation in the annual Bradley Seminar.

History and Administration

Founded in 2002, the CDB Scholarship began with the vision of a generous donor. It has grown into a national program administered by the Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA) and supported through a donor-restricted fund managed by The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. At its core, the program is grounded in a simple belief: when students are matched to the right educational environment, they thrive.

The CDB Scholarship was established on the conviction that exceptionally gifted young people flourish in nurturing, rigorous, and flexible learning environments aligned with their academic needs and personal goals. CDB Scholars have a strong record of achievement, including admission to leading colleges and universities and recognition through national scholarships, awards, internships, and fellowships.

“The CDB Scholarship affirmed our child’s individuality and gave her the space to grow intellectually and emotionally among peers who truly understand and inspire one another.”

– CDB Scholarship Parent

Scholarship Details

Scholarship Details

A Four-Year Scholarship for Exceptional Students

What the Scholarship Provides

History and Administration

An update about CDB Application

Application Deadline

Testing Requirements