The decision about whether to attend an undergraduate or graduate program is based on many personal factors, but one of the most important considerations is funding. Scholarships are one way to access programs without racking up massive debt. For minority groups underrepresented in higher education, including Latino and Hispanic candidates, the problem of debt and affordability is even more pressing. There are many different organizations, foundations, associations, and programs that offer scholarships specifically to help these applicants. These scholarships make it possible for minority students to not only successfully complete a degree and move into a professional field, but also encourage the next generation of hopeful students, which is the key to diversifying the workforce.
In this post, you will find information on many different types of scholarships for Latino/Latina/Latine/Hispanic students, including ones for different levels of study (e.g., undergraduate, graduate) and ones for different fields of study (e.g., medical school, MBA programs, law school). There is also overlap between the immigrant community and the Latino/Latina/Latine/Hispanic community, so many of the scholarships in this list are also meant to support students without U.S. citizenship, students who are first generation, and/or students who are the children of immigrants.
Ready for more information? Read on.
- Scholarship tips
- AICPA Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students
- Alice Newell Joslyn Medical Scholarship
- AMS Scholarship for Underserved Communities
- Ascend Educational Fund Scholarship
- Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship Program
- BECA Foundation General Scholarship Fund
- Better Together STEM Scholarship Program
- Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders
- GMiS STEM Scholarship
- Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Scholarship Program
- Hispanic Heritage Foundation Youth Awards
- Hispanic Scholarship Consortium
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund
- Legal Opportunity Scholarship
- LULAC National Scholarship Fund
- McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship
- National Scholarship
- Opportunity Scholarship
- PMAHCC Scholarship Program
- Point Foundation Community Scholarship
- Prospanica Scholarship Program
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation Latinos in Technology Scholarship
- TOYOTA/TELACU Scholarship
- Virginia Space Grant Consortium Scholarships and Fellowships
Before you check out the list, here are five quick tips for applying to scholarships!
Check the eligibility requirements carefully.
Most scholarships have a long list of eligibility requirements. Check these criteria carefully to make sure you do not waste time applying to scholarships that don’t match your profile. That said, even if the name of a scholarship makes it sound like it isn’t for you, if you meet all the requirements, you should definitely apply for it!
Give yourself time to work on scholarship applications.
Scholarships are rarely the most urgent priority in someone’s life, even if that person really needs funding support. Make sure to carve out time on a regular basis to work on these applications. If you take the time to consistently apply throughout the year, you will most likely win at least some awards.
Pay attention to the materials requested.
Does the application ask for a letter of recommendation? A personal statement? A research proposal? Before starting to work on an application, make a list of exactly what materials are needed from you, and estimate how long it will take you to write or request them. Doing this will help ensure that you don’t miss any deadlines.
Leave yourself plenty of time for editing!
Most scholarship applications require an essay, and many applicants underestimate how long writing that essay can take. Whether you work on your own, with a mentor or friend, or with a service like Accepted, you need to allow yourself enough time to get through at least a few drafts before submitting.
Don’t stress; apply, and then forget about it!
Applying for scholarships can be very nerve-racking. The best way to handle the stress of the process is to apply for a scholarship and then do your best to forget about it and move on to the next one. Keeping the application process going will serve you much better than wondering whether you’ve won.
Scholarships
AICPA Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students
“This award provides financial assistance to outstanding minority students to encourage their pursuit of accounting as a major and their ultimate entry into the profession.”
Requirements: An ethnic minority in the accounting profession (e.g., Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, Asian American) pursuing an undergraduate or graduate-level degree in an accounting or accounting-related major
Award: $3,000 to $10,000
Alice Newell Joslyn Medical Scholarship
“Requires an applicant to be entering the Medical/Health Care profession i.e.; dental/medical assistant, nursing, physical therapist, or seeking their Bachelor of Science, Master’s or Doctorate in the health field.
“Applicants must be living or attending a high school or college in San Diego County at the time of application. Eligibility is contingent upon a student’s financial need, scholastic determination, and community/cultural awareness. Scholarship recipients may re-apply contingent on scholastic progress.”
Requirements: Medical students entering a health field
Award: $500 to $2,000
AMS Scholarship for Underserved Communities
“The AMS Scholarship for Underserved Communities will award funding to students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, especially Hispanic, Native American, and Black/African American students. Funding for the scholarships is provided through donations made to the AMS Annual Giving Program. The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is committed to, and benefits from the full and equitable participation of a diverse community. AMS is committed to advancing core values of diversity, inclusion, and equity across all aspects of the atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences.”
Requirements: Students who will be entering their freshman year of college in the fall of 2024 and planning to pursue careers in the atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences (excluding marine biology)
Award: $6,000 over two years
Ascend Educational Fund Scholarship
“Ascend Educational Fund awards scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to immigrant students and children of immigrants who are graduating from a New York City high school to attend public or private colleges and universities, regardless of ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status.”
Requirements: New York City high school students ready to attend university
Award: $2,500 to $20,000
Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship Program
“Our scholarship program was established in 1998 in response to the passage of SP-1, the University of California Regents’ resolution to end affirmative action and race-based admissions at UC schools.”
Requirements: From a minority group underrepresented at specific law schools in California
Award: $10,000
BECA Foundation General Scholarship Fund
“BECA believes that every San Diego County Latino high school graduate who has the desire to attend an institution of higher learning, be provided an opportunity. Education is often tied to finances. Through financial support and mentoring, BECA encourages and empowers aspiring Latino students to pursue their goals. This enables the strengthening of students for lives of purpose, service and leadership in our communities, as well as, contribute to the prosperity of our Nation.”
Requirements: Latino high school student graduating from San Diego County high school
Award: $500 to $1,000
Better Together STEM Scholarship Program
“For high school seniors or recent high school graduates; an individual who has earned a GED; a current college undergraduate; or a non-traditional student. Must reside in Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s service territory or be a dependent of a resident in PG&E service territory. The applicant must be pursuing a degree in one of the following STEM disciplines: Engineering (e.g., electrical, mechanical, industrial, environmental, power and/or energy), Computer Science/Information Systems, Cyber Security, Environmental Sciences.”
Requirements: See above
Award: $2,500 to $10,000
Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders
“USHLI [United States Hispanic Leadership Institute] has awarded over $1.6 million in scholarships and internships to students from disenfranchised communities from coast to coast. Most notably, the Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders seeks to recognize students who share Dr. Andrade’s commitment to servant leadership.”
Requirements: Enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in an accredited four-year or two-year institution in the United States or U.S. territories; have at least one parent of Hispanic ancestry; full-time undergraduate students for the upcoming fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters.
Award: $500 to $1,000
“Applicants must demonstrate merit through academic achievements, leadership and campus/community activities. Applicants must be pursuing a science, technology, engineering or math degree. Applicants must have an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for merit-based scholarships. Applicants may have a minimum 2.5 GPA for non-merit-based donor scholarships. Applicants must be of Hispanic descent and/or must demonstrate significant leadership or service within the underserved community. Applicants may be enrolled full-time or part-time at the time of application and the time of the scholarship award. Applicants must be enrolled in a STEM or health-related undergraduate or graduate program for the upcoming fall semester, at an accredited 2-yr or 4-yr college/university in the U.S. or its territories.”
Requirements: Be pursuing a science, technology, engineering, or math degree; of Hispanic descent and/or demonstrate significant leadership or service within the underserved community; undergraduate or graduate student
Award: $500 to $5,000
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Scholarship Program
“The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) is pleased to be the administrator of scholarship opportunities provided by our partners. These scholarships can help students cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and other expenses (varies by scholarship).”
Requirements: Currently enrolled at a HACU-member institution in the United States or Puerto Rico; have graduated from a high school (or have earned a high school equivalency diploma) in the United States or Puerto Rico; have completed first semester of college at a HACU-member institution; intend to enroll at a HACU-member institution in the fall of 2023 or spring of 2024
Award: $2,000 to $5,000
Hispanic Heritage Foundation Youth Awards
“The Youth Awards was founded in 1998 by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Now entering its 25th year, the Youth Awards honors Latino high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community and for their excellence in various categories including: Community Service, Education, Engineering, Entrepreneurship & Business, Green Sustainability, Healthcare & Science, Media & Entertainment, Public Service & Social Justice, and Technology.”
Requirements: Be currently enrolled in high school and graduating in the spring of 2024; be of Hispanic heritage (includes Spain, Brazil, Philippines)
Award: Up to $4,000
Hispanic Scholarship Consortium
“The Hispanic Scholarship Consortium seeks highly motivated student leaders with a clear vision for their future to apply for the HSC Scholars Program. The program goes beyond traditional services and offers empowerment through scholarship, mentorship, and leadership, and is open to graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students.”
Requirements: Be of Hispanic/Latino heritage; plan to enroll on a full-time basis in a certificate or associate, bachelor, master, or doctoral degree program; reside in Texas; U.S. citizenship not required
Award: Varies
“HSF empowers students and parents with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing support services and scholarships to as many exceptional students, HSF Scholars, and Alumni as possible.”
Requirements: Be of Hispanic heritage; U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA; plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the United States
Award: $500 to $5,000
José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund
“Available to eligible students of Hispanic origin. Applicants must apply during their senior year of high school.”
Requirements: Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; be of Spanish culture, born in or having a natural parent who was born in either Mexico, or a Hispanic country of the Caribbean, Central, or South America, regardless of race
Award: Up to $2,000
“The American Bar Association (ABA) awards an annual Legal Opportunity Scholarship to first-year law students. The mission of the program is to encourage racial and ethnic minority students to apply to law school and to provide financial assistance to attend and complete law school. The ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship grants 10-20 incoming diverse law students with $15,000 of financial aid over their three years in law school. Since its inception, more than 400 students from across the country have received the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship.”
Requirements: Entering law student; member of an underrepresented racial and/or ethnic minority (e.g., Black/African-American, Native American, Hispanic American, Asian/Pacific Islander); not an international student
Award: $15,000 over three years
LULAC National Scholarship Fund
“Established in 1975, LNESC and LULAC created the LULAC National Scholarship Fund (LNSF) to help youth in underserved communities make the dream of college enrollment a reality. LNSF is a unique partnership between grassroots advocates and corporations that fund educational opportunities for deserving youth across the U.S. Every dollar raised by local LULAC Councils is matched by corporate partners secured by LNESC, increasing the amount given in both the council and corporate names. This model results in a true grassroots/corporate partnership for the empowerment of the Latino community. Former recipients of LNSF scholarships are now leaders in fields of business, science, government, and education. A rigorous selection process assures the expectation that future recipients will demonstrate the same level of excellence.”
Requirements: Applied to or enrolled as a full-time student in a college or university, including two-year colleges, or vocational schools that lead to an associate’s degree; graduate students must have applied to or be enrolled as a part-time student in a college or university
Award: $250 to $2,000
McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship
“The McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship Program offers scholarships to up to 30 outstanding Hispanic students from all over the country. Funds are aimed to help recipients finance their college tuition, and there are three tiers. Tier 1 recipients are awarded up to $100,000. Tier 2 recipients receive $20,000 or $10,000 and Tier 3 recipients receive $5,000. Recipients are selected based on their academic achievement, community involvement, personal statement and financial need. To date, more than $33 million in McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarships have been awarded to Hispanic students across the country.”
Requirements: High school seniors who have at least one parent of Hispanic heritage and are planning to enroll in college the following year
Award: Up to $100,000
“Applications are open to undocumented immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS who came to the U.S. before the age of 16 and before Nov. 1, 2017. The National Scholarship Award will cover your tuition and fees at one of our Partner Colleges up to a maximum of $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree.
“Some Scholars may receive an additional stipend for books, supplies, and transportation for up to $6,000. While we consider your GPA, we place great emphasis on your dedication to community service and your commitment to academic and career success despite the barriers and challenges that undocumented students face daily.”
Requirements: Undocumented immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS who came to the United States before the age of 16 and before Nov. 1, 2017
Award: Up to $33,000
“We created our Opportunity Scholarship for undocumented students who live in states where they effectively have no access to college – either because they face paying out-of-state tuition or because their state will simply not admit them into its universities. We call these locked-out states.”
Requirements: Undocumented students who live in “locked-out” states
Award: Up to $80,000
“The Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (PMAHCC) realizes the substantial rewards of giving a way into educational opportunities to eager Hispanic students. PMAHCC supports scholarship funds of the Hispanic community in Pittsburgh and continues to give time and effort in the accumulation and security of their resources to benefit the continuous rise of the number of outstanding students.”
Requirements: Attend, enrolled in, or accepted into an accredited post-high school educational institution, including two- or four-year college or university or vocational, technical, or trade school in the United States or its territories; reside or have established plans to reside in one of the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Westmoreland, or Washington County; have at least one parent of Hispanic ancestry (at least one of applicant’s grandparents must be Hispanic)
Award: $1,000 to $2,500
Point Foundation Community Scholarship
“The Point Community College Scholarship empowers LGBTQ community college students to fulfill their ambitions in college. Whether you are eager to earn an associate degree and join the workforce or you intend to transfer to a four-year college or university, Point can provide financial aid and mentoring to help you achieve your educational goals.”
Requirements: Enrolled or intending to enroll at an accredited community college in the United States; be “out” as a person who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community
Award: $2,400 per semester or $4,800 per academic year
Prospanica Scholarship Program
“The Prospanica Foundation’s scholarships are designed for undergraduate and graduate students who want to achieve their full educational potential and make meaningful contributions to society. We’re looking for entrepreneurial thinkers who know that true accomplishment is much more than individual success, it uplifts the entire Hispanic community.”
Requirements: Be a United States citizen, legal permanent resident, or DACA recipient of Hispanic/Latino heritage; enrolled or planning to enroll in a postgraduate (master’s or PhD) or undergraduate program in an accredited university business school (in the United States or Puerto Rico); for the undergraduate awards, must be a sophomore or higher
Award: Up to $5,000
Silicon Valley Community Foundation Latinos in Technology Scholarship
“The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley (HFSV) is dedicated to empowering the lives and futures of Latinos in Silicon Valley through community philanthropy, investment in educational excellence, leadership development, and the convening and engaging of the region’s dynamic Hispanic community. The Latinos in Technology Scholarship was established by the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, a public foundation dedicated to inspiring community philanthropy and engaging people to invest in the educational achievement and leadership development of a thriving Hispanic community in Silicon Valley.”
Requirements: Be of Latino or Hispanic origin; have a declared major in and been accepted into a STEM program; be from specific northern California counties
Award: up to $30,000
“For undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Business or STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Despite the growing need for professionals in these fields, recent studies show that a disproportionately low number of Latinos—our nation’s largest and fastest-growing demographic—are pursuing degrees in these rigorous disciplines. Our partnership with TOYOTA directly addresses this need by providing our Scholars with vital financial resources and equipping them with the tools and skills they need to become the well-educated and skilled professionals who will ensure that entrepreneurship and innovation remain hallmarks of America.”
Requirements: College junior or senior pursuing a degree in business or engineering
Award: Up to $5,000
Virginia Space Grant Consortium Scholarships and Fellowships
“Virginia Space Grant Consortium offers a variety of scholarship programs including the Graduate Research STEM Fellowship program, VSGC Undergraduate STEM Research Scholarship Program, Community College STEM Scholarship Program, and the STEM Bridge Scholarship Program.”
Requirements: Undergraduate or graduate student in STEM
Award: $1,000 to $8,500
Vanessa Febo has ten years of experience teaching academic and professional writing at UCLA, with a special certification in teaching writing techniques. She has drawn on this expertise to guide clients to placements at top institutions, including Harvard, Stanford, and USC. Before joining Accepted, Vanessa coached UCLA students through the application process for graduate programs, major grants, fellowships, and scholarships, including the Fulbright, Stanford Knight-Hennessey, and the Ford Foundation Fellowship. Additionally, Vanessa has extensive experience successfully guiding clients through applications for a diverse range of programs, including those in business, humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields. Want Vanessa to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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