California Scholarships

The Edgerton-Occidental Merit Scholarship supports outstanding entering Occidental College students who reside in California, with particular emphasis on making a private liberal arts education accessible to talented middle-income California families. Recipients are selected automatically during admission review without a separate application. The scholarship provides fifty thousand dollars annually, renewable for up to four years totaling two hundred thousand dollars, while the student remains in good academic standing. This endowed merit program is funded through the Edgerton-Occidental Merit Scholarship endowment.

Incoming first-year and transfer students from WUE-eligible Western states who are admitted to the University of New Mexico are automatically considered for the Western Undergraduate Exchange Plus program. Eligible students need a 3.0 GPA or 20 ACT (1030 SAT). WUE Plus reduces non-resident tuition to the New Mexico resident rate, with a value of up to $23,149 per year. The award is renewable for up to four years with 15 credits and a 2.5 GPA each fall and spring semester. No separate scholarship application is required, but applying by your admission deadline improves consideration.

The Sabatte Family Scholarship at UC Santa Cruz is the highest honor scholarship funded by an estate bequest from alumnus Richard Sabatte. It supports high-merit first-year California resident freshmen, including AB540-eligible students, with financial need so that their aid packages cover cost of attendance using gift aid alone. Annual awards range from $9,000 to $17,000 based on need and other resources, totaling $36,000 to $68,000 over four years. Students are automatically considered through the UC application and FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. Scholars receive priority enrollment and housing guarantee eligibility. Recipients must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Automatic WUE nursing award for incoming nonresident first-year students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents from a participating WUE state or territory, hold an unweighted GPA of 3.90 to 4.00, and are Pre-Nursing or Nursing majors. The scholarship covers 150% of resident tuition, saving about $16,339 per year for up to four years with full-time enrollment and a 3.00 renewal GPA. Construction Management, Radiological Science, alternative fee, and fully online majors are ineligible. Admission files must be complete by December 15 for fall.

San Diego area high school seniors or graduates who worked prior to the applying year for the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Premier Food Services, or a Fairgrounds contractor may apply for the Don Diego Employee Scholarship. The award is $10,000 toward education at a four-year institution or a two-year college with vocational coursework in anticipation of transferring to a four-year school. Previous Don Diego Scholarship Foundation winners are ineligible. Submit a high school transcript with your application by March 30. Semi-finalists are interviewed by Don Diego board members. The scholarship must be used within four years of receipt.

College juniors, seniors, or graduate students pursuing civil engineering, welding engineering, welding engineering technology, or a related discipline may apply for the Matsuo Bridge Company Ltd. of Japan Scholarship through the AWS Foundation. Applicants need a high school diploma, at least a 3.0 GPA, and enrollment at a school in the United States. Priority goes to residents of California, Texas, Oregon, or Washington. One award of up to $10,000 is listed annually (AWS national scholarship materials also describe a broader dollar range across related awards). Apply through the AWS Foundation scholarship portal by the national deadline. Matsuo Bridge is a leading Japanese fabricator of steel for bridges, buildings, and other structures, including major suspension-bridge projects.

California high school seniors or college students majoring in civil engineering or construction management, or UCON member affiliates in any major, with a 3.0 or higher GPA may apply. Awards range from $3,000 to $10,000. Member affiliates include employees, spouses, registered domestic partners, or dependents of UCON member companies. Submit a personal statement, financial-need essays, transcript, and one recommendation by April 17.

U.S. citizens pursuing campus-based study in the 2027-2028 academic year may apply to one or more stand-alone UNICO Foundation scholarships if they meet each fund's criteria. Most require Italian descent; several funds are open to all ethnicities. Award sizes vary by named fund, from about $1,000 to $10,000, covering high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate entrants, nursing, medical school, study abroad in Italy, and field-specific awards. Online applications are due March 15, 2027 for the 2027-2028 academic year. Applicants generally must reside in or hold chapter sponsorship from listed states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, or Wisconsin), with limited exceptions. UNICO National is an Italian-American service organization whose foundation promotes education, culture, and charitable projects nationwide.

The Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Award at UC Santa Cruz supports community college transfer students from thirteen designated California community colleges who have excelled academically while overcoming socioeconomic challenges and serving others. Each participating college may have one or more recipients receiving $20,000 total, paid at $10,000 per year for two years, plus priority enrollment. Applicants must be admitted as new junior transfers, select the designated scholarship category on the UC application, and submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by March 2. Non-immigrant visa holders are not eligible. Scholars must demonstrate leadership, service, and financial need.

Legal residents of Santa Clara County enrolled full time or part time in an undergraduate or graduate architecture program may apply for the AIA Silicon Valley William R. Hawley Scholarship. Undergraduate applicants must have completed at least two years of college work in the architecture major by the end of the current academic year. Previous recipients may reapply. Up to two awards of up to $5,000 are given annually. Submit a portfolio, personal statement, two recommendations, and proof of enrollment through the AIA Silicon Valley scholarship application. AIA Silicon Valley established this scholarship in 2004 to support the next generation of architects in the region.