Scholarships for Hispanic Students
Christen Arafeh 
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, college applications by Hispanic students were constantly increasing. However, due to the challenges presented by the pandemic, enrollment rates by Hispanic or Latino students have dropped. Even prior to the pandemic, Hispanic and Latino college students generally faced more challenges compared to white Americans. Now with the pandemic, these challenges faced by students coming from Hispanic families may have increased or have been magnified especially financial ones.
Some Challenges Faced by Hispanic or Latinx Students
One thing that would help even the odds and ease the difficulties faced by Hispanic students are financial aid opportunities that exist like scholarships for Hispanics or Latino students. There are Hispanic scholarships available for students of Hispanic heritage that would be a big help with regards to helping them complete their college education without having to worry too much about their source of funding.
Some Challenges Faced by Hispanic or Latinx Students
Before we cover the scholarship opportunities available for Hispanic students, it is important to know some disadvantages or challenges faced by college and college-bound students from the Hispanic community.
Less Generational Wealth Than White Students
According to the United States Census Bureau, Hispanics are the largest minority group in America. And they are also among the most economically vulnerable population in America, while around one in five Hispanics and Latinx find themselves living below the poverty line.
Furthermore, being a minority, Hispanic or Latinx students have a bigger chance to come from low-income families. This makes enrollment more difficult due to the high cost of attending college. According to the federalreserve.gov website, 47% of Hispanic Americans were denied or approved for less credit than requested in 2016-17, more than double the rate for white Americans.
Increased Economic Difficulties Due to COVID-19
Like we mentioned earlier, COVID-19 has negatively affected enrollment rates which were actually rising prior to the pandemic. This was despite the possible economic disadvantages already facing Hispanics or Latinos.
However, due to the financial problems facing everyone during the pandemic, which were magnified for minorities such as Hispanics or Latinos. Due to such economic setbacks in their families such as loss of jobs or drop in income, thirty-two percent of Hispanic students delayed or canceled their college plans in 2020 — double the rate of white learners and 8-9 percentage points more than Black or Asian American learners.
First-Generation College Students
Being an ethnic minority facing possible economic and cultural disadvantages, Hispanic and Latino students may be the first members of their families to pursue college, or first-generation college students for short. This may make many Hispanic and Latino/a students unfamiliar with the more complex processes required to apply to college and for financial aid such as scholarships.
If you are a first-generation student, there are ways you can succeed as a first-generation student.
Scholarship List for Students of Hispanic Heritage
With these possible financial challenges faced by students from the Hispanic or Latino community, getting different financial aid is very important to help cover the cost of attendance of college.
Here is a list of Hispanic scholarships that students or Hispanic or Latino heritage can apply for. It is recommended that you apply to as many as you are eligible for to increase your chances of getting a scholarship or many scholarships to cover your college expenses.
Deadline: Currently closed, but opens usually in January
Award Amount: $500 - $5,000
Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) empowers students and parents with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing support services and scholarships to as many exceptional students, Scholars, and Alumni as possible.
HSF awards more than $30 million in Scholarships annually and, depending upon available funds, HSF Scholars may also be eligible to receive a scholarship, which range from $500-$5,000 and is awarded directly to students. Scholars are selected based on merit. Award amounts range from $500 - $5,000, based on relative need.
Eligibility:
- Must be of Hispanic heritage.
- U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA.
- Minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students; minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for college and graduate students.
- Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the US, for the 2022-2023 academic year.
- Submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms (if applicable).
Deadline: Will be available early summer 2022.
Award Amount: Up to $20,000 (paid over 4 years).
The ExxonMobil Engineering Scholarship Program is intended to assist and encourage outstanding Hispanic high school seniors who plan to pursue a degree in engineering at U. S. post-secondary institutions. The program is sponsored by the Exxon Mobil Corporation and is administered by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Educational Service Centers (LNESC).
The ExxonMobil Engineering Scholarship Program will award one (1) national scholarship of $20,000, paid over four years, and twelve (12) $2,000 local scholarships to qualified high school seniors.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must reside within the following cities and surrounding areas and meet the following criteria to be considered for a scholarship: Albuquerque, NM, Austin, TX, Bayamon, PR, Colorado Springs, CO, Corpus Christi, TX, Dallas, TX, El Paso, TX, Houston, TX, Kansas City, MO, Miami, FL, Oxnard, CA, Philadelphia, PA, San Antonio, TX, San Diego, CA, Vancouver, WA.
- Must be a graduating high school senior.
- Must have a cumulative high school grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent.
- Must have scored 29 or higher on the ACT test, or 1350 or higher on the SAT test (sum of critical reading and mathematics scores).
- Must be a U. S. Citizen or have the legal right to work in the U.S. without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.
Deadline: Currently closed, but deadline is usually March 31st.
Award Amount: Up to $2,000.
Established in 1975, LNESC and LULAC created the LULAC National Scholarship Fund (LNSF) to help youth in underserved communities make the dream of college enrollment a reality. LNSF is a unique partnership between grassroots advocates and corporations that fund educational opportunities for deserving youth across the U.S.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or be granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
- Must have applied to or be enrolled as a full-time student in a college or university, including 2-year colleges, or vocational schools that lead to an associate’s degree. Graduate students must have applied to or be enrolled as a part-time student in a college or university.
- A student will not be eligible for a scholarship if he/she is related to a scholarship committee member, the Council President, or an individual contributor to the local funds of the Council
Deadline: Opens November 1st with deadline at March 1st of the following year.
Award Amount: $1,000 to $5,000 per eligible academic year.
The ACS Scholars Program awards renewable scholarships to undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups in the chemical sciences, majoring in chemistry-related disciplines, and intending to pursue chemistry-related careers.
Eligibility:
- U.S. citizens or a legal permanent U.S. residents (please inquire via email if you have questions regarding asylum or DACA status).
- African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, or American Indian (please see below for more details).
- Graduating high school seniors or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors. Seniors can apply for their fifth year.
- Those intending to major or are already majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical technology, or another chemistry-related science AND planning to pursue a career in a chemistry-related science as well (please see below for more details).
- Full-time students at a high school or an accredited college, university, or community college.
- Those demonstrating high academic achievement in chemistry or science (Grade Point Average 3.0 or higher).
Deadline: Currently closed, application for 2022-23 program opens in fall.
Award Amount: $5,000 up to $100,000.
The McDonald's HACER National Scholarship Program will offer scholarships to 30 outstanding Hispanic students from all over the country. Funds are aimed to help recipients finance their college tuition, and there are three tiers. Tier 1 recipients will be awarded either $100,000, $50,000 or $25,000. Tier 2 recipients will receive $20,000 or $10,000 and Tier 3 recipients $5,000. Recipients are selected based on their academic achievement, community involvement and financial need.
Eligibility:
- High school senior.
- Legal U.S. resident.
- Younger than 21 years old.
- Carry a minimum 2.8 GPA.
- Eligible to attend a two- or four-year college or university with a full-time course of study.
- Disclose other scholarship programs that you’ve applied for.
- Enroll and attend an accredited institution in the academic year after your selection (verification needed, as scholarship funds are paid directly to the schools).
- Have at least one parent of Hispanic heritage.
Deadline: Currently closed, usually opens in July.
Award Amount: Full cost of attendance.
The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance* that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university.
See more details about the Gates Scholarship.
Eligibility:
- High school senior.
- From at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American.
- Pell-eligible.
- A US citizen, national, or permanent resident.
- In good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
- Student must plan to enroll full-time, in a four-year degree program, at a US accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university.
Deadline: Currently closed, deadline usually falls around February.
Award Amount: Up to $6,000 ($3,000 per year).
The AMS Minority Scholarships will award funding to minority students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, especially Hispanic, Native American, and Black/African American students. AMS is committed to advancing core values of diversity, inclusion, and equity across all aspects of the atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences.
The $6,000 two-year scholarship is for $3000 per year during freshman and sophomore years (second-year funding depends on successful completion of the first academic year).
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or hold permanent resident status.
- Minority students who will be entering their freshman year of college in the fall of 2022 are eligible to apply.
- Students must plan to pursue careers in the atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences. Marine Biology is not eligible.
- Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Students eligible to apply for the AMS Minority Scholarship Program may also apply to the AMS Freshman Scholarship Program but can only accept one scholarship if selected for both.
Deadline: Open; Application deadline in July 30, 2022.
Award Amount: Up to $10,000
EducationDynamics is pleased to announce the sponsorship of the Minority First Generation Scholarship Contest. The new scholarship is aimed to help minority first-generation students achieve their academic goals and further their post-academic career paths. One student will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship based on their submission of a written essay about a unique challenge they are facing as a current or prospective college student.
Eligibility:
- This scholarship is open to all minority applicants who are the first in their families to go to college, are at least 17 years of age and are pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree at an accredited post-secondary institution of higher learning or a certificate program.
Deadline: Currently closed, usually opens in January.
Award Amount: Up to $30,000 (paid over 3 years as long as student is eligible).
The Latinos in Technology Scholarship was established by the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, a public foundation dedicated to inspiring community philanthropy and engaging people to invest in the educational achievement and leadership development of a thriving Hispanic community in Silicon Valley. This program will give up to 100 Latino students the support they need to graduate from college; an educational opportunity they would not have access to otherwise. Additionally, scholarship recipients will be considered for summer internships with sponsoring corporate investors.
Eligibility:
- Must be of Latino or Hispanic origin (as defined by U.S. Census Bureau).
- Have a declared major in and been accepted into a STEM program.
- Graduate of a high school in the following Northern California counties: Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Marin County, Napa County, San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Solano County, Sonoma County and Yolo County; OR, a Graduate of a high school not in the above counties, but enrolled at a college/university within the 11 listed counties. .
- Minimum cumulative college grade point average of 3.0.
- Demonstrated financial need.
- United States citizen or eligible non-citizen (eligible non-citizens include United States legal residents and students who have obtained Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).
Find More Scholarship Programs Suited for You
Above, we presented a list of scholarships available for Hispanics or Latino students. But it would be best to apply for any scholarship and also any grant that you can go for. With all the possibly confusing requirements and processes, especially if you're a first-generation student, having a personalized list of scholarships that you are 100% eligible to apply for and are currently available for you would definitely help. Our Personalized Scholarship Search service will give you a list of at least 20 scholarships that you meet all the scholarship requirements for - making the challenge of getting financial aid simpler and more efficient. Better yet, this list will be organized to make it less confusing. You can also look at our other services and schedule a free 20-minute strategy session with our college applications and scholarships expert.
About the Author
Christen is the founder of Hive Education. She is passionate about helping families navigate the college application and admissions processes. She helps students set goals to work towards their own debt-free degrees with her personalized scholarship searches, scholarship courses, and by sharing her scholarship strategies that won her over $900,000 in for her own college education. With four years of experience in higher education, two years working with teens in inner city high schools in New Orleans, and starting her first college consulting company during a pandemic in 2020 she strives to make college accessible for everyone, especially for first generation, low income, and minority students. In her spare time she loves to share her love for books with her daughters. You can find her on Facebook.
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