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:
Banatao Filipino American Education Fund Scholarship
CA Teachers Association Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Scholarship
CTA Scholarship For Dependent Children
Cal Grant B Competitive Award
Cal Grant A Entitlement Award
California Farm Bureau Scholarship
Central California Asian Pacific Women Scholarships
ACWA Scholarship
AIST San Francisco Member Chapter Scholarship
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 awards worth .
APCF was founded in 1990 by API community leaders in response to the need for alternative funding for Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations serving API communities. Since 2011, APCF has partnered with donors such as local companies and family foundations to offer scholarship programs to financially assist students in their pursuit of higher education.
All of the scholarships have an online application and recommender form that can only be found on our site. The online applications can be found at https://www.apcf.org/scholarships
Application requires student to list out community service activities, disclose some family financial information, and answer 2-500 word essay prompts. The applicant must share the recommender form link with their preferred advisor for submission.
The Friends of the California State Fair offers 12 categories of scholarships with varying eligibility requirements. Applicants may apply for one scholarship category of their choice per year. Applicants must meet all of the criteria for a specific scholarship to be an eligible candidate. Applicants must plan to enroll for both the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters. Students graduating after the fall 2023 are not eligible to apply, as this scholarship is intended for the full academic year.
The Friends of the California State Fair offers 12 categories of scholarships with varying eligibility requirements:
• Agricultural Students (current college student)
• Agricultural Students (high school senior)
• Art Major
• Business Major
• California State Fair Exhibitors or Volunteers
• Culinary, Hospitality, or Event Planning Major
• International Agriculture Students (sponsored by Blue Diamond)
• Sacramento Region Top Achiever
• Teacher Credential Program
• Top 10 Percent of Class
• Trade School Program
• Wine & Grape Growing Major
Applicants may apply for one scholarship category of their choice per year. Applicants must meet all of the criteria for a
specific scholarship to be an eligible candidate. Applicants must plan to enroll for both the fall 2023 and spring 2024
semesters. Students graduating after the fall 2023 are not eligible to apply, as this scholarship is intended for the full
academic year.
To advance the goals of diversity and inclusion within the legal profession, Modrall Sperling has established the Max J. Madrid Law Diversity Scholarship. The scholarship provides tuition assistance toward an awardee’s second or third year of law school. Persons in their first or second year of law school may apply if they are from a diverse background that historically has been underrepresented within the legal profession. Modrall Sperling is dedicated to fostering an environment that embraces differences, promotes equality, and engenders mutual respect and inclusion where everyone has the opportunity to excel.
To be eligible for the Max J. Madrid Law Diversity Scholarship, applicants must: demonstrate strong academic achievement in college and, if applicable, in the first year of law school; demonstrate leadership qualities with employment and/or community service experience; demonstrate excellence in research and communication skills, including written and oral; make a compelling statement of the applicant’s desire and the ability to overcome obstacles; attend an ABA-accredited law school; and plan to practice law in the state of New Mexico.
We are excited to announce that the Fracsun scholarship application is now open to all California higher education students! The Fracsun scholarship is a unique opportunity for California students to earn financial assistance for their education while also showcasing their passion for making a positive environmental impact on the world through their field of study.
To apply for the Fracsun scholarship, students must submit a 1,000 to 3,000-word essay explaining how their field of study and career path will have a positive impact on our climate and environment. This essay should demonstrate the student’s understanding of their chosen field and how they plan to use their education to make a difference.
Feel free to include photos, graphs and videos to help us understand your story.
The Fracsun scholarship is open to all STEM students, regardless of their field of study. Whether you are studying engineering, medicine, education, or the arts, we want to hear about your plans to make a positive environmental impact. We are especially interested in hearing from students who are working on innovative projects or research.
The Fracsun scholarship is a great opportunity for California students to earn financial assistance for their education while also showcasing their passion for the climate and environment. The scholarship is designed to recognize and support students who are committed to using their education to make a positive impact.
We encourage all California higher education students to apply for the Fracsun scholarship. The application deadline is noted below. Submit your essay today and take the first step toward earning financial assistance for your education.
If you have any questions about the scholarship or the application process, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can read more about our company at www.fracsun.com. We look forward to reading your essays and learning more about how you plan to use your education to make a difference.
At the base of the Wasatch Mountain Range sits Avalaunch Media’s headquarters. Within the office you’ll find a 2-foot statue of a yeti symbolizing the mission and purpose of our team. Although some don’t know what a yeti is, or if it even exists, the tall tale of the yeti inspires us. We’re on a quest to create believers in digital marketing through measurable results.
Our abominable snowman – Eddy the Yeti – surrounds our team of digital marketers who believe. Are you a believer?
We are excited to announce the launch of our annual Avalaunch Media Scholarship Contest. The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Avalaunch Media is committed to supporting students in their educational pursuits and helping to develop the next generation of believers.
The Problem: We’ve been in the scholarship world for over two decades! In that time we have seen the explosion of fake, scammy and downright misleading scholarships. Back when we started, spotting a scholarship scam was easy. They always charged a fee for entry. That’s how they made money. But today your personal information is more valuable than a fee. Even worse than trading your personal information to apply for a scholarship is the fact that many of these scholarships are never even awarded.
Back in the day you mailed (as in through the post office) application forms and something called a SASE. What the heck is a SASE? It’s short for Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope or basically an envelope with your address on it as well as a stamp. This way the scholarship organization could just drop the letter in the mail to let you know they received your application. Also, if they were really on the ball they would send you a list of winners once the scholarship was over. So why in the 21st century do most students submit their application online and then never hear a thing from scholarship providers? This is worse than in the old days and is unacceptable in our opinion.
Our Solution: We started Verified Scholarships as a solution to this problem. By verifying all scholarships, we guarantee that the awards you find are worth your time to apply. We also encourage scholarship providers to improve their programs from the perspective of the applicant. Make the award details clear and easy to find. Publish a list of winners on a regular basis. And, please communicate regularly with applicants. The internet has made finding awards much easier. But applying still takes the same amount of time as before. Therefore, we believe that all scholarship providers should have the interest of their applicants as priority number one.
We hope you find Verified Scholarships useful and remember that everything on our site is free for you — the user. If you want to get involved, there is one favor you can do for us. While our staff of superstar scholarship verifiers are working every day, they cannot match the collective power of our users. If you see an issue with any scholarship in our database, please use the “Error Report” link next to the scholarship listing to let us know. Together we will create a world where only verified scholarships thrive!
The Extensiv Supply Chain Scholarship is intended to give aspiring logistics and supply chain professionals financial support during their educational journey. It is also meant to inspire new ideas for the supply chain and warehousing industry. Read the requirements below to see if you qualify to earn a $2500 scholarship for the 2023 Fall Semester.
It is a great feeling to be a part of a team working towards a common goal. Working for a good company instills essential values and develops people socially and professionally. At Silberman & Lam LLP, we advocate for the everyday employee. Our firm works on cases primarily regarding Workers’ Compensation law, and we are very familiar with seeing employees being taken advantage of by their employers. Often, people are uninformed of their rights as employees, and managers or executives can exploit their labor and time.
That is why we created the Rise Above Scholarship to hear from students across the nation about any similar experience that shaped them. As a workers’ compensation firm, we hope this scholarship will create helpful discussions between students to instill confidence as an employee. We ask people to share a time when they felt like they were being taken advantage of as an employee, intern, or group member. How did this experience affect your professional relationships with those involved? Has your experience helped you look for future or current employment red flags? How did a negative, professional situation turn out to be a positive one in the long run, and how did you learn from it?z
The Sief Khafagi Scholarship is dedicated to fostering the pursuit of higher education among students who exhibit exceptional academic achievements. This program offers a $2,500 scholarship aimed at supporting students in state-sponsored colleges or universities.
We believe in the transformative power of education and are committed to assisting dedicated students in achieving their academic aspirations. Apply for the Sief Khafagi Scholarship today and take a step toward realizing your higher education dreams.
This award is available for U.S. high school seniors who are Catholic, of Italian descent, or have a non-Italian Catholic parent or grandparent who is a member of the Italian Catholic Federation. Students must have a grade point average of 3.2 or higher and live within the Catholic Dioceses of California, Nevada, Illinois, or Arizona. A complete list of participating branches is available online.
