Top Scholarships for Jewish Students in 2021
Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.Are you proud of your Jewish heritage? Maybe that is why you landed here! This post features a nice selection of scholarships for Jewish students, whether college-bound or already in college. In addition, some of the opportunities listed below are open to non-Jewish students who are majoring or taking courses in Jewish studies. Good luck, or B’hatzlacha, to all!
Jump ahead to:
- Top Scholarships for Jewish Students
- Top Fellowships and Student Abroad Opportunities
- Resources for Jewish Students
- Summary of Scholarships for Jewish Students
- Scholarships that are closed, but will open soon
Keep on reading to learn more about the top scholarships for Jewish students and students interested in Jewish studies!
Top Scholarships for Jewish Students
Jewish Community Foundation Scholarships
- Eligibility: Jewish students with financial need who are living in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut area. Applicants must be accepted or currently enrolled at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States
- Amount: $1,000 to $3,000
- Deadline: April 15, 2021
UJA Federation of New York Scholarships
- Eligibility: Jewish high school, undergraduate, graduate, and professional education students
- Amount: $Varies
- Deadline: Varies
Top Fellowships and Study Abroad Opportunities for Jewish Students
Many students seek funding for furthering their education either over the summer or after graduation. With this in mind, we included a number of fellowships for a variety of Jewish Studies majors. For those who are more adventurous, we included opportunities for study abroad in Israel.
Israel Experience High School Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: Chicago residents in grades 10, 11 or 12 with financial need
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: March 1 for Summer, April 15 for Fall, and November 1 for Winter and Spring
Frequently Asked Questions
What else can I do to help fund my education?
The above Jewish scholarships and fellowships are a great start for prospective and current college students to fund their education. In addition to those opportunities, make sure that you explore the following:
- Need-based financial aid from your program, state government, or the federal government. All students should submit the FAFSA to be considered for need-based aid.
- College or institution-specific scholarships. Chances are your college offers scholarships that are specifically for your intended major. Check in with the admissions and financial aid office to see what other opportunities you might be eligible for.
Resources for Jewish Students
Hillel Jewish Scholarship Portal
This portal is a “one stop shopping” experience for Jewish scholarships and study abroad experiences. Scholarship seekers can search by grade, state/country, and/or study in Israel options. Bookmark this one!
Hillel College Guide to Jewish Colleges
This easy to use portal allows students to search for colleges where there is a sizable population of Jewish students. The most recent listing (2018) includes the top 60 public and the top 60 private colleges/universities based on the percentage of Jewish undergraduate students enrolled.
Summary of Top Scholarships for Jewish Students
- Israel Experience High School Scholarship Program
- UJA Federation of New York Scholarships
- Jewish Community Foundation Scholarships
Scholarships for Jewish Students that are closed, but will open soon
AJC Goldman Summer Fellowship
- Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students currently in their sophomore, junior or senior years who are excited to engage the world through a Jewish lens, a passion for making a difference, and an interest in exploring American Jewish identity
- Amount: Fellows receive a minimum stipend of $4,000 for the program, plus major travel expenses
- Deadline: January 15, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET
Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards
- Eligibility: Applicants must be 13-19 years on January 8, 2021, identify as Jewish, and residents of the US
- Amount: $36,000 (up to fifteen are awarded)
- Deadline: January 8, 2021
Helyn B. Reich Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to students who choose to study at one of several designated Israeli universities or attend post-college long-term programs. Applicants should have academic excellence, pro-Israel activity in their personal lives and show a commitment to future involvement with the Jewish/Zionist community. Preference is given to candidates who decide to spend the full year in Israel. Financial need will be considered, although more emphasis will be placed on merit
- Amount: $750 to $1,500
- Deadline: January 15, 2021
Hillel Campus Leadership Award
- Eligibility: Open to students seeking a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university who demonstrate extraordinary leadership abilities, and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applicants must self-identify as Jewish and commit to attending at least one Hillel event in the upcoming school year
- Amount: $4,000 (two are awarded)
- Deadline: March 15, 2021 (Opens in November 2021)
Hillel International Scholarships
- Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors seeking a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada. Applicants must demonstrate a record of leadership and/or volunteer service in any aspect of their local community, and must also self-identify as Jewish
- Amount: $4,000 (two are awarded)
- Deadline: March 15, 2021 (Opens in November 2021)
JDC Archives Fellowships
- Eligibility: Fellowship are open to graduate, post-doctorate, and independent scholars interested in the the JDC’s textual, photographic, and audiovisual archival treasures
- Amount: $2,000 to $5,000
- Deadline: January 26, 2021
Kaplun Essay Contest
- Eligibility: Students who are in grades 7 through 12 who submit an essay about their Jewish faith
- Amount: $500 to $1,800
- Deadline: March 7, 2021
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research Fellowships
- Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate college students majoring in various Jewish Studies, including literature and the arts
- Amount: $3,000 to $15,000
- Deadline: February 1, 2021 (Opens September 2021)
