-
The three main ways to help finance your child's college degree are - please be alert to the deadlines:
1. FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- Completing the FAFSA makes your student eligible to receive aid from federal, state, and college sources. You will use 2020 tax returns.
- Public & private colleges accept the FAFSA.
- File the FAFSA from October 1 - March 2. Apply early to receive the best aid.
- Request to have your FAFSA sent to the colleges to which your student is applying.
2) College and University Scholarships & Merit-based Aid
- Check each school’s website for details about how and when to apply.
- Automatic Consideration: Some schools provide students with aid automatically when they apply and meet certain criteria. Many west coast schools participate in WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange) which provides steep reductions in tuition.
- Additional Aid Application: About 400 private colleges and universities ask students to submit the CSS/ Financial Aid PROFILE.
3) Private scholarships
- While many private scholarships may only award a few hundred dollars, these can help cover the costs of books and incidentals.
- Scholarships are both merit and need-based.
- Scholarship search resources
Italian Catholic Federation Scholarship- Italian Catholic Students with a 3.2 GPA
https://www.icf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1stYearScholarshipApplication2023.pdf
Asian Commercial Professionals- Asian heritage, interested in pursuing a field related to Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate, or Construction TradesAPIA Scholarship
APIA Scholars provides scholarships to underserved Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Students, with a special focus on those who live at or below the poverty line; are their first in their families to attend college; are representative of the APIA community’s diversity (geographically and ethnically), especially those ethnicities that have been underrepresented on college campuses due to limited access and opportunity; and have placed a strong emphasis on community service and leadership as well as solid academic achievement.In addition to scholarship funds, APIA Scholars have access to leadership development, workforce readiness, mental health resources, and other culturally specific programming designed to support them through graduation.The APIA Scholars scholarship application allows applicants to apply for up to two scholarships: the APIA Scholarship and the AANAPISI Scholarship, if eligible. Applicants can only be awarded one scholarship. Both scholarships are for the 2023-2024 academic year, to be used beginning in the Fall 2023 term. https://apiascholars.org/scholarship/apia-scholarship/
The Ron Brown Scholarship Program
The Ron Brown Scholarship honors the legacy of Ronald H. Brown through a selective scholarship program that advances higher education for community-minded and intellectually gifted African Americans. RBSP competitively awards 45 – 50 four-year $40,000 scholarships ($10,000 each year) to the most talented and economically-challenged high school seniors who demonstrate a keen interest in public service, community engagement, business entrepreneurship and global citizenship – the four pillars of the late Ronald H. Brown's mission to uplift people of all races, cultures and ethnicities – especially our disadvantaged youth. Recipients may use the renewable scholarships to attend an accredited four-year college or university of their choice within the United States. Ron Brown scholarships are not limited to any specific field or career objective and may be used to pursue any academic discipline. Since the Program's inception in 1996, more than 450 students have been designated as Ron Brown Scholars. Applicants for the Ron Brown Scholarship MUST be Black/African American, US citizens or permanent residents, and a current high school senior at the time of their application. https://ronbrown.org/apply/ron-brown-scholarship/
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Scholars are selected based on merit. Award amounts range from $500 - $5,000, based on relative need. Must be of Hispanic heritage, U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA, minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students; minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for college and graduate students, plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the US, for the 2022-2023 academic year, submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms (if applicable). https://www.hsf.net/scholarship
Immigrant and Undocumented Student Scholarships
https://immigrantsrising.org/going-to-college/
https://immigrantsrising.org/its-finally-here-2022-list-of-scholarships-fellowships/
45+ College Scholarships for Minority Students
https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/student-life/scholarships-minority-students/
The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc.
Since 1984, Horatio Alger Association Members and Friends have funded need-based college scholarships for low-income youth to pursue their dreams through higher education. By the Association’s 75th Anniversary in 2022, we anticipate having awarded a total of $235 million in scholarships to more than 35,000 deserving students. The scholarships are given to deserving students each year and range in award value from $10,000 to $25,000. Through its many scholarship programs, the Association supports students pursuing career and technical certificates and degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and graduate studies. To find out more about available scholarships, please click, https://scholars.horatioalger.org/scholarships/.
Jewish Family and Children's Services (JFCS) Scholarship
JFCS Scholarships About the Selig Fund: Applicant must be Jewish, be a resident of Contra Costa County, Alameda, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, northern Santa Clara, or Sonoma County, CA and have a co-signer, who resides in the Bay Area.
Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Scholarship Awards
Seeking self-identified as Jewish teen leaders who show significant initiative and leadership in creating and leading a new initiative — or have considerably deepened or expanded an existing project — that embodies the values of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Applications are due January 5, 2023. https://www.dillerteenawards.org/
List of Minority Scholarships
Student Scholarships/Recycle Smart
https://www.recyclesmart.org/waste-reduction-scholarships
Scholarships for Women
Scholarships for Women in STEM
A full–tuition scholarship for a woman in science, technology, engineering, or math. Applications close December 13th, 2022 at 11:59PM CST. https://www.scienceambassadorscholarship.org/#apply
Authentic ID College Scholarships
We are seeking bright minds with a desire to heighten national awareness via our social media campaign to end the dehumanizing forces of human trafficking and child exploitation.
https://www.authenticid.com/careers/scholarships-spring-2023/
Mindscape Big Picture Scholarships (deadline Dec 15th)
https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/20662/mindscape-big-picture-scholarship
Access Scholarships
https://accessscholarships.com/
Tuition Funding Sources Scholarships
https://www.tuitionfundingsources.com/
List of Senior Scholarships from Bold.org
Websites that St. Mary's College of California (SMC) found helpful for all students looking for scholarships:
California Scholarship
Local Scholarships
Scholarship Tip: Google "Community Foundation Lafayette" and other local cities to find "local scholarships".
Contra Costa County Association of Realtors Scholarship
https://ccarscholarship.com/scholarships/eligibility/
Contra Costa County 4-H Scholarship
https://4hcontracosta.ucanr.edu/Resources/Youth_Member_Resources/Scholarships/
Assistance League of Diablo Valley
Assistance League of Diablo Valley Up to $6,000 for high school seniors entering a 4-year college.
Assistance League of Diablo Valley A renewable $3,000 scholarship for a student enrolled in a community college or attending an accredited vocational/technical program and planning to earn a certificate or an associate degree in a vocational/technical subject.
Assistance League of Diablo Valley This scholarship offers awards up to $4,000 to current or former dependents of the court in the foster care program (1) Contra Costa County and living in that county or elsewhere, or (2) of another county and living in Contra Costa County.
Additional Information about all of the scholarships can be found here: Assistance League of Diablo Valley
Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation
The Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation is a volunteer organization of Rossmoor residents whose goal is to provide scholarships to deserving graduates from specified local high schools (including Acalanes High School) and Diablo Valley College to aid them in continuing their education at an accredited advanced institution, college, or university of their choice. Students apply for scholarships through the counselors at their schools.
Student Scholarships List
https://studentscholarships.org/scholarships.php
Universal Technical Institute
https://www.uti.edu/financial-aid/scholarships-grants
Additional Student Scholarship Opportunities
https://studentscholarships.org/scholarships.php