50 Asian American Scholarships – 2025

Scholarships for college are wonderful resources that help pay for your college education. Unlike student loans, scholarships do not need to be repaid but can still be used directly against tuition costs. Some scholarships are awarded to students based on merit (scroll down for a full list of Asian American Scholarships). Committees review credentials like a student’s GPA, their extracurriculars, and even supplemental materials, like essays or letters of recommendation.

Scholarships are important because they help alleviate the cost of college and offer equal opportunity for lower-income students seeking a college degree. While the amount awarded varies depending on the scholarship, students are not limited to just one application. So, they may apply for many scholarships. Even small amounts can start to add up!

What Scholarships Are Available for Asian American Students?

In some cases, scholarship funds are established for students with certain backgrounds and underrepresented identities. In this article, for example, we will detail scholarships for Asian students. These scholarships are intended for those with an AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) identity.

Below, 50 Asian American scholarships are listed. The requirements for these scholarships vary. However, we have made sure to include the amount awarded and the eligibility criteria, and, to make your search a little easier, the scholarships have been sorted by deadline:

• Rolling deadlines
• January deadlines
• February deadlines
• March deadlines
• April deadlines
• May deadlines
• June deadlines
• July deadlines
• August deadlines

Asian American Scholarships – Rolling Deadlines

1) CAPAL Public Service Scholarships

• Awarded Amount: $3,000
• Eligibility: These scholarships are intended for undergrad and graduate students throughout the United States, including Washington, DC, who plan to work otherwise unpaid internships. These internships are open to all majors, and interns may work in rural or urban areas during the length of their commitment.
• Deadline: Rolling

2) ABA Scholarships

• Awarded Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: These Asian American scholarships are available for students who are from underrepresented groups. Most of these scholarships are aimed toward students preparing to enter the travel and tourism industries.
• Deadline: Varies

Asian American Scholarships – January Deadlines

3) APIA Scholars

• Awarded Amount: Range from $2,500 to $20,000
• Eligibility: Undergraduate students attending an accredited U.S. college or university are eligible to apply. Students may plan to attend either a 4-year university or a 2-year university.
• Deadline: January 21

February Scholarship Deadlines

4) Ho’omau Foundation Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: Ranges from $1,000-$2,500
• Eligibility: To apply, students must be of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander descent and actively engage in a Pacific Islander/Polynesian/Hawaiian club or class, as either a student or teacher of native language, dance, music, or other outreach programs. At the time of application, students must be U.S. citizens, present an academic record with a minimum 2.5 GPA, and provide 2 recommendation letters.
• Deadline: February 1—April 16

5) Al Young Sports Journalism Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: $2,500
• Eligibility: Undergraduate students who are of AAPI descent who want to pursue sports journalism as a career are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Applicants will be judged on their academic and journalistic achievement and must demonstrate financial need. Additionally, students must be an active AAJA member.
• Deadline: February 14

6) Michael Kim Journalism Fellowship

• Awarded Amount: $2,500
• Eligibility: Sports journalists who have less than three years of professional experience may apply for this scholarship. However, students must be within three years of college graduation or in their first television market. The award is named in honor of Michael Kim, the godfather of AAJA’s Sports Task Force.
• Deadline: February 14

7) Korean University Club Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: This scholarship is not merit-based, as its requirements are more focused on location. Applicants must be residents of Hawaii and have Korean ancestry to be eligible. However, the panel will also look for a minimum 2.70 GPA. There is no essay required to apply.
• Deadline: February 28

March Scholarship Deadlines

8) Li Family Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: 5 scholarships of $10,000 each
• Eligibility: This scholarship is aimed to help first-generation college students. High school seniors may apply for this scholarship by submitting a statement which details their background as an Asian American and why they want to attend college.
• Deadline: March 1

9) Spectrum Scholarship Program

• Awarded Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: Presented by the ALA, this scholarship aims to help American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students obtain a graduate degree in library studies.
• Deadline: March 1

10) Alexander de Guia Memorial Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: 5 scholarships of $1,000 each
• Eligibility: To be eligible for this Asian American scholarship, students must be of Filipino or Filipino-American heritage and are leaders in their communities. Applicants who are Filipino immigrants or children or grandchildren of Filipino immigrants are especially encouraged to apply.
• Students must have a GPA of 3.5 at the time of application and be a high school senior or community college student with the intent to transfer into a 4-year college during the year of the scholarship cycle.
• Deadline: March 10

11) AICPA Foundation Scholarship for Minority Accounting Education

• Awarded Amount: Varies; up to $10,000
• Eligibility: Students must be an AICPA Student Affiliate member to apply and be of Asian American, Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Native American ethnicity. Students who apply for this scholarship should plan to pursue the CPA licensure but not presently be a CPA.
• Deadline: March 15

12) OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: $2,000
• Eligibility: To apply for this year’s cycle, students must be first-generation high school seniors who plan to attend a college or university upon graduation. This means the applicant’s parents must not have completed a college or university degree. Students must have an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and/or Pacific Islander (AANHPI) identity.
• Additionally, students do not need to be U.S. citizens to apply, and there is no minimum GPA requirement.
• Deadline: March 18

13) Banatao Family Filipino American Education Fund

• Awarded Amount: $5,000 (annual); renewable up to 4 years
• Eligibility: Students must be rising college freshmen at the time of application, and enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year college or university.
• This is a major-focused scholarship, so students must be majoring in engineering, mathematics, computer science, or environmental or physical science. Students must have at least 50% Filipino heritage and reside in California.
• Deadline: March 21

14) Shui Kuen and Allen Chin Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: Up to $1,000
• Eligibility: Students must be either graduating high school seniors or undergraduates to apply. At the time of application, they must be either or currently employed, or the child of a current or former employee of an Asian-owned or Asian cuisine restaurant.
• Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to apply, and intent to seek either an associate or bachelor’s degree as a full-time student. Additionally, students must demonstrate financial need.
• Deadline: March 25

15) Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program

• Awarded Amount: Up to $7,500/year
• Eligibility: This scholarship is designed for those who are of African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Native American origin, or a qualified bilingual minority applicant who plans to teach at a nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool, elementary school, or secondary school.
• Deadline: March 31

16) San Diego Chinese Women’s Association Scholarships

• Awarded Amount: $2,000 (4-year school); $1,500 (2-year school)
• Eligibility: Applicants must be at least one-quarter Chinese descent, a grading high school senior attending a San Diego County high school, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Deadline: March 31

April Scholarship Deadlines

17) Helen and L.S. Wong Memorial Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: $1,000-$3,000
• Eligibility: Students must be residents of Fairfield or Suisun, California to apply. At the time of application, students must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.
• Students enrolled at a community college may apply, but they must have a strong commitment to transfer to a four-year institution. Additionally, applications must have at least 50% Asian heritage.
• Deadline: April 11

18) Shuqiao Yao Memorial Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: $2,000
• Eligibility: Undergraduate students studying psychology or psychiatry are eligible to apply for this Asian American scholarship. Students must plan to pursue a career in these fields and submit a statement detailing their background and why they have chosen this field of study. At the time of application, students must have a 3.0 GPA.
• Deadline: April 13

19) Matt Fong AAPF Scholarship Program

• Awarded Amount: Two $5,000 scholarships
• Eligibility: Students must be enrolled full-time at a four-year college or university in California. This scholarship is dependent on the student’s major. They must major in social science, accounting, business administration, or related fields.
• At the time of application, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Additionally, students must have at least 50% Asian heritage to apply.
• Deadline: April 21

20) Upakar Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: Varies up to $10,000
• Eligibility: To be eligible, students must either have been born in India or have at least one parent born in India. Students may be either U.S. citizens or Green Card holders at the time of application and plan to enroll in either an accredited, not-for-profit 4-year university or 2-year community college during the fall of the scholarship cycle.
• Deadline: April 30

21) SEED Foundation Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: Students must be of Asian-Indian heritage with at least one parent of Indian ancestry to apply. At the time of application, students must be a graduating high school senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Additionally, students must intend to apply as a full-time undergraduate student in a U.S. university during the fall of the scholarship cycle.
• Deadline: April 30

22) Dinah Eng Leadership Fellowship

• Awarded Amount: Varies; up to $1,000
• Eligibility: Applicants who are mid-career AAJA members are eligible to apply for this fellowship, intended to help with newsroom leadership training and management development.
• Deadline: April 30

23) CCAPW Scholarship Application

• Awarded Amount: Ranges from $1,000 – $2,000
• Eligibility: Students who are enrolled or enrolling at Fresno State are eligible to apply, or those in the State Center Community College District school. Students must be Asian American Native Hawaiian Pac Islander (AANHPI) women pursuing higher education.
• Deadline: April 30

May Scholarship Deadlines

24) Hsiao Memorial Social Sciences Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: $1,000
• Eligibility: Graduate students who are pursuing a degree in the social sciences will be considered. Their research topics should ideally benefit those in social or economic need, especially in Asian and Asian American communities. Students must demonstrate financial need to be eligible.
• Deadline: May 2

25) HRCap Next-Gen Leadership Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: 1^st place: $1,500; 2^nd place: $,1000; 3^rd place: $1,000; 4^th place: $5000
• Eligibility: Any undergraduate or graduate student who identifies as AAPI and/or who is pursuing Asian American students or Asian language students may apply. In their application, students must submit a statement that details what their AAPI culture means to them and why they are interested in Asian American studies and/or languages. They must also detail their leadership, integrity, professionalism, and/or excellence in their communities.
• Deadline: May 14

26) Empower Hāna Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: $500
• Eligibility: Organized to empower native Hawaiians, high school seniors, or current undergraduate students who identify as Native Hawaiian are eligible to apply. Students must submit a statement that details how their identity has shaped their values and goals and how they plan to impact their community.
• Deadline: May 26

27) Against the Grain Groundbreaker Leader Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: $1,500
• Eligibility: Students must be at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity to remain eligible. Additionally, students have maintained a minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 unweighted scale. Students can be of any major.
• To apply for this Asian American scholarship, students will send a video presentation to the panel, through either a YouTube or Vimeo link. The video must detail the student’s visionary leadership ability and community service experience. Additional materials, like letters of recommendation and an essay, are also required.
• Deadline: May 31

28) #LiveLikeLyly Memorial Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: $1,000
• Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific Islander. Ultimately, recipients of this scholarship have demonstrated leadership and participation in community service and other extracurricular activities. Additionally, students must have plans to pursue a major in fashion or graphic design.
• Deadline: May 31

June Scholarship Deadlines

29) Kimbo Foundation Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: $2,000
• Eligibility: Korean-American students who are enrolled as full-time students in either a two-year college or trade/technical school can apply. The application also requires an essay.
• Deadline: June 28

30) Korean American Scholarship Foundation

• Awarded Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: Students with a Korean heritage who are studying in the United States are eligible to apply and do not need to be United States citizens. Students must demonstrate a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and provide letters of recommendation for consideration.
• Deadline: June 30

July Scholarship Deadlines

31) Prism Foundation Scholarships

• Awarded Amount: Between $1,000-$5,000
• Eligibility: The mission of the Prism Foundation is to celebrate activists who work to create positive change in the API and/or LGBTQ+ communities. At the time of application, students must be attending a post-secondary institution in the United States in the upcoming academic year.
• In their application, students must demonstrate a strong history of engagement with the API and/or LGBTQ+ communities. Students will submit their most recent academic transcripts, answer short response questions, and provide one letter of recommendation.
• Deadline: July 12

August Scholarship Deadlines

32) Vietnamese Student of Excellence Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: $1,000
• Eligibility: Any Vietnamese undergraduate or graduate student may apply for this scholarship. In the application, the student must detail how their heritage has impacted their educational experience. Students also have the opportunity to submit a video application.
• Deadline: August 5

33) Hue Ta Asian American Scholarship

• Awarded Amount: $500
• Eligibility: Students must be undergraduates with a strong connection to volunteer work, research, or academic research in the field of mental health and disability rights within the Asian American community. To apply, students must submit a statement describing why they believe mental health and disability advocacy is important in the Asian American community.
• Additionally, students must plan to pursue a career in the mental health field.
• Deadline: August 12

Other Scholarships for Asian Students

Below are additional Asian American scholarship opportunities. For these scholarships, we include the amount awarded as well as any additional notes, including eligibility requirements.

Final Thoughts

We hope this article is helpful in your scholarship search. Whether you are starting to apply for colleges, or you’re looking to make a decision after acceptance, you can apply for scholarships at any point in the application cycle, depending on the scholarship’s deadline, of course.

Choosing the right program is the first step. Ensuring your financial plan for college is the next. These scholarships will help set you on the path to success.

Looking for more resources? Consider checking out the following:

• 40 Free Ride Scholarships
• Average Merit Aid Awards by College
• College Transitions No Essay Scholarship