Finding, applying for, and winning scholarships in California can significantly cut your college costs. Some are broad, while others are reserved for students in a specific county or region. Here’s a look at several California scholarships and how to apply. Award amounts and deadlines change year to year, so confirm the current details with each one.
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First, see how Rishab Jain earned $500,000 in scholarships. These awards are real, and you can win them too.
1. San Diego Chinese Women’s Association Scholarships
Each year, the San Diego Chinese Women’s Association awards scholarships to outstanding students of Chinese descent attending high school in San Diego County. Open to all applicants of at least one-quarter Chinese descent.
- Amount: around $1,500
- Eligibility: GPA above 3.0; graduating high school senior at a San Diego County school
2. The Avi Raina Scholarship
In his short life, Avinash “Avi” Raina made an impact on people that usually takes a lifetime. To continue his legacy, the Avi Raina Scholarship was established to support local high school seniors. Learn more about Avi at the Avinash Raina Foundation website.
- Be a graduating high school senior in San Joaquin County
- Pursue an undergraduate degree at an accredited college, university, or community college (any major)
- Provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher, faculty member, or school counselor
- Provide an essay on your career ambitions and how your degree will help you achieve them
- No minimum GPA requirement
3. Royal Business Bank Scholarship Program
Amount: 4 awards of $1,000. While this scholarship covers several states, it’s open to California seniors in Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties.
Eligibility:
- High school seniors residing in eligible counties, including California (Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura), New York, New Jersey (Middlesex), Nevada (Clark), Illinois (Cook), and Hawaii (Honolulu, Oahu only)
- Plan to attend a U.S. accredited 4-year college, university, or community college as a first-year student (acceptance letter required if selected)
- Minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0
- Household income at or below the county low-income level (tax return required if selected)
- Open to all majors with no ethnicity requirement
4. Don and Roy Splawn Charitable Foundation West Scholarship
The Don and Roy Splawn Charitable Foundation West Scholarship supports financially disadvantaged students pursuing post-secondary education, whether academic or vocational.
Requirements:
- Graduating high school senior
- California resident
- Demonstrated financial need
- GPA of 2.6 or above
- Employment (paid or unpaid), community service, and extracurricular activities
5. Ivy & Pearls Scholarship
The Ivy & Pearls Scholarship is for students of African or African-American descent residing in San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, San Francisco, or Contra Costa County.
Eligibility:
- Of African or African-American descent
- High school senior residing in San Mateo, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Francisco, or Alameda County
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above (4.0 scale)
- Enrolling full-time in a 2-year community college, 4-year college or university, or vocational school
- Applications are accepted on the foundation’s annual cycle, so check the site for the current deadline
Looking for more?
For more ways to supercharge your scholarship search, get our comprehensive free scholarship guide, packed with tips and strategies to maximize your chances. For even more, check out Rishab’s full Scholarship Masterclass, a detailed guide to winning competitive merit-based scholarships with dozens of success stories behind it.
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