26+ Scholarships for the LatinX/Hispanic Community

Published on August 20, 2023 · Updated on January 23, 2024

26+ Scholarships for the LatinX/Hispanic Community

Published on August 20, 2023 · Updated on January 23, 2024

The largest obstacle most college students face is the cost of attendance. With tuition rates increasing each year at most schools, earning a degree is becoming increasingly difficult, especially for persons from underrepresented groups like LatinX/Hispanic communities.

Many universities are taking active measures to remove barriers to access by offering discounts or fee waivers. But in the meantime, countless private organizations have stepped up to offer LatinX and Hispanic scholarships. We’ve assembled a list of 26 of the best ones, so you can spend more time applying and less time looking for these opportunities!

Scholarship Tips For College Students

LatinX and Hispanic scholarships are plentiful, but the number of applicants can be high. That’s why it’s important to think competitively and put some real effort into each application you submit. To help you gain an edge, here are a few quick tips to help boost your odds!

Apply Early and Often

Once you decide your major and know which school you’ll go to, start applying for scholarships right away. Applying early does not necessarily increase your odds, but it does help you identify opportunities before the submission deadlines pass.

Apply on Time

Speaking of deadlines, most scholarships have hard due dates that applications must be received by. If you intend to apply for multiple scholarships, we recommend creating a tracker and prioritizing your list based on deadlines.

Screen Carefully for Eligibility

Most organizations that sponsor Latinx/Hispanic scholarships have a goal in mind. They want to ensure their money goes to those who really need it, so they establish eligibility requirements to filter applicants. Some require students to major in a particular subject; others want to see proof of academic achievement. Read the requirements carefully and focus your energy on applying to scholarships you’re most likely to win.

Write a Compelling Essay

Many scholarship applications have an essay or statement of purpose requirement. Before you start writing, we recommend looking over the sponsor’s reasoning for giving away free money to students. In a way, they tell you what they’re looking for from candidates, so keep that in mind as you phrase your written materials, but be sure to stay authentic and sincere.

Don’t Skip the Editing

Once you’ve filled out your application and written any essays or statements, take a break then go back and review everything one last time. It’s always good to edit with a clear head and an objective eye. Proper editing shows the review committee that you took the time to ensure your materials are as good as they can be!

Keep Track of Financial Aid

A lot of scholarships and other forms of financial aid are needs-based, meaning they are intended for students who might not be able to afford college otherwise. Receiving one form of funding affects your financial needs equation, which can impact eligibility for other forms of aid. Ask your school if you have questions about how scholarships might affect any other aid you receive or applied for.

26+ Scholarships for the Hispanic/LatinX Community

1. AAA Minority Dissertation Fellowship

The American Anthropological Association offers $10,000 fellowships to minority doctoral students, including Latino/as and Chicano/as, to increase diversity in the field. Applicants should demonstrate financial need during their dissertation write-up period. They must also join or be a member of the American Anthropological Association. Applications are currently closed, but should reopen early 2024.

2. AIFS Scholarships

The American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) Abroad’s Diversity Achievement Scholarship and HACU Scholarship are both great opportunities to consider. The first offers $3,000 to high achieving students “from backgrounds historically underrepresented in education abroad.” The HACU award varies and is available only to Hispanic students attending an approved HACU school. There are recurring deadlines to submit applications for both.

3. AMS Minority Scholarships

The American Meteorological Society’s Minority Scholarship awards $6,000 ($3,000 per year) to Hispanic and other minority student groups that are underrepresented in the sciences. Applicants must start their freshman year in college by Fall 2022 with the intent to work in “atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences” after graduation. The application window is typically open from October to February, so mark your calendars!

4. Architects Foundation Diversity Advancement Scholarship

The Architects Foundation Diversity Advancement Scholarship offers multiyear awards of up to $20,000 to minority students pursuing architecture-related careers. Applicants must be US citizens enrolled in an accredited architecture program. Submission materials include a 1,200-word essay, a resume, two letters of recommendation, and a portfolio of works. The application window is currently closed, but students can sign up for notifications.

5. Cafe Bustelo Hispanic Student Scholarship

Coffee company Café Bustelo invests in the Latino community via its annual $5,000 college scholarships to full-time students of Latino descent. All majors are eligible. Applicants must be “currently enrolled at an HACU-member institution in the US or Puerto Rico. The application window should run from April through July, but please double check their website for updates.

6. CALAHE Scholarships

The Connecticut Association of Latinos in Higher Education offers a Competitive Scholarship to LatinX high school seniors or full-time undergraduates who are from Connecticut, have a financial need, and a 2.75 GPA or higher. Applicants should also have “demonstrated community service within the Latinx community.” Note, the application window closed in June, so check back for updates.

7. Corris Boyd Scholarship

The Association of University Programs in Health Administration’s Corris Boyd Scholars Program awards $40,000 to students enrolled in a qualified graduate program. Applicants must be minority students with a 3.0 GPA or higher.The 2024 application form will be available in January. Submissions must include GRE/GMAT test scores, a resume, statement, letters of recommendation, and financial information.

8. Dwight Mosley Scholarship Award

The USTA Foundation’s Dwight A. Mosley Scholarship is available to USTA-ranked high school seniors from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Applicants must have excellent academics plus be active participants in community tennis programs. USTA’s $10,000 scholarship funding is spread across four years, paying $2,500 annually directly to awardees’ schools.

9. Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Graduate Scholarship

The NCAA’s Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Graduate Scholarship provides $10,000 to qualified minority and female athletics students. Applicants must be active members, full-time students with a 3.2 GPA or higher, and “outstanding citizens and excellent role models.” Applications will open in September.

10. Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowships

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Ford Foundation sponsors a $28,000 Dissertation Fellowship to high academic achievers committed to college-level teaching and research careers after graduation. Applicants must be enrolled in a research-based PhD or ScD program. Applications are closed for the 2023-2024 school year, but be sure to check back late 2023 for the application to open.

11. Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Ford Foundation also offers a Postdoc Fellowship aimed at increasing university faculty diversity. Awards of $50,000 go to students in research-based PhD or ScD. programs. Applicants must intend to perform college-level teaching and research work after graduation. The application should open in September. (Note, there is also a Predoctoral Fellowship offered).

12. Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship

The American Musicological Society’s Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship supports grad students from Latino and underrepresented groups who’ve finished one year of full-time studies and are pursuing a PhD in Musicology. Award amounts are $23,000, and applications must include a personal statement, resume, work samples, and support letters from faculty. Submissions are due in January with winners announced in the summer.

13. Latino Scholarship Fund

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts offers numerous scholarships, including the Latino Breakfast Club for high school seniors from Hampden County, and the Latino Scholarship Fund for students in Holyoke. Award amounts vary but go up to $3,000. Applicants must include the Student Aid Report they received after submitting their FAFSA. Mark your calendars since the submission window is from January to the end of March.

14. MANA de San Diego Sylvia Chavez Memorial Scholarship

The MANA de San Diego Scholarship Program provides named scholarships for community college and university Latina students. Award amounts vary and recipients are selected based on several factors, including financial need, academics, and community engagement. The application window will reopen soon, so please check MANA’s website for updates.

15. USBC Earl Anthony Memorial Scholarship

If you are a senior in high school or a college student with a record of strong community involvement and academic achievements as well as financial need, you are eligible for this scholarship. Applications for this $5,000 scholarship are due by December 1, 2023.

16. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

In association with the California Teachers Association, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship provides up to $6,000 to “encourage ethnic minority students to become educators, school nurses, school counselors or school therapists.” This application will reopen early 2024, so mark your calendars!

17. McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program

The Florida Education Fund sponsors the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship, which pays annual tuition up to $5,000 for three academic years, as well as a yearly $12,000 stipend. The award also features counseling and professional development support and is open to minority PhD students attending participating Florida institutions. Submissions are due January 15.

18. Morgan Stanley RBF Scholarship Program

The Richard B. Fisher Scholarship Program is part of global investment bank Morgan Stanley’s diversity recruiting efforts. Awardees receive college financial aid plus an internship in New York over the summer. Applicants from any major are welcome to apply. This is only one of Morgan Stanlye’s numerous opportunities listed on their scholarship page.

19. NASP-ERT Minority Scholarship Program

The National Association of School Psychologists’ Minority Scholarship Program offers $5,000 to graduate minority students interested in school psychology careers. Applicants must be US citizens, enrolled in an NASP-approved institution, have a 3.0 or higher GPA, and be in good academic standing. Submissions are due by October 29.

20. Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholarship

Every year, HSF selects 10,000 outstanding students as HSF Scholars from a broad and talented pool of applicants. HSF Scholars have access to a full range of invaluable Scholar Support Services, including career services, mentorship, leadership development, knowledge building, and wellness training. Scholarships range from $500 - $5000, and applications are due by February 15, 2024.

21. PRSA Multicultural Scholarships

The Public Relations Society of America offers many scholarships, including four multicultural awards:

The Ofield Dukes Multicultural Student Award
The essay-based PRSA Diversity Multicultural Scholarship
The Georgia Multicultural PRism Scholarship
The Silicon Valley Diversity and Multicultural Scholarship.

Award amounts range from $1,000 to $1,500. Please visit the PRSA site for full details on each.

22. Sherry R. Arnstein Minority Student Scholarship

This award from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine goes to minority osteopathic medical students in good academic standing. Applicants must submit answers to question prompts related to their interest in the field as well as innovative ideas for enhancing diversity. Submissions are due August 11, 2023.

23. The United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program

The United Health Foundation/National Medical Fellowships’ Diverse Medical Scholars Program offers $7,000 renewable scholarships to 2nd – 4th year medical students from underrepresented groups. Applicants must be US citizens or have a DACA approval letter. Winners must complete 200 hours of self-directed community health project work. This application is currently closed, but will open early 2024.

24. Valuing Diversity PhD Scholarship Program

The American Marketing Association’s Valuing Diversity Scholarship pays $1,000 to several students from underrepresented populations who are interested in marketing careers and are enrolled full-time in an AACSB-accredited marketing doctoral program. This application just closed, but should reopen next spring, so mark your calendars!

25. William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship for Minority Students

This selective fellowship from the Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation is based on both financial need and academic performance. Candidates must be motivated undergraduate or graduate students from communities of color interested in philanthropy and nonprofit/social sector work. Note, this is a paid internship in Washington D.C., not a scholarship.

26. Youth Awards

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation has been funding its Youth Awards for 23 years to provide Latino high school seniors with educational grants. Applicants should have a 3.0 GPA, be enrolled at an accredited college for 2022-2023, and be a US citizen, permanent resident, or qualified under DACA. Please check HHF’s website for updates on the coming cycle’s application period!

More LatinX and Hispanic Scholarship Opportunities

Below are several additional scholarships offered by private organizations for students from LatinX and Hispanic communities!