Scholarships For First-generation Hispanic Students In New York City – As Hispanic Heritage Month approaches, we wanted to highlight unique Hispanic scholarships available to students across the country.
By 2026, more than 4.1 million Puerto Rican and Latino students are expected to enroll in U.S. colleges and universities, outpacing growth for all other ethnic groups.
Scholarships For First-generation Hispanic Students In New York City
However, the cost of higher education is increasing. Students from immigrant families or poor communities may have difficulty attending college. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive list of Spanish courses for high school students!
First-generation College Student Facts
Some of the courses listed here have approaching deadlines or require application prerequisites, so please read the information before applying. Even if the application deadline has already passed, we recommend saving this page as all scholarships listed are annual awards that students can return for the following year.
All of the scholarships listed here are available nationwide, but many communities offer Spanish-language scholarships to students in those communities, so you may want to consider looking for opportunities close to home.
Also, if you are already enrolled in university, be sure to ask if there are special university tuition rates for Spanish students.
Eligibility: Undocumented students or DACA students admitted to the United States. Under 16 and before November. January 1, 2018
Hola Microsoft Scholarship: Open To Undocumented Students With Daca
Description: This is defined as a “Pell Grant” for motivated undocumented students in need of serious financial assistance. We offer up to $33,000 in tuition at one of our partner universities to earn your bachelor’s degree. Some successful applicants may receive up to $6,000 in additional funding, but we also consider applicants’ commitment to community service, education, and excellence, given the barriers and challenges undocumented students always face.
Eligibility: American Hispanic students. To be eligible, you must enroll in high school and graduate by spring 2024. A minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or a 7.5 GPA on a 10.0 scale is required. Must be registered in a higher education institution from 2024 to 2025 and be of Spanish-speaking origin.
Description: The Latino Heritage Youth Award is presented to a Latino high school student who has demonstrated community involvement and academic excellence.
Eligibility: Hispanic students preparing for careers in the public sector. The requirement is that the student must be enrolled full-time or part-time in an undergraduate or graduate program. You must study a major in government, such as public administration or political science. You should also send a thank you letter highlighting your commitment to the public sector. The application window opens in November.
First Generation College Student Scholarships
Description: GFOA offers a variety of scholarships, including publicly funded Minority Scholarships, to provide financial opportunities for minority students. To apply for the scholarship, students must be prepared to manage public finance projects.
Eligibility: U.S. Hispanic (or other minority) student. To be eligible, you must be a high school graduate, a U.S. citizen, and have evidence of financial need, high academic achievement, and plans to attend a four-year college or university in the United States.
Applications must include letters of recommendation, personal information, high school information/transcripts, college plans, family information, activities/awards, and four transcripts (provided). You may also submit tests such as AP/IB/PSAT, but this is optional.
Description: In honor of Jackie Robinson’s discoveries, this scholarship funds four years of undergraduate education for students from diverse backgrounds and is awarded annually.
Onefuture Coachella Valley
Eligibility: American Hispanic students studying chemistry or a related field. You must be a lawful permanent resident or citizen of the United States. The target audience is high school or college students (seniors entering the 5th year can also apply). Must be a full-time student at a high school, college, university, or community college with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Description: The ACS Scholars Program awards advanced scholarships to undergraduate students from underrepresented groups in the chemical sciences, particularly chemistry-related fields, who wish to pursue chemistry-related careers.
Eligibility: American Hispanic students. You must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or DACA resident. Additionally, high school students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0). College students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0. You should plan to enroll full-time at a public/nonprofit four-year university for the next academic year (undergraduate or graduate school).
Description: Each year, HSF selects approximately 10,000 outstanding students as HSF Scholars from a pool of talented applicants.
Find New York Scholarships
Eligibility: Hispanic American students majoring in STEM. Open to high school students in the San Francisco Bay Area. Current and community college students may also apply, with priority given to regularly enrolled junior students.
The scholarship is paid for 3 years. Recipients can participate in the Career Launch Academy, mentorship programs, internships, and more. Applicants to the University must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. All applicants must demonstrate financial need.
Description: The Latino Scholarship in Technology was established by the Silicon Valley Hispanic Foundation, a philanthropic organization that uses its financial resources to advance the education and leadership of the thriving Hispanic community in Silicon Valley.
Eligibility: U.S. Hispanic/Latino students. You must be a lawful permanent resident, U.S. citizen, or DACA recipient. You must also have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or, if approved while working, a minimum 2.75 GPA.
First Generation College Scholarships
You must also be a member of Prospanica and be enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program (Bachelor/Bachelor’s, Masters/Masters, PhD, etc.). To apply for a bachelor’s degree, you must be a sophomore or higher in college.
Description: The Prospanica Foundation provides scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students in the Hispanic region who are committed to community service and realize their academic potential.
A $10,000 scholarship is awarded to a small number of applicants who are the first in their family to enroll in college, are 17 years of age, and are pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education or certificate program.
Eligibility: Applicants must have a GPA of 3.75 or higher, be enrolled in college in the fall, and be a U.S. citizen with the right to work without assistance.
For Students: National Recognition Programs
Description: The ExxonMobil Engineering Scholarship encourages Spanish high school students to pursue an engineering degree. There are 12 scholarships of $2,000 each, with one awarding $20,000 over four years.
Eligibility: Hispanic students in the United States. Students must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.3 or higher and plan to pursue a full-time four-year degree from an accredited U.S. college, non-profit institution, or university. For applicants with American Indian/Alaska Native ancestry, proof of tribal enrollment is required.
Description: The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for high-achieving, underrepresented, and underrepresented students. Each year, this scholarship is awarded to outstanding student leaders with the goal of helping them realize their potential. Honors ranks in the top 10% of their class and has demonstrated leadership qualities and personal success.
Eligibility: Hispanic American students majoring in the entertainment or media industries. You must be at least 18 years of age, a high school senior or high school student enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and be a lawful permanent resident, U.S. citizen, or have U.S. work authorization. No future support is required.
Hispanic Achievement Scholarship
Description: The NBCUniversal Media Scholarship Program is designed to support and encourage outstanding Hispanic students enrolled in U.S. higher education.
If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our list of 40 scholarships for Hispanics and Latinos.
Jonathan Kindall is content editor at Media. He attended Boston University’s School of Communication and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Jonathan is committed to helping young people get a head start by providing a variety of resources to help them explore the world of college, scholarships, and more.
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Scholarships & Resources For Hispanic & Latino Students
We are here to help you find educational and enriching opportunities for youth that you never knew existed. After you create an account, you can save your preferences, request information through our public contact form, and submit feedback. You can also tailor messages to your interests and preferences. Starting college is often a tumultuous time in young students’ lives, often bringing stress and big changes.
Graduating from high school and moving on to higher education is especially difficult for first-generation students from minority communities who have few teachers or resources.
