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California Scholarships

by Gia Correa | Last Updated: August 17, 2023

Important Note: The purpose of this detailed listing is to help you plan your scholarship search throughout the year. Please find information below about scholarships for California students. Some of the deadlines may be from prior years. Scholarship deadlines are cyclical, so even if a deadline has passed, the website will likely be updated for the 2023-2024 cycle. Be sure to reach out to the sponsor or check sponsor websites for the most recent details.

January

offers $5,000 to students who have been diagnosed with cancer in the past and plan to pursue their education. This application is due January 31st. More details here.

These are for $6,000. This is available to students who show support and service to the LGBTQ community. Applicants can be of any gender or sexual orientation. This application is due January 31st. More details here.

  • These award $5,000 to California residents attending a college/university in California; be a Golden 1 member for at least one year, or be a dependent of someone who has been a member for at least one year; be involved in community service totaling at least 24 hours in the last 12 months; and, have a 3.0 GPA. This application is due January 15th.  Learn more here.

  • These offer up to 2 scholarships of $5,000 for undergraduates or graduates pursuing a career in architecture. Applicants must be residents of Santa Carla County, and undergraduate students must have completed 2 years of college before applying. The deadline to apply is January 1st. More info here.

 

  • awards $1,000-$15,000 to any high school seniors who are women and California residents and who demonstrate excellence in leadership, involvement and impact on community building, notable or unique academic or work achievements, and potential for future success through career planning and goal setting. This application is due January 27th. More details here

 

February

These offer $2,000 to 2 high school seniors in San Joaquin County pursuing an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. With a minimum of a 3.8 GPA. This application is due February 3th. Learn more here

This awards $5,000 to students who are  first-generation college students from low-income households with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applicants are available to students from regional areas in California, Texas, Illinois and New York. This application is due February 28th More info here.

This awards $2,000 to a journalism student from the San Francisco Bay area or attending a college or university in the Bay Area. This application is due February 3rd. More info. here.

  • This gives up to $1,000 to students who are interested and share a passion for creative writing. The scholarship is to honor Bobette Bibo Gugliotta who is the author of several books.This application is due February 28th. Learn more here.

 

  • This awards up to $5,000 to any graduating high school senior or graduate of a public or private high school in San Mateo County or Santa Clara County who has demonstrated community involvement over a period of several years and has a minimum GPA of 3.5. This application is due February 28th. More info here.
  • This awards up to $10,000 to graduating high school seniors residing in the greater Silicon Valley Region (includes Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, San Francisco County, Alameda County and Santa Cruz County) OR current community college students who graduated from a high school within the five listed counties. Must be a first generation college student and have a minimum GPA of 3.75. This application is due February 28th. More info here.

 awards up to $30,000 to students who have a declared major in a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)-related field. Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and graduate of a high school in the following Northern California counties: Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Marin County, Napa County, San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Solano County, Sonoma County and Yolo County or  enrolled at a college/university within the 11 listed counties. Application is due February 28th. More info here

  • This awards up to $1,000 and is given to students in the U.S, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or religion. This application is due February 1st. Learn more here.



This gives $1,000  to students who have an immediate family member diagnosed with cancer of any type. Students must be high school seniors graduating from a school in El Dorado County, CA.This application is due February 1st.  Learn more here.

This offers up to $30,000 to a student who is of Latino descent. Must have a 3.0 GPA. DACA applicants are eligible. This application is due February 28th. Learn more here.

March

This offers $1,000 to a  graduating high school senior attending school in San Mateo County, CA, who has demonstrated resilience in their mental health journey and determination in pursuing a college education. This application is due March 1st. Learn more here.

  • This offers $1,000 to tall students who are under 21 years of age and attending their first year of college in the following fall. Students must be under 21, entering college in the upcoming fall, and meet the TCI height requirement minimums: 5’10” for women and 6’2″ for men. This application is due March 1st. More details here.

 

This offers $2,500 to a  college junior, senior, or graduate student pursuing a degree in civil engineering, welding engineering, welding engineering technology, or related discipline. Must be enrolled at least part-time at an accredited college/university in the U.S. and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. This application is due March 1st. More details here.

  • This awards $5,000 to current high school seniors, graduate students, or individuals who have earned a GED. Have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Be enrolled or plan to enroll in an accredited 2 or 4-year college/university in the U.S. in the fall, be a SMUD customer living in SMUD’s service area, or have a SMUD customer as a legal guardian. This application is due March 1st. Read more here.

 

This awards $4,000 to a student who is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture Degree or a five-year Master of Architecture program from an NAAB-accredited school or college. Must be U.S. Citizen. This application is due March 1st.  Read more here.

  • This is given to a student who is a new, transfer, and returning undergraduate student with family incomes and household assets up to $191,000. This application is due March 2nd. Read more here.

 

This awards up to $2,500 to the most promising students of California state. They must be graduating high school seniors who express academic excellence and personal commitment to pursuing their education. This application is due March 2nd. Read more here.

  •  This gives $1,000 to graduating high school seniors entering a college or university with an interest in a career in international trade, as well as college students pursuing international degrees. Applicants must be  graduating seniors in California entering an accredited college or university with a standard minimum GPA of 3.0. This application is due March 3rd. More info. Here.

This awards $5,000 to each student, with 4 chances to be offered to incoming freshmen enrolled in a college or university full-time pursuing a career in engineering, physical, computer, or environmental sciences. Must be at least 50% of Filipino descent with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. This application is due March 6th. Learn more here.

  • offers $5,000 to first-generation Asian Americans who have an interest in business,  a business major is not required. Students must be incoming freshmen enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year college/university with a minimum 3.0 GPA and express financial need. Must also be a resident of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Solano County in California.​​ This application is due March 20th. Learn more here.

 

  • gives $5,000 to high school seniors applying to or accepted at a college or certificate program that demonstrate verification of employment. Applicants must be employed at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Premier Food Services or contractor of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This application is due March 23rd. Click here to learn more. 

 

awards up to $2,000 to students who create a video for the contest, whoever will be selected to earn the grant. This application is March 31st. Read more here.

is awarding $5,000 to students who are majoring in television-related studies. Students must be a resident of the Pacific Southwest Chapter Area. This application is due March 31st.  Learn more here.

  1. This provides more than $200,000 in scholarship awards annually to high school seniors planning to pursue post-secondary education. Academic achievement, leadership qualities, good citizenship, and extracurricular involvement are all required of students. Applications are accepted from students enrolled in public, private, charter, parochial, or home schools within the boundaries of participating EWI Chapters. The minimum GPA required is 3.0. The deadline to apply is late March and opens in January. Click here to learn more. 

  • This is available to Jewish high school seniors and past Maisin scholarship recipients who are 24 or younger, planning to enroll in a full-time undergraduate program, or already enrolled. Applicants must be residents in the greater San Fanscioc Bay Area, have a 3.0 GPA, and demonstrate financial need and leadership skills. The awarded amount is up from $1,000 to $3,500 annually. The deadline to apply is March 31st. Read more here. 

 

  • awards $1,500 to   selected students of Chinese descent who are attending high school in San Diego County. Scholarships are open to both male and female applicants of at least one-quarter Chinese descent. This application is due March 31st. Read more here.

 

April

offers $2,000 to high school seniors and undergraduates who  must be interested in legal studies. Must be legal residents of the State of California, must be attending school within the State of California. This application is due April 1st. Learn more here. Apply here

awards $1,000 to high school senior students pursuing their college education as full-time students. This application is due April 3rd.  More information here.  Apply here.

offers $4,500 to a Hispanic American student (with at least one parent of Hispanic or Hispanic American heritage) and current resident of Santa Clara County or Santa Cruz County. Must also be a current graduating high school senior or undergraduate at West Valley College enrolled in a program leading to a degree in architecture, or in any architectural school.This application is due April 4th. Read more here.

  • honors Larry and Mary Davis’s commitment to education in the roofing industry, who passed away in a 1955 plane accident when returning from a committee meeting. Applicants who are residents of California are eligible to apply. The awarded amount is $5,000 annually. The selection of finalists will take into account academic and personal achievements. The application deadline is April 10th. More info here. 

 

  • awards $10,000 to high school seniors from Orange County, California, Salt Lake County, Utah, or Puerto Rico who are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields. Must express financial need, be a US Citizen and have a 3.0 GPA. This application is due April 11th. More info here.

 

awards $5,000 to women students studying Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and/or Land Planning, Interior Design, or Environmental Design pursuing a college degree. This application is due April 14th . Read more here.

  • awards $1,000 to $2,500 to college seniors currently enrolled in a college/university. Applicants must be California resident who has been diagnosed with cancer. This application is due April 30th. Learn more here

 

May

 awards $3,000 to a student who has a parental figure who worked as a firefighter and passed away in duty who resides in California. This application is due May 1st. More info. Here.

is eligible for juniors or seniors majoring in agriculture with the intention of a career in floriculture. Applicants must attend a college or university in California or a residence of California attending a college or university in other areas of the United States. The awarded amount is up to $5,000. The deadline to apply is May 1st. Read more here.

awards $4,000 to students who are seeking employment in floriculture, show a deep interest in agriculture and are seeking to further go on their journey to their career. Should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The deadline is May 1st.  Learn more here.

  • offers $24,000 ($6,000 annually) to students who express  financial need; be enrolled full-time at UC Berkeley; be incoming freshmen or incoming junior transfer; and, have participated in retreat, and alumni engagement events, throughout the academic year. This application is due May 7th.  Learn more here.




awards $7,500 to Students who submit a 500-1,000 word essay along with their application, answering the question: “What it means to me to have my parent/guardian involved in securing our community. This Application is due May 14th  More info. Here.

  •  awards $10,000 to single mothers pursuing their education, must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. This application is due May 19th. Read more here.

 

  • awards up to $1,000 to eligible California students, students must be graduating in their senior year of high school who express financial need. Only U.S. Citizens apply. The deadline to apply is May 26th . More details here.

 

awards up to $2,000 to students who demonstrate an interest in service to the LGBTQ+ community; and, have a 2.5 GPA. This application is due May 31st. Learn more here.

  • awards up to $1,000 to eligible California students, students must be graduating in their senior year of high school who express financial need. Only U.S. Citizens apply. The deadline to apply is May 26th . More details here.




offers up to $10,000 ($2,500 annually) to American Indian High School Seniors with a 3.0 GPA or higher who live in the 23 states in the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Pacific Corporation and other companies associated with it. Students that can apply have to be citizens or children of a Native Hawaiin or Pacific Islander or Indengious person of Canada. This application is due May 31st. Learn more here.

June

  • awards up to $2,500 to high school juniors and seniors who are studying  in a California high school and will be going to a public or private college, university, or trade school. This application is due June 30th. Learn more here.




  • offers $1,000  to students of all ethnic backgrounds who live in the San Gabriel Valley. Students must be graduating high school seniors residing in or attending school in the San Gabriel Valley area, an immigrant, or a child of an immigrant. This application is due June 30th. Learn more here.




awards $500 to nursing students with California residency. Students must be dedicated to making advancements in the nursing field, excel in their studies, and demonstrate prior contributions to health and nursing through volunteering or working experience. Applicants must be enrolled or accepted in an accredited nursing school program such as Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, Master’s Entry Program Nursing, or Advanced Degree. The deadline to apply is June 30th. Read more here.

July

  • offers $4,000 to a  local woman pilot who has a current private license. Applicants should be planning a career in aviation, and with flight training or education they must live within 300 miles of Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, CA. The minimum age is 17 years old. This application must be postmarked by July 1st. Read more here.

 

This gives $1,000 to a student who must be a recent high school graduate from the states of Washington or California, attending an HBCU as a full-time freshman in the upcoming fall with a declared major. This application is due July 31st. Read more here.

  • awards $5,000 to students who are active volunteers in their community and are planning to pursue post-secondary education. Students who are residents of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin are eligible to apply. Also, applicants must have at least a 2.75 GPA, two letters of recommendation from the organization they volunteered in, and a 500-word essay answering the prompted questions on the website. The deadline to apply is July 31st. More info here. 

 

August

  • awards up to $500 to students who demonstrate leadership, give back to their community, and is a resident of CA who goes to high school in Carmichael. This application is due August 1st. Read more here.




  • awards $500-$1,000 to Latino students who are currently pursuing or intend to pursue a career in journalism. Criteria includes commitment to the field of journalism, scholastic achievement, community awareness and financial need. Applicants must be California residents who are a High School Senior or undergraduate and must be enrolled full time for the entirety of the academic year in which they apply.The deadline to apply is August 31. Learn more here.




September

  • awards $2,500 to one graduating high school senior who demonstrated a history of advocacy for social or economic justice. Applicants must explain in their 500 words essay how they will continue their advocacy in the future and why they are interested in the chosen advocacy area. The deadline to apply is September 5th. Learn more here. 

 

awards $2,000 to seniors and juniors in high school interested in environmental topics and professions. Scholarship recipient(s) will also receive a complimentary admission to one SDAEP luncheon. Students must be attending high school in San Diego or Imperial County and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. This application is due September 8th at 5PM. More info here.

  • awards $1,000 to high school juniors and seniors who are interested in pursuing an education in environmentally related topics. This scholarship is meant to promote and encourage BIPOC voices within the profession. This application is due September 8 at 5PM. More info here.




October

November

awards up to $10,000 to young women who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program and are motivated to achieve their education and career goals.​​This application is due November 15th. More info here.

  • awards up to $2,500 to a student pursuing their 4-year education in welding engineering or welding engineering technology. Must be 18 years or older with a high school degree with a minimum of a 2.5 GPA who expresses financial need. This application is due November 30th. Learn more here.




December

  •  awards $1,000 to California music students to further their jazz education and music programs. This application is due December 8th. More info here

 

awards $1,000 to high -achieving high school graduates. Applicants that have achieved a high school Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher; have an ACT score of 24 or higher; or have an SAT score of 1150 or higher. Applicants for this scholarship must have graduated from an eligible high school in the U.S. Application is due December 1st. More info here.

Deadline's Vary

offers up to $3,009 to students who are U.S. citizen or eligible non citizen and permanent and current California residents. Applicants must express financial need. More information here.

  •  awards up to $14,572 annually to a student who is a United States Citizen, must have a 3.90 to 4.0 GPA. Applicants who are non-residents of Idaho and enrolled in Boise State University may apply.  Read more here.

 

  •  offer $1,000 or more based on various scholarships provided for students interested in majoring in STEM-related fields. Applicants must be high school senior graduates or have received a GED whose residence is in California. Also, Veterans or adults returning to school are encouraged to apply. Read more here.

 

awards to students who live in Ohio, New York, California, Texas, Minnesota, or Washington, D.C. attending a public, charter, or alternative high school. Students must overcome hardships such as abuse, homelessness, disability, etc. Learn more here.

  • offers $20,000 for the 4 years of college to students who show academic achievement and are entering as first-year students. More details here.

 

awards up to $12,192 to California peace officers (Highway Patrol, marshalls, sheriffs, police officers), Department of Corrections and California Youth Authority employees, and permanent/full-time firefighters employed by public entities. Learn more here.

  • awards $1,500 to students who are currently a graduating senior or graduate of high school in Santa Clara County who is currently enrolled or planning to enroll on a full-time basis at a four-year California public college or university. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.3 and express financial need. Read more here.

 

  • offers $500 per semester to a student who expresses financial needs. Applicants must maintain a 2.5 GPA and live in California. More info. Here.

 

  • offer $6,000 Must have a 3.0 GPA. must be a U.S. citizen of Hispanic origin and must be graduating (or have graduated) from a high school in Southern California. Learn more here.




  • award $40,000 to outstanding students who graduate from a local San Diego high school and achieve a minimum 4.0 in high school. More details here. 

 

  • This is given to students who write an essay, 400 words maximum, about the importance of ethics and integrity in the community. Students must be in grades 9-12 and enrolled in school in Apache, Coconino, Gila, Imperial, La Paz, Orange, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, San Diego, Yavapai, or Yuma Counties. Read more here.

 

  • offers $1,000 to a student who is  a current graduating high school senior from Palo Alto High School enrolling in college and must have served as a teacher assistant or classified student service assistant. More info. Here.

 

awards $1,700 to a student who is  a current graduating senior of Palo Alto High School who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishment in writing. More details here.

  •  is for students residing in Monterey County, San Francisco County, Sonoma County, Napa County, Contra Costa County, or Santa Clara County interested in pursuing a career in hospitality industry. The awarded amount is up to $5,000. Applicants must be currently employed in the hospitality profession or planning to enroll or already enrolled in a 4-year college, university, or hospitality trade school. Also, applicants must have a 2.5 GPA. More info here. 

 

 offers up to $4,000 to full-time community college students who are transferring as a junior to a 4-year college or university. Applicant must be a resident of Conta Costa County, demonstrate financial need, and have at least a 3.0 GPA. Also, academic achievements, community involvement, and special circumstances are considered when applying. Applications open this fall.Learn more here.

awards $5,000 to  students who express financial need, or come from a low-income household; be 15-25 years of age. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for high school students and a minimum 2.75 GPA is required for current college students. Must reside in California. Application will open December 1st. More info. Here.

This is given to students who are a graduating senior or graduate of the Huntington Beach Union High School District in Southern California. This application opens on November 1st.  Read more here.

offers $10,000 to students who are U.S. citizens graduating from high school in Ventura County, California, and want to continue their education as a full-time students at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States, have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate outstanding leadership, character and commitment to Ventura County. This application opens in October.  More details here.

awards $1,500 to someone who demonstrates the following values: grit, determination, perseverance, honesty and humility. This application will open in February 2024 . Read more here.

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Gia Correa is enrolled at the prestigious John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is studying criminal justice bachelors of arts and aspires to one day work in FBI for forensics. Knowing the difficulties, hardships, and struggles that students face on their journey to college, Gia offers insight on the ins and outs of college admissions, what colleges look for in personal statements and supplemental essays, and navigating the scholarship and paying for the college process. For fun, Gia likes to travel, go cycling & watch documentaries.