Fall 2026 applications are OPEN! Sign up for an Info Session today!
Applications for Fall 2026 admission are now open! Contact your PALiISaDS campus liaison with questions concerning your eligibility, application materials, or the program itself.
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for the PALiISaDS program:
U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or refugee*
Full-time student (per institution's definition) in good academic standing
Minimum 3.0 GPA**
Low-income status, defined as eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant program and demonstrated unmet financial need***
Majoring or minoring in Statistics (BA or BS) or Data Science BS at one of the Alliance institutions
Both “native” juniors and new transfers from community colleges and four-year institutions will be considered equally, without any predetermined priority.
Admitted PALiISaDS scholars must:
Remain in their SDS program of study and maintain a term GPA of at least 3.0 within their major to maintain scholarship eligibility for their senior year.
Complete their undergraduate programs after two years of support. For students who require extra time to complete their BS degree, partial-year support beyond two years will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Enroll in one of the eligible graduate programs at one of the Alliance institutions and continue to meet low-income requirements to maintain scholarship eligibility for the third year.
*As defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act), aliens admitted as refugees under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. Please note that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) individuals are ineligible for support from this solicitation unless they meet the requirements listed in the first sentence of this bullet by the time of application.
**Please reach out to a site director if you face special circumstances that led to a GPA under this threshold and believe you still meet all other criteria. Admission rubrics de-emphasize GPA and focus on promise and motivation.
**If selected, precise scholarship amount (up to $10,000/year) will be determined based on your financial need by the financial aid office at each institution and is the difference between estimated cost of attendance and the expected family contribution based on each student's FAFSA.
We are delighted to offer info sessions for students who are interested in learning more about PALiISaDS, or may have questions about their eligibility or the program itself. Held on Zoom, our sessions will take place on the following dates:
Tuesday, February 24 at 2pm
Friday, March 20 at 10am
Wednesday, April 15 at 1pm
All times are Pacific. Sign up here.
The following materials are required for each applicant:
Completed application form (available via the application portal)
Short response prompts (500 words max, per question)
CV or resume (template available on application portal)
Unofficial transcript(s)
There are three mandatory prompts that address career goals, personal background, and prior experience related to statistics and/or data science:
Tell us a little about yourself, and briefly explain why the PALiISaDS program is of interest to you.
Describe your current educational and professional goals in statistics and/or data science.
Describe how this program will help you reach your current educational and career aspirations.
Optional prompt: We acknowledge that every student has had unique life experiences that may not be captured in the above questions. The selection committee is interested in learning more about any extenuating circumstances you have encountered throughout your journey.
If you are already enrolled in one of the PALiISaDS institutions, be sure to use the correct portal for your school. If you're a community college student applying for transfer admission to one or more PALiISaDS sites, please use the "Incoming Transfer Students" portal. Applications open February 15, 2026 and close May 1, 2026. Any variations are noted next to the campus-specific links below: