10 College Scholarships for Hispanic Women to Save You Thousands

The best colleges seek out diverse student bodies that feature individuals from all races, religions, and walks of life. In an effort to draw more Latinas to higher education, a number of schools and organizations now offer specific scholarships for Hispanic women. From general awards targeting women of Hispanic descent to specific grants for Latinas pursuing a particular field of study, read on for some of the best college scholarships for HIspanic women.

10 College Scholarships for Latina Women

Want to achieve your dreams of earning a degree without saddling yourself with debt for decades to come? Below are some of the many scholarships for Latina women:

1. HSF Scholarship

Amount: $500 to $5,000 

Deadline: February 15, 2020

Eligibility: 

• High school, undergraduate, and graduate students
• Hispanic heritage
• 3.0 GPA (2.5 for college students)

Application Requirements:

• Completed FAFSA and Student Aid Report
• Essay
• Transcripts
• Letter of recommendation
• Financial aid award letter
• Enrollment verification

Are you considering a career in STEM? While the Hispanic Scholarship Fund provides awards to students of all majors, special consideration is given to those pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math. Financial aid isn’t considered during the selection process, but it may affect the amount of money you receive in funding.

2. PepsiCo Cesar Chavez Latino Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Deadline: Unknown (opens March 2020)

Eligibility: 

• Individuals of a Hispanic background
• Attending school in Arizona or Central California
• 3.0 GPA
• Commitment to volunteer work

Application Requirements: 

• Resume
• Transcript
• Two letters of recommendation
• 500-word essay
• Financial documents

Targeting Hispanic women and men with a passion for service, the PepsiCo Cesar Chavez Latino Scholarship Fund recognizes high achievers who have given back to their communities in various ways. Arizona and California students can qualify for this award regardless of national origin or immigration status. The fund gives out 10 scholarships a year.

3. McDonald’s Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources (HACER) Program

Amount: $2,000 to $5,000

Deadline: February 5, 2020

Eligibility: 

• Legal residents under 22
• At least one parent of Hispanic heritage
• High school seniors with a GPA of 2.7 or higher who are eligible to attend college

Application Requirements: 

• Transcript
• Personal statement
• Letter of recommendation
• List of community service endeavors
• FAFSA

Sponsored by the McDonald’s Operators Association of Southern California, this award celebrates talented young people with at least one parent of Hispanic descent. To be eligible, students must come from a handful of select neighborhoods throughout Southern California. They should also have performed well academically despite limited access to educational resources. Scholarships start at $2,000, with $1,000 renewable each year for up to three additional years of schooling. 

4. ACS Scholars Program

Amount: $5,000

Deadline: March 1, 2021

Eligibility: 

• US citizens or permanent residents
• GPA of 3.0
• Demonstrated financial need
• No pre-med or pharmacy students

Application Requirements:

• Transcript
• Two letters of recommendation
• Student Aid Report (provided after you submit the FAFSA)

Do you dream of working in the sciences? The ACS supports current and aspiring chemical science or chemical technology majors from underrepresented ethnic groups. This scholarship for Hispanic women and men is open to high school seniors, as well as college freshman, sophomores, or juniors. Students who are pre-med don’t qualify for the award.

5. AMS Minority Scholarships

Amount: $6,000 over 2  years

Deadline: February 8, 2021

Eligibility: 

• US citizens or permanent residents
• Minority students entering their freshman year of college
• Pursuing a major in atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences (not marine biology)
• 3.0 GPA

Application Requirements:

• Completed application form
• Official high school transcript
• Letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor
• SAT or ACT scores

Students from minority backgrounds, especially those who are Hispanic, Native American, and African American, can benefit from the generous AMS Minority Scholarship awards. The program, which is funded by donations, is distributed to college freshmen and sophomores on a two-year basis. Receiving the award in the second year depends on a satisfactory performance in your first year. 

6. Girls Who Illustrate Awesomeness Scholarship

Amount: $750

Deadline: December 1, 2020

Eligibility: 

• Young women of color enrolled in, or starting college in the upcoming year
• Minimum GPA of 3.0

Application Requirements: 500-word essay or 5-minute video detailing how you will make the world a better place

Celebrating women of color with a passion for making the world a better place, the Girls Who Illustrate Awesomeness Scholarship is open to non-gender-conforming individuals, as well. The scholarship accepts only a certain number of applications a year. Applying early is the best way to ensure you’ll be considered for this prize.

7. ExxonMobil/LNESC Scholarship

Amount: $20,000 over 4 years (top national prize), or $2,000 (local prize)

Deadline: Typically April

Eligibility: 

• High school seniors of Hispanic descent
• Must be citizens or have legal right to work in the U.S.
• Must be from select cities in CA, CO, FL, PA, PR, MO, NM, TX, WA
• Accepted to a post-secondary school and planning to pursue an engineering degree
• 3.5 GPA
• 29 ACT or 1350 SAT

Application Requirements: Applications are currently closed. Check back when the scholarship opens again for next year.

Celebrating the achievements of Hispanic seniors, the ExxonMobil/LNESC Scholarship Program supports students with a passion for engineering. To qualify for this award, you must be accepted into and planning to attend a baccalaureate program in engineering.

8. La Unidad Latina Foundation Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: October 18, 2019 (last year)

Eligibility: 

• Latino students in a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD program at an accredited school
• At least one year of completed study for undergrad and one semester for grad
• Graduates of 2-year community college starting at a 4-year college are eligible
• 2.8 GPA

Application Requirements:

• Transcript
• Acceptance letter (if not currently enrolled in a four-year institution)
• Letter of recommendation demonstrating commitment to civic service

Another scholarship for Latina women, the La Unidad Latina Foundation award is open to students working to advance the Hispanic community. Unlike many programs, this scholarship is open to almost all fields of study and degree types. In fact, the award welcomes applicants pursuing bachelor’s degrees, masters of arts, masters of science, masters of public administration/policy, masters of social work, masters of education, masters of divinity, and PhDs.

9. NBCUniversal/LNESC Scholarship Program

Amount: $5,000

Deadline: Typically July

Eligibility: 

• Latino undergraduates or high schoolers accepted to college
• 3.0 GPA
• SAT and ACT scores

Application Requirements: Applications are currently closed. Check back when the scholarship opens again for next year.

Looking to spend your life in the spotlight? The NBCUniversal/LNESC Scholarship Program supports talented Latino men and women pursuing careers in entertainment and media. Each year, ten rising sophomores and juniors receive an award of $5,000 toward their education. There is no particular major requirement for this scholarship.

10. Leon Bradley Scholarship

Amount: $3,500

Deadline: May 29, 2020

Eligibility: 

• Minority students
• Seeking a degree in education and in your final year

Application Requirements:

• 500-word personal statement
• List of extracurriculars and awards
• Transcript
• Letter from the Dean of the College of Education or a designated representative
• Letter from a character reference 

Funded by the The American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA), the 

Leon Bradley Scholarship Program awards up to two undergraduate scholarships annually. Along with supporting minorities in their quest to become teachers, the program strives to ensure all students have access to instructors from different races and ethnic backgrounds. Graduate students seeking administrative credentials may also qualify for support. 

Tips for Applying to Scholarships

Whether you’re targeting general college grants or scholarships for Hispanic women, it’s important to do your homework. Here are some of our top tips for increasing your chances of securing a scholarship.

1. Start Early

As a high school student, it’s never too early to start seeking out options for scholarships. With college tuition prices on the rise, students need all the funding they can get. Because winning scholarships is a numbers game, it’s wise to apply to as many scholarships as you can, prioritizing those that you have a good chance of securing. When possible, you should apply to scholarships with similar requirements, so you can limit the extra work you have to do.

2. Find a Support System

Applying to scholarships can be just as arduous as applying to colleges. So, it’s important to have a good support system in place to help you through the process. While friends and family can be great for moral support, you might want to go outside your inner circle by consulting teachers and guidance counselors. Along with writing recommendations if necessary, these professionals can advise you on application questions, and even read over your essays and give pointers. 

3. Check Your Work

It doesn’t matter how brilliant your essay is if it’s full of grammatical errors and misspellings. Before sending in your application package, be sure to read over every section and answer to identify mistakes and ensure there’s nothing you missed. If proofreading isn’t your strong suit, think about having a trusted pal look over your documents as well. 

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