Can you attend college for free in California?

Yes, it's possible to attend college for free in California. California's community colleges charge a low tuition rate of $46 per credit for California residents, and the California College Promise Grant waives tuition fees. You can also cover the cost of college through scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial aid that do not need to be paid back.

What is the California College Promise Grant?

The California College Promise Grant covers enrollment costs at California Community Colleges. California residents can submit a two-page application to qualify for the grant, which covers costs at 48 community colleges located across the state. After earning a two-year degree at a community college, you can transfer to a four-year public college.

Are there any full-ride scholarships in California?

Several California colleges offer full-ride scholarships to qualifying students. Several liberal arts colleges in the state promise to cover unmet financial need without loans, including Pomona College. To learn more about specific financial aid packages, reach out to the financial aid office at a California college.

What is the California Dream Act?

The California Dream Act allows undocumented students and DACA recipients to apply for financial aid. These students do not qualify for federal financial aid through the FAFSA; however, they can submit a CA Dream Act application to receive state and institutional grants in California. The California Dream Act also qualifies these students for in-state tuition rates.

35 California Scholarships You Can Apply For

Updated on August 27, 2024

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Are you a California college student? Check out these scholarships for college students in California to save money on your degree.

College isn’t cheap, and it can be especially expensive in California where the cost of living outpaces other states.

In California, college students spent an average of $8,637 per year in tuition at public universities in 2022-2023, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Private colleges cost even more, averaging a whopping $42,017 in tuition and fees.

College scholarships help California students save thousands each year and can cover more than just your tuition. Check out our list of 35 scholarships for college students in California to help you fund your education in the Golden State.

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General California Scholarships and Grants

These general scholarships for college students in California award millions in aid every year. Check out the eligibility guidelines to see whether you qualify.

CAC Educational Scholarship Foundation

Award Amount: $1,500-$2,500
Deadline: June 30
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors attending a California high school can apply. The scholarship funds students planning to attend an accredited public or private college.

Cal Grant Competitive Award

Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: May
Eligibility: The state awards 13,000 grants annually. You’ll need to meet income eligibility requirements. Depending on the grant, you’ll need either a minimum 3.0 GPA or a minimum 2.0 GPA.

California Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program

Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: June 30
Eligibility: Dependents and spouses of qualifying law enforcement personnel can apply. You’ll need to meet Cal Grant income guidelines and submit the FAFSA.

California Scholarship Federation

Award Amount: $1,000-$3,000
Deadline: February 18
Eligibility: CSF Advisors must nominate students. You must be a high school senior in good standing to receive the award. That includes earning Sealbearer status before applying.

Hazel Reed Baumeister Scholarship Program

Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: February
Eligibility: Graduates of San Mateo County or Santa Clara County high schools with a record of community involvement and a minimum 3.5 GPA can apply. You’ll also need to show proof of financial hardship.

Horatio Alger State Scholarship

Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: June
Eligibility: High school juniors with a family income of under $55,000 qualify for this award. You’ll need a minimum 2.0 GPA and evidence of community service.

Krishnan-Shah Family Scholarship

Award Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: February
Eligibility: High schoolers and community college students in the greater Silicon Valley Region can qualify. You must be a first-generation college student with a minimum 3.75 GPA.

Middle Class Scholarship

Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: March
Eligibility: Undergrads attending a UC, CSU, or California community college can apply. The scholarship supports students with a family income and assets up to $217,000.

PSR/Sacramento High School Scholarship Essay Contest

Award Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: March
Eligibility: Applicants must be high schoolers in Sacramento or a surrounding county. You’ll need to write an essay based on a prompt chosen by the Physicians for Social Responsibility Sacramento chapter.

San Joaquin Community Foundation Scholarships

Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: San Joaquin high school seniors can apply for several scholarships funded by the community foundation. Eligibility requirements vary depending on the scholarship.

Sponsoring True Advocacy for Challenged Youth Scholarship

Award Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: September 15
Eligibility: Students living in nine counties in the greater Sacramento area, including Contra Costa County, may qualify for this scholarship. You must attend an accredited institution and have a record of helping people with disabilities and their families.

Subject-Specific Scholarships for College Students in California

Studying in a specific field? You can apply for one of these California scholarships that limits eligibility to certain majors.

Association of California Water Agencies Scholarship

Award Amount: $3,500
Deadline: March 1
Major: Any water resources-related field
Eligibility: California residents attending a UC or CSU school studying a major related to water resources can apply. This can include engineering, agricultural, environmental studies, and public administration majors.

Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writing

Award Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: February
Major: Creative writing
Eligibility: If you graduated from a San Mateo County or Santa Clara County high school, you can apply for this scholarship. You’ll need to show a passion and talent for creative writing.

CIEF Scholarships in Architecture

Award Amount: $2,000-$4,000
Deadline: March
Major: Architecture
Eligibility: Architecture students at community colleges through master’s level programs can qualify for these scholarships, which award funding for 2-5 years. You’ll need to be a California resident and identify as a person of color.

Golden State Nursing Foundation Scholarship

Award Amount: $500
Deadline: June 30
Major: Nursing
Eligibility:California nursing students qualify for these scholarships to help pay for a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate in nursing. You’ll need to attend an accredited nursing school to receive the award.

Jazz at the Ballroom Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,000
Deadline: December
Major: Music
Eligibility: Studying jazz education or music? You can apply for this scholarship for high school jazz instrumentalists in California. To qualify, you must currently attend a California high school.

Mel C. Marshall Scholarship

Award Amount: $500 per semester
Deadline: October 31, June 30
Major: Building, construction, or concrete-related industry
Eligibility: California residents studying any topic related to the construction industry, including safety, accounting, and IT, can qualify. You’ll need a sponsorship letter from a California Precast Concrete Association member.

Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship

Award Amount: $500-$1,000
Deadline: March 1
Major: Viticulture or enology
Eligibility: Central Coast high school seniors and students at Allan Hancock Community College or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo qualify if they’re studying viticulture or enology.

California Scholarships for Specific Student Populations

These California scholarships help students from specific populations or demographics — including women, LGBTQ+ students, and students of color — pay for college. Get all the information you need on eligibility and applying below.

AAUW Re-Entry Women Scholarship

Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: This scholarship is open to women ages 23 and older who do not have a bachelor’s degree. You must live or attend school in San Diego County.

Banatao Family Filipino American Education Fund

Award Amount: $5,000 per year
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Filipino students in qualifying northern and southern California counties can apply for this scholarship. You must be a full-time, first-year student majoring in engineering, math, computer science, environmental science, or physical science. You can renew the award for up to four years.

Bill H. James Foundation Scholarship

Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: July
Eligibility: Black engineering students may apply for this scholarship, which funds upper-level bachelor’s students and graduate students. You must attend an accredited school in California to qualify.

California Rural Water Association Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,000-$3,000
Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Applicants must be associated with CRWA to qualify. Other requirements include a minimum 2.0 GPA and evidence of study related to the water or wastewater field.

College Women’s Club of Pasadena Scholarship

Award Amount: Up to $4,000
Deadline: February
Eligibility: Women earning an undergraduate or graduate degree at specific California colleges near Pasadena can qualify for this scholarship. You’ll need a minimum 3.0 GPA.

eQuality Scholarship Collaborative

Award Amount: $6,000
Deadline: February
Eligibility: Residents of northern or central California, as well as LGBTQ+ graduates of Oakland Unified School District, may apply. You can also apply if you’re pursuing a medical degree at an accredited California med school.

Italian Catholic Federation Scholarship

Award Amount: $400-$1,000
Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Italian Catholic students attending a public or Catholic high school in California can apply. You must have a minimum 3.2 GPA.

Ivy & Pearls Scholarship

Award Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: African and Black students living in Bay Area counties can apply. You need to be a high school senior with a minimum 2.75 GPA.

Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund Scholarships

Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: You can apply for 15 scholarships through the Jewish Community Federation. Most awards target Jewish undergraduates in the greater Bay Area.

Karen Ha Scholarship

Award Amount: $2,500
Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Korean first-year and transfer students from the Bay Area can apply. You’ll need to attend an accredited public California college and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Latinos in Technology Scholarship

Award Amount: up to $6,000
Deadline: February
Eligibility: Latino/a and Hispanic students in STEM programs can apply. You need to graduate from a Northern California high school or attend a college in an eligible county. You must also demonstrate financial need and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.

National Hispanic Business Women Association Educational Scholarship

Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Southern California students earning their bachelor’s or graduate degree qualify. You must show financial need and hold a minimum 3.0 GPA. The scholarship also looks for evidence of community service.

Santa Rosa Ninety-Nines Aviation Scholarship

Award Amount: $5,000
Deadline: August 15
Eligibility: Women pilots who live within 300 miles of the Sonoma County Airport can apply for this scholarship to fund aviation education or training.

Popular Online Degree Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

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School-Specific California Scholarships

Many schools offer institutional scholarships for college students in California. Attending one of the following universities? Check out the scholarship opportunities below.

San Diego State University Merit Scholarships

Award Amount: $7,500-$10,000
Deadline: By invitation only
Eligibility: SDSU offers a prestigious merit scholarship to outstanding students who graduate from a local SDSU admission-area high school. The scholarship is by invitation only; first-year applicants learn in December or January whether they qualify.

UC Berkeley Achievement Award Program

Award Amount: $6,000 per year
Deadline: May 12th
Eligibility: Full-time UC Berkeley students can receive this award. You’ll need to meet Cal Grant A income eligibility requirements and have completed high school, earned a GED diploma, or completed community college transfer requirements in California.

UC Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarship

Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: March
Eligibility: UC Berkeley awards over 3,000 undergraduate scholarships annually. The eligibility requirements vary depending on your status. Complete the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application to apply.

UC San Diego Chancellor’s Scholarships

Award Amount: up to $5,000 per year
Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: California residents starting their first year at UC San Diego can apply. The scholarship considers financial need, first-generation college status, economic background, and extracurricular activities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships in California

The California Student Aid Commission offers multiple scholarships, including the Cal Grant. The Cal Grant awards up to $12,570 for eligible students. Submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by the March deadline to qualify for state scholarships and grants.