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.

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.  

CACESF Scholarship // California Association of Collectors Educational Scholarship Foundation

Amount: $1,500-$2,500

Deadline: June 30, 2022

CACESF offers scholarships of $1500-$2500 to high school juniors and seniors who will be attending any accredited public or private college, university, or trade school within 12 months of the scholarship award. All applicants must write an original essay on the following topic: The importance of establishing and maintaining good financial credit during your college years.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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

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.

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

Amount: $3,000-$5,000

Deadline: April 4, 2022

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.

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.

Chicana Latina Foundation Scholarships // Chicana Latina Foundation

Amount: $1,500

Deadline: March 31, 2022

This scholarship is offered to Latina students in Northern California. 

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.

Middle Class Scholarship // California Student Aid Commission

Amount: Varies

Deadline: March 2, 2022

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.

Virginia Smith Scholarship // Merced County Office of Education

Amount: Varies

Deadline: March 2, 2022

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.

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.

NHBWA Scholarship // National Hispanic Business Women Association 

Amount: $250-$1,000

Deadline: November 30, 2021 

To be eligible for this scholarship, students must reside in Southern California, participate in some form of community service, and be a college undergrad with at least a 3.0 GPA. 

Good Tidings Scholarship// Good Tidings Foundation

Amount: $10,000

Deadline: November 21, 2021

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

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.