**New Cohort of 32 U.S. Rhodes Scholars Announced for 2025**

Dr. Ramona L. Doyle, American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust, revealed the newest batch of Rhodes Scholars from the United States on Saturday. This prestigious group of 32 will join others from around the world in October 2025 at Oxford University, England, to pursue graduate studies.

Established in 1903 by Cecil John Rhodes, the Rhodes Scholarship is considered the most esteemed international scholarship for American graduates. The first group of scholars embarked on their Oxford journey in 1904. This year, the selection process saw nearly 3,000 applicants, of which 865 were endorsed by 243 colleges and universities. Selection committees across 16 U.S. districts ultimately interviewed 238 finalists.

The 2025 cohort includes students from 20 different academic institutions. Notably, Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia and Pepperdine University in California are celebrating their first-ever Rhodes Scholars. Harvard University led the list with five scholars, with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Stanford University each contributing four scholars. Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had two scholars each.

A Rhodes Scholarship, which covers all Oxford tuition and fees, provides a stipend for necessary expenses during residence and vacations, as well as transportation costs to and from England. The scholarship's total value averages around $75,000 per year and can go up to $250,000 for students who stay at Oxford for four years.

The selection process emphasizes a candidate’s ambition for social impact and collaborative efforts, as highlighted by Dr. Doyle. Key criteria include demonstrating leadership, character, and a commitment to service. While the scholarship aims for an inclusive application process, it focuses on individual merit rather than enforced diversity considerations.

Rhodes Scholarships were initially exclusive to male students until 1976. Since then, 675 American women have won the scholarship. Despite past criticism over Cecil Rhodes' white supremacist views and the historical lack of Black recipients, efforts have been made to diversify the pool over recent decades.

This year’s Rhodes Scholars from the U.S. come from diverse backgrounds and interests, bringing together an eclectic mix of individuals such as amateur boxers, interns at prominent institutions, community volunteers, a bluegrass musician, a novelist, and founders of start-ups. Their academic pursuits at Oxford will span the social sciences, humanities, and biological and physical sciences.

With these new selections, a total of 3,674 Americans have been awarded Rhodes Scholarships, representing 329 colleges and universities. More than 2,000 American Rhodes Scholars are currently living across the U.S. and abroad.