Key Takeaways
Nearly 80% of Hispanic families said scholarships made college possible, according to a 2026 Sallie Mae survey.
Without scholarships, students and families might need to pay more out of pocket for college or rely more heavily on student loans.
Hispanic and Latino/a students can find scholarships based on financial need, first-generation status, and major to reduce college costs.
Hispanic and Latino/a students can find scholarships based not only on heritage, but also on first-generation status, immigration status, financial need, and academic achievement.
Scholarships are an important source of funding for Hispanic and Latino/a students. According to a Sallie Mae survey, 79% of Hispanic families said scholarships made college possible. Compare award amounts, deadlines, and eligibility criteria with this list.
General College Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino/a Students
Below is a list of general scholarships designed to support the Hispanic and Latino/a student population.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Who Is Eligible: Applicants must be of Hispanic heritage and either a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). High school applicants need a minimum 3.0 GPA, and college or graduate school applicants need a minimum 2.5 GPA. Eligible students should plan to enroll in their accredited educational program.
Deadline: February annually
Award Amount: $500-$5,000 (Based on relative need)
Jean DeGrace Crandall Memorial Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Applicants must be seasonal or migratory farmworkers (or the children of these workers) with a history of migration in one of the following New York counties — Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, or Westchester counties — looking to pursue a college degree. Both high school seniors and current undergraduate students can apply. Individuals must submit a copy of a migrant education certificate of eligibility.
Deadline: March annually
Award Amount: $1,000 minimum
TheDream.US National Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: This scholarship is open to undocumented, DACA, or Temporary Protected Status (TPS)-certified students from U.S.-based high schools or GED programs. It's open to students who graduated or will graduate from high school with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Applicants must plan to enroll full time in an associate or bachelor's degree program.
Deadline: February annually
Award Amount: Tuition and fees, up to $33,000
Nike HSI Scholarship Program
Who Is Eligible: Applicants must come from a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), where at least 25% of the undergraduate population is Hispanic. Recipients must be of Hispanic heritage and have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5. First-year undergraduate students who do not yet have a college transcript must submit their high school grades with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Deadline: September annually
Award Amount: $5,000-$10,000 (Based on demonstrated financial need)
Hispanic Education Endowment Fund Scholarship Program
Who Is Eligible: Latino/a college student residents of Orange County, California are eligible. It is exclusively offered to first-generation college students who are either a recent high school graduate or a community college student planning to transfer to a four-year college and enroll full time. Applicants must demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application.
Deadline: January annually
Award Amount: Varies
Scholarships for Latina and Hispanic Women
Below are some scholarships designed for Latina and Hispanic women.
Chicana Latina Foundation
Who Is Eligible: Applicants must self-identify as Chicana and/or Latina women, be enrolled in an accredited program near San Francisco (including community colleges), and have lived at least two years in one of 13 designated California counties. Undergraduate students must have a 2.0 GPA; graduate students must have a 2.7 GPA.
Deadline: TBD
Award Amount: $1,500-$2,000
Illustrating Awesomeness Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Open to women, or gender-nonconforming individuals, of color. Applicants must be currently enrolled, or plan on enrolling during spring semester intake, in an undergraduate program at a college or university in the U.S.
Deadline: TBD
Award Amount: $750
National Hispanic Business Women Association Educational Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: This scholarship is open to female residents of Southern California who are enrolled or planning to enroll at an accredited U.S. college. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and a commitment to service and academics. A 3.0 GPA is required.
Deadline: March annually
Award Amount: Undisclosed
Subject-Specific Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino/a College Students
Narrowing your list of scholarship applications to those that are field-specific is one way to be more competitive in your scholarship search. Check out some niche scholarship options for Hispanic and Latino/a students below.
NBCUniversal Media Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: NBCUniversal and the League of United Latin American Citizens offer this scholarship to college sophomores or juniors enrolled in an accredited program full time. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible to work legally in the U.S. without requiring sponsorship. Available to all majors interested in the media and entertainment industry.
Deadline: TBD
Award Amount: $5,000
Silicon Valley Community Foundation's Latinos in Technology Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: This scholarship supports third- and fourth-year undergraduate Latino/a students in Northern California who have declared a STEM-related major. Applicants should have graduated from a high school in Northern California or be enrolled at a four-year college or university there. You need at least a 3.0 GPA and a demonstrated financial need.
Deadline: TBD
Award Amount: Up to $6,000 per year
Government Finance Officers Association Clark Burrus Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Graduate or upper-level undergraduate minority students pursuing a career in state or local government finance can pursue this award. Suggested majors include: public administration, finance, political science, economics, business, or nonprofit administration.
Deadline: Applications open in November
Award Amount: $10,000
Prospanica Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: The Association of Hispanic MBAs and Business Professionals awards master's or doctoral students in accredited business schools in the U.S. or Puerto Rico.
Deadline: May annually
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Additional Scholarships for Specific Fields
Scholarships for First-Generation Hispanic and Latino/a College Students
According to Sallie Mae's 2026 report, "How America Pays for College," 73% of first-generation college students receiving scholarships said the financial aid made getting to college possible. A financial lifeline can be life-changing. Many scholarships are geared to help the first in a family earn a degree.
Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program
Who Is Eligible: Open to underrepresented first-generation students entering college. Applicants must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and plan on attending a four-year college or university in the U.S. to study in a select group of fields, including transportation management. Applicants are not required to be U.S. citizens.
Deadline: March annually
Award Amount: $5,000
Dorrance Scholarship Program
Who Is Eligible: This scholarship is for Arizona high school students who will be the first to attend college in their families. Applicants must have been accepted to one of Arizona's three state universities and agree to live on campus for at least the first two years of their education. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and 1110 SAT or 22 ACT composite scores.
Deadline: February annually
Award Amount: $12,000 per academic year
Charles Cheesman's Student Debt Reduction Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: This scholarship seeks to reduce student loans for African American and Hispanic or Latino/a first-generation students who are currently in college or have graduated with debt.
Deadline: Varies annually
Award Amount: Approximately $3,400
Additional Financial Resources for Hispanic and Latino/a Students
National Hispanic Institute
NHI collaborates with 80 colleges and universities nationwide and serves 2,000-2,500 Hispanic high school and college students each year. Low-income and rural applicants can access NHI's scholarship fund.
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
This organization offers educational and legal resources for undocumented students and higher learning administrators. It also offers one of the nation's largest scholarship funds for DACA recipients.
TheDream.US
This organization works with approximately 80 partner colleges to support undocumented students through their college graduation. TheDream.US also awards Opportunity Scholarships to undocumented students in states where they must pay out-of-state tuition or can otherwise not access college.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino/a Students
Eligibility criteria vary by scholarship provider. Sometimes, you must be a person of Hispanic or Latino/a descent, while other scholarships offered by organizations that serve Hispanic and Latino/a people are open to all races, such as the Prospanica Scholarship. Read each scholarship website to determine whether you qualify.
