SoFi 728X900
Zina Kumok Image Written By: Zina Kumok | Edited By: Kevin Ladd | Updated: May 17, 2025

California Scholarships

Key takeaways:

  • Many scholarships have specific eligibility criteria such as residency in particular counties, while some are available by state.
  • Scholarships for California students cater to both need-based and merit-based applicants. Merit-based scholarships often consider academic achievements and standardized test scores, while need-based scholarships focus on the financial situation of the applicant.
  • California offers a wide range of scholarships for various academic disciplines and student backgrounds.

The Golden State is full of excellent public and private colleges. However, living and attending school in California can come with a pretty substantial price tag. That’s why California scholarships come in handy. They can reduce your total out-of-pocket expenses while letting you attend your dream school.

Continue reading the article below the scholarship list.

25 California Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines

  • 1

  • National Academy of Television, Arts & Sciences - Pacific Southwest Chapter

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineMay 26, 2025

Since the inception of the Scholarship Program, the Chapter has awarded almost $300,000 in grants to students preparing for television careers. Scholarships are granted for use by undergraduate students enrolled in 9 units or more and graduate students enrolled in 6 units or more at two- or four-year colleges or universities for the coming Fall or Spring school year. Scholarship Details

  • 2

  • Christopher Mark Pitkin Memorial Scholarship

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineMay 27, 2025

To be eligible for the Christopher Mark Pitkin Memorial Scholarship, applicants must: be a person with a bleeding disorder or must have an immediate family member with a bleeding disorder; be accepted into an educational/vocational institution and able to provide proof of enrollment; and be a resident of, or have permanent address in, one of the following Southern California counties: Los

  • 3

  • AAUW Jeanne Gruenwald Scholarship

  • Amount$2,000
  • DeadlineMay 31, 2025

The AAUW Jeanne Gruenwald Scholarship supports female students currently enrolled at Mira Costa College, Palomar College, or CSU San Marcos who are pursuing their educational goals at a college or university in San Diego County. This scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement, financial need, and future potential. Scholarship Details Award for female students attending Mira Costa

  • 4

  • Follansbee-Hansen Scholarship

  • Amount$3,500
  • DeadlineMay 31, 2025

To be eligible for the Follansbee-Hansen Scholarship, applicants must: live in the Sacramento region; have at least a GPA of a 2.5 (if they are currently enrolled in school); have applied to or are presently enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education, including vocational and technical schools; identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community; and demonstrate an interest in service to

  • 5

  • Bomberos de San Diego Scholarship

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineJune 1, 2025

The Bomberos de San Diego Scholarship was created to provide underprivileged high school seniors with financial assistance to higher education. College education costs are increasing annually, and this scholarship is available to help cover some of those costs. Scholarships are offered to students in San Diego and Imperial Counties. The number of recipients varies each year. Bomberos de San

  • 6

  • AFCEA San Diego County Scholarship Program

  • Amount$8,000
  • DeadlineJune 2, 2025

Goal: Promote higher education in math, engineering, natural sciences and computer sciences through financial scholarship. Scholarship Award: One or more scholarships at $2,000 each per year renewable yearly for a maximum award of $8,000. Eligibility Criteria - United States citizen - Resident and student within the limits of San Diego County - High school senior or

  • 7

  • National Ocean Scholar Program

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineJune 2, 2025

As part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) program’s continuing effort to recognize individual achievement, the Consortium for Ocean Leadership offers the National Ocean Scholarship Program. This scholarship program is to provide tuition assistance for NOSB students who have an interest in pursuing an ocean or a marine related topic area in their post-high school education. Applicants

  • 8

  • SVCF Roshan Rahbari Scholarship Fund

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineJune 2, 2025

This scholarship was established in loving memory of Roshan Rahbari, a former student of West Valley Community College and a graduate of Leland High School in San Jose, California. In his 18 years of life Roshan touched the lives of many. The Roshan Rahbari Scholarship Fund seeks to support outstanding community college students with financial need to transfer to and complete their bachelor’s

  • 9

  • Jewish Family and Children's Services Scholarship

  • Amount$3,000
  • DeadlineJune 3, 2025

JFCS helps hundreds of Jewish students every year achieve their educational and vocational goals by providing them with loans and grants. This assistance is intended to offset the expense of college, graduate or vocational school, and other accredited programs. Eligibility To qualify for one of our loans and grants, students must fulfill the following requirements: Identify as Jewish and

  • 10

  • Stuck At Prom Scholarship Contest

  • Amount$15,000
  • DeadlineJune 4, 2025

Submit your Duck Tape promwear for a chance to win up to $15,000! Create and wear your original promwear using Duck® Brand Duct Tape and/or Duck® Brand Crafting Tape. Remember to take a high resolution pic of the big moment! See official rules for details. Eligibility Criteria Open to high school students or those in a home school association (at the high-school level) during the current

  • 11

  • Hope Scholarship

  • Amount$2,500
  • DeadlineJune 6, 2025

Bank of Hope takes great pride in supporting education in the communities where we operate and have distributed millions in scholarships to date through the Hope Scholarship Foundation. Scholarship Details Financial aid for tuition, school materials, books, and necessary expenses Supporting students pursuing education at 4-year or 2-year institutions Empowering students with

  • 12

  • YPE SF Bay Area Scholarship

  • Amount$2,500
  • DeadlineJune 15, 2025

Climate change is the defining challenge of our generation and we need young people of all backgrounds to become leaders in the equitable transition to clean energy. The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of Young Professionals in Energy (YPE) created its Scholarship Program to motivate the next generation of energy leaders and to create pathways for students to envision and realize successful

  • 13

  • Hopi Tribe Grants and Scholarships Program

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineJune 15, 2025

As servants of our people, we are dedicated to working in a spirit of Suminangwa-Naminangwa, providing quality service and preserving our culture, values, land and resources. We are committed to promoting opportunities for self-determination and self-sufficiency. As a result of this mission, the Hopi tribe offers numerous scholarships and grants. Requirements for grade point averages depend on

  • 14

  • David C. Lizárraga Fellowship

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineJune 15, 2025

The David C. Lizárraga Fellowship supports graduate students who show strong leadership potential and a commitment to empowering underserved communities through economic development. Offered by TELACU, this fellowship is geared toward first-generation college students pursuing full-time graduate studies, particularly in Business or Engineering, with demonstrated financial need. Applicants from

  • 15

  • TELACU College Success Program

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineJune 15, 2025

The College Success Program is funded by TELACU and the generous contributions of our partners—corporations, colleges and universities, non-profit organizations and individuals—who have joined us over the past 35 years in advancing educational opportunities for our community. Because TELACU believes that the future leaders of our community must be engaged in meaningful careers that will change

  • 16

  • HPRA Scholarship Programs

  • Amount$2,500
  • DeadlineJune 20, 2025

The Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) supports rising stars in communications with scholarships that help them pursue their dreams and build careers that uplift and engage the U.S. Latino community. Scholarship Details HPRA National Scholarship: $10,000 awarded to undergraduate students nationwide Roshana Gossoff Memorial Scholarship: $1,500 awarded to an undergraduate student

  • 17

  • California Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program (LEPD)

  • Amount$12,192
  • DeadlineJune 30, 2025

The Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program provides need-based educational grants to dependents and spouses of: California peace officers (highway patrol, marshals, sheriffs, police officers), Department of Corrections and California Youth Authority employees, and permanent/full-time firefighters employed by public entities who have been killed in the performance of duty or 100%

  • 18

  • Hearts for Community Service

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineJune 30, 2025

The Hearts for Community Service Scholarship awards $5,000 annually to student residents from specific Warrick Dunn Charities, Inc. markets who volunteer in their communities. The scholarship supports students enrolled in post-secondary institutions and encourages continued community service and educational advancement. Applications open from June 1st to June 30th, with winners announced in

  • 19

  • SSVMS Medical Student Scholarship Fund

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineJuly 1, 2025

The Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Student Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to deserving medical school students who have graduated from a high school in El Dorado, Sacramento, or Yolo counties. Scholarship Details Scholarships available for medical students who graduated from high schools in El Dorado, Sacramento, or Yolo counties Applicants must be enrolled full-time (12

  • 20

  • Mennonite Aid Plan Scholarship

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineJuly 1, 2025

The purposes of the Mennonite Aid Plan are to build positive relationships with the young people in our churches, and to assist in the development of our church leaders. We are committed to helping our church members, through insurance, in times of loss to home and property. As a way of giving back to our wider church family, we are offering scholarships to help our young adults obtain higher

  • 21

  • Western Undergraduate Exchange Plus at University of New Mexico

  • Amount$91,676
  • DeadlineJuly 15, 2025

If you've worked hard at your high school, you'll be glad to know that The University of New Mexico is paying attention. You will find several scholarships opportunities. Scholarships are merit-based, competitive and a limited number are available. To be considered you must meet the criteria for consideration, be admitted by the Application Deadline and complete any application materials noted.

  • 22

  • University of New Mexico WUE Scholarship

  • Amount$69,428
  • DeadlineJuly 15, 2025

If you've worked hard at your high school, you'll be glad to know that The University of New Mexico is paying attention. You will find several scholarships opportunities. Scholarships are merit-based, competitive and a limited number are available. To be considered you must meet the criteria for consideration, be admitted by the Application Deadline and complete any application materials noted.

  • 23

  • Jeff Sein Kwan Yang Memorial Scholarship

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineJuly 15, 2025

The Jeff Sein Kwan Yang Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors who meet the following requirements: reside in or attend school in the San Gabriel Valley area; are an immigrant or child of an immigrant; and are committed to serving the immigrant community in some aspect. We look at the following criteria: 1) past community service and commitment to the immigrant community; 2)

  • 24

  • Helen Veress-Mitchell Scholarship

  • Amount$500
  • DeadlineJuly 15, 2025

Investing in people living with HIV is crucial and a primary mission of Capital City AIDS Fund (CCAF). The Helen Veress-Mitchell Scholarship program was created in 2002 and since has accrued donations and awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships. These scholarships help people living with HIV attend college or technical school. Most are pursuing careers in the health care field in hopes of

  • 25

  • Annie Ibok Scholarship

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineJuly 31, 2025

The Annie Ibok Scholarship is a one-time award given primarily to underserved students to offset the rising costs of undergraduate studies at Historically Black Colleges & Universities(HBCUs). This scholarship honors the late Mrs. Annie Ibok, a loving wife, mother, and RN from the Bay Area with a deep passion for supporting her community. Eligibility Be a rising college freshman

What is a California scholarship?

California scholarships can be awarded to students based in California, those attending school there or both. Some California scholarships are only available for those who meet both requirements, while others only require one type of residency requirement.

Like other state-based scholarships, some California scholarships also have specific regional requirements, like the Folsom Garden Club Scholarship.

How to qualify for the Folsom Garden Club Scholarship

California scholarships may also require that students major in a specific concentration (like the scholarship mentioned above) or be part of a specific ethnic, racial or other minority group. Oftentimes, California residency is merely one of several criteria required for qualification, which is why we recommend creating a profile and conducting a scholarship search to determine which of these scholarships you may apply for.

One of the best scholarship sources for California students is an in-state program known as the Cal Grant. Grant amounts depend on the type of grant, where you’re going to college and other factors.

How to qualify for the Cal Grant

The Cal Grant program includes the following specific grants

Where to find California scholarships

One of the best places to find California scholarships is through your school, especially if you’re attending a public school. Schools often have a wide variety of grants and scholarships for eligible students. If you’re currently enrolled, meet with your academic advisor to ask about maximizing your financial aid.

You can also talk to your professors, supervisors or any other adult mentors you know. If you change majors, make sure to talk to your new academic advisor. They may know about degree-specific scholarships you can apply for.

You should also look for scholarships through third-party sources. A good place to start is the Scholarships.com Directory, which sorts scholarships by category. Start by going through each category that applies to you. To simplify the process, you can also create an account and answer all the relevant questions. Once you have created your profile, you’ll be provided with a list of scholarships that are tailored specifically to you.

Applying for scholarships often requires a considerable level of organization and persistence. Use a spreadsheet to track scholarships and their requirements. Also, give yourself enough time to write the essay and get recommendation letters written. If you rush, you’re more likely to make typos and errors in your application.

Some students get discouraged if they apply for a few scholarships and don’t win. It's important to be realistic; you might have to submit several scholarship applications to win a single scholarship. However, there are strategies you can employ that will make applying quicker and more efficient. For example, some scholarship applications may require similar essays. Once you have one well-written essay, you may be able to reuse it (with a few edits here and there) several times.

Frequently asked questions about California scholarships

While some California scholarships are only given to students who plan to stay in their home state, others will let you attend school out-of-state.

For example, the AAUW Re-Entry Women Scholarship says you can either live in or attend school in San Diego County. This means that you may still apply, even if you are attending school outside of California.

How to qualify for the AAUW Re-Entry Women Scholarship

  • Must either live in or attend school in San Diego County
  • Must be a female student who is returning to complete her education
  • Must be at least 23 years old
  • Must have at least 20 college-level credit hours

The Cal Grant program offers some of the best scholarship opportunities for local students. Submit the application as soon as possible so you can be considered for the most number of awards.

If you’re not a California resident but want to attend school there, you might think that moving will automatically grant you in-state resident status.

However, that’s not the case. To be treated as an in-state student, you must have lived in California for at least 366 days before you’re eligible for in-state tuition. Also, undergraduate students who are 24 years old or younger need to be financially independent to qualify.

Eligibility requirements for California scholarships are very different, and many awards are given for community college or vocational students as well as graduate or professional students. While undergraduate scholarships for four-year programs may be the most common, they aren’t the only opportunities available.

No matter what kind of school you're enrolled in, you‘ll likely be able to find relevant California scholarships. The only potential caveat is if you're attending a school that is not accredited. In this case, finding awards may be trickier than if you were attending an accredited school.