For the first time in our country’s history, the majority of U.S. high school students headed to college are Hispanic. Latinos now represent about 17 percent of all college students, up from 11 percent in 2006, and according to the Pew Hispanic Center, more females than males are earning degrees.
This shift in demographics presents a few unique challenges for students. Finding ways to make college affordable, such as finding scholarships and other educational resources is often a deciding factor in pursuing a degree. From tuition costs and room and board to lab fees and textbook costs, calculating the total cost of college is quite an undertaking for any student, regardless of ethnicity. Here, we address these concerns and guide students to solutions to finding the most affordable college options possible.
Scholarships for Hispanic Students
Scholarships and grants are an ideal way to help pay for tuition. They are essentially gifted funds based on financial need, cultural background, educational and civic achievements, athletic ability, hobbies, intended major, etc. Funds received do not have to be repaid, although some sources require students to give back to a community or organization as a condition of the scholarship or grant.
There are many opportunities for Hispanic students, but the trick is knowing where to look for the right scholarship or grant. Though high school guidance counselors and college financial aid offices are a good place to start, it helps for students to do research outside as well:
Sponsoring organization:The American Institute of CPAs
Amount:$12,000
Application due date: June 19
In order to encourage minorities to become accounting professors, this scholarship is designed for students who are pursuing a doctorate in accounting. Applicants must have a master’s degree in accounting or three years of work experience in the field.
Sponsoring organization:League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the GE Foundation
Amount:$5,000
Application due date: August 10
Students must be at least in their sophomore year of college and enrolled in an accredited business degree program. Applicants must have at least a 3.25 grade point average. This scholarship is also available to students enrolled in engineering programs.
Sponsoring organization:Golden State Minority Foundation
Amount:$2,000
Application due date: April 1
This scholarship is for students enrolled in a business degree program in southern California. Students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and those who work more than 25 hours per week are not eligible to receive this award.
Sponsoring organization:Hispanic College Fund (HCF)
Amount:$500 to $5,000
Application due date: February 16
This scholarship is for students enrolled in business, science or engineering degrees. To qualify, students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0, maintain full-time student status, and demonstrate financial need.
College juniors and seniors who are majoring in business disciplines such as general or international business, public relations, marketing, economics, finance, or sales may apply for this scholarship. In order to apply, candidates must have at least a 3.0 grade point average and be enrolled at a participating university on a full-time basis.
Sponsoring organization:National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA)
Amount: $2,500 to $10,000
Application due date:
In order to promote Hispanics in business, this scholarship is designed for MBA students enrolled in an accredited business school on a full- or part-time basis. Eligibility requirements include maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average and participation in an NSHMBA chapter.
Sponsoring organization:National Alliance for Hispanic Health
Amount:$2,000
Application due date: Spring, check site for details
This award is for students enrolled in a technology-related bachelor’s degree program. In order to qualify, applicants must be full-time students with a minimum 2.75 grade point average.
Sponsoring organization:Entertainment Software Association Foundation
Amount:$3,000
Application due date: March 1-May 15
Up to 30 scholarships are available to students who are interested in using their computer skills to create video games. Applicants must have a minimum 2.75 grade point average and plan on undertaking a career in computer and video game arts.
Awarding over $2.3 million in scholarship money to date, the HENAAC Scholarship Program is designed to encourage Hispanic students to earn STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degrees, including those in computer science.
Minority students studying a technical discipline on a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level can apply for this scholarship. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 grade point average.
This scholarship is for students obtaining a degree in computer engineering or computer science. Eligibility requirements include a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and achievements in math and science courses.
Named in honor of migrant educator Frank Kazmierczak, this scholarship is for education majors who are either migrant workers or the children of migrant workers. Applicants must submit a personal essay detailing why they want to become a teacher, as well as two letters of recommendation.
Sponsoring organization:Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Amount:Varies
Application due date: January 14
This scholarship is for students earning education, STEM, or public health degrees. Students must have a grade point average of at least 3.3 to be eligible for this award.
Sponsoring organization:Florida Fund for Minority Teachers (FFMT)
Amount:$4,000
Application due date: July 1 and November 1
The Minority Teacher Education Scholarship is for students enrolled in education degree programs in an FFMT-approved school in Florida. Students must have completed an associate’s degree or 60 credit hours in order to qualify.
Students in Illinois who plan to teach in the state may be able to receive funding from this program. Applicants must prove residency, maintain a 2.5 grade point average, and sign an agreement promising to teach at a public, private, or parochial school in Illinois.
Sponsoring organization:Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Amount:Varies
Application due date: September 4
Minority students attending an Indiana college or university to train for a teaching career may apply for this scholarship. Award criteria include state residency and a 2.0 minimum grade point average, and students must commit to working in the state upon graduation.
This scholarship is for students in Tennessee enrolled in an education degree program. In order to receive this award, students must attend school full-time and maintain a 2.5 grade point average. In addition, award recipients must commit to teaching at a Tennessee public school after graduation.
Sponsoring organization:The Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC)
Amount:$2,000
Application due date: Fall
AMAC awards scholarships to minority students enrolled in aviation-related degree programs, including engineering. Students must show activity in community and extracurricular activities and be citizens of the United States.
This award is for students enrolled in STEM-related majors, such as engineering. High school applicants must have at least a 3.0 grade point average in order to be eligible for the scholarship, while current college students must earn at least a 2.5.
Sponsoring organization:National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME)
Amount:$2,500
Application due date: March 15
NACME awards this scholarship to high school seniors who will be majoring in engineering. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 grade point average and 1650 SAT score.
Sponsoring organization:American Society of Safety Engineers
Amount:$4,000
Application due date: March
This scholarship is awarded to engineering students who are bilingual, and pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in occupational safety. Students attending an ASAC/ABET accredited safety program are preferred.
Northern California students can apply for the Kaiser Permanente Scholarship, which is awarded to nursing students at the college junior and senior level. The award is based on financial need and applicants must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average to qualify.
Sponsoring organization:American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Amount: $18,000
Application due date: May 1
Students earning a doctoral nursing degree with the intention of becoming a teacher may apply for this scholarship. Students must commit to teach post-graduation, and must be enrolled full-time in a program.
This award provides funding for students enrolled in a BSN or accelerated master’s nursing program. Applicants must provide transcripts to prove they have at least a 3.0 grade point average, as well as letters of recommendation and a written statement summarizing goals and accomplishments.
Sponsoring organization:National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)
Amount:Varies
Application due date: April 3
The association provides scholarships to members enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate level nursing program. Applicants must be full-time students with a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
This scholarship is awarded to science majors living in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties in Ohio. In addition, this award is available for students enrolled in math, computer science, business, or engineering degree programs.
Sponsoring organization:American Political Science Association
Amount:$4,000
Application due date: June
APSA awards scholarships to students enrolled in political science doctoral programs. The association grants awards based on grade point average, GRE scores, recommendations and extracurricular activities.
This award is for master’s degree students who plan to enter an advertising, marketing or public relations field. Eligibility requirements include a 3.2 grade point average.
These awards are given to students entering an engineering doctoral program. In addition, GEM offers awards to students working on a science PhD.
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Hispanic Students Facing Special Situations
Some Hispanic students face unique challenges that can put a damper on their plans for post-secondary education. For example, their parents may have inconsistent seasonal work, or lack the documentation needed to help secure a student loan easily. While these issues may seem difficult to overcome, they are not insurmountable. Below, we’ve outlined several higher education hurdles that Hispanic students encounter each school year, and provide key resources and advice to help them get started, get funding and earn a degree.
Children of Migrant Workers
For migrants, the temporal nature of their work often results in exclusion from the college preparatory process available to individuals settled in a particular community and school system. Completing necessary steps, such as filling out FAFSA® forms and meeting school application deadlines, becomes especially difficult. Fortunately, there are numerous resources – local and national – that can help.
Through the U.S. Department of Education, CAMP offers assistance to students who are children of migrant or seasonal farm workers in the United States and helps to fund their first year of studies in an approved post-secondary institution.
The DOE funds state programs aimed at ensuring that migrant students reach challenging academic goals and graduate with a high school diploma or complete a GED. California’s MEP is a good example of such a program. Students should check the availability of an MEP in their state.
The MSF is a non-profit organization helping migrant students gain access to higher education by connecting them with scholarships, internships and service learning opportunities.
Undocumented Students
The controversy continuing to swirl around the fates of immigrants without legal status in the United States has created a great deal of confusion regarding issues of undocumented students and college opportunities. Many students today continue to believe that the doors to a higher education remain shut and locked due to their undocumented status. Options for these students are available, however, including the following:
DACA provides certain undocumented immigrants who entered the United States before their 16th birthdays a number of benefits and protections including work permits and exemption from deportation, thus easing financial and other related pressures.
The DREAM Act is a piece of legislation whose aim is to create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented children growing up in the United States. It was first introduced in Congress in 2001 and reintroduced several times since, but currently remains unpassed. State-level versions have passed in many states, however, that allow undocumented students to apply for and receive scholarships. California again provides a good example of the types of state DREAM Act benefits available.
There are a variety of college scholarships offered to undocumented students. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund provides this excellent resource site that includes a link to its current Scholarship Resources Guide.
First Generation College Students
There are literally millions of Hispanic students today facing the exciting prospect of becoming the first in their families to turn the dream of earning a college degree into a reality. Most colleges want to help by offering special programs for first-generation students enrolled or considering enrollment at their institutions. Here are a few other resources for this first-generation:
A great resource for all Latino students, the Latinos on Fast Track (LOFT) Institute helps first-generation students through education events and mentoring programs.
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