Applications are now available for the USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships® for the 2008-2009 academic year. Students may access the online application through www.usafunds.org/scholarship on the USA Funds® Web site.

The application deadline is Feb. 15, 2008.

USA Funds will award up to $3.2 million nationwide in new USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships to students with economic need, according to the following criteria:

The scholarships are open to high-school seniors, currently enrolled college students or incoming college students who have an annual adjusted gross family income of $35,000 or less. Up to 50 percent of the scholarship awards will be targeted to applicants who are members of ethnic-minority groups or have documented physical disabilities.

The program will award scholarships worth $1,500 for full-time undergraduate, graduate and professional students, and half-time undergraduate students. Due to funding reductions imposed by federal legislation, USA Funds offers these scholarships as one-time awards only. If subsequent financial conditions permit, USA Funds will provide renewal awards and will notify scholarship recipients how to apply for renewal awards.