The ACFE Foundation has opened applications for the 2026 Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program. The scholarship is designed to support students who are pursuing careers in fraud examination and other anti-fraud professions.
Beyond financial support, the programme also strengthens recipients’ professional development by providing a full year of ACFE student membership, giving access to learning resources, industry insights, and a global anti-fraud network.
Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants will receive scholarship awards ranging from $2,000 to $10,000. The funds are paid directly to the recipient’s university or college to support academic expenses throughout the year.
Who Can Apply
Applicants must show a clear interest in pursuing a career in fraud examination or a related anti-fraud field and must meet the following criteria:
- Have a declared major or minor in accounting, business administration, finance, criminal justice, or another fraud-related discipline
- Be currently enrolled at an accredited four-year college or university and remain enrolled through the 2026–2027 academic year
- Junior college students in their second year or those who have completed an associate degree may apply, provided they are enrolled at an accredited four-year institution
- Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least nine semester hours per term
- Graduate students must be enrolled in at least six semester hours per term
Who Is Not Eligible
The scholarship is not open to:
- High school students
- Past recipients of the Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship
- Students graduating in 2026 (applicants must be enrolled through 2027)
- ACFE chapter directors or officers
Selection Process
The ACFE Foundation operates a non-discriminatory selection process. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on:
- A completed scholarship application
- Demonstrated fraud-related interests, activities, and career goals
- Overall academic performance as shown in transcripts
- Submitted recommendation forms
Required Application Documents
Eligible applicants must submit:
- A completed scholarship application
- Official academic transcript(s)
- Two letters of recommendation from a professor or a professional referee
Important Dates
- Application Deadline: February 2, 2026
- Recipients Announced: April 30, 2026
- Awards Distributed: May 7, 2026
How to Apply
Interested and qualified students can apply through the official ACFE Foundation application portal: https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/104650-Acfe-Foundation
For additional details, visit the ACFE scholarship page: https://www.acfe.com/scholarship.aspx
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