Private Scholarships

Applying for private scholarships can be time-consuming, but the rewards can be great. Scholarships help students meet their total cost of attendance not otherwise covered through the grants offered. If you receive a scholarship, stay in contact with the agency that funds it - let them know how much you appreciate their support and re-apply every year.  If you are able to make a personal visit, your chances of future funding may be improved. We also recommend reaching out to your local community foundations as a possible funding source.

For a comprehensive list of scholarship resources regardless of immigration status, please visit Immigrants Rising. 

• Scholarship Directory for Undocumented Students

  The scholarships and fellowships compiled here are available to undocumented students.

• Elie Wiesel Foundatin Prize in Ethics Essay Contes

  Submit you essay on the following topic: Articulate with clarity an ethical issue that you have encountered and analyze what it has taught you about ethics and yourself.

• Microsoft Scholarship

  Microsoft awards tuition scholarships and conference scholarships each year to encourage students to pursue studies in Computer Science and related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines. Recipients for both scholarships will be awarded in recognition of their demonstrated passion for technology, academic excellence, and leadership while working to push the software industry forward. Scholarships are available to students who are currently enrolled at a four-year college or university.

• Scholarship America Dream Award

  Scholarship America provides Dream Awards ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 based on the individual student’s financial need. Each student’s award will increase by $1,000 each year to help them successfully finish school and earn their degrees.

• CAC Educational Program

  This Scholarship is available to all high school juniors and seniors as well as all students currently registered in any post-secondary institution.

• eQuality Scholarship Collaborative

  Applicants for all scholarships must have demonstrated service to the LGBTQ community. Applicants of all sexual orientations and gender identities are eligible.

• La Unidad Latina Foundation

  Scholarships are available on a competitive basis to undergraduate four-year college, and graduate students.

• Chicana/Latina Foundation Scholarship

  Each year the Chicana Latina Foundation awards merit-based scholarships to Latina college students, valued at $1,500 dollars each.

• Barbara Wiedner & Dorothy Vandercook Memorial Scholarship Foundation

  Awards of $250 or $500 for high school seniors and college freshmen with demonstrated leadership and personal initiative in activities involving: Peace and Social Justice, Nuclear Disarmament, and/or Conflict Resolution

• Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund

  These need-based scholarships are awarded to students who are able to do academic work at the college or university level or are enrolled in a trade or technical program and who are active in the progressive movement.

• Fulfilling Our Dream Scholarship Fund

  SALEF's "Fulfilling Our Dreams Scholarship" Fund offers financial assistance and support to undergraduate, graduate and professional students, often making the difference in whether a student can attend college or not. The Scholarships are open to all qualifying students regardless of immigration status

• Dream.US

  TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college access and success program for DREAMers. Scholarship recipients must attend one of the Partner Colleges. UC Santa Cruz is a partner college.

• Joel Frankle Scholarship

  The Joel Frankel Memorial Fund awards grants to support undergraduate field study projects in Latin America or in Spanish speaking communities within the United States. While any UCSC undergraduate may apply, priority is given to Merrill College students, Latin American & Latino Studies majors and Politics majors focusing on Latin American and Latina/o issues, whose proposals reflect the founding spirit and vision that established the fund (Refer to the "Philosophy" of Joel Frankel Memorial Scholarship).                                                                                                                           
  

• Nancy Pascal Scholarship

  Awarded annually to students who participate in field study programs. The scholarship is intended to encourage and support real-world experiences that complement formal academic requirements                        

• Elizabeth Butler Scholarship

  The Elizabeth Butler Scholarship was created to memorialize the life of Community Studies alumna Elizabeth (Beth) Butler (’96).

• The Walsh Family Scholarship

  This scholarship rotates annually among the departments in the Social Sciences Division, and this year it is the Latin American and Latino Studies Department's turn to receive the award. Selection is based on academic merit and financial need.

• Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship

  The Gabriel Zimmerman Scholarship is an award dedicated to students in the social sciences who aspire to be agents of change and promoters of social justice. We want to know how you care for others and the world around you, even in the subtlest of ways.

• Blum Scholarship Grant Program

  The focus of the UC Santa Cruz Blum Center on Poverty, Social Enterprise and Participatory Governance is to investigate, analyze, educate and train students, scholars and practitioners in mechanisms, policies and practices that will facilitate properly scaled, innovative and effective institutional management and operation.

• Donald A. Strauss Foundation

  The Donald A. Strauss Scholarship Foundation allows juniors to pursue a public service project during their senior year by providing $10,000 for educational expenses. The project may be a new undertaking or an extension of the recipient’s current activities. UC Santa Cruz can nominate three students for the Strauss Award.

• The Keeley Coastal Scholars Program

  Award supports underrepresented students from California with an unmet financial need doing summer research and policy work connected to Coastal Sustainability. Scholarships will range from $1000-$4000 per student with an associated $1000 in support of the sponsoring faculty member. These funds can be used by students for any expenses incurred during the summer months. Undergraduate majors are invited to apply for this summer scholarship by submitting an online application and project budget.

• The Fanny Carruthers Sociology Scholarship

  Anne Jane "Fanny" Carruthers Howard died on February 15, 1972, leaving a portion of her estate in a trust to be used to fund scholarships for undergraduate or graduate students attending the University of California, Santa Cruz, who have need of financial assistance. This award is based on financial need and academic merit.

• Student Advocates for Higher Education

  The mission of Student Advocates for Higher Education (SAHE) at San Jose State University is to promote higher education among immigrant students regardless of legal status, through activism, advocacy, community involvement, peer support, and leadership development. SAHE has created this scholarship to reward students who are highly motivated to reach their educational goals and give back to their community.

• Davis-Putter Fund

  The Davis-Putter Fund recently announced this year’s scholarship opportunity! This $10,000 scholarship is for undergraduate and graduate students who are active in social justice movements. The Fund considers the applicant’s contribution to social justice, ability to perform academically, and relevance of educational program, as well as their financial need.

• Asian American Journalist Association

  Every year, AAJA SF awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to outstanding high school seniors and college students who have a permanent SF Bay Area address or attend school in the Bay Area and who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism. Students are judged based on their journalistic ability, commitment to journalism, sensitivity to Asian Pacific American issues, financial need and scholastic achievement.            

• Asian Pacific Fund

  The Asian Pacific Fund administers 13 scholarship programs to help undergraduate and graduate students achieve their education goals.