This article aims to examine the role of social capital (trust, networking, and values) in encouraging the achievements of underprivileged groups of students who receive the Indonesia Smart Card scholarship from the government. This study uses a qualitative approach with analytic descriptive method. Data collection was carried out using in-depth interviews with 50 students from 5 religious higher education institutions and focus group discussions of 60 participants divided into 5 groups with 12 participants in each group. The study found that groups of students receiving scholarships had social capital in the form of aspects of social trust obtained from the effectiveness of the participatory-based learning process. The network aspect has expanded as a result of intervention from senior groups and mentors who educate during the early years of college. The construction and internalization of values is also built through institutional authority. This research concludes that the role of social capital is related to the achievement of student recipients of scholarships, both directly and indirectly.