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California Scholarships

by Gia Correa | Last Updated: January 7, 2025

The purpose of this detailed listing of California scholarships for college is to help you plan your scholarship search throughout the year. Please find information below about scholarships specifically 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 current school year. Be sure to reach out to the sponsor or check sponsor websites for the most recent details.

January

California Assn. of Collectors Educational Scholarship Foundation 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 January 31st. Learn more 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 31st.  Learn more 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 26th. More details here

February

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

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 3rd. 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.

Matsuo Bridge Company Ltd. of Japan Scholarship 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 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 3rd. Read more 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.

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.

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.

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. 

 

Hearthstone Housing Foundation Scholarship Fund 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. The deadline is March 31st. More info here.

 

AWS Donald F Hastings Scholarship 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 March 1st. Learn more here.

 

Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writing 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 March 29th. Learn more here.

 

Hazel Reed Baumeister Scholarship 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 March 29th. More info here.

 

Krishnan Shah Family Scholarship 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 March 29th. More info here.

 

Latinos in Technology Scholarship 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 March 29th. More info 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.

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 19th . Read more here.

Follansbee-Hansen Scholarship 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 April 30st. Learn more here.

TELACU College Success Program 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 April 30th.  More info here.  Website

Honmyo Nguyen Family Trust Scholarship awards $2,000 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. The deadline is April 22nd. Read more here.

 

May

This 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 $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 17th. 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.

June

 

 

 

July

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 15th. 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.

 

 

September

Daniel A. Terry Scholarship 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 September 1st. More info. Here.

October

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. The deadline is October 17th. Read more here.

 

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.

The Davis Memorial Foundation 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 $2,500 annually. The selection of finalists will take into account academic and personal achievements. The application deadline is the end of November 2025. More info here.  Application form

 

December

Awards $1,000 to California music students to further their jazz education and music programs. This application is due December 16th. More info here

Deadline's Vary

  •  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.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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. 

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.