NextGen and Agriculture Scholarships

Join the next generation of agriculture, food, and natural resource professionals!

About the CSI NextGen Program

The CSI NextGen Program is designed to support students pursuing careers in agriculture, food, natural resources, trades, business, and engineering. Through scholarships, housing support, hands-on learning, and industry engagement, NextGen helps students gain the skills, experience, and financial stability needed to succeed in high-demand career pathways.

NextGen serves both current CSI students and graduating high school seniors who plan to enroll at CSI. In addition to financial support, students have access to workshops, professional development, career coaching, and industry tours that connect classroom learning to real-world careers.

Learn more about the USDA NIFA NextGen Program

This work is supported by the From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals (NextGen) Program, project award no. 2023-70440-40146, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.

How CSI NextGen Can Help

The NextGen Scholarship is now open for the 2026–2027 academic year. This scholarship is available to students pursuing degrees in eligible programs related to agriculture, food, natural resources, trades, business, and engineering.

Scholarship Support Includes:

• Up to $3,500 in scholarships for full-time students
• Up to $5,000 in housing stipends for eligible students
• Up to $1,750 for part-time students

The submission priority date is Tuesday, March 31, 2026 to be eligible for the highest consideration of scholarships and highest-dollar awards.

Students missing this date are still encouraged apply!

Contact the Agriculture Department or NextGen Grant Manager to inquire about availability of scholarship monies and the application process. It is our goal to have funds available to students throughout the academic year to assist students as the need arises.

As we review scholarship applications, finalists for our largest scholarship awards will be contacted for a phone or ZOOM interview shortly after the first priority deadline. The winners of these top-tier scholarships will also have the opportunity to be considered for our CSI Agriculture Department "Ag Ambassador" Program, which comes with additional funding support, and the opportunity to advocate for agriculture and help promote and recruit for the CSI Agriculture Department.

Students are encouraged to talk with their advisor, college instructor, or ECC to confirm eligibility before applying.

Apply for the CSI NextGen Scholarship

Resources

• Resources are the backbone of progress! NextGen is dedicated to helping students navigate the challenges that come with education. From language access to food insecurity, student health to tutoring, CSI can help you!
• Need Help? Support for CSI students.
• Link to NextGen and Early College Resource flyer – will provide once its’s done

 Professional Development

• CSI NextGen provides many opportunities for students to gain professional development including
  • Workshops
  • Travel
  • Career support
• Don’t forget to visit the CSI Work-based Learning Center for more career support! 

Which programs are eligible for scholarships?

Any student pursuing an agriculture-related career in one of the following programs:

Don’t see your program listed? Contact the CSI NextGen Grant Manager to see how you can still be involved!

Youth Career Academies

The CSI NextGen program provides funding and support for the Youth Career Academies hosted by CSI Workforce Development. Career academies are designed to support our students in experiencing modern career opportunities within the Magic Valley through hands-on experiences and career exploration. A variety of career exploration events are hosted with topics including:

Visit the CSI Workforce Development Youth Career Academies website to learn more!