Approved Universities

ARCS Foundation chapters support 675 approved programs and departments at 50 leading research universities across the United States. In assessing potential academic partners, ARCS evaluates strength of graduate degree programs, facutly size and quality, national rankings, and national research grant funding, among other criteria. Contact ARCS Foundation for more information.

Scuba diver with sea urchinNew Discipline Added

Marine Biology has been added to the list of disciplines that may be considered for ARCS Scholar Award funding. The addition, along with approval of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa's interdisciplinary PhD program in Marine Biology, were requested by the Honolulu Chapter, vetted by the national University Relations Committee, and approved by the National Board at its January 2024 meeting in Honolulu.

The National Board also approved the Chemistry/Biochemistry program at the University of California, Merced, ARCS Foundation's newest university partner.

ARCS Medals on Blue ribbonsNational review considers the caliber of faculty, quality of research, and strength of department to ensure that ARCS Scholar Awards go to students in leading programs of study.

In 2023, the board added Clinical Psychology with a research focus as a new discipline at the request of the San Diego Chapter and approved the Electrical  Engineering and Computer Science PhD program at Washington State University.

Dr. Morton Shapiro
"I am inspired by the dedication of ARCS Foundation in raising funds every year for outstanding graduate students named as ARCS Scholars. This strong support has helped more than a hundred of our students attend conferences, update computers, and help pay child-care costs to make their work possible." — Dr. Morton Shaprio, President, Northwestern University
Mark Emmert headshot
"ARCS Foundation is a vital partner of the University of Washington, not only because of its remarkable financial support of graduate students, but because of its truly visionary mission to promote graduate education, encourage first-class graduate students to find solutions, and create better lives for us all." — Mark A. Emmert, PhD, NCAA Executive Director and former University of Washington President

U.S. institutions where ARCS Foundation chapters fund scholar awards to top graduate students


Atlanta Chapter
Chartered 1992
Visit the chapter website

Emory University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Morehouse College
University of Georgia


Colorado Chapter
Chartered 1976
Visit the chapter website

University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Denver
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University


Honolulu Chapter
Chartered 1974
Visit the chapter website

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa


Illinois Chapter
Chartered 1977
Visit the chapter website

Illinois Institute of Technology
Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
Northwestern University
The University of Chicago
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign


Los Angeles Chapter
Chartered 1958
(Founding Chapter)
Visit the chapter website

California Institute of Technology
Harvey Mudd College
University of California at Los Angeles
Pomona College
University of Southern California


Metropolitan Washington
(D.C.) Chapter

Chartered 1968
Visit the chapter website

Georgetown University
The George Washington University
Johns Hopkins University
University of Maryland
University of Virginia


Minnesota Chapter
Chartered 2009
Visit the chapter website

University of Minnesota


Northern California Chapter
Chartered 1970
Visit the chapter website

San Francisco State University
Stanford University
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, Merced
University of California, San Francisco
University of California, Santa Cruz


Orange County Chapter
Chartered 1999
Visit the chapter website

University of California at Irvine


Oregon Chapter
Chartered 2004
Visit the chapter website

Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon State University
University of Oregon


Phoenix Chapter
Chartered 1975
Visit the chapter website

Arizona State University
Northern Arizona University
University of Arizona


Pittsburgh Chapter
Chartered 2003
Visit the chapter website

Carnegie Mellon University
University of Pittsburgh


San Diego Chapter
Chartered 1985
Visit the chapter website

San Diego State University
Scripps Research
University of California at San Diego
University of San Diego


Seattle Chapter
Chartered 1978
Visit the chapter website

University of Washington
Washington State University


Utah Chapter
Chartered 2009
Visit the chapter website

University of Utah