Scholarships for Hispanics: How to Qualify for Financial Aid as a Minority Student (2024)

There are millions of scholarships available on the Internet for students interested in areas such as art, science, and engineering. But did you know there are also scholarships available specifically for students who are from different ethnic backgrounds? For example, there are scholarships for Hispanics.

In this article, we are going to discuss the scholarships that are available for Hispanics pursuing higher education. So if you are Hispanic, make sure you read on.

Scholarships for Hispanic Students

Being a minority student can be a prerequisite for some special scholarships. There are many scholarships available for Hispanic students who are going to a college or university and are in need of financial aid.

Let’s look at some of the scholarships available for Hispanics, regardless of their degree program, in more detail below.

Rumba Meats Scholarship

Rumba Meats cares about their Hispanic heritage and culture, and because of that, it has created the Rumba Meats Scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to 25 Hispanic students each year. To apply, you must submit a 500- to 1,000-word essay discussing your life, any achievements that you are proud of, and how being Hispanic has influenced those achievements.

League of United Latin American Citizens National Scholarship Fund

The League of United Latin American Citizens has a national scholarship fund for Hispanic students who are heading off to higher education. Within this scholarship, high school seniors may receive any of the three following awards.

National Scholastic Achievement Awards

To qualify for this $2,000 scholarship, students need to have a 3.5 GPA or higher and receive a 29 on their ACT, or a minimum of 1,350 on their SAT.

Honors Awards

To qualify for this scholarship, which is between $500 and $2,000, a student must have a 3.0 GPA, and score a minimum 23 on their ACT, or 1,100 on their SAT.

General Award

To qualify for this $250 to $1,000 scholarship, students must show drive and initiative within their community. Grades may also play a factor in determining whether you qualify.

Hispanic Scholarship Consortium

The Hispanic Scholarship Consortium is open to highly-motivated Hispanic and Latino students who are graduating high school or are already in their undergraduate or graduate years at college. The qualifying students will have shown exceptional leadership and will go above and beyond to achieve their goals. Students must be enrolled in college full-time or part-time to qualify and must also be residents in the State of Texas.

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Scholarship Program

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities scholarship program is a list of awards for Hispanic students in the United States and Puerto Rico offered through partnerships with corporations. These scholarships are for high school seniors or those already enrolled in college. Below are some of the scholarships in the HACU program.

Denny’s Hungry For Education

This scholarship is for students who attend an HACU-accredited college or university and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Students must write a 500-word essay on how Denny’s can bring communities together. This scholarship is worth $2,000.

Miller Lite National Scholarship

The Miller Lite National Scholarship is a $2,500 scholarship for students 21 and older who live in the following areas: Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New York City, and Puerto Rico. Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to apply.

Oracle Scholarship

This $2,125 scholarship is sponsored by Oracle to students pursuing any major with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

KIA Motors America Inc. STEM Scholarship

The Kia Motors STEM Scholarship strongly encourages first-generation college students to apply. It is aimed at students who are majoring in biology, pre-medicine, physics, any engineering field, graphic design, math, architecture, and more. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to qualify for this $3,400 scholarship.

Cafe Bustelo El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship

The Cafe Bustelo El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship is a $5,000 award for students of Latino descent. It requires students to write an 800-word essay about their Hispanic heritage, community, and family and how it has motivated them to earn a college degree. In the essay the student must also explain how they will give back to their community after earning their degree.

Hispanic Heritage Foundation Youth Awards

The Youth Awards are given to Latino students in eight different fields: business and finance, health care and science, technology, engineering, media and entertainment, entrepreneurship, social justice, and education.

The awards are one-time payments given at three levels: gold, Silver, and Bronze. Students can choose whether to put the money toward their college education or toward community services or a social issue they care about. The scholarships are each worth up to $1,000.

McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship Program

The McDonald’s Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources scholarship is for Hispanic American students who want to make the world a better place. To win, an applicant must attend an interview, excel academically, show that they are involved in their community, and demonstrate financial need. Students must also submit a letter of recommendation and a personal essay.

Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship For Young Hispanic Leaders

The Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship For Young Hispanic Leaders is for students who are community leaders and are in dire financial need. It is worth $1,000 and can be renewed for all four years of college. If the candidate attends a two-year college, the scholarship is $500 per year.

To qualify, students must submit two letters of recommendation and two essays. One letter must be from a teacher or professor and the other from someone within your community, such as a boss or coach.

One essay must describe who you are, your family, previous jobs, and achievements. The second should address your leadership qualities.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund is a competitive scholarship in which students are awarded anywhere from $500 to $5,000 based on their academics and financial need. This scholarship is open to students who are entering college, already in college, or are in graduate school.

ScholarSHPE

The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers scholarship is for Hispanics who are pursuing a major in STEM in college. They offer several scholarships, some of which are listed below.

Undergraduate ScholarSHPE

This $2,000 scholarship is for Hispanic students in their sophom*ore, junior, or senior year of college majoring in STEM. The student must be a member of SHPE and have a 2.75 GPA or higher.

Chevron ScholarSHPE

The Chevron ScholarSHPE is for students who are pursuing an engineering degree in chemical, electrical, civil, computer, cybersecurity, mechanical, or another related field. They must be a member of SHPE and have a minimum 2.75 GPA to qualify for this $5,000 scholarship.

Eaton Multicultural Scholarship

This $2,500 scholarship is for students who are looking to pursue Aeronautical/Aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, electrical engineering, and computer sciences. Students must have a 3.0 GPA.

Graduate ScholarSHPE

This $3,000 scholarship is for students who are in graduate school pursuing a STEM degree and have maintained a 2.75 GPA or higher.

Intel Graduate/ Ph.D ScholarSHPe

This $10,000 scholarship is for students who are pursuing their masters or PhD in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering. Students must be active members within SHPE.

Graduating High School Senior ScholarSHPE

This $1,000 scholarship is for graduating high school seniors who are planning to pursue a STEM degree and have a GPA of at least 2.75. They also must be a member of SHPE.

Colgate-Palmolive

The Colgate-Palmolive scholarship has partnered with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to offer 100 scholarships worth $1,000 each for students who have excellent academics, are active within their community, and show leadership qualities. You must be of Hispanic descent and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to apply.

National Association of Hispanic Nurses

The National Association of Hispanic Nurses offers a range of scholarships for Hispanic nurses who are role models in their field. Below is one of the few awards it offers.

United Health Foundation

The United Health Foundation Scholarship is worth $5,000 per year for three years. It requires that students attend the annual NAHN Annual Gala and the UHF conference in Washington, DC, and have a GPA of 3.0. This scholarship is for college sophom*ores or higher.

Conclusion: Embrace Your Heritage to Pay for College

Getting a scholarship for your Hispanic heritage is an opportunity you should embrace. You demonstrate your pride and show the impact that you have had on your community. Earning a scholarship will help reduce the cost of college and will allow you to build your network within the Hispanic community.