Scholarships and loan opportunities
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Selected Professions Fellowships of 8,000 to $50,000 to women of color, who have been underrepresented in the fields of medicine, law and business administration.
American Indian Science and Engineering Society
Offers a variety of scholarships for the academic year. Many scholarships are available for members of AISES and students pursuing any STEM degree.
Association on American Indian Affairs Scholarship
Enrolled tribal members with 2.5 GPAs, including first-generation students, may apply for funds that support degree-seeking students in any field who want to serve their tribes after graduation. Scholarships are awarded twice a year until students graduate.
A.T. Anderson Memorial Scholarship Program
Tribal members with 3.0 GPAs can apply, including first-generation graduate nursing students. Applicants must join the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, which offers free membership. Scholarships of $2,000 are awarded for the academic year for graduate students and $1,000 for undergraduate students.
Beta Theta Pi
The Beta Theta Pi Foundation awards roughly 100 tuition-based scholarships each year to Betas and their sons/daughters. Several scholarships are restricted to particular chapters or fields of study, according to terms of the original endowment.
Blinded Veterans Association
Offers Kathern F. Gruber scholarship of $1,000 to $2,000 to child or spouse of legally blind veterans (blindness may be either service or non-service related).
BSN Education Scholarship
There are scholarships available in many areas of nursing, and for all types of people, with special scholarships for LGBTQ, men in nursing and much more.
CA Veterans Dependents Educational Assistance Program
Offers fee-waiver program to children or spouses of veterans who have a parent who is a disabled veteran, have a spouse who is service-connected (S/C) deceased or rated 100% S/C disabled, or is a child earning less than $11,702 per year (student’s income, not parents’). There is no income limit for a spouse or children of S/C deceased or 100% S/C disabled veterans, or for those who have attended a California community college, California state university, or a University of California school and has provided proof of the student’s relationship to the veteran such as a copy of a birth or marriage certificate. Similar benefits may be available to Medal of Honor recipients, their children, or dependent-survivors of a CA National Guard member who was killed or permanently disabled while in service to the state. PA and MEPN students are not eligible for this program as students of a self-supporting degree program.
California Assisted Living Association Scholarship Program (CALA)
Scholarship is valued at $950. Students who attend this event will have the opportunity to: gain a greater understanding of the assisted living model of care, explore career possibilities within the profession, meet face-to-face with representatives from leading companies in the region, and walk away with practical knowledge and information to give them a leg-up in career pursuits. Students who complete the online or enclosed scholarship application may be selected to attend the Spring Conference & Trade Show in Santa Clara free of charge. The scholarship covers registration for all three days; applicants will be responsible for lodging and transportation.
California Association for Nurse Practitioners (CANP) – Sacramento Chapter
CANP-Sacramento Chapter is offering scholarships for NP students currently enrolled in a Nurse Practitioner Program. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage local students to participate in their state and local professional organization. They will pay the registration fees, lodging, and travel expenses for the recipients to attend their California statewide NP meeting. CANP will also pay one year’s membership fees to CANP and the local Sacramento chapter. $1,000 maximum amount of award. Must be a NP student, currently enrolled and in good standing in a Nurse Practitioner program, due to graduate in 2023 or beyond, and be a student at the time of the conference.
Chinese American Nurses Association
The fund provides financial support to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level nursing students who are of Chinese heritage and demonstrate a strong commitment to nursing and Chinese American health. Two students will be chosen to receive $2,000 in scholarship awards, and continue to support CANA events.
Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary
The Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Education Scholarship Program was established to provide education scholarships for students attending an accredited college, university, or vocational school in the United States or Territory. Those full-time students who meet the established guidelines may qualify for a scholarship up to $2,500. Part-time students who meet the established guidelines may qualify for a scholarship up to $750.
Health Care Access and Information (HCAI)
Scholarships of up to $25,000 in education program cost for one year while attending a health professions program in return for practice in a medically-underserved area of California.
Healthcare Leaders Scholarship
The Healthcare Leaders Scholarship is offered to qualified applicants who are entering or currently pursuing an educational program related to nursing or medicine. Interested applicants must submit a 600 to 1,000 word essay explaining what they hope to accomplish during their career in the medical field.
Hebrew Free Loan Association
Loans of up to $1,500 per year ($4,000 cumulative) to Jewish students from the greater Bay Area (including Sacramento and San Jose) with employed co-signers in Northern California. Repayment begins 90 days after loan is received with minimal payments during early terms of the loan.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Offers scholarships from $500 to $5,000 to students of Hispanic background. GPA should be 2.5 or better.
Indian Health Service Health Professions Scholarship
Tribal members, including first-generation graduate health profession students, with 2.0 GPAs and demonstrated financial need, can apply. Recipients must commit to at least two years of postgraduate service in Indian health care.
International Order of the King’s Daughters and Sons
The health career scholarship program offers awards of up to $1,000 to students in a health-career field. Preference is given to students with a Christian background. Applicant must be enrolled and have completed a portion of the first year of the program at time of application.
Japanese American Citizen League
Scholarships awarded to members or children of JAY or JACL, and all persons of Japanese ancestry are awarded based on need and scholastic achievement.
Jewish Vocational Service Scholarship
Awards scholarships to Jewish college students who are primary residents of Los Angeles County. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
Law Enforcement (or Firefighter) Personnel Dependents Grant Program
Administered by the CA Student Aid Commission, this program provides grants to students who are dependents or spouse of an individual (who was employed in CA as a peace officer, law enforcement officer, CA firefighter, officer or employer of Dept. of Corrections or Dept. of Youth Authority) who was killed in the performance of duty or is totally disabled as a result of an accident or injury caused by external violence or physical force, incurred in the performance of duty. Grant awards match the amount of a Cal Grant award and range from $100 to $12,192 for up to four years.
John Muir Medical Center Volunteers Scholarship
John Muir Medical Center, Concord Volunteers offer scholarships for college and adult students living in Contra Costa County or Southern Solano County who have chosen to enter a medically related field.
March of Dimes Scholarship
To recognize and promote excellence in nursing care of mothers and babies, the March of Dimes offers several $5,000 scholarships annually to registered nurses enrolled in graduate programs of maternal-child nursing.
National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)
Scholarship awards are presented to NAHN members enrolled in accredited LVN/LPN, associate, diploma, baccalaureate, and graduate nursing programs. Selection of recipients is based on need, current academic standing, whether they are a United States citizen or legal resident of the United States and other criteria listed below. Scholarship recipient are a select group of Hispanic nursing students who demonstrate promise of professional contributions to the nursing profession and who have the potential to act as role models for other aspiring nursing students.
National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF)
The National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF), affiliated with the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, will award 21 scholarships to graduate dental, medical, health policy, pharmacy, physician assistant, podiatry, and public health school students and BA and above nursing students.
National League for Nursing (NLN)
These scholarships are awarded to nurses pursuing advanced degrees in preparation for a career as a full-time academic nurse educator. The funds are for masters or doctoral students enrolled in accredited programs who have completed at least a year of their academic program. The NLN foundation wants to encourage more experienced and ethnically diverse nurses to pursue advanced degrees to prepare for full-time positions as nurse educators. Candidates must be NLN members either through individual dues or through their employer schools’ NLN membership.
Native American Opportunity Plan
UC’s Native American Opportunity Plan ensures that in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees are fully covered for California students who are also enrolled in federally recognized Native American, American Indian, and Alaska Native tribes. This plan applies to undergraduate and graduate students.
Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship
Graduate-level students in training for primary health care disciplines and specialties, including first-generation, can apply for funding covering tuition and costs and monthly stipends. Criteria include native Hawaiian ancestry and a two-year commitment to work in underserved Hawaiian areas.
Nurse.org – Healthcare Leaders Scholarship
The Healthcare Leaders Scholarship is offered to qualified applicants who are entering or currently pursuing an educational program related to nursing or medicine. Interested applicants must submit a 600 to 1,000 word essay explaining what they hope to accomplish during their career in the medical field.
Rainbow Chamber Foundation’s Palmer Family Healthcare Education Scholarship
Funds available to LGBTQ and LGBTQ-supportive students in healthcare educational programs. A minimum of $10,000 in scholarships will be awarded, of no less than $1,000 for a collegiate institution each.
Sallie Mae Bridging the Dream Scholarship
In 2021, The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable foundation, expanded the Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program for Graduate Students to further promote diversity in higher education among minority students and other historically underserved communities. By 2024, in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, they will award 30 scholarships – up to $10,000 each – over the next three years to graduate students, totaling $300,000.
Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara
Offers scholarships and no-interest loans to students who graduated from a Santa Barbara area high school (Carpinteria or Goleta) or who have resided in the Santa Barbara area as a non-student for at least three years.
Senior Care Aging Matters Scholarship
A $1,500 scholarship is awarded annually to a selected college student who currently cares for an aging loved one, works within the senior community or intends to pursue a career that will have an impact on the elder population. Any existing student (or incoming freshman), in good academic standing, at a 2- or 4-year accredited college can apply for this scholarship. The recipient will demonstrate a unique and admirable understanding and desire to show us that "Aging Matters" to them.
Smith (Virginia or Cyril) Scholarship
Scholarships awarded to students who attended high school within the city of Merced for at least three years. Minimum GPA of 2.8 is required.
Soroptimist International of Sacramento
Awards four to eight scholarships each year to female students who are Sacramento area residents currently enrolled in an accredited college or university. Scholarship awards of at least $1,000 each are based on academic and personal achievements, strength of character and financial need.
UC Davis Global Aggies Award for LGBTQIA+ Rights
The Global Aggies Award for LGBTQIA+ Rights encourages and supports UC Davis student global learning and engagement regarding the issues that LGBTQIA+ communities and individuals face around the world. This award is open to continuing UC Davis undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Open to all majors and fields of study, grants will range from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $2500. Proposals are due February 8, 2023.
United Methodist Church Aid Programs
Offers loans and scholarships to students who are full and active members of the United Methodist Church. Scholarship programs are divided into three categories: general scholarships, racial-ethnic scholarships, and ministry as a career scholarship.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
The mission of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.'s National Educational Foundation is to support higher education achievement through scholarships and conduct community education programs and related research to improve individual and community living standards. The site provides access to multiple scholarships that have a range of award values.
