California Scholarships to Apply For Right Now!

Scholarships are a great way to pay for college. If you are going to college in California, here are a couple of California Scholarships we think are great. All the scholarships listed on this page are sorted from the most immediate deadlines to the furthest deadlines. The deadline for some scholarships have passed, so bookmark this page to check back when they open again! For any scholarship-related questions, text #Scholarships to 33-55-77!

Disclaimer: Some scholarship websites or organizations found on this list may sell your personal information to third parties, including (but not limited to): your name, email address, home address, and phone number. While we aim to share scholarships and scholarship websites that do not sell any student data, we know that those with larger money scholarships may. We encourage you to always be intentional about the scholarships you apply to and the information you share with them.

Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement // The California State University

Amount: Varies; Minimum of $6,000

Deadline: Varies by CSU

The CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement is given each year to students who demonstrate superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service, and financial need.

Are you a current or incoming student at a CSU? Find more scholarships and aid here. 

BEE, YOU Scholarship // Busy Bee's Virtual Assistance & Management, LLC

Amount: $1,500

Deadline: October 3, 2022

This scholarship is available to high school seniors and current college students with financial need. Applicants must be working part or full-time in addition to being students in order to qualify for this scholarship. Applicants must write a 500-word maximum essay responding to one of the provided prompts as well as submit a link to a 2-minute video sharing your experience as a working student.

The Skanner Foundation Scholarship // The Skanner News

Amount: $1,000-$3,000

Deadline: October 8, 2022

This scholarship is available to students across the country who have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and have completed at least 20 hours of community service in the past year with documentation. Applicants must write a minimum 600 word essay answering one of the following prompts: 1) Why are the academic results of minority youth (k-12), in the areas of reading and mathematics below the national average and what strategies do you believe school systems should implement to improve these statistics? 2) How should the minority community address the nation’s need for economic development? How would you define and address current issues of race relations in America? 3) What challenges are currently faced by young minority males or females? 

TMCF x Walmart Foundation HBCU First Generation Scholarship // Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Amount: Up to $6,200

Deadline: October 10, 2022

First-generation students attending one of TMCF's 47 publicly-supported HBCUs or Predominantly Black Institutions are eligible for this scholarship. 61 scholars will be chosen as winners. All applicants must submit a 2-minute maximum video answering the following prompt: "What would it mean to you and your community to be the first person in your family to earn a college degree?"

NCJW LA Scholarship Program // National Council of Jewish Women

Amount: $1,000-$5,000

Deadline: October 15, 2022

NCJW’s scholarships are available to students who live and attend school in the Greater Los Angeles area. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a college or admitted to begin college fall 2022. Personal statement essay, transcripts, and enrollment verification required to submit application. 

PG&E Scholars Program // UNCF

Amount: Up to $4,400

Deadline: October 17, 2022

Black students who reside in Northern California and plan to pursue a degree in STEM are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants must be a full-time, currently enrolled undergraduate degree seeking candidate at a UNCF-member institution OR at any other fully accredited HBCU or U.S. located four-year college or university during the 2022-2023 academic year. Applicants must submit an online application, 1-page personal statement, and an official/unofficial transcript.

Spotlight Scholarship // The Music Center

Amount: Varies

Deadline: October 17, 2022

This scholarship “provides cash scholarships and artistic development to empower high school students by emphasizing preparation, courage, critical thinking and perseverance while providing an invaluable opportunity for students to hone their performing skills.” Only high school students living in Southern California are eligible to apply. 

California Strawberry Growers' Fund Scholarships // California Strawberries

Amount: $5,000

Deadline: November 1, 2022 

Applicants must have a parent who is currently employed as a California strawberry fieldworker for the current or prior two harvest seasons. Applicants must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. 

Good Tidings Community Service Scholarship// Good Tidings Foundation

Amount: $10,000

Deadline: November 11, 2022

Good Tidings supports education by providing education grants to high school seniors in need who have dedicated themselves to extraordinary community service projects.

Clair A. Hill Scholarship // ACWA

Amount: $5,000

Deadline: Applications open December 2022

Applicants must be a California resident and attend either a University of California or California State University. Applicants must be juniors who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in a water resources-related field related to engineering, agricultural and/or urban water supply, environmental studies, or public administration at the start of the academic year. Read more about eligibility requirements here.

Chicana Latina Foundation Scholarships // Chicana Latina Foundation

Amount: $1,500

Deadline: Applications open January 1, 2023

This scholarship is offered to Latina students in Northern California. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college, university, or community college in one of the following California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, San Francisco, Sonoma, or Yolo. Applicants must have lived in one of the above counties for at least two years. 

Virginia Smith Scholarship // Merced County Office of Education

Amount: Varies

Deadline: March 2, 2023

Students who resided and attended a public high school in Merced, California are eligible for this scholarship. Must be planning on attending a college full-time in the state of California.

Middle Class Scholarship // California Student Aid Commission

Amount: Varies

Deadline: March 2, 2023

The Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) provides undergraduate students, including students pursuing a teaching credential, with family income up to $191,000 and assets up to $191,000 a scholarship to attend University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) campuses. Students must file their FAFSA or CA Dream Act application before applying for the MCS.

Ebell/Flint Scholarship Program // The Ebell of Los Angeles

Amount: $3,000-$5,000

Deadline: April 3, 2023

The Ebell/Flint Scholarship is open to male and female undergraduate students of any major who currently attend private or public non-profit colleges or universities in Los Angeles County. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on financial need, academic achievement, and community service/leadership.

Missed the deadline on any of these scholarships? That's okay! We'll save this list so you can apply next year. 

Cameron Impact Scholarship // Bryan Cameron Education Foundation

Amount: Four-year, full tuition scholarship (actual dollar amount varies based upon school selection)

Deadline: September 9, 2022

The Cameron Impact Scholarship is awarded annually to 10-15 high school students who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, community service, extracurricular activities, and academics. This scholarship covers the full tuition, fees, and books at any accredited U.S. based college or university that the recipient chooses to attend.

Rodeo Enthusiast Scholarship // Rodeo Ticket

Amount: $500

Deadline: August 15, 2022

This scholarship is available to students who either grew up going to rodeos or went to one for the first time as an adult. Applicants must write a 700-1,500 word essay about the experience. Must include a photo of yourself with your essay submission. Scholarship available to students in all 50 states.

Hearts for Community Service Scholarship // Warrick Dunn Charities

Amount: $5,000

Deadline: July 31, 2022

This scholarship program provides awards to support students who are active volunteers in their community and are attending or will soon attend a post-secondary institution. Two letters of recommendation showing proof of volunteer experience and a 500-word essay required.

Scholarship // The VANROSS Foundation

Amount: $500

Deadline: June 30, 2022

Applicants must “demonstrate positive-impact involvement consistent with capacity and circumstances and/or significant improvement/success in scholarship and community involvement.” Must submit 3 letters of recommendation, transcript, FAFSA, and EFC to be considered.

Western Regional Scholarship // Korean American Scholarship Foundation

Amount: $500-$5,000

Deadline: June 30, 2022

Full-time students who are of Korean descent are eligible for this scholarship. Students must be enrolled at a college or university in one of the designated Western region states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) during the 2022-2023 school year. Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and can demonstrate need for financial assistance. 

Arthur H. Goodman Scholarship // CDC Loans

Amount: Varies

Deadline: June 30, 2022

This scholarship provides financial assistance to dynamic, community-minded women and minority students transitioning from a community college in California or Arizona to four-year universities.

California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation Scholarship Program // CLLCF

Amount: $5,000

Deadline: June 1, 2022

CLLCF invites all California residents who show financial need to apply. Several winners will be awarded $5,000 to go towards educational purposes. 

Better Together STEM Scholarship Program //PG&E

Amount: $2,500-$10,000

Deadline: June 3, 2022

These scholarships are available to students pursuing STEM-related studies at universities in California and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the United States. Students must be California residents and PG&E customers at the time of application.

CA Dream Act // California Student Aid Commission

Amount: Varies

Deadline: Deadline extended to April 1, 2022

This application is open to incoming and current college students who attended a California high school for a minimum of three years and will enroll in an accredited California college or university. Applicant must be a non-resident applying under AB 540 and AB 131.

BECA Foundation General Scholarship // BECA Foundation

Amount: $500-$1,000

Deadline: March 30, 2022

If you are a senior at a San Diego high school and will be attending a college in the fall, try applying to this scholarship!

Chevron Filipino Employee Network Scholarship // Asian Pacific Fund

Amount: $2,000-$3,000

Deadline: March 25, 2022

Asian and Pacific Islander students intending to major in engineering, computer, physical, or environmental sciences are eligible for this scholarship. Students must be from California, but preference is given to those living in the Bay Area, Southern California and Bakersfield area. 

Horatio Alger State Scholarship // Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans

Amount: $10,000

Deadline: March 15, 2022

This scholarship is available to high school juniors in all 50 states who have critical financial need. applicants must "exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States," and must have a GPA over 2.0.

POE Scholarships // Pursuit of Excellence

Amount: Varies

Deadline: February 28, 2022

This organization offers scholarships of $500-$6000 to students from the South Bay Area, CA.

PCF Scholarships // The Peninsula College Fund

Amount: $3,000 per school year 

Deadline: February 11, 2022 

This college fund offers scholarships and mentoring to low-income, first-generation, and undocumented students from San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties in California. 

Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship // Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship Fund

Amount: $6,000 for two years

Deadline: February 4, 2022

This scholarship is awarded to a few students who transfer in the fall or spring following the award from Contra Costa County community colleges in California to junior standing in four-year accredited institutions.

Scholarships // Hispanic Education Endowment Fund

Amount: Awards start at $2,500

Deadline: January 31, 2022

This organization aims to help enhance Hispanic youths' educational opportunities and to improve students’ educational expectations in the Orange County, California area. They hope to help Hispanic students overcome financial barriers and work towards a higher education.

eQuality Scholarship // eQuality Scholarship Collaborative

Amount: $6,000

Deadline: January 31, 2022

These scholarships are available to students who are residents of Northern or Central California (but may study elsewhere) who have demonstrated service in the LGBTQ+ community.

Check out our college scholarships page to find more scholarships you can apply to now! Need help writing your scholarship or college application essays? We have you covered! We’ll review your essays for free and our experts will give you actionable feedback.