California Scholarships for 2024

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HOW DO YOU GET CALIFORNIA SCHOLARSHIPS?

California scholarships may go to eligible college students who are California residents and out of state students. You also must be a citizen of the United States. In order to get a scholarship, California students should search their high school. Local businesses, nonprofits, and even state aid programs may offer financial aid. Also, professional organizations may provide scholarship funds. 

The Golden State is home to 309 four year and 408 two year schools. Many offer college scholarships to make earning a degree more affordable. 

Private four year colleges in CA cost an average tuition and fees of $33,483 in 2017 to 2018. It’s less for public four year colleges, with average tuition and fees at $22,081 for CA students. In contrast, tuition and fees are $29,173 if you live out of state as reported from the NCES.

10 Scholarships in CA You Should Apply for in 2024

There are a wealth of California scholarships to apply for in 2024 including:

  1. Banatao Filipino American Education Fund Scholarship
  2. CA Teachers Association Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Scholarship
  3. CTA Scholarship For Dependent Children
  4. Cal Grant B Competitive Award
  5. Cal Grant A Entitlement Award
  6. California Farm Bureau Scholarship
  7. Central California Asian Pacific Women Scholarships
  8. ACWA Scholarship 
  9. AIST San Francisco Member Chapter Scholarship 
  10. Northern California Asian Peace Officer’s Association Scholarship

HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS in California?

If you plan to attend an accredited college in California, you may qualify for scholarships based on financial need or merit. Besides being a state resident, your grades, college major, gender and ethnicity may help you earn California scholarships. 

Scholarships for High School Students in California. Some awards may be for students who graduated from a specific high school district. California high school scholarships may also be used at community college or a four year school. 

State Grants and Scholarships. If you’re a state resident, you may qualify for CA state financial aid. These tend to be used at state schools that partner with these programs. 

Field of Study. Many students in CA qualify for scholarships based on their major. For example, the Dr. James L. Hutchinson and Evelyn Ribbs Hutchinson Medical School Scholarship. It is for high school grads in San Mateo County or Santa Clara County.  Also, you must be a college senior. You also must be currently enrolled full time in an accredited medical school program.

Where You Live. There are scholarships for in state and out of state students in California. You may have to be a resident in a certain county such as San Francisco Bay Area.

Academic Achievement. Providers may require a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test scores. Community service and leadership experience may also be required.

Financial Need. Making a college degree more affordable in CA is what these scholarships are about. Providers may assess your family income by looking at your FAFSA.

Gender and Ethnicity. Find college scholarships for Hispanic, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, African Americans and first generation Americans.

WHAT CALIFORNIA COLLEGES OFFER FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIPS?

Many of the biggest CA colleges like University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of Southern California offer full ride scholarships. Many first year students who plan to attend college in CA receive awards in their student aid letter. These may renew if you stay in good standing and keep qualifying for future academic years.

Full ride scholarships in California are merit based awards. These merit awards may cover more than tuition, fees, room and board. They may also cover expenses through a stipend. 

The Mork Family Scholarship at USC is one. It provides full tuition to some qualifying incoming freshman. There are ten awards total. Each one provides a $5,000 stipend. 

UCLA also offers the Stamps Scholars program. It awards ten freshmen with four year scholarships to both state residents and out of state students. 

Are There Scholarships for Out of State Students in California?

There are scholarships for out of state students with plans to study in California. According to the NCES, the average tuition and fees for full time out of state students at a public CA university was $29,173 in 2017 to 2018. 

One award is the UC Davis Regents Scholarship which is merit based. So, it looks at grades and personal feats, rather than need. To qualify, the school assesses the info provided on your application. If you’re chosen for the $7,500 scholarship, UC Davis may notify you with your offer of admission.

For those whose GPA hovers at 2.0 or above, there is the Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program. There are up to 106 awards and total award amount is $25,000 each. It is for high school seniors who show clear financial need. As long as you are a US citizen with a $55,000 or lower adjusted family income, you may be eligible.

Scholarships for Graduate Students in California

Many California graduate students may find scholarships to use when pursuing a master’s, PhD or professional degree in the state. NCES reported the avg. graduate tuition was $11,617 per year at a public college. Private CA colleges cost more at $24,712. As a result, saving money on this next part of higher education may make your graduate studies affordable and support your career plans.  

Grad school may have awards for niche fields. Nursing students may find grad school scholarships in California. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) offers awards at partner grad schools.

California State University Sacramento is one. The Polly Bednash Scholarship of $5,000 goes to outstanding nurses. Recipients may use the funds to help pay for a master’s or doctoral program at AACN member schools. 

LIST OF CALIFORNIA SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2024

Check out our list of college scholarships in the Golden State below. We have 93,382 awards worth $118M.

Making Waves Scholarship

At Mattis Law, we’ve dedicated our practice to Family Law, and we do everything we can to ensure that children and their families will have a safe and happy future. In this spirit, we’re offering a $500 scholarship to benefit a San Diego County high school senior or graduate who wishes to improve their future by pursuing higher education. This scholarship is open to 2024 California high school graduates pursuing a four-year college degree and current college students who graduated from a California high school and are pursuing a four-year degree or are currently enrolled in a two-year college and planning to transfer to a four-year college degree program upon completion.
Award Amount

Total:  $500

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  May 22, 2024

The Vipin Agrawal Memorial Scholarship fund

The Vipin Agrawal Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to students from low-income and immigrant backgrounds. In order to create diversity in the industry and spark new innovations, it is important to platform diverse undergraduate students.
Award Amount

Total:  $32000

Awards:  4

Deadline

Deadline:  May 30, 2024

Share the Road Scholarship

At Valero Law Group Injury Lawyers, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial impact that accidents can have on individuals and their families. As personal injury attorneys, we have dedicated our careers to fighting for the rights of accident victims and helping them recover the compensation they deserve. To further our mission, we are proud to announce the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship, with a scholarship award of $1,000. The scholarship is open to all individuals who share our commitment to making our roads safer and reducing the number of accidents. The deadline for submitting an application is September 30, 2024. We are inviting applicants to share their thoughts on how we can work together to encourage good driving habits and reduce accidents. Whether it be through education, enforcement, or innovation, we want to hear your ideas on how we can make our roads safer for everyone, including pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and other road users. We believe that through this scholarship, we can help spread awareness about the importance of road safety and empower individuals to take action towards making our roads a safer place for everyone. If you or someone you know has been affected by a severe accident, the compensation you receive from a personal injury lawsuit can help cover the costs of medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. If you’re interested in applying for the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship, please continue reading to learn more about eligibility and the application requirements. Together, let’s work towards creating a safer and more responsible road culture.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  September 30, 2024

College Can Help Scholarship Fund

The College Can Help Scholarship Fund is provided annually to graduating high school seniors and GED recipients from Ventura County who are enrolling at a Ventura County Community College. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and unmet financial need.
Award Amount

Total:  $2000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 26

Parker and Virginia Howell Scholarship Fund

The Parker and Virginia Howell Scholarship Fund is available for graduating high school seniors and undergraduarte students from the city of Ventura, California. Applicants must have unmet financial need, a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and must be planning to major in creative writing or engineering.
Award Amount

Total:  $600

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 26

Stephen Devron Resnik Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Stephen Devron Resnik Memorial Scholarship Fund is available for graduating high school seniors in Camarillo, California who are planning to enroll full time in a four-year college or university. Preference is given to students who are active in volleyball as well as those who demonstrate a passion for helping others.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 26

Supervisor Jim Dougherty Scholarship Fund

The Supervisor Jim Dougherty Scholarship Fund is available for graduating high school seniors who plan to attend Ventura County Community College, as well as freshman currently enrolled at VCCC. Applicants must reside in Moorpark or Simi Valley in California.
Award Amount

Total:  $2000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 26

Community Folk Art Scholarship

The Community Folk Art Scholarship is available for graduating high school seniors in Ventura County California who are planning to major in art while enrolled full-time at a four-year college or university.
Award Amount

Total:  $500

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 26

Edna Wirt Woods and Ruth Nagel Scholarship Fund

The Edna Wirt Woods and Ruth Nagel Scholarship Fund is available for female high school seniors and previous high school graduates from Ventura County, California. Applicants must be majoring in a health-related field and must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 26

Al Schuman Ecolab Undergraduate Entrepreneurial Scholarship

U.S. undergraduate students currently enrolled in a foodservice-related program at a participating college are eligible for this award. Students must enroll in nine or more credit hours and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Award Amount

Total:  $8500

Awards:  2

Deadline

Deadline:  March 15