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Top California Scholarships in 2022
California is the most populous state in the country and is home to a whopping 309 four-year colleges. Whether you are a born and bred Californian or a student from out of state who wants to see what all the buzz is about, California scholarships will help lighten the financial cost of education. Keep on reading to learn about the top California scholarships to help you pay for college!
Don’t miss: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool
Jump ahead to:
- California student loan debt snapshot
- Top California scholarships
- Merit scholarships at California colleges and universities
- Additional California resources
- Frequently asked questions
- Keep on reading
California student loan debt snapshot
According to the Department of Education, California residents owe $141.8 billion in federal student loan debt, with 3,823,700 student borrowers owing $37,084 on average (not including private student loans). Over 51% of student loan borrowers in California are under the age of 35. As you begin your higher education, remember that scholarships allow students to take less loans. Make sure that you apply to as many as you qualify for.
Keep on reading to learn more about top California scholarships, as well as merit scholarships from colleges in California!
Top California scholarships
Krishnan-Shah Family Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school graduates with a maximum GPA of 3.75 in the Greater Silicon Valley Region who will be first-generation college students and have a demonstrated financial need. Students must submit a personal statement and complete FAFSA
- Amount: Up to $40,000
- Deadline: Late January of each year (opens November 1)
eQuality Scholarship
- Eligibility: Residents of Northern or Central California who have completed or expect to complete high school or equivalent in the last 5 years and plan to attend or already started attending an accredited post-secondary institution for the first time in 2021. Can be graduating high school seniors, community college transfer students, or medical students. Applicants must have demonstrated service to the LGBTQ+ community
- Amount: $6,000
- Deadline: January 31 of each year
Robert Hunter Swadley Horticultural Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors who are California residents, have a 3.0+ GPA, and plan on entering a college or university majoring in horticulture
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: January 31of each year (opens November 1)
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: Students of color who are California residents. Must be pursuing a degree for a teaching-related career in public education. Must also be a member of the Student California Teachers Association or have a parent in the California Teachers Association
- Amount: $6,000
- Deadline: Mid-February of each year
Asian Pacific Scholarship Fund
- Eligibility: Northern California or Los Angeles, Orange, or San Diego Counties graduating high school seniors and college students of Asian heritage
- Amount: Up to $20,000
- Deadline: Varies (most at the end of February each year)
Clair A. Hill Scholarship
- Eligibility: California residents attending a University of California or California State University at the start of the academic year covered by the scholarship. Must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in a water resources-related field related to engineering, agricultural and/or urban water supply, environmental studies, or public administration at the start of the academic year covered by the scholarship. Must be at least a junior
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: Due March 15 of each year (opens in December)
Community Foundation of the Verdugos
- Eligibility: Includes 10 scholarships for high school seniors planning on attending college in the United States. Each opportunity is tailored to students in Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose or Verdugo City. Visit the website to check if one of the opportunities is a good fit for you
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: March 2 of each year (FAFSA deadline)
Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
- Eligibility: California residents attending a University of California school whose family income is below $80,000 and who qualify for financial aid. Must complete FAFSA
- Amount: Full tuition and fees waiver, and the opportunity to receive additional grants
- Deadline: Automatically considered when you submit your FAFSA by March 2
Middle Class Scholarship
- Eligibility: California residents pursuing a teaching credential attending a University of California school or California State University whose family income and assets are below $191,000 and qualified for financial aid
- Amount: Between 10% and 40% of mandatory tuition and fees
- Deadline: Automatically considered when you submit your FAFSA or CADAA by the March 2 deadline
San Diego Chinese Women’s Association Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school students in San Diego County who are of at least one quarter Chinese descent. Have a 3.0+ GPA for 4-year college applicants. Have a 2.5+ GPA for 2-year college applicants. Scholarships are not limited to women
- Amount: $1,000 or $1,500
- Deadline: Late March of each year (opens in January)
Ebell/Flint Scholarship
- Eligibility: Full-time students who attend an institution in Los Angeles County, hold a minimum 3.25 GPA, and will be sophomores by the end of the current year. Recipients are chosen based on financial need
- Amount: $3,000 – $5,000
- Deadline: Late March/early April of each year
Central California Asian Pacific Women Scholarship
- Eligibility: Asian and Pacific Islander women who are residents of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, or Tulare County, with preference given to first-generation students and students who have contributed to the API community. Applicants can be entering, continuing, or re-entering students in undergraduate or graduate degree programs
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Late April/early May of each year
California Restaurant Association Foundation Scholarship
- Eligibility: California residents who are enrolled in or will be enrolled in a minimum of nine credit hours in an accredited foodservice related post-secondary education for two consecutive semesters or terms starting in the fall. Have a 2.5+ GPA. See the CRAF website for detailed requirements regarding minimum hours of industry-related work experience
- Amount: $2,000 – $4,000
- Deadline: May 15 of each year (opens May 1)
California Veterans Association College Fee Waiver Program
- Eligibility: California students who are children of disabled veterans, soldiers who died while serving, or recipients of a Medal of Honor
- Amount: Tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus
- Deadline: Ongoing (apply before you plan to attend college)
Merit scholarships at California colleges and universities
University of California – Berkeley
- Eligibility: California residents and AB540 eligible students entering from high school with a 4.1+ GPA; California residents and AB 540 eligible students entering UC Berkeley from a community college with a 3.5+ GPA; Continuing students with a 3.5+ GPA. Complete FAFSA
- Amount: $6,000
- Deadline: New students complete application to UC Berkeley and the FAFSA by March 2. Returning students complete the FAFSA by March 2
University of Southern California
- Eligibility: First-year year students enrolling in University of Southern California. Awards are made based on academic excellence, leadership, service, and talent
- Amount: Up to full cost of tuition
- Deadline: April 1
University of California – Los Angeles
- Eligibility: First-years and transfer students entering UCLA. Recipients are selected on the basis of demonstrated academic excellence, leadership and exceptional promise. Incoming high school students must have a 4.1+ GPA. Community college students must have a 3.5+ GPA
- Amount: $2,000+
- Deadline: Be accepted to UCLA and complete the FAFSA by March 2
University of California – Santa Barbara
- Eligibility: Incoming first-years to UCSB. Recipients selected based on their application to the university
- Amount: $5,000 per year
- Deadline: Considered upon admission to UCSB
University of California – San Diego
- Eligibility: First-years and transfer students entering UCSD. Have demonstrated academic and extracurricular excellence in your application to the university
- Amount: Up to $20,000
- Deadline: November 30 annually
Additional California resources
Celebrate the West High School Art Competition
High school-age students in Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming who submit an original two-dimensional art piece informed by their experience living in the West can win $200 – $1,500
Hispanic Education Endowment Fund
Hispanic US Citizens, Permanent Residents and Dream Act/ AB 540 students who live in Orange County. HEEF awards begin at $2,500 but application also considers you for a wide range of awards that range from $1,500 to $5,000
FAFSA guide
On October 1st of every year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens nationwide. California students should complete the FAFSA to be eligible for federal student aid as well as some scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
