Scholarships for Hispanic and Latinx Students
Hispanic and Latinx scholarships can be offered by a number of companies, organizations, and schools. This results in a much more diverse scholarship program.
The Pew Research Center reports that Educational attainment among U.S. Latinx & Hispanic students has “reached its highest level in the last three decades.” Dropout rates are decreasing while college attendance has skyrocketed in the past few years. Latinx learners are said to constitute the biggest ethnic minority within U.S. college grounds, and overall, they generally exhibit a lower propensity to incur student loans. This is because of access to scholarships, federal aid, and attendance at universities with cheaper tuition fees.
Some scholarships have different essays or videos as a requirement – the common thread here is that they are for those that have or can claim Hispanic or Latino descent. We acknowledge and help find awards to honor the accomplishments of Hispanic and Latinx students in the US.
In recent times there has been a surge in the population of Hispanic and Latinx students in colleges, however, they continue to grapple with formidable obstacles on their path to obtaining degrees. For Hispanic and Latinx students in the U.S. contending with escalating living expenses, stagnant wages, and even reduced state funding for higher education, financial assistance, particularly in the form of scholarships and grants, is indispensable.
Numerous Hispanic and Latinx students are the pioneers in their families to attend college. They encounter substantial hurdles, including elevated attrition rates and insufficient financial backing. College tuition is more expensive than ever and many times these students end up with mounting debt as well as limited employment opportunities and earning potential compared to those that may not face such barriers. The following guide will explore scholarships ideas for Hispanic and Latinx students that can assist them in finding success.
Challenges Impacting Hispanics and Latinx Students in 2020 & Beyond
Economic Decline Due to COVID-19 – Latinxs and Hispanic students considering colleges during the COVID-19 pandemic have had it especially hard, as they typically enter school as low-income students. In 2020, 32% of Latinx students delayed or canceled their college plans — twice the rate of Caucasian students and 8-9% more than Black or Asian American students.
Figures from the United States Census Bureau underscore that Hispanics compose the most sizable ethnic minority group across the country. Furthermore, they form one of the most financially precarious demographic groups, with an estimated one fifth of Hispanic and Latinx people dwelling below the poverty line.
Student loans are at unprecedented levels costing more young people their chance to invest in their future. Latinx learners are impacted the most severely, as merely 20% of them manage to finish their degree within a six-year timeframe.
Less Generational Wealth for Latinxs Than Caucasian Students – Data reveals that a significant number of Latinx students are less likely to inherit financial assets compared to their Caucasian peers. With the rising costs of college education becoming increasingly challenging, numerous students struggle to afford it. This particularly affects the Hispanic and Latinx student demographic originating from low-income families. Households with limited financial resources demonstrate a 64% reduced chance of building savings in comparison to their higher-income counterparts. In 2016/17, over half of Hispanic Americans either faced rejection or received less credit than they sought, a rate more than twice that of Caucasian Americans.
The decline in Community College Enrollment – In 2015 President Obama initiated a complimentary community college program, which has contributed to the accelerated increase in Hispanic and Black student registration. However, during the pandemic in 2020, two year college enrollment decreased by more than 10%. A study published by the Clearinghouse indicates that the proportion of high school graduates directly enrolling in college experienced a 22% decline during the Fall of 2020. This drop was mostly due to a decrease in lower income and urban high school students entering college without first getting a higher education elsewhere. This is troubling because more poor and vulnerable students are simply not going to college.
First-Generation College Students – Being first-generation college attendees, Hispanic and Latinx students might lack familiarity with the customary procedures involved in college applications and obtaining financial assistance.
Hispanic and Latinx Scholarships
GENERAL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HISPANIC AND LATINX STUDENTS
| SCHOLARSHIP | ELIGIBILITY | AMOUNT | DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMiS STEM Scholarship | If you plan on applying to the program learners must be Hispanic or affiliate with an underserved community. Learners need a minimum 3.0 GPA, and be studying in a full time STEM program graduate, or undergraduate degree at a two year or four year college or university. | $500-$5,000 | April |
| Hispanic Scholarship Fund | To qualify for this esteemed endowment, candidates must hold U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or possess DACA eligibility. Furthermore learners ought to self identify as Hispanic and boast a high school GPA of 2.5, or higher, or an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above should they be pursuing higher education. It is requisite for aspirants to be enrolled or have intentions to partake full-time in a quadrennial academic institution or postgraduate studies. | $500-$5,000 | February |
| La Unidad Latina Foundation | Scholarship learners must have Latinx heritage and be enrolled at a graduate or undergraduate level. | Up to $2,000 | October |
| LULAC National Scholarship Fund | Latinx and Hispanic learners can get scholarships from the League of United Latin American Citizens. Applicants should be able to show strong academic performance, and leadership potentials & community involvement. | $250-$2,000 | Varies |
| TheDream.Us National Scholarship | The program is only open to DACA or TPS certified applicants. They must also be current U.S. high school or community college students, or recent graduates/GED recipients, which means they had to come to the U.S before turning 16 and maintained continuous U.S residency since November 1, 2015. | Varies | Varies |
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LATINA AND HISPANIC WOMEN
| SCHOLARSHIP | ELIGIBILITY | AMOUNT | DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Thread Foundation Scholarship | To qualify learners must be women who were born internationally, immigrants, or first-generation Americans enrolling as first year college students in an undergraduate program. | Varies | February |
| Chicana Latina Foundation Scholarship | Learners must be women of Chicana or Latina heritage enrolled in an accredited graduate or undergraduate program in one of 13 northern California counties. | $1,500 | March |
| Illustrating Awesomeness Scholarship | Candidates must be female or gender nonconforming scholars of color, either presently enrolled or intending to partake in an undergraduate curriculum during the approaching autumn semester. | $750 | November |
| Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation Scholarship | Candidates ought to be females aged 17 or older and mothers with underage offspring. Applicants must also qualify as low income individuals and be pursuing their first graduate or undergraduate degree. Preference is given to women from underserved communities. | Up to $5,000 | August |
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FIRST-GENERATION HISPANIC AND LATINXx COLLEGE STUDENTS
| SCHOLARSHIP | ELIGIBILITY | AMOUNT | DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| EducationDynamics Minority First-Generation Scholarship | Candidates must be trailblazing scholars aged 17 or above, engaged in an undergraduate curriculum at a recognized academic establishment. | $10,000 | June |
| The Gates Scholarship | Candidates ought to be final-year high school pupils intending to partake in a full-time undergraduate curriculum. Students must be U.S. citizens, be Pell Grant-eligible, and hold a minimum 3.3 GPA. Preference is given to first-generation students. | Varies | September |
| Kaiser Permanente Health Equity Scholarship | Candidates must be high school seniors on the cusp of graduation, boasting a minimum 2.5 GPA, and intending to embark on a full time undergraduate curriculum the subsequent year. Prospective learners must uphold continuous residency in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, or District of Columbia. Preference is given to learners from underrepresented communities. | $5,000 | May |
| TELACU Education Foundation Scholarship | Candidates ought to be pioneering, economically disadvantaged scholars enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program, possessing a minimum GPA of 2.5. They must be permanent residents in underserved communities in select counties of California, Illinois, New York, or Texas. Preference is given to business and STEM majors. | Varies | Varies |
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MIGRANT WORKERS AND THEIR CHILDREN
| SCHOLARSHIP | ELIGIBILITY | AMOUNT | DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Assistance Migrant Program | Learners, must be migrant workers or children of migrant workers currently enrolled in their first-year of a undergraduate program. | Varies | April |
| Jean DeGrace Crandall Memorial Scholarship | Migrants or children of migrants who are currently enrolled in or have graduated from a high school in New Yorks Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, or Westchester counties may qualify for this award. Priority is given to migrants from Mexico. | At least $1,000 | April |
| Quest for Excellence: New Americans Award | Qualified candidates encompass immigrants or offspring of immigrants in their penultimate high school year, exhibiting remarkable scholastic aptitude and intentions to pursue higher education upon completing their senior year. | Up to $1,000 | Varies |
| Running of the Bulls Scholarship for Immigrants | Learners ought to be immigrant’s or progeny of immigrants either enrolled in or granted admission to a quadrennial undergraduate, or postgraduate curriculum, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0. | $1,000 | June |
| Gloria Mattera National Migrant Scholarship | Applicants must demonstrate a recent move for agricultural employment, as well as academic potential and financial need. Aspirants must be engaged in, granted admission to, or intending to embark on a program at a recognized academic institution, technical establishment, or vocational training center. Priority is given to interstate migrant youth. | Up to $250 | April |
Grants
| SCHOLARSHIP | ELIGIBILITY | AMOUNT | DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic Heritage Foundation Youth Awards | Learners must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents or DACA recipients of Hispanic heritage. Additionally learners are required to complete high school in Spring 2023, boasting minimum GPA of 3.0 and subsequently commence the collegiate journey in their 2023/2024 academic year. | Varies | November |
| Federal Pell Grant | Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens who are first time college students. Most award recipients are undergraduates, except for aspiring teachers. | Up to $6,495 (2021-2022) | June (FAFSA deadline) |
| Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant | Candidates are required to be engaged in full time, or part time graduate or undergraduate studies at a participating institution while upholding minimum GPA of 3.25. Recipients, commit to teaching in a high need field for at least four years after they graduate. | Varies | June (FAFSA deadline) |
| Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) | Candidates ought to be undergraduate scholars showcasing a genuine financial necessity. | $100-$4,000 | June (FAFSA deadline) |
| Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant | Scholars must be deemed ineligible for the Pell Grant based on income and satisfy additional stipulations. Qualified learners ought to have been either under 24 years old, or engaged in higher education when they faced the demise of their parent or guardian attributable to military involvement in Iraq or Afghanistan following 9/11. | Up to $6,495 | June (FAFSA deadline) |
Resources for Latinx
Excelencia in Education
This organization promotes student engagement, academic achievement, and workforce preparation for the Latinx postsecondary community. Excelencia in Education is made of various initiatives that aim to improve federal & state policy, education pathways, and financial aid opportunities for minority students. Excelencia in Education is a nonprofit that is dedicated to helping high school students get into college. The mission is to give every student in America access to education. Excelencia in Education student mentors are all recent high school graduates who have been through the whole college application process themselves, and each year they help around 1,000 kids apply for scholarships or offers of admission at top colleges.
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
The Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities represents a national consortium of 125 accredited, non profit academic institutions and educational organizations catering to Hispanic/Latinx scholars throughout the United States. HACU has served its memberships needs for over three decades by providing an institutional voice, promoting academic excellence, advocating for access and affordability in higher education, ensuring transparency in college costs through HACUs Annual Cost of Education survey comparing programs among member schools to increase student choice, lobbying federal officials to ensure that Hispanics are adequately represented in government policy making decisions that impact higher education, sponsoring conferences for students at member institutions, developing applied research projects to inform the work of Hispanic/Latinx organizations and advocates, deepening the understanding of key issues facing Hispanics in higher education through HACU’s annual State of Higher Education for Hispanics report, encouraging more Hispanics to attend college by awarding scholarships annually to deserving students at member schools.
National Hispanic Institute
NHI collaborates with 80 colleges and universities nationwide and supports the Hispanic community by focusing on college readiness, leadership opportunities, financial awards & fellowships, and national/international outreach programs. National Hispanic Institute (NHI) is an organization that aims to empower the Hispanic Community by developing leaders of tomorrow. NHI’s work is rooted in the principles of leadership development. NHI originated from the collaborative efforts of four university scholars at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), who discerned their personal necessity for mentorship and direction.
Postsecondary National Policy Institute
PNPI helps shape existing & emerging postsecondary education policies through research & advocacy programs. The institute remains a leading national resource for statistical reporting on issues affecting Hispanic and Latinx student groups in postsecondary education. Postsecondary National Policy Institute is a nonprofit organization that focuses on the improvement of higher education. Postsecondary National Policy Institute has different objectives to help develop an improved higher education system in the United States. The institute wants to use its research to decrease college dropout rates, increase access for disadvantaged communities, and also promote better international understanding through education.
White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative
This initiative, including the ¡Gradúate! Guide to Success Series is designed to help aspiring students navigate the college application process. It also provides resources to improve economic and educational opportunities for Hispanic Americans. The White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative, a civic organization, was established under the auspices of the United States President, George Walker Bush. The mission of this initiative is to work with the Hispanic community and promote its economic development. Functioning as an autonomous non-profit entity, the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative has received due recognition from the Internal Revenue Service.