Latinos Need To Keep These 18 Scholarships In Mind When Applying To College And Grad School
You’ve probably heard about all of the rich and famous people facing serious legal consequences for bribing college officials to get their kids into top colleges. While most of us don’t have it like that, we need to fight even harder to take the spots we deserve in those universities. As you apply for colleges, don’t forget about these important scholarships to help you outdo anyone who paid for their place in college.
According to the Pew Research Center, there are fewer and fewer Latino students are going to college. In fact, despite how rapidly the Latino community is growing in the U.S., a widening education gap lands us at half as likely to hold a college degree as non-Latino white adults according to The Education Trust. Why?
Hechinger reports that immigration is the likely factor that’s limiting Latinos.
While U.S.-born Latinos are on par with non-Latino black Americans’ college attainment (about 30 percent), that drops to just 17 percent when we look at Latino adults born abroad. That gap is likely explained by documentation, which prevents students from qualifying for in-state tuition.
Here are a few scholarships that can make higher education more possible for Latinos.
1. The Hispanic Scholarship Fund
You don’t have to be a high school student to apply. This scholarship is for graduate students as well, with a focus on STEM majors.
GPA Requirement: 3.0 (high school) and 2.5 (college)
Award: This merit-based scholarship ranges from $500 to $5,000 based on relative need.
2. ¡Adelante! Fund
If you go to scholarships.com, you’ll find a variety of ¡Adelante! scholarships with a range of eligibility requirements. Some require attendance to Leadership Institutes, banquets and all require community service commitments.
GPA Requirement: 2.75
Award: $1,000-$3,000
3. Ann Seki Memorial Scholarship
With Chevron as a sponsor, you can expect a big chunk of change. Named after the original member of its Hispanic recruiting team, Ann Seki, who worked for three decades to hire Latinxs and diverse employees, this is for you if you’re into almost any kind of engineering.
GPA Requirement: 3.3
Award: $500 to $10,000
4. Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Scholarships
The SHPE offers nine different scholarship opportunities for a variety of differently-aged students with an obvious focus in engineering.
GPA Requirement: 2.75
Award: $2,000-$5,000.
5. Anhelo Project Dream Scholarship Application
The Anhelo Project is for Illinois students who are undocumented and don’t have to be registered under DACA. Since 2011, they’ve awarded over $100,000 to more than 50 recipients.
GPA Requirement: 2.50
6. AMS Minority Scholarships
This scholarship is for every underrepresented minority, with a specific interest in “atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences.”
GPA Requirement: NONE
Award: $6,000 in two installments
7. The Randy Falco Scholarship
Yep, this comes from the actual Academy, and this scholarship is meant for Latinos pursuing careers in journalism or television only.
Award: $10,000
8. ACS Scholars Program
This FAFSA-based scholarship is for any graduating high school senior or college student with a major in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical technology, or another chemistry-related science.
GPA Requirement: 3.0
Award: $2,500-$5,000 depending on college grade level.
9. La Unidad Latina DREAM Scholarship
This scholarship es solamente por los Dreamers. That means you must be registered under DACA, and have already completed one year of undergrad.
GPA Requirement: 2.8
Grant: $500 to $3,000
10. Puerto Rican Relief Scholarship
The LUL Foundation has also created a scholarship for those Boricuas enrolled on the island. It should help those who have been displaced or affected by Hurricane Maria.
Check out www.lulf.org for more info.
11. Haz La U Program
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation partnered with monopoly Colgate-Palmolive to offer 31 scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $15,000 for Hispanic youth.
GPA Requirement: 3.0
12. National Association of Hispanic Journalists
NAHJ describes its scholarship opportunities as “open to college-bound high school seniors, college undergraduates, and graduate students pursuing careers in English or Spanish-language print, broadcast, digital, or photojournalism.”
GPA Requirement:
Award: $1,500 to $5,000
13. Liberty Power Bright Horizons Scholarship
Did you know that Liberty Power is Latino-owned? That’s why it’s offering major scholarships to any student majoring in STEM programs, who are interested in energy and the environment.
GPA Requirement:
Awards: $4,000 to $10,000
14. Actuarial Diversity Scholarship
This scholarship isn’t just for Black, Latino, Pacific Islander and Indigenous Peoples’ who are into books. They want to become actuaries, one of the highest paying accounting professions.
GPA Requirement: 3.0
Award: $1,000-$4,000
15. NBC Universal/LNESC Scholarship
If you’re already a sophomore or junior college student with an interest in media and entertainment, then you might be eligible!
GPA Requirement: 3.0
Award: $5,000 for ten winners
16. The Carlos M. Casteñeda Journalism Scholarship
This scholarship is for Spanish-speaking college graduates looking to get a Masters in journalism. We need you to apply and get out there.
GPA Requirement: 3.0
Award: $7,000
17. CUNY Becas Scholarship Program
The City University of New York Jaime Lucero Mexican Studies Institute offers scholarships to its students who are registered DACA recipients. You have to be committed to serving the Mexican community. Facil, no?
GPA Requirement: NONE
Award: $6,730
18. MALDEF Law School Scholarship Program
If you’re here for the long civil rights overhaul for Latino-Americans, keep your eyes on this prize. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is offering 15 awards of $5,000 to Latinos in law school who are committed to advancing Latino civil rights as a career.
Plus, so many more!
It’s easy to find the dozens of scholarships that are geared towards Latinos an other minorities, and every step you take toward closing the education gap for Latinos can only help other Latinos (namely, you to start with). Have you benefitted from one of these scholarships? Share this article and encourage your friends to dream big!
READ: College Is An Incredible Experience If You Do It Right. Here Are 21 Tips To Make The Most Of It
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