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When one of the world’s largest professional services firms decides to invest in the next generation of accountants, business leaders, and STEM professionals, the result is a set of scholarship programmes that are among the most valuable  and most competitive  available to American students. KPMG scholarship are not a single programme.

They are a family of distinct, fully funded and partially funded initiatives, each targeting a different audience: high school girls pursuing STEM or business, underrepresented minority students pursuing master’s degrees in tax or accounting, freshman and sophomore undergrads with an eye toward the Big Four, and accounting graduates ready to combine a funded master’s degree with a guaranteed KPMG career.

This comprehensive guide covers every major KPMG scholarship programme available in 2026–2027: the KPMG Future Leaders Program, the KPMG Tax Scholarship, the KPMG MADA (Master of Accounting with Data and Analytics) Program, the KPMG Embark Scholars Program, and several university-level KPMG-funded scholarships. For each programme, we cover what it is, who qualifies, what it covers, how to apply, and practical tips to maximise your chances.

Whether you are a high school senior in the US, an undergraduate studying accounting, or a recent graduate considering a funded master’s programme, this guide has everything you need to know about KPMG’s scholarship ecosystem in 2026 and beyond.

1. About KPMG — Who They Are

KPMG — which stands for Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler  is one of the world’s “Big Four” professional services firms, alongside Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and Ernst & Young (EY). The firm provides Audit, Tax, and Advisory services to businesses, governments, and other organisations across the globe.

As of fiscal year 2025, KPMG operates in 143 countries and territories with over 265,000 people working in member firms worldwide. In the United States alone, KPMG has more than 80 offices and employs over 36,000 professionals and partners. Notably, in FY2025, KPMG grew faster than the other Big Four firms globally  a reflection of its strong market position and continued investment in talent.

KPMG’s scholarship programmes are administered through KPMG LLP, the US member firm of the global KPMG organisation, in partnership with the KPMG Foundation, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit. These scholarships are part of the firm’s broader commitment to building a diverse, skilled, and values-driven talent pipeline for the professional services industry.

The firm has publicly committed to Accelerate 2025  its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy — which targets, among other goals, increased representation of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups at the partner and managing director levels. Several of KPMG’s scholarship programmes are direct outgrowths of this commitment.

2. KPMG Scholarship Programmes — Overview

KPMG does not operate a single scholarship  it operates a portfolio of distinct programmes, each with its own target audience, eligibility requirements, funding amount, and application process. Here is a quick snapshot of the four major scholarship programmes covered in this guide:

3. The KPMG Future Leaders Program

The KPMG Future Leaders Program is the most widely known of KPMG’s scholarship initiatives and the one most students are searching for when they look up “KPMG scholarship.” It is a national scholarship programme in the United States designed to provide financial assistance, leadership development, and executive mentorship to young women who are entering college to study business or STEM.

What Is the KPMG Future Leaders Program?

The programme is funded primarily through proceeds from the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit — two annual events that channel their financial returns directly into scholarship funding. This gives the programme a distinctive identity as one rooted not just in corporate philanthropy but in KPMG’s active commitment to women’s leadership and professional advancement.

Each year, 22 outstanding female high school seniors are selected to receive the scholarship. Each recipient receives $10,000 per year for four years of undergraduate study, totalling a potential $40,000 over the course of their degree. The scholarship is renewable annually provided the recipient maintains academic and programme requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

• Gender: Must identify as female.
• Academic level: Must be a high school senior in the United States at the time of application.
• Enrollment plan: Must be planning to enroll in a four-year college or university for the upcoming fall semester.
• Field of study: Must intend to major in Business or a field of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM).
• GPA: Minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Financial need: Household income of less than $75,000 per year (demonstrated financial need required).
• Citizenship: Must be a US citizen or permanent resident, including students in all US territories.
• Leadership: Demonstrated leadership qualities through school activities, community service, or personal initiatives.
• Community involvement: Participation in extracurricular activities such as clubs, sports, or volunteer programmes.

Key Benefits

• $10,000 scholarship per year for four years of college (up to $40,000 total)
• Renewable annually upon meeting academic and programme requirements
• Attendance at a three-day KPMG Future Leaders Retreat at Stanford University each July
• Mentorship from a senior female executive participating in the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit
• Golf instruction from the PGA of America and LPGA at the retreat
• Alumni network access and peer support from other KPMG scholarship recipients

4. The KPMG Tax Scholarship

The KPMG Tax Scholarship is a graduate-level scholarship launched by KPMG US in 2023 as part of its Accelerate 2025 DEI strategy. It is specifically designed to increase diversity within the accounting and tax profession by funding master’s degrees for students from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

What Is the KPMG Tax Scholarship?

The programme provides financial and mentoring support to eligible students who are pursuing a master’s degree in Accounting or Tax at any accredited university of their choice. Once they complete their degree, scholarship recipients join KPMG Tax as full-time employees — making this one of the rare scholarships that comes with a guaranteed Big Four job offer upon graduation.

Eligibility Requirements

• Background: Must be from a traditionally underrepresented racial or ethnic group in the accounting profession (as defined by KPMG’s DEI commitments).
• Degree level: Must be pursuing a master’s degree in Accounting or Tax at an accredited university.
• University choice: Unlike some corporate scholarship programmes tied to specific universities, the KPMG Tax Scholarship allows students to attend the school of their choice.
• KPMG alignment: Must align with KPMG’s core values and demonstrate genuine interest in a career in professional services within the tax and accounting field.
• Work authorisation: Must not require work sponsorship at any point during or after the programme (for employment at KPMG).

Key Benefits

• Up to $40,000 in tuition funding, paid directly to the university of the recipient’s choice
• Access to the vast KPMG Tax professional network, including ongoing mentoring and career coaching
• Eligibility for part-time internship opportunities with KPMG Tax during the master’s degree
• Full-time employment offer at KPMG Tax upon graduation — a significant career security guarantee

5. The KPMG MADA (Master of Accounting with Data and Analytics) Program

The KPMG Master of Accounting with Data and Analytics (MADA) Program is described by KPMG as an “industry-changing, first-of-its-kind” initiative that prepares students for the modern business landscape by combining the practical use of data and analytics (D&A) technologies with a D&A-focused accounting curriculum at a master’s level.

Unlike the Tax Scholarship (which allows any university), the MADA Program is structured through a network of partner universities. Students must be accepted into a participating university’s Master of Accounting with Data and Analytics programme to receive the tuition scholarship. Partner institutions include Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and several other HBCU and minority-serving institutions, reflecting KPMG’s commitment to diversity in the accounting pipeline.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must have completed (or be completing by August of the start year) a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or an equivalent programme from an accredited college or university.
• Must be accepted and enrolled in a KPMG-designated MADA partner university’s MSA (Master of Science in Accounting) programme.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, maintained throughout the scholarship period.
• Must be on track to complete educational requirements to be Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licence eligible upon completion of the programme.
• Must accept a KPMG Audit Associate offer as a condition of the scholarship — this is a full-time employment commitment.
• Must not be committed to work full-time at another company while completing the degree.
• Must not require work sponsorship currently or at any future point.

Key Benefits

• A scholarship of up to $40,000, paid directly to the partner university for tuition costs.
• Entry-level employment as a KPMG Audit Associate upon graduation — a confirmed Big Four career launch.
• A programme designed around the intersection of accounting and modern data analytics — equipping students for the high-demand skills of 21st-century finance.

6. The KPMG Embark Scholars Program

The KPMG Embark Scholars Program is not a traditional scholarship in the financial-award sense  it is a multi-year paid internship programme that functions as a talent pipeline for KPMG, targeting high-performing college freshmen and sophomores early in their academic careers. However, it is widely described as a scholarship programme because of its competitive selection, structured development pathway, and the clear career pathway it creates toward full-time KPMG employment.

Programme Structure

Embark Scholars complete an 8-week paid internship that includes professional training and rotations across all three of KPMG’s main practice areas: Audit, Tax, and Advisory. These rotations enable Scholars to understand the firm comprehensively and identify which practice area they are most interested in pursuing long-term. The programme also includes a Capstone project — a real-world, team-based exercise that develops collaboration and analytical skills. Every Embark Scholar is also connected to a cross-functional professional network at KPMG.

Eligibility Requirements

• Year of study: Must be an undergraduate freshman or sophomore (first or second year).
• Field of study: Must be pursuing a degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or Management Information Systems.
• At least two years remaining before being eligible for full-time employment.
• Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Accounting (or equivalent) or an IT-related degree from an accredited college or university.
• Interest in a career with a public accounting firm.
• Strong technical ability to meet the firm’s business objectives, and demonstrated teamwork and professionalism.
• The programme actively encourages applications from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups.
• Must have valid US work authorisation — limited sponsorship available for some practice areas.

Key Benefits

• Paid 8-week summer internship — competitive Big Four compensation
• Rotations through Audit, Tax, and Advisory practices
• Capstone project and professional development workshops
• KPMG mentor assignment and cross-functional professional networking
• Many Embark Scholars are invited back for a second, full practice-area internship the following summer
• High percentage of Embark Scholars receive full-time job offers upon graduation

7. University-Level KPMG-Funded Scholarships

Beyond the national programmes described above, KPMG — through the KPMG Foundation and individual KPMG office partnerships — funds scholarships at specific universities. These are awarded based on merit or a combination of merit and financial need to students enrolled in accounting and related programmes at those institutions. Examples include:

KPMG Fund for Excellence in Accounting — Pace University (New York)

At Pace University’s Lubin School of Business, KPMG funds the KPMG Scholarship Fund for Excellence in Accounting Education. This award is available to Pace students in accounting, BBA Information Systems, Data and Analytics, MBA Accounting, Law/JD programmes, and Taxation. The deadline for the 2025 cycle was October 30, 2025. Recipients must attend a fall dinner to remain eligible. Students are required to submit a 150-word personal statement explaining why they should receive the award and a professional statement outlining their intended career at KPMG.

KPMG Tax Scholarship — Georgetown Law

At Georgetown University Law Center, the KPMG Tax Scholarship is made possible by the generosity of KPMG tax professionals and matching grants from the KPMG Foundation. It is awarded to full-time LL.M. (Taxation) students   both US-educated and internationally educated  based on merit and demonstrated potential in the field of taxation. There is no separate application; candidates are considered based on their LL.M. application materials.

KPMG MADA at PVAMU

Prairie View A&M University, a historically Black university in Texas, participates in the KPMG MADA programme. Eligible accounting students at PVAMU can apply for up to $40,000 in tuition support toward the university’s Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) programme. The 2026–2027 deadline is May 1, 2026.

8. What KPMG Scholarships Cover — Full Benefits Summary

9. Eligibility Comparison Across All Programs

Criterion	Future Leaders	Tax Scholarship	MADA Program	Embark Scholars
Target Group	Female HS seniors	Underrepresented minorities	Accounting graduates	FR/SO undergrads
Study Level	Undergraduate (entering)	Master’s (any school)	Master’s (partner uni)	Undergraduate
Field of Study	Business or STEM	Accounting/Tax	Accounting + Data Analytics	Accounting/Finance/IT
Minimum GPA	3.5/4.0	Not publicly specified	3.0/4.0	Not publicly specified
Financial Need	Yes (HH income <$75K)	Not required	Not required	Not required
Citizenship	US citizen/perm. resident	Must not need sponsorship	Must not need sponsorship	US work authorisation
Employment Obligation	None	Yes (1–2 years at KPMG)	Yes (KPMG Audit Associate)	Path to full-time offer
Maximum Award	$40,000 (4×$10K)	Up to $40,000	Up to $40,000	Paid internship

10. How to Apply — Step by Step

KPMG Future Leaders Program — Application Steps

1. Confirm Eligibility
   Verify you are a female high school senior in the US, plan to enroll in a 4-year college for the upcoming fall, intend to major in Business or STEM, have a minimum 3.5 GPA, and have a household income below $75,000.
2. Create a Kaleidoscope Account
   The application is managed through the Kaleidoscope scholarship platform. Visit apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/KPMGFutureLeaders and create your account. Kaleidoscope also hosts many other scholarship opportunities, so one account serves multiple applications.
3. Complete the Application Form
   Fill in all required fields: personal information, academic details, GPA, intended college and major, household income information, and extracurricular activities including leadership roles and community service.
4. Upload Required Documents
   Gather and upload: your official high school transcript, two letters of recommendation (from teachers, counsellors, or community leaders), and any additional documents specified in the current application cycle.
5. Write and Submit Your Essay
   The Future Leaders Program requires an essay as part of the application. Write a compelling, authentic response that demonstrates leadership, financial need context, academic drive, and your interest in the STEM or Business field you intend to pursue.
6. Submit Before the February 1st Deadline
   Complete and submit your application before February 1st. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. The 22 recipients are selected and notified by an independent selection process by April 15th.

KPMG Tax Scholarship & MADA Program — Application Steps

1. Visit the KPMG US Careers Portal
   Go to kpmguscareers.com/early-career and navigate to the Tax Scholarship or MADA section under scholarships. Both programmes are detailed with their respective application links on this page.
2. Apply for the Corresponding KPMG Role
   For the MADA Program, apply via the Fall 2026 Audit Associate position on the KPMG website. For the Tax Scholarship, follow the specific Tax Scholarship application process linked from the careers page.
3. Prepare Your Resume and Transcripts
   Both programmes require a professional resume and most recent academic transcripts. Ensure your resume quantifies achievements, highlights leadership and teamwork, and reflects skills relevant to accounting, tax, or data analytics in professional services.
4. Complete Supplemental Essay Questions
   The MADA application requires a supplemental application form with two short-answer essay questions. Prepare responses that align your academic background and career goals with KPMG’s values and the specific programme.
5. Complete Virtual Interviews (If Invited)
   Shortlisted applicants for the MADA program complete two virtual interviews with KPMG Audit professionals. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses. Demonstrate knowledge of KPMG’s values, your motivation for the programme, and your analytical skills.
6. Apply and Be Accepted to a Partner University (MADA only)
   For the MADA Program, you must also apply for and be accepted into a participating university’s Master of Accounting with Data and Analytics programme. The KPMG scholarship funding is contingent on this university acceptance.

11. Deadlines and Application Timeline (2026–2027)

Programme	Opens	Deadline	Notification
KPMG Future Leaders 2027	Dec 2026	Feb 1, 2027	By April 15, 2027
KPMG Tax Scholarship	Rolling / varies	Check kpmguscareers.com	Varies by cycle
KPMG MADA (PVAMU)	Early 2026	May 1, 2026	Summer/Fall 2026 start
KPMG Embark Scholars	Fall semester (varies)	Rolling by campus recruit cycle	Varies by school/region
KPMG/Pace University Fund	Sept–Oct 2026	~Oct 30, 2026	Nov–Dec 2026

12. The KPMG Future Leaders Retreat at Stanford University

One of the most unique aspects of the KPMG Future Leaders Program is the annual three-day leadership retreat held at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. This is not a symbolic event — it is a serious professional development programme that all scholarship recipients are required to attend each July throughout their undergraduate years.

The retreat is designed to complement the scholarship’s financial support with real-world leadership development. Key activities at the retreat include:

• Workshops on communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership growth — facilitated by KPMG professionals and academic experts
• Direct interaction with senior leaders from various industries who are also attending or speaking at the concurrent KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit
• Golf instruction from the PGA of America and LPGA — reflecting the programme’s origins in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and intentionally connecting scholars to a professional world often accessed through golf culture
• Mentorship pairing and activation — each scholar is formally introduced to and begins working with their executive mentor at the retreat

Attendance at the retreat is a condition of scholarship renewal. Scholars who fail to attend without an approved excuse risk losing the scholarship for the following year.

13. KPMG’s Accelerate 2025 DEI Strategy and Scholarships

The KPMG Tax Scholarship and other diversity-focused programmes are directly connected to KPMG’s publicly stated Accelerate 2025 DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) strategy. This initiative targets several concrete goals: increasing the representation of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups at the partner and managing director levels, building a more balanced and diverse talent pipeline from the ground up, and reducing the longstanding lack of racial diversity within the accounting and tax profession in the United States.

As Vice Chair Greg Engel stated at the programme’s launch: “Creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce is mission critical. Our Tax Scholarship Program is a perfect example of how KPMG is prioritizing tangible solutions that create more opportunities for diverse talent to enter and succeed in our profession.”

It is worth noting that as of early 2026, KPMG US removed some of its historical DEI reports from its public website, reflecting the broader industry-wide reassessment of DEI communications in the post-2025 political environment. However, its scholarship programmes — including the Tax Scholarship and MADA — remain operational and continue to target diverse student populations for the 2026–2027 cycle.

14. Tips to Win a KPMG Scholarship

KPMG scholarships are highly competitive. Here are practical, programme-specific tips to maximise your chances:

For the KPMG Future Leaders Program

• Apply as soon as the portal opens in December. Although the deadline is February 1st, submitting early shows organisation and reduces the risk of technical submission errors.
• Choose recommenders who can speak to leadership. The committee wants evidence of leadership in action — not just academic competence. Recommenders who can describe specific examples of your leadership impact are far more valuable.
• Write an essay that is personal, not generic. With 22 awards distributed nationally, the essay is your differentiator. Describe specific challenges, specific decisions, and specific results. Generic essays about wanting to help others are immediately forgettable.
• Connect your major interest to real-world application. Explain specifically why Business or your STEM field matters to you and what you plan to do with it — not just that you like it.

For the KPMG Tax Scholarship and MADA Program

• Research KPMG’s service lines and values before applying. Both programmes are linked to a full-time employment offer. The firm wants applicants who understand what KPMG does, why its culture matters, and where they specifically fit within Audit, Tax, or Advisory.
• Demonstrate data literacy in your application. For MADA especially, any evidence of skill or interest in data analytics, technology, or digital accounting tools strengthens your profile significantly.
• Be transparent about your career commitment. Both programmes require an employment commitment. Applicants who clearly understand and embrace this commitment — rather than treating it as a caveat — present themselves as more credible and culturally aligned candidates.
• Use the STAR method in interviews. For virtual interviews in the MADA programme, structure every answer around a Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Be specific, be honest, and be concise.

For the KPMG Embark Scholars Program

• Apply in your freshman year, not sophomore year. The programme is designed for early-career undergrads. First-year applicants have an advantage as the programme explicitly intends to develop talent from the earliest point possible.
• Quantify everything on your resume. KPMG professionals reviewing Embark applications are trained to look for evidence of impact. “Improved team efficiency by 30%” is infinitely stronger than “helped with team projects.”
• Engage with KPMG campus events before applying. KPMG hosts virtual career series, campus information sessions, and pre-application networking events. Attending and engaging with these before applying demonstrates genuine interest that comes through in applications.

15. Final Thoughts

The KPMG scholarship ecosystem is one of the most comprehensive corporate-funded scholarship programmes available to American students in business, accounting, STEM, and technology. What sets it apart from generic scholarship programmes is not just the funding amount — up to $40,000 across multiple programmes — but the integrated career pathway that comes with it: mentorship from senior executives, leadership development at world-class institutions like Stanford University, internship experience within a Big Four firm, and in many cases, a guaranteed full-time employment offer at KPMG upon graduation.

The four main programmes target very different audiences. If you are a female high school senior with strong grades, financial need, and a passion for Business or STEM, the KPMG Future Leaders Program offers an unparalleled combination of financial support, leadership development, and mentorship. If you are from an underrepresented background and looking to fund a master’s degree in accounting or tax with a guaranteed Big Four career at the end, the KPMG Tax Scholarship is extraordinary. If you are a current accounting undergraduate in your first or second year and want to gain Big Four experience early, the Embark Scholars Program can put you on the fast track to a KPMG career. And if you are a recent accounting graduate interested in data-driven graduate accounting, the MADA Program may be the most strategically valuable opportunity available to you.

The key in all cases is the same: start early, research deeply, apply meticulously, and demonstrate authentically why you and KPMG are the right fit for each other. These are not passive scholarships  they are the beginning of a professional relationship.