The Ultimate Guide To Scholarships For Asian Americans
If you’re looking for scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, you’ve come to the right place. College can be expensive, which is why scholarships for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders can help lower the cost of college and graduate school.
If you’re an Asian-American or Pacific Islander, our resources and this scholarship guide for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders can help you pay for college and graduate school. It’s important to understand the differences between scholarships for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. Asian-American students, or their parents, may have immigrated from China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and many other Asian countries. Pacific Islanders are typically from Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, Fiji and several other Pacific Islands.
In this guide, we will discuss:
How To Pay For College
There are many ways to pay for college. Paying full tuition, fees and room and board is not the only choice. Here are the main ways for how to pay for college:
Scholarships. Scholarships are available from non-profit organizations, companies and civic organizations who want to make a difference in the lives of young women. There are hundreds of scholarships available, each has its own separate application process.
Grants. Grants are based on your financial need and are available from your school, federal government or state government. Unlike a student loan, grants do not need to be repaid.
Student Loans. Student loans are the most popular way that students pay for college or graduate school. After you have received scholarships and grants, you likely will borrow student loans. You can borrow student loans from the federal government and from a private lender. If you borrow from the federal government, you receive the same interest rate as all other borrowers. If you borrow from a private lender, you may receive a lower interest rate if you have a credit history or apply with a co-signer.
Federal Work Study. Federal work study is available for undergraduate and graduate students. The program is based on need and provides students with a job to earn money and pay for college or graduate school.
The Scholarship Application Process
Each scholarship has different requirements so make sure to check for qualifications. There also may be eligibility requirements that you need to satisfy in addition to applying for a particular scholarship. Here are some common components of the scholarship application process:
Grades. Many scholarships may have a minimum grade point average. Even if the scholarship is need-based, scholarship organizations may require a minimum level of academic achievement.
Essay. You may need to answer one or more essay questions. Scholarship organizations may want to evaluate your writing ability and the reasons you believe you are best qualified to receive a scholarship.
Recommendations. You may be asked to provide one or more written recommendations. These recommendations can be from teachers or employers who know you well and can highlight your strengths and aptitude.
Interviews. Some scholarships may require an interview. These interviews may be on the telephone or in person. In either case, it’s helpful to prepare for your interviews.
Scholarships For Asian-Americans
These scholarships for Asian Americans collectively offer hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to young Asian-Americans based on merit and financial need.
Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 6, 2022
This scholarship is available to high school seniors and full-time college students who are Asian and/or Pacific Islander. Applicants must major in performing arts, visual arts, journalism or mass communications. Applicants also will be evaluated on leadership abilities, community service and extracurricular activities.
View ScholarshipAmerican Sociological Association Minority Fellowship Program
Amount: $18,000
Deadline: January 31, 2022
This scholarship seeks to attract talented doctoral students to ensure a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles in sociological research. The Minority Fellowship program also helps prepare fellows for a research career, including papers, workshops and conferences.
View ScholarshipAPIA Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Deadline: January 22, 2022
This scholarship is intended for under-served Asian and Pacific-Islander Americans who live at or below the poverty level and are the first in their family to attend college. APIA is the largest non-profit provider of college scholarships to Asian and Pacific-Islander Americans (APIA). Applicants should have a strong commitment to community service, leadership and academic achievement.
View ScholarshipAurelio “Larry” Jazo Migrant Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: April 1, 2022
This scholarship offers an annual award for post-secondary scholarship assistance to a migrant farmworker student who recently migrated to Illinois.
View ScholarshipEdward S. Roth Manufacturing Engineering Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 1, 2022
This scholarship is college or graduates school at a four-year college for students who are enrolled in a manufacturing engineering degree program. Preference is given to minority students and applicants who demonstrate financial need.
View ScholarshipEMPOWER Scholarships
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: April 15, 2022
This scholarship encourages and supports minority students who are pursuing a career in a medical or rehabilitation field. Applicants must identify how they will use their education and training and demonstrate their interest in rehabilitation. Selection is based on the applicant’s stated intentions, past achievements, need, and graduation ranking.
View ScholarshipHawai'i Community Foundation Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Deadline: January 1, 2022
This scholarship is for college students who are residents of Hawaii who can demonstrate financial need. Annually, HCF distributes over $4.5 million to deserving students, making it the third largest private provider of post-secondary scholarships in the state.
View ScholarshipIndian-American Foundation Upakar Scholarship
Amount: $8,000
Deadline: April 30, 2022
This scholarship is for a graduating high school senior who was born in India or has at least one parent born in India. Applicants can attend a two-year or four-year college and have a 3.6 GPA.
View ScholarshipJapanese-Americans Citizens League Scholarship Program
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 1, 2022
This scholarship program currently offers over 30 awards, with an annual total of over $70,000 in scholarships to qualified students nationwide. Applicants must be members of the Japanese-American Citizens League.
View ScholarshipLiveLikeLyly Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 6, 2022
This scholarship is for Asian American students who are pursuing a major in fashion or graphic design. Applicants must be at least 25% Asian or Pacific Islander and have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activites.
View ScholarshipMargaret Raley New York State Migrant Student Scholarship
Amount: $500
Deadline: April 1, 2022
This scholarship recognizes the educational achievement of migrant farmworker students with a history of migration to and/or within New York State.
View ScholarshipMigrant Farmworker Baccalaureate Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 6, 2022
This scholarship is for Asian American students who are pursuing a major in fashion or graphic design. Applicants must be at least 25% Asian or Pacific Islander and have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities.
View ScholarshipMoss Adams Foundation Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: April 30, 2022
This scholarship is for applicants who wish to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Applicants may be minority women, women returning to school as current or re-entry juniors or seniors, or women pursuing their fifth year requirement through either general studies or within a graduate program.
View ScholarshipNational Medical Fellowships
Amount: Varies
Deadline: January 1, 2022
This scholarship is for underrepresented minority students who are enrolled in a graduate U.S. healthcare program. Must demonstrate a commitment to serve medically underserved communities.
View ScholarshipRobert Apicella Good Samaritan Migrant Scholarship
Amount: $500
Deadline: April 1, 2022
This scholarship recognizes a migrant farmworker senior high school student from New York State needing post-secondary scholarship assistance who has demonstrated a caring and giving attitude toward another individual or community.
View ScholarshipSeeds of Fortune Scholarship
Amount: $500
Deadline: January 1, 2022
This scholarship is a program that is creating the next generation of financially empowered young women of color by helping them apply for college scholarships, as well as teaching career and financial management skills.
View ScholarshipTELACU College Success Program Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: January 1, 2022
This scholarship is for incoming freshman who have maintained at least a 2.75 GPA and performed at least 20 hours of community service.
View ScholarshipUSAttorneys.com Immigration Scholarship
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: July 1, 2022
This scholarship is a program that is creating the next generation of financially empowered young women of color by helping them apply for college scholarships, as well as teaching career and financial management skills.
View Scholarship