Are you among the 39.1 million people residing in the United States’ most populous state? That makes you eligible for countless scholarships in California. From the Redwoods to the San Francisco Bay and Death Valley, California is a diverse landscape occupying nearly 165,000 square miles.
California’s extensive post-secondary system offers 153 public and 153 private colleges to choose from. Students may be attracted by the sunshine, beaches, and diverse culture, but they’ll also benefit from top-notch academics. In fact, Stanford University is distinguished as America’s fifth best university by the U.S. News.
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Whether you’ve chosen a well-known giant like the University of Southern California or lesser-known gem like Occidental College, these 20 scholarships for Californians can cut tuition costs.
Ranking the Top College Scholarships California Offers
1. Alan D. Stephenson Scholarship
Deadline: February 12th
The Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County has over 50 California scholarships, including the Alan D. Stephenson Scholarship. This renewable $2,500 award offers up to $10,000 to local graduating high school seniors who self-identify as:
- lesbian
- gay
- bisexual
- transgender
- queer
Selection criteria requires:
- being a U.S. citizen
- pursuing a four-year degree full-time
- having financial need
- achieving a minimum 2.75 GPA
- actively advocating for sexual orientation equality.
Contact
Alan D. Stephenson Scholarship
550 Dana Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 543-2323
info@cfsloco.org
2. Beryl V. Smith Scholarship
Deadline: April 29th
Package of Prevention’s founder and CEO, Courtney H. Smith, created the Beryl V. Smith Scholarship. It to honor her mother by providing $1,000 to college-bound Californians who’ve witnessed a parent or legal guardian battle against cancer. Eligible high school seniors must be accepted as full-time freshmen at accredited two-year or four-year institutions. Application packets must include:
- physician verification
- a personal essay on how candidates’ lives were changed by a cancer crisis.
Contact
Beryl V. Smith Scholarship
3941 Lorado Way
Los Angeles, CA 90043
info@packageofprevention.com
3. California Middle Class Scholarship
Deadline: March 2nd
The California Student Aid Commission administers the California Middle Class Scholarship. It helps in-state residents from families earning between $104,001 and $156,000 annually reduce their tuition by up to 40 percent. Maximum award amounts allow $2,189 for California State University campuses and $4,877 for University of California campuses per year. Qualified candidates must:
- be U.S. citizens or legal residents
- pursue their first bachelor’s degree
- maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA
- avoid loan default.
Contact
California Middle Class Scholarship
11040 White Rock Road
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(800) 735-2922
csachelpdesk@csac.ca.gov
4. Chicana/Latina Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: March 31st
The Chicana/Latina Foundation Scholarship offers $1,500 annually to Hispanic women currently enrolled full-time at a community college or university in Northern California. The 13 acceptable counties include:
- Alameda
- Monterey
- Napa
- Sacramento
- San Francisco
- Santa Cruz
- Sonoma
Other eligibility criteria requires:
- having completed 12+ college credits
- achieving a cumulative GPA above 2.5
- attending the CLF Leadership Institute
- devoting 10 hours to volunteer work.
Contact
Chicana/Latina Foundation Scholarship
1419 Burlingame Avenue Suite W2
Burlingame, CA 94010
(650) 548-1040
CLFinfo@chicanalatina.org
5. Daniel A. Terry Scholarships
Deadline: June 1st
Named for the California Fire Foundation’s founding president, the Daniel A. Terry Scholarships grant $2,000 annually. It supports the natural or legally adopted children of firefighters who’ve lost their lives on-duty. These scholarships in California require:
- completing a high school diploma or GED
- being accepted at an accredited degree-granting college
- being under 27 years old
- exhibiting financial hardship
- writing a 500-word essay about their experience being the child of a fallen firefighter.
Contact
Daniel A. Terry Scholarships
1780 Creekside Oaks Drive
Sacramento, CA 95833
(800) 890-3213
cafirefoundation@cpf.org
6. Edna Yelland Scholarship Fund
Deadline: March 31st
Every spring, the Edna Yelland Scholarship Fund gifts one-time $2,500 scholarships to three minority students of African American, Native American, Asian, or Latino descent. They must be pursuing ALA-accredited master’s programs in library and information science. The California Library Association seeks applicants who:
- have U.S. citizenship or legal residency
- have completed one or more courses
- exhibit financial need
- possess library experience
- intend to work in California post-graduation.
Contact
Edna Yelland Scholarship Fund
1055 East Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 204-4071
execdir@cla-net.org
7. Frederick and Demi Seguritan Scholarship
Deadline: February 19th
Valued at $20,000, the Frederick and Demi Seguritan Scholarship is presented annually by the Asian Pacific Fund. It’s one of the largest scholarships in California. It’s designed for first-generation Asian Americans residing in the California counties of:
- Alameda
- Contra Costa
- Marin
- San Francisco
- San Mateo
- Santa Clara
- Solano
They must be becoming full-time freshmen at accredited four-year institutions. Imperative are:
- demonstrating passion for business
- a minimum B average
- community service involvement
- financial need.
Contact
Frederick and Demi Seguritan Scholarship
465 California Street Suite 809
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 395-9985
scholarship@asianpacificfund.org
8. George Ramos Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: May 2nd
The George Ramos Memorial Scholarship honors the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and editor for the Los Angeles Times who passed away in 2011. It’s funded by the California Chicano News Media Association for $1,000 yearly. Applicants must be full-time journalism majors of Latino/a heritage who reside in California or attend an accredited media school in-state. The committee judges applicants based on:
- scholastic achievement
- financial need
- community awareness
- journalistic ability.
Contact
George Ramos Memorial Scholarship
725 Arizona Avenue Suite 404
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(424) 229-9482
ccnmainfo@ccnma.org
9. Guy Fieri Cooking with Kids Scholarship
Deadline: May 31st
The California Restaurant Association offers the Guy Fieri Cooking with Kids Scholarship $20,000. It goes to six high school seniors and current undergraduates who are pursuing accredited food service programs. Qualified applicants must:
- be California residents
- take at least nine credits per term
- have a cumulative GPA over 2.5
- satisfy 250+ hours of restaurant work experience
The application process features recording a 30-second video explaining culinary passions.
Contact
Guy Fieri Cooking with Kids Scholarship
621 Capitol Mall Suite 2000
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 447-5793
warmour@calrest.org
10. Jeff Krosnoff Scholarship Fund
Deadline: January 13th
The Jeff Krosnoff Scholarship Fund honors the 31-year-old La Cañada native and distinguished Indy Car racer. He was tragically killed at the 1996 Molson Indy Toronto. The Fund distributes $10,000 annually to college-bound California high schoolers. To qualify, seniors must:
- be accepted into an accredited four-year program
- carry a minimum high school GPA of 3.0
- include two references
- demonstrate outstanding community citizenship
- write a two-page essay on their driving desire to succeed.
Contact
Jeff Krosnoff Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 8585
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tracy@jeffkrosnoffscholarship.com
11. Knox-Hirsch OTR Graduate Scholarship
Deadline: March 31st
The California Foundation for Occupational Therapy offers 12 scholarships in California each year. They include the $1,000 Knox-Hirsch OTR Graduate Scholarship. Registered occupational therapists could receive financial support to finish a master’s or PhD program that’s accredited by the AOTA. Eligibility criteria requires:
- holding current CFOT membership
- living in California
- verifying a minimum 3.0 GPA
- having occupational therapy work experience in pediatrics
- submitting two professional letters of reference.
Contact
Knox-Hirsch OTR Graduate Scholarship
3458 La Sombra Drive
Hollywood, CA 90068
(818) 700-5648
Laura.Weiss@DignityHealth.org
12. Laurel Burch Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
Sponsored by the California Art Education Association, the Laurel Burch Memorial Scholarship awards $1,000 each year to high school seniors. They must have extraordinary creative talent and plan to major or minor in visual arts and design at accredited U.S. institutes. For consideration, send:
- an official transcript
- three letters of recommendation
- at least six digital images of artwork
- a personal statement on the power of artistic expression.
Contact
Laurel Burch Memorial Scholarship
80 West Sierra Madre Blvd. Suite 373
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
(626) 233-7879
scholarship@caea-arteducation.org
13. Milken Family Foundation Scholars Program
Deadline: December 9th
Through the Milken Family Foundation Scholars Program, nominated high school seniors in the Greater Los Angeles area could receive:
- $2,000 for four years
- academic counseling
- career mentoring,
- job assistance
Eligible California finalists for the interview round must:
- hold a minimum GPA of 3.6
- score at least 1250 on the SAT or 28 on the ACT
- actively participate in community service initiatives
- exhibit financial obstacles
- have permanent U.S. residency.
Contact
Milken Family Foundation Scholars Program
1250 Fourth Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 570-4800
milkenscholars@milkeninstitute.org
14. Norma Ford Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: August 5th
The Norma Ford Memorial Scholarship is named for the 2009 CAPPS Hall of Fame inductee who lost her cancer fight the following year. It grants up to $3,500 through the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools each summer. Nominees must be beginning the third or fourth academic year of an accredited BSN, LVN-BSN, LPN-BSN, or RN-BSN program for nursing in California. Recipients must experience a financing gap and exceed the 3.0 GPA requirement.
Contact
Norma Ford Memorial Scholarship
2520 Venture Oaks Way Suite 170
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 447-5500
info@cappsonline.org
15. Oliver Goldsmith, M.D. Scholarship
Deadline: February 12th
Kaiser Permanente is a managed care consortium in Oakland. It funds the Oliver Goldsmith, M.D. Scholarship. It bestows $5,000 upon several young clinicians who are entering their third or fourth year at an accredited medical school. Suitable applicants must:
- be earning a Doctor of Medicine degree to practice medicine in Southern California
- advocate for culturally responsive healthcare
Scholars also receive a six-week summer clerkship at any Kaiser Permanente facility.
Contact
Oliver Goldsmith, M.D. Scholarship
393 E. Walnut Street
Pasadena, CA 91188
(877) 574-0002
Vanessa.X.Hernandez@kp.org
16. Ray Dale Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: December 31st
The California Academy of PAs presents the Ray Dale Memorial Scholarship. It’s for $2,000 annually to financially bolster student members. They must be enrolled full-time in California primary care physician assistant programs that hold ARC-PA accreditation. Appropriate applicants must:
- reside in the Golden State
- have good academic standing
- exhibit financial need
- intend to take the NCCPA Board exam
- participate in activities promoting the PA profession.
Contact
Ray Dale Memorial Scholarship
2318 S. Fairview Street
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714) 427-0321
capa@capanet.org
17. Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: March 24th
The California Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation sponsors the Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship. It helps Central Coast high school seniors or undergraduates who are planning to study viticulture and enology. The scholarship provides $500 for Allan Hancock Community College in Santa Maria or $1,000 for California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Applications must include:
- an official transcript
- ACT/SAT scores
- two recommendations
- a 500-word personal essay.
Contact
Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship
1121 L Street Suite 304
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 379-8999
info@cawg.org
18. Sheryl Kratz Scholarship Fund
Deadline: March 15th
Worth $2,000, The California Groundwater Association offers the Sheryl Kratz Scholarship Fund worth $2,000. It’s to encourage young men and women to select college majors in:
- hydrology
- water resources engineering
- water resources science
- related fields
Interested applicants must:
- reside in California for 6+ months
- attend an accredited in-state institution
- pursue a groundwater industry career
- submit a 500-word personal essay
Similar scholarships in California are the ACWA Scholarship and Clair A. Hill Scholarship.
Contact
Sheryl Kratz Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 14369
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
(707) 578-4408
cga@groundh2o.org
19. Stephanie G. Hoffman Scholarship
Deadline: Varies
The Stephanie G. Hoffman Scholarship ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 each year. It’s awarded by the Jewish Community Foundation & Endowment Fund. It supports bachelor’s or master’s students who are studying:
- English
- literature
- library science
- literacy
- reading education
The goal is to excite underserved children about books. Eligible Jewish students must permanently reside within California’s San Francisco Bay Area from Sonoma County to the South Peninsula. They may attend any accredited U.S. university.
Contact
Stephanie G. Hoffman Scholarship
121 Steuart Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 777-0411
JennyC@sfjcf.org
20. Wilma Motley California Merit Scholarship
Deadline: February 1st
The American Dental Hygienists Association’s Institute for Oral Health offers the Wilma Motley Memorial California Merit Scholarship. It awards $2,000 annually to three associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral students studying dental hygiene. Selection criteria mandates:
- pursuing the Registered Dental Hygienist credential
- meeting the minimum 3.5 GPA
- residing or attending school in California
- having relevant clinical experience
- showcasing leadership ability.
Contact
Wilma Motley California Merit Scholarship
444 North Michigan Avenue Suite 3400
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-8900
education@adha.net
Students who are “California Dreamin'” of attending college can find their wishes granted with scholarship assistance. The Golden State offers plentiful opportunities for striking gold and reaping lucrative financial aid. Scholarships are crucial because the average published tuition price for California’s public four-year universities is $9,270.
Higher education expenses only rise higher in the private sector. For instance, Harvey Mudd College currently charges $52,916 for annual tuition and fees! College-bound residents should apply for the Cal Grant and some of these great scholarships in California.
GCD Staff
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