AAPI Scholarships

As you look at the top AAPI scholarships in our list below, pay careful attention to the due date. This is the last day the offering organization will accept submissions, and they are typically looking for a perfect, complete package by that day – and of course, earlier may be better. You’ll also want to pay close attention to any additional requirements laid out in the description, and make sure you visit the website for the scholarship so you get the most up-to-date information. For instance, some scholarships are for underclassmen only, while others require you to have a certain major. Keep in mind that you may apply for and earn multiple scholarships to pay for your education.

Paying for college can be a lot in today’s world. As an AAPI student, you may qualify for scholarships to cover some of your costs. Check out the leading scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans.

Top AAPI Scholarships

Banatao Family Filipino American Education Fund
Amount: $5,000
Due Date: N/A
Who Can Apply? Residents of specific counties in California
Do You Need a Specific Major? Physical or environmental science, engineering, computer science, math

Available through the Asian Pacific Fund, this program awards five scholarships every year to worthy candidates. You can renew your annual award each year for a total of $20,000. Applicants must live in California and demonstrate financial need as well as have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Asian American/Pacific Islander Scholarship
Amount: $750
Due Date: April/August
Who Can Apply? High school seniors and college students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

As long as you are either in high school or college, you can apply for this scholarship. The program gives out awards in the summer for the fall semester and in the spring for the summer semester.

AANAPISI Scholarship
Amount: Up to $5,000
Due Date: January 19
Who Can Apply? Full-time Pacific Islander or Asian students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Both Pacific Islanders and Asian students enrolled full-time in college can apply for this scholarship, which gives priority to first-generation students and those from lower-income areas. You need to supply a completed FAFSA that demonstrates your financial need.

Advancing Social Justice for Asians Scholarship
Amount: $500
Due Date: April
Who Can Apply? Graduate students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Graduate students can apply for this scholarship as long as they show that they want to advance the cause of social justice for Asian people. You need to write a letter that shows how you will use the award and what you did to support the cause in the past.

AAPI Storyteller Scholarship
Amount: Up to $5,000
Due Date: March 13
Who Can Apply? High school seniors
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Highlights Magazine offers multiple scholarships through its foundation, including this one for AAPI students. You need to show that you have strong creative writing skills through a writing sample and supply the FAFSA to show that you need financial aid.

Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Due Date: N/A
Who Can Apply? Asian students attending college in California
Do You Need a Specific Major? Accounting, finance, business, and related fields

The former treasurer of California gave his name to this scholarship, which goes to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who are at least 50 percent Asian. You also need to show that you did community service or volunteer work in the past and be in your sophomore year or later in college.

Study.com Scholarships
Amount: $500
Due Date: May 1
Who Can Apply? Pacific Islanders and Asian citizens/residents
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Study.com offers scholarships for students who have at least 30 semester hours of college left to finish their degrees and high school seniors. Applicants need to provide a quote and a photo, but there are different programs for both Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Bruce K. Lee Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: November
Who Can Apply? College and high school students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Named in honor of Bruce K. Lee, this scholarship awards 10 students $1,000 every year. Students receive their notice letters in January and have two weeks to accept the scholarship before the program will award the funds to someone else. You can apply for this scholarship online.

Hsiao Memorial Social Sciences Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: Late winter
Who Can Apply? Graduate students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Economics or social sciences

Though you can only apply for this program as a graduate student, it is open to those studying social sciences or economics. The committee gives preference to students who plan to focus on helping the Asian community with their research.

LiveLikeLyly Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: May 1
Who Can Apply? High school seniors and college students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Graphic design or fashion

Against the Grain is a nonprofit organization that launched this scholarship program for Pacific Islanders or Asians who major in fashion or graphic design. You need to submit your portfolio as well as an essay and letter of recommendation.

Minority Women in STEM Financial Need Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: June 20
Who Can Apply? BIPOC students at the University of Texas at Dallas
Do You Need a Specific Major?: STEM

This scholarship asks applicants to write an essay about how college will prepare them for the future and how they will contribute to the science, technology, math, or engineering community. It is only open to women.

V&E Diversity Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Texas residents in their final year of high school
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

A major law firm in Texas designed this scholarship to help high school students pay for college. You must show proof that you lived in Texas for a minimum of seven years and present a resume, essay, two letters of recommendation, and completed FAFSA.

PG&E Asian Employee Resource Group Scholarships
Amount: $2,000-$3,000
Due Date: February 23
Who Can Apply? Students with Asian ancestry
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Though you do not need a specific major to apply for one of these scholarships, the group gives preference to those majoring in environmental science, information technology, business, or engineering. You also need a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Chevron Filipino Employee Network Scholarship
Amount: $2,000-$3,000
Due Date: N/A
Who Can Apply? Incoming college freshmen and current freshmen
Do You Need a Specific Major? Physical or environmental science, computer science, engineering

Also available through the Asian Pacific Fund, this program awards up to three scholarships worth a maximum of $3,000 every year. Applicants must show their financial needs and be either Asian or Pacific Islander. You must also be a resident of California and have a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Groundbreaker Leadership Scholarship
Amount: $1,500
Due Date: May 31
Who Can Apply? American citizens who are Asian or Pacific Islander
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Designed to award students who demonstrate strong leadership skills, this scholarship is open to both Pacific Islanders and Asian students who have at least 25% of that ancestry with a minimum GPA of 3.5. You also need to show why you are a good leader and how you developed your skills.

The Tang Scholarship
Amount: $60,000
Due Date: April 30
Who Can Apply? LGBTQ+ students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

You must be between the ages of 17-25 to qualify for this scholarship and identify as LGBTQ+. Students need to provide a transcript that shows they have a GPA of 3.0 or higher as well as a personal statement, FAFSA, and two letters of recommendation.

Climate Changemakers Scholarship
Amount: $500
Due Date: July 13
Who Can Apply? High school and college students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

As long as you plan to change the world, you can apply for this scholarship. It awards $500 prizes to students who write an essay that details their future plans and how they helped the environment in the past.

USPAACC Investing in Future Leaders Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Due Date: January
Who Can Apply? High school seniors
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

You need to complete several requirements to apply for this scholarship, including two letters of recommendation and two essays. The program is only open to Asian American students with a minimum GPA of 3.3 who have good leadership skills.

ABA Diversity Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Minorities with tourism experience
Do You Need a Specific Major? Tourism field

The American Bus Association (ABA) created this scholarship program for high school and college students who work in the tourism industry and also major in a related subject. You need to write an essay on how you will contribute to this field and your college plans.

Dream Corps TECH Scholarship Fund
Amount: $1,500
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Minority students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Technology fields

If you are in a technology certificate program or plan to enroll in one, you can apply for this scholarship as long as you finished high school. Applicants must write an essay that shows the commitment they have to the technology industry.

Shui Kuen and Alen Chin Scholarship
Amount $1,000
Due Date: March
Who Can Apply? Citizens with a connection to an Asian restaurant
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

You qualify for this scholarship as long as you work in an Asian restaurant or have a parent who does. The program is only open to full-time students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who are American citizens.

Spectrum Scholarship Program
Amount: $5,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? ALA graduate students with Asian or Pacific Islander heritage
Do You Need a Specific Major? Library or information studies

This program hopes to increase the number of minority students working in libraries. You need to write a personal statement and supply three references and your official transcript to show that you’re in a program with ALA accreditation.

The Florida Fund for Minority Teacher Education Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Florida minority students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Education

Designed for Florida residents, this program asks that applicants be in their junior year of an accredited teaching program in a state college. You need to complete at least 60 credits of work and provide an essay and transcript.

Korean American Scholarship Foundation
Amount: $500-$5,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Korean and Korean American students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Korean American Scholarship Foundation offers awards for students in high school all the way through graduate school. You need to show evidence that you did well in school and have financial needs. Students can also apply if they had family members who fought in the Korean War.

AICPA Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students
Amount: Up to $5,000
Due Date: March 1
Who Can Apply? Undergrads and graduate students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Accounting or a similar field

Students receive more than $14 million in funds through this program every year. You need to submit a transcript that shows you took at least 30 credit hours of college courses and at least six credits of accounting classes when you apply.

Cecilia Moy Yep Scholarship Fund
Amount: Varies
Due Date: March
Who Can Apply? Asian American female high school students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Named in honor of Cecelia Moy Yep, this scholarship grants funds to high school seniors who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and either did extracurricular activities or volunteer work. Applicants must reside in one of several Pennsylvania counties.

EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship Program
Amount: Up to $45,000
Due Date: Early spring
Who Can Apply?Students in minority schools
Do You Need a Specific Major? STEM

Not only does this scholarship help you get money for school, but winners also receive internships with NOAA. You need an essay, letters of recommendation, and a transcript as well as a GPA of 3.0 or higher and proof that you attend a school that focuses on minority education.

Central California Asian Pacific Women Scholarship
Amount: $500
Due Date: April 30
Who Can Apply? Women from certain California counties
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

As a woman who lives in Kern or one of the other surrounding counties in California, you can apply for this scholarship if you are a Pacific Islander or Asian. The program gives priority to students who are the first in their families to attend college and those who have experience helping the AAPI community.

Do you know of another scholarship that would benefit the AAPI community? Let us know, we would love to add it.