Today, access to education is still not evenly distributed, even with scholarships for Hispanic students available.
Undergraduate and graduate students in the Hispanic community are one of the most disadvantaged groups when it comes to a college education, as 70% of Latinx students are first generation college students and more than half of Hispanic undergraduate students are from low-income backgrounds.
Table of Contents
About scholarships for Hispanic students
For Hispanic students, there are significant roadblocks to getting a college education. About 70% of Latino undergraduates in higher education come from families in the bottom half of earners.
As the cost of a college education rises, it is harder for many Hispanic students to fund their education.
In addition, nearly half of Latino students are the first in their families to go to college. Due to these challenges, it can be hard for Hispanic and Latino students to overcome these barriers and attend college.
Although 21.7% of undergraduate students were Hispanic or Latino in 2019, the second largest ethnic group, Hispanic adults are still less likely to hold a college degree than white students.
Beyond college, even high school diplomas can be difficult for Hispanic and Latino students. More than half of Latinas and over 60.0% of Latinos have a high school diploma or less, compared to around 28% of white women and 35% of white men.
But there is hope for Hispanic students who wish to attend college. Although the numbers have dipped during the pandemic, more Hispanic students are going to college every year.
List of Hispanic Scholarships
- McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship.
- The Gates Scholarship.
- Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship.
- Latinos in Technology Scholarship.
- Jackie Robinson Scholarship.
- ExxonMobile Engineering Scholarship.
- The Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship.
- Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship
- Univision NATAS Scholarshi
From 2016 to 2017, the number of Hispanic students enrolled in college rose from 3.17 million to 3.27 million. Before 2020, the number of Hispanic students attending college was rising faster than any other demographic. In order to keep the number of Hispanic students on the rise, they need additional support and resources.
Why are scholarships for Hispanic students important?
Since 1996, the number of Hispanic students enrolled in schools and colleges more than doubled. Now, the Latinx community makes up 22.7% of enrolled students in the elementary and high school student population, as well as comprising 19.1% of students who attend college.
Despite this, many students of Hispanic heritage who demonstrate financial need while seeking academic opportunities still face various challenges.
For example, Hispanic families are more likely to live in poverty, with 15.7% of Hispanic people in poverty in 2019, which is significantly higher than the national poverty rate of 10.5% in the same year.
In comparison, the poverty rates for white people and Asian Americans in 2019 were both 7.3%, less than half of the Hispanic and Latino poverty rates.
Due to the financial burden that many Hispanic families and other underrepresented minority students take on, rising tuition costs can be overwhelming. Needless to say, avoiding student loans is extremely helpful for minority students.
At Bold.org, we’re committed to reducing student debt and providing all students with equal access to education through unique financial aid opportunities.
How to qualify for Hispanic scholarships
Must be Hispanic and/or Latinx
In order to qualify for the scholarships in this list and for many of the other Hispanic scholarships, you must identify as Hispanic, meaning you or your family are from a Spanish-speaking country.
For some scholarships, they may require applicants to be Latinx, which means that you or your family comes from a country in Latin America (South America, Mesoamerica, or the Caribbean).
Double-check the eligibility requirements of each scholarship
Some scholarships will have additional requirements besides just being open to Hispanic or Latinx students.
Some scholarships are specifically for those from a certain Spanish-speaking country, some are for female high school students, and others are for women pursuing a graduate degree. By checking the requirements again, you can make sure that the scholarships you’re applying for are the right scholarships for you.
What types of scholarships available for Hispanic students
There are many types of scholarships that Latinx students are eligible for, including broader scholarships open to all racial minorities as well as scholarships open strictly to Hispanic or Latinx students in certain fields, such as the Hispanic Women in Wildlife Conservation Scholarship.
Scholarships that are specifically created for Latino students are great opportunities since they have such limited eligibility, reducing the number of applicants and increasing your chances of winning!
Additionally, there are some scholarships available for immigrant students, such as the Amplify Immigrant Students Scholarship. Whatever types of college scholarships you’re searching for, you can find them on Bold.org.
How to find scholarships for Hispanic students
You can start your scholarship search on Bold.org, where you can find hundreds of different scholarships to help you attend college.
You can filter the scholarships by category to find specific scholarships that you’re eligible for. In order to find Hispanic scholarships, you can look in the “Diversity and Inclusion” category or search specifically for Hispanic scholarships.
When to start applying for Hispanic scholarships
High school is a great time to start scouting and applying for college scholarships. Many scholarships are available for high school students or exclusively for high school seniors. You can look at Bold.org’s list of scholarships for high school seniors to find scholarships specifically for high school students.
But don’t worry if you haven’t started your search yet! Many college students are just starting their search, and there are plenty of scholarship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. For more information on finding scholarships in college, take a look at this guide on Bold.org’s website.
How to apply for Hispanic scholarships
To start applying for scholarships for Hispanic students, create your free Bold.org profile. Then, click on any of the scholarships above and apply. Some scholarships may require you to write an essay before you apply, in which case you may need to spend more time on your application.
What to consider when applying for scholarships for Hispanic students
When applying for scholarships for Hispanic students, make sure that you check the eligibility requirements. Some scholarships will be for a broader audience while others will be for specific demographics and identities.
You should also consider whether the scholarship you’re applying to has an essay or not. If you are a strong writer or have a unique story, the essay can be a great way to make your application stand out.
Tips for winning scholarships for Hispanic students
Apply early
By applying for scholarships earlier, you can guarantee that you are able to apply for a wide range of scholarships. If you are in high school, there may be specific scholarships that are only available for high school students, so start searching and applying as soon as possible
Apply to as many scholarships as you can
Often, applying to multiple scholarships helps your chances of winning.
Apply to any scholarships you are eligible for to give yourself the greatest chances of winning financial aid. No-essay scholarships are a great option due to the quick application process.
Apply to scholarships with specific requirements
If you are a Hispanic or Latina woman or an LGBTQ+ person, finding scholarships that are looking for these specific demographics might change your chances of winning due to the limited eligibility pool. Additionally, some scholarships look for people within a certain state or city. Try to find scholarships that are specific to your identity, because these will have fewer people applying.
Make sure your essay is clear, concise, and exciting
If the scholarships you are applying to require an essay, make sure that you check your essay for spelling and grammar mistakes and make sure that your message is concise.
Beyond that, don’t forget to make your essay unique. If your essay stands out, you may be more likely to win.
Frequently asked questions about Hispanic scholarships
What struggles do Hispanic students face in college?
First, there is a lack of Hispanic mentors to guide students through their education journey, as only 4.7% of full-time professors are Hispanic even though 19.8% of undergraduates are Hispanic. This discrepancy results from the disproportionate amount of white professors, who account for 73.2% of full-time professors, despite the fact that only 52% of undergraduate students are white.
Furthermore, today there are many undocumented Hispanic college students in need of assistance. It is estimated that there are currently more than 450,000 undocumented immigrants enrolled in colleges and universities. Of these undocumented students, 46% are Hispanic or Latinx, and 65% of DACA-eligible students are Latinx.
Undocumented students face a unique set of challenges in the academic world, as many are low-income but are ineligible for Pell grants, which are a federal student aid option that helps many low-income citizens afford college.
Additionally, undocumented students who aren’t protected by DACA have to live with the stress of potentially being deported.
Is there a wage gap for Hispanic workers?
There is still a significant wage gap between white and Hispanic workers, with Hispanic men who work full time making 14.9% less per hour than white men in 2016. This gap is partially due to the differences in college attainment rates, with around 40% of white men holding college degrees as compared to 16.4% of Hispanic men.
Hispanic women face a particularly wide wage gap when compared with white men, earning an average of $0.55 for every dollar that white men earn. It’s estimated that this pay gap causes Latinas to lose an average of $1,163,920 each over the course of their lives. The Latina pay gap is a long-persisting problem, and little progress has been made. Since 1989, the gap has narrowed by only $0.03, roughly $0.01 per decade.
Part of the reason for this wage gap is that Latinas are more likely to work low-paying jobs, with 30% doing front-line work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, Hispanic women make up a disproportionate amount of child-care workers, comprising only 7% of the total workforce yet 22% of child-care workers.
Even within low-paying jobs, Latinas are still underpaid.
Latinas who are full-time childcare workers still face a wage gap with white men in the same profession, earning $0.88 for every dollar that white male childcare workers make. Similarly, Latinas who work as maids or janitors make only $0.61 for every dollar that white men working the same jobs earn.
Who qualifies for Hispanic scholarships?
There are many scholarships available for Hispanic high school students to prepare for college and for Hispanic college students to prepare for professional life to help lessen their student loan debt. The CareerVillage.org Scholarship, for example, is open to a student who attends a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). You can find even more exclusive scholarships on Bold.org!
Can I get a scholarship for being Hispanic?
Yes, you can get any of the scholarships above by being Hispanic as well as many others on Bold.org.
What is a Hispanic scholarship?
A Hispanic scholarship is a scholarship for Hispanic or Latinx students. If you or your family are from a Spanish-speaking country or if you are from South America, Mesoamerica, or the Caribbean, you can apply for Hispanic scholarships.
How many college scholarships are there for Hispanic students?
There are dozens of scholarships available specifically for Hispanic students on Bold.org, including the 7 scholarships above. Beyond this, Hispanic students can also apply for some of the scholarships that apply to a broader range of students.
What is the best website to apply for Hispanic scholarships?
Bold.org is an easy and accessible way to find and apply for scholarships. To apply, just create a profile on Bold.org.
Once you do, you can apply for hundreds of scholarships with a few clicks.
If you are a minority student in college (or are a minority student planning on college), our scholarships are perfect for you. Latino students attending college across the United States should consider our variety of scholarships.
Are Hispanic scholarships taxable income?
Scholarship money from Bold.org is sent directly to your college or university and is not considered taxable income. If you’re not yet in college, we’ll hold your award money in an account for you until you enroll.