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 awards worth $.

The Best Foot Forward Scholarship

Education is more important than ever in today’s fast-paced global economy. Technology connects us to places and people we could never have imagined, and more information is available now than in all of human history. But that doesn’t mean you can learn everything you need online. We didn’t become lawyers without going to college first. Now, we want to extend our help to the next generation of future architects, engineers, doctors, lawyers, educators, and more! Grant Law Office is offering a $1,500 scholarship to one deserving high school or college student in the state of Georgia.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000000

Awards:  1000

Deadline

Deadline:  May 15, 2024

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

Acker Warren Fresh Start Scholarship

Attorneys Sean Acker and Brandon Warren have over 20 years of combined experience helping people from all backgrounds get the fresh financial start they need through bankruptcy. Our firm was founded to provide bankruptcy law legal services to the Dallas-Fort Worth community and all of North Texas. Our firm handles Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 11 bankruptcy (including Subchapter 5), Chapter 13 bankruptcy, and more. When you are ready to apply for our scholarship, please include the following information: Contact information; Professional headshot; Proof of enrollment; Essay of approximately 500-1,000 words Answering this prompt: How will obtaining a college education help you to start fresh? How does starting fresh benefit you, and what may be some of the drawbacks?
Award Amount

Total:  $4000

Awards:  2

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

Done With Distracted Driving Scholarship

An overwhelming number of serious and fatal vehicular accidents are caused by distracted driving. Despite knowing better, drivers continue to reach for their phones while driving. Today, there are applications on our phones that can detect this and warn drivers that using the app while driving is dangerous. There are even some apps that will not allow cell phones to operate until the vehicle has come to a stop. Why is it that people feel an obligation to respond to notifications, text messages or phone calls while driving, even after knowing the risks? As personal injury lawyers, Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers is passionate about decreasing the number of distracted driving accidents. We see firsthand the effects that these accidents have on individuals and oftentimes how life-changing injuries sustained can be. In addition to working with those who have been in car accidents, this cause for awareness is very near and dear to our hearts as well. The firm’s founder, Jon Ostroff, is acquainted with the founder of End Distracted Driving, an organization whose mission is to save lives from distracted driving through advocacy, education, and action. It is our hope that we can all work together to make a significant impact on this generation’s outlook on distracted driving. This is why Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers created the Done with Distracted Driving Scholarship. We wanted to hear from students about realistic ways we can work to put a stop to this dangerous behavior and habit.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  May 31, 2024

Immaculata High School of Chicago Alumnae Association Scholarships

The Immaculata High School of Chicago Alumnae Association awards scholarships to the families of Immaculata High School of Chicago Alumnae who attend Loyola University Chicago. Eligible family members include: children, stepchildren, adopted children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren of Immaculata High School of Chicago alumnae and also descendants of spouses of alumnae. Any woman who graduated from Immaculata High School of Chicago, or attended for at least one year, is considered an alumna. Applicants must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and must reapply each year. No scholarship is automatically renewed. All applicants for the Immaculata Scholarship must also apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) prior to submitting the Immaculata Alumnae Scholarship application.
Award Amount

Total:  $9000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  June 01, 2024

Justice in Family Law Scholarship

At The Law Office of George J. Skuros, we have over 30 years of legal experience, and we have dedicated our practice to serving the needs of families in Chicago, Cook County, and the surrounding areas. Using the form on our scholarship page, submit your essay, your current academic transcript, a professional headshot of yourself, and contact information.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  June 12, 2024

Burress Injury Law Underdog Scholarship

Our team at Burress Injury Law is passionate about helping the “underdogs.” We represent victims who have suffered serious injuries or lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. Specifically, we help our clients persevere in the face of adversity to receive the medical treatment they need and recover all of the compensation they are owed under the law for their losses and damages. With our Underdog Scholarships, we aim to support prospective applicants who have persevered in the face of adversity and who want to use their life experiences to help others. The Burress Injury Law Underdog Scholarship fund provides $20,000 annually, with one $5,000 award and two $2,500 awards offered for each of the Spring and Fall semesters. Our scholarships are open to applications from undergraduate students throughout the United States, and the awards can be applied to tuition and other educational expenses at each recipient’s school. We are currently accepting applications for our 3 scholarships for the fall semester.
Award Amount

Total:  $30000

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  June 17, 2024

Single Parent Scholarship

The law office of Newland & Newland, LLP provides exceptional representation and trusted legal guidance to injury victims and their families throughout Cook County and the surrounding areas. Our Arlington Heights personal injury law firm is passionate about supporting the local community and our fellow legal professionals. We aspire to help single parents and their children overcome the challenges preventing them from pursuing higher education by providing the Newland & Newland Single Parent Scholarship. Our team is offering an award worth $1,000 to single parents and children of single parents who are pursuing a career in law.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  July 02, 2024

Freethought Arizona Scholarship

The Freethought Arizona Scholarship is available for secular, humanist, and atheist/non-theist students in Arizona who demonstrate leadership and activism in their communities.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  August 31