---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1070d–36"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1070d–36"
heading: "Eligibility of scholars"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1070d-36"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance"
  - "Subchapter IV — Student Assistance"
  - "Part A — Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education"
  - "Subpart 6 — robert c. byrd honors scholarship program"
---

# §1070d–36. Eligibility of scholars

- (a) **High school graduation or equivalent and admission to institution required—** Each student awarded a scholarship under this subpart shall be a [graduate](/usc/20/1061.md?p=1) of a public or private [secondary school](/usc/20/1003.md?p=16) (or a home school, whether treated as a home school or a private school under [State](/usc/20/1003.md?p=21-A) law) or have the equivalent of a certificate of graduation as recognized by the [State](/usc/20/1003.md?p=21-A) in which the student resides and must have been admitted for enrollment at an [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a).
- (b) **Selection based on promise of academic achievement—** Each student awarded a scholarship under this subpart must demonstrate [outstanding](/usc/20/1066a.md?p=7) academic achievement and show promise of continued academic achievement.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 419F, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 401(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1344; amended Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 409(a), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3225.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1070d–36, Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 419F, as added Pub. L. 98–558, title VIII, § 801(a), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2901, related to eligibility of students for scholarships under Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program, prior to the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 99–498.

### Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–315 inserted “(or a home school, whether treated as a home school or a private school under State law)” after “public or private secondary school”.