9 Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino Students
What’s Covered:
More and more Hispanic students are attending college every year. From 2000 to 2018, the college enrollment rates of Latino students between 18 and 24 years old rose from 22% to 36%. Although college is becoming more accessible for Hispanic students, the cost remains a barrier to equitable access. About 70% of Latino undergraduates in higher education come from families in the bottom half of earners. One way that Hispanic/Latinx students can control college costs is with scholarships, including numerous specifically targeted scholarships for Hispanic students.
9 Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino Students
1. ABA Diversity Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: N/A
Eligibility:
- Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited university
- Declared a major related to the travel and tourism industry
- Demonstrate diversity, nationality, race, and ethnicity to evaluators
Application requirements: A 500-word essay on the role the applicant hopes to play in advancing the transportation, motorcoach, travel, or tourism/hospitality industry.
The American Bus Association (ABA) awards this scholarship to students from underrepresented groups in the travel, tourism, and transportation industry with hopes to increase diversity in management and operational positions. Winners are selected on a variety of factors, including:
- Academic achievement
- Leadership
- Character
- Financial need
- Commitment to travel, tourism, and transportation industries
2. Association of Cuban-American Engineers Scholarship Foundation
Amount: $500 to $2,500
Deadline: January 31, 2022
Eligibility:
- Citizen or legal U.S. resident
- Completed at least 30 units of work at an ABET-accredited college or university
- Full-time student
- Cuban or other Hispanic heritage (at least one grandparent Cuban or other Hispanic nationality)
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
Application requirements: First page of the Student Aid Report, which shows the applicant’s estimated family contribution.
The Association of Cuban-American Engineers Scholarship Foundation (ACAESF) was established to assist Cuban-American and other Hispanic students in their pursuit of an engineering degree. The award is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.
3. Latino Cooperativa Credit Union Scholarship
Amount: N/A
Deadline: May 14, 2021
Eligibility:
- Currently attending or planning on attending an accredited college, university, or technical school in the U.S. pursuing an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
- Demonstrated distinguished leadership and character
Application requirements:
- Copy of acceptance letter to the institution where you’ll pursue a degree; for those re-enrolling, a transcript
- 500 to 1,000 word essay including bio, goals, reason for applying, and what winning will mean for you (English or Spanish)
- Two recommendation letters (English or Spanish)
Latino Cooperativa Credit Union was established in 2000 to serve unbanked individuals and immigrant communities. Since 2016, it has awarded more than $350,000 in scholarships supporting members on their academic journeys; recipients have gone on to launch careers in industries ranging from healthcare to high-tech to the arts. Extra consideration is given to applicants and families who use LCCU as their primary financial institution.
4. Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: December 2021
Eligibility:
- Enrolled in high school and graduating in the spring of 2022
- Minimum unweighted 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Planning to enroll at an accredited higher education institution
- Of Hispanic heritage (includes Spain, Brazil, Philippines)
- U.S. permanent resident, U.S. citizen, or qualify under the DACA
Application requirements: Answer five 250-word maximum essay questions
Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards honors Latino high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community. It also awards students for excellence in areas such as:
- Business and Finance
- Engineering
- Entrepreneurship
- Education
- Healthcare & Science
- Media and Entertainment
- Social Justice
- Technology
Selected applicants become part of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s network of 200,000 professionals and serve as leaders, helping meet priorities in the classroom and workforce.
5. Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders
Amount: $1,000 for a 4-year institution; $500 for a 2-year institution
Deadline: November 30, 2021
Eligibility:
- Enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) as a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited four-year or two-year institution in the U.S.
- Demonstrate financial need
- At least one parent of Hispanic ancestry
- DACA and Undocumented students are eligible
Application requirements:
- Resume
- Transcript
- 500 word essay including a bio, family history, influential life/work experiences, obstacles overcome, and most significant achievement
- 500 to 750 word leadership essay detailing the future of Latinx (Hispanics) in the U.S., the leadership needed, the role you can play, and how the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) can help you achieve your goals
- Headshot
- Two letters of recommendation
Named after Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr., one of only four Latinos honored by both the U.S. Government and Mexican Government, was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal (the second-highest civilian award in the U.S.) and the National Ohtli Award (the highest honor presented by the government of Mexico). Winners of the award are chosen for their commitment to leadership, a characteristic shared by the scholarship’s namesake.
6. AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: March 1, 2022
Eligibility:
- An ethnic minority in the accounting profession, including, but not limited to: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, Asian American
- Pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in an accounting-related major
- Planning to pursue a CPA licensure
- Attending a public or private, not-for-profit, four-year college or university in the U.S.
- Completed a minimum of 30 semester hours (or equivalent) of college coursework, at least 6 semester hours of which in accounting
- Enrolled full-time —12 semester hours for undergraduates; 9 semester hours for graduate students
- Enrolled in an accredited business/accounting program that meets the educational requirements for CPA licensure
- Minimum overall and major GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- AICPA Student Affiliate member
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Some financial need
- Willingness to remain engaged with the AICPA
Since 1969, the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has awarded the AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students to increase diversity among CPAs. Over that time, the association has provided over $14 million to more than 8,000 students. The scholarship is renewable, although renewals are not automatic or guaranteed.
7. Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Deadline: May 15, 2021
Eligibility:
- Premium member of the organization
- Full-time, degree-seeking student at a two-year college, four-year college/university, or graduate program in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
- 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale
The Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA) awards this scholarship to assist students in meeting the financial obligations of higher education. Despite the organization’s name, the scholarship is open to all majors.
8. The Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Deadline: September 24, 2021
Eligibility:
- 3.0 GPA or higher
- Exceptional academic performance, documented leadership activities, and a commitment to a career providing healthcare to the Hispanic community in the U.S.
- Full-time student in a qualifying accredited program: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, public health, health policy, physician assistant
- U.S. citizen, lawful resident, or DACA recipient
- National Hispanic Medical Association membership
Application requirements:
- Maximum two-page (double-spaced) personal statement or essay that includes career goals
- Current curriculum vitae including education, employment, extracurricular activities, and awards
- Letter of recommendation
- Proof of U.S. citizenship, residency, or DACA status
- Unofficial copy of school transcripts
Established in 2004 to support students with outstanding academic records and possessing great leadership who wish to pursue careers in healthcare fields serving Hispanic communities in the U.S. The award is not explicitly for Hispanic students, but a passion for improving the health of Hispanic communities and an interest in participating in NHHF Scholars Alumni activities is required.
9. Great Minds in STEM (GMiS) Scholarship
Amount: $500 to $10,000
Deadline: May 30, 2021
Eligibility:
- Pursuing a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) degree
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Of Hispanic descent and/or demonstrate leadership and service in an underserved community
- Enrolled full-time in a STEM undergraduate or graduate program for the upcoming semester at an accredited two or four year college or university in the U.S. or its territories
Application requirements:
- 750 to 850 word personal statement
- Resume (one-page limit)
- Peer letter of recommendation from a friend, classmate, lab partner, roommate, teammate, or fellow member of a campus or community organization
- Letter of recommendation from a faculty member, teacher, mentor, advisor, counselor, principal, dean, or MEP Director
- Transcript
- Headshot (for publication purposes)
GMiS is an organization committed to promoting STEM careers to those in underserved communities and to inspire through the achievements of Hispanics and other role models in STEM fields. The GMiS Scholarship supports the organization’s mission by assisting talented Hispanic academics and leaders in their pursuit of STEM degrees.
5 Tips for Winning Scholarships
The price of college continues to rise; consequently, so has the competition for scholarships. Luckily, there are some steps students can take to get an edge over other applicants.
1. Start Early
Don’t wait until junior year to begin the scholarship process. Start researching what scholarships you’re eligible for and which you have the best chance of winning. There are even some scholarships available to freshmen and sophomores. Remember, the more scholarships you apply for, the more likely you are to win an award.
2. Make a Scholarship Schedule
Treat researching, preparing, and applying for scholarships like a job—after all, it can pay off. Setting aside a few hours every week over the course of your high school career can add up.
3. Leverage Your Network
Reach out to your family, employer, friends, and community members and let them know you’re looking for scholarship opportunities. There are tons of great award opportunities that are local, generally less competitive, and typically not well advertised through organizations like church groups, local organizations, and small businesses—you just need to find them.
4. Ask Your Advisor
High school advisors often have years of experience with the college admissions and scholarship processes, and can add insight into what awards will be a good fit for you in particular. They are also an excellent resource and can show you how to improve everything from your application to your essay.
5. Contact Colleges
Know what school you’re going to attend or dream of attending? Search their website or call their financial aid office to learn what type of scholarships are available at the school. Most colleges have scholarships specifically for their students, many of which involve an application separate from the admissions process.
