Scholarships & Resources for Hispanic & Latinx Students
Hispanic and Latinx students looking for a college education should keep a sharp eye out for scholarships and resources that can make a difference. Find some of today’s best financial, education, and advocacy resources for Hispanics and Latinxs in 2020.
Written By
Edumed Staff
last updated
Last Updated: 07/23/2020——
Paying for college is a tough task, especially if you’re doing it alone. The good news is, there are a number of financial aid options available to help, including scholarships and grants. These forms of financial assistance may be the best for college students because they don’t requirement payment. And who doesn’t want a little free money to cover tuition, fees, and books?
When it comes to scholarships, you may find big national scholarships as you search. Or 5-figure grants that private companies make available to just about everyone taking a college class. These opportunities are fantastic, but they’re also competitive due to the number of people who apply. Instead, more and more college students are looking for narrower scholarships, meaning those created for people just like them. For you, this could be a scholarship for aspiring doctors or nurses, or for Hispanic or Latinx students.
The following list of scholarships and key resources were created specifically for Hispanic and Latinx students.
Scholarships for Hispanic & Latinx Students
In many situations, grants and scholarships are the same. But sometimes, the awarding of a grant is based more on financial need, while scholarships may focus more on academic excellence, community service, a particular area of study, or membership in a particular group. See if one of these scholarships fits your college needs.
General Scholarships

Organization
Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Amount
Varies

Deadline
3/1/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
The scholarship is for students from Ottawa or Kent County, who are of Mexican heritage and will be attending an accredited college or university to earn an undergraduate degree. Applicants show financial need and have at least a 2.75 GPA.
How to Apply
One application allows students to apply to more than 70 scholarships. The application requires an essay, transcripts, and evidence of family income.
Organization
United States Hispanic Leadership Institute
Amount
$500 to $1,000
Deadline
11/30/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Students interested in applying must have at least one parent of Hispanic ancestry; U.S. citizenship is not required. Applicants must show financial need and enroll as full-time students.
How to Apply
In addition to the application, students must complete three essays, provide a picture, resume, and unofficial transcript.
Organization
Orange County Hispanic Educational Endowment Fund
Amount
At least $2,500
Deadline
Varies
Eligibility
To apply, applicants must be U.S. citizens or otherwise have legal status, live in Orange County, California, show financial need, and plan on attending a four year post-secondary institution.
How to Apply
Interested students should visit HEEF’s website and create an online account to complete the online application.
Organization
The Gates Scholarship
Amount
Varies
Deadline
9/15/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or otherwise have legal status. They must also be a high school senior and a member of a minority ethnicity, including Hispanic American.
How to Apply
Applicants must provide evidence that they are Pell Grant-eligible. They may need to submit to an interview as a part of the selection process.
Organization
Colgate-Palmolive and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation
Amount
$2,000 to $15,000
Deadline
10/15/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Besides being of Hispanic heritage, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, plan to enroll as a full-time student at an accredited bachelor’s program and demonstrate leadership and community service.
How to Apply
The application requires recommendations, an essay and applicable transcripts.
Organization
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Amount
$500 to $5,000
Deadline
2/15/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Applicants must be of Hispanic heritage with a minimum 3.0 GPA for high school students and 2.5 GPA for graduate or undergraduate students. Students must also be enrolled, or plan to enroll full-time in an accredited not-for-profit four year college or university.
How to Apply
Part of the online application will require completion of the FAFSA, as well as creation of an online profile at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund website.
Organization
Office of Student Financial Assistance
Amount
$2,000
Deadline
4/1/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Students must be of Hispanic origin and have plans to attend a public or private post-secondary institution in Florida.
How to Apply
Students can apply for this scholarship by completing the online Florida Financial Aid Application.
Organization
Latin American Education Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
February (annual)
Eligibility
Applicants must be residents of Colorado, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and be of Hispanic origin or have active involvement in the Hispanic community.
How to Apply
Online applications require two letters of recommendation, tax return or Student Aid Report, written statement, current photo, and SAT or ACT scores.
Organization
McDonald’s
Amount
Up to $100,000
Deadline
2/5/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
An applicant must be a high school senior, have at least one parent of Hispanic heritage, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and be eligible to attend a two or four-year college.
How to Apply
An applicant will need to provide relevant transcripts, a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, a FAFSA report, and evidence of community service.
Organization
Hispanic Heritage Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Varies
Eligibility
Student must be a high school senior, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, be of Hispanic heritage, and have legal U.S. residency status. Winners must also agree to attend the awards ceremony.
How to Apply
The application can be completed online on the Hispanic Heritage Foundation website.
Medical and Health Scholarships
Organization
American College of Healthcare Executives
Amount
$5,000
Deadline
4/30/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Minority students who are enrolled in a graduate healthcare management program like an MPH program, MHA program, or MBA in Healthcare Management can apply for this scholarship. Preference will be given to those who demonstrate financial need.
How to Apply
The application consists of three letters of recommendation, an essay, a resume, and relevant academic transcripts.
Organization
The BECA Foundation
Amount
$500 to $2,000
Deadline
3/30/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Applicants must be entering a medical or healthcare profession at the undergraduate or graduate level and be living or attending school (high school or college) in San Diego County.
How to Apply
Complete an online application and provided two letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, a personal statement, and Estimated Family Contribution financial information.
Organization
Oncology Nursing Foundation
Amount
$3,000 to $5,000
Deadline
2/1/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Applicants must be enrolled in their final year of a nursing bachelor’s degree program (including RN to BSN and accelerated BSN programs) as well as demonstrate an interest in a career in oncology nursing.
How to Apply
Applications can be completed online and must be accompanied by a $5 application fee.
Organization
Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C.
Amount
$2,000
Deadline
10/1/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Applicant should be a U.S. citizen currently enrolled at an accredited medical school and part of a racial or ethnic minority. Applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA in medical school are not eligible for this scholarship.
How to Apply
The application requirements consists of the application itself, an essay, and a copy of the medical school transcript.
Organization
Fontana Transport Inc.
Amount
$5,000
Deadline
3/15/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Applicant must be a high school senior who plans to pursue a full-time undergraduate degree, including one in any science or pre-med field. Applicants must also be first generation high school students from an underrepresented group and show financial need.
How to Apply
In addition to complete the application, students need a minimum weighted GPA of 3.5 and proof of attendance at a four year university. Letters of recommendation are not required, but strongly recommended.
Organization
Daughters of the American Revolution
Amount
$5,000
Deadline
2/15/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Applicants should be accepted to or attending an accredited medical school and have at least a 3.25 GPA.
How to Apply
In addition to being a U.S. citizen, applicants must complete an application, submit two to four letters of recommendation, and provide an essay of up to 1,000 words.
Organization
The Hispanic Dental Association Foundation
Amount
Up to $5,000
Deadline
7/15/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Applicants must be members of the Hispanic Dental Association or the Hispanic Student Dental Association who are enrolled or accepted into a relevant dental program.
How to Apply
Applications are available online from the Hispanic Dental Association’s website.
Organization
National Hispanic Health Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
9/26/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Applicants must be in a post-secondary medical program in public health, public policy, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry, medicine, or physician’s assistant. Applicants do not need to be Hispanic to apply, but they must demonstrate a desire to help
Hispanic communities and participate in National Hispanic Health Foundation scholarship alumni activities.
How to Apply
The application requires a recommendation letter, essay, and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Organization
American Dental Assistants Association
Amount
Varies
Deadline
3/15/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
Open to members of the American Dental Assistants Association who are currently enrolled in a dental assistant program.
How to Apply
Students must be a member of the American Dental Assistants Association, create an account online, and sign into the online application.
Organization
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
Amount
$5,000 per year up to three years
Deadline
5/27/2020 (annual)
Eligibility
This scholarship is for Hispanic students currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate nursing program.
How to Apply
Applicants must be members of the NAHN for at least six months before the application deadline and provide evidence of current enrollment as a full-time nursing student at an accredited program.
5 Keys to Landing Your Scholarship
There are a lot of scholarships out there, but there are also a lot of students applying for them. That’s why your application needs to be as perfect as possible. Depending on the competition and the committee reviewing applications, one small mistake, such as a typo or a late submission, could make the difference between an award and a rejection. To further increase your chances of landing a scholarship award, consider the following pieces of advice.
- Key #1: Revise, revise, revise!
Most applications will require a lot of information, including an essay. The best essays will go through multiple revisions, with at least two people looking it over. - Key #2: Pay close attention to the application directions
You might be surprised how many people just assume they know how to complete a scholarship application. Always follow the instructions. If they don’t make sense, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. - Key #3: Start early
Some applications can be completed in a few hours. Others will take days. And those that require letters of recommendation and transcripts will require you to depend on others to do their part. The sooner you begin the process, the better. - Key #4: Apply locally
Many local scholarships get overlooked because they are less well-known or smaller in amount. This means by applying to them, you statistically increase your chances of winning an award. - Key #5: Update your social media presence
Always assume the scholarship committee does their homework. There’s a decent chance they will look you up online and see what your social media presence is like. Make sure they see the best side of you.
College Resources for Hispanic Students
There are numerous resources available to Hispanic and Latinx students. The trick is finding the right organizations and making the most of what they have to offer. To facilitate the resource search, we’ve compiled a list of some of the more notable organizations that can be helpful in a variety of ways, including professional and educational development, as well as financial assistance.
Academic & Career
- Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE)
HACE’s mission is to advocate on behalf of Latino professionals. This includes promoting the development and employment prospects through the use of networking and matching individuals with career opportunities. - Hispanic Dental Association (HDA)
Made up of professional and student members, the HDA works to improve Hispanic oral health through education, leadership, and social work. - United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI)
The USHLI supports and promotes the interests of Latinos and other minority groups through the use of research, education, and leadership initiatives.
Social & Networking
- Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA)
The ALPFA prides itself as being the first national Latino professional organization. Its membership consists of both student and professional members who all work to promote the interests of Latino and Latina business leaders. - Prospanica
Prospanica’s mission is to help Hispanic individuals reach their professional goals. The organization offers a host of resources, including scholarships, community service, and career management. - Sigma Delta Pi
This national Hispanic honor society is for students who wish to make the most of their studies of the Spanish language, honor contributors to Hispanic culture, and obtain a better understanding of Hispanic culture.
Advocacy & Diversity
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)
The CHCI is a non-partisan non-profit organization that works to facilitate the creation and organization of educational programs and leadership development opportunities for Hispanic students. - National Hispanic Institute (NHI)
Through the use of community involvement and leadership, the NHI aims to educate youth to excel professionally, academically, and personally. - UnidosUS
This organization advocates on behalf on the Hispanic community through research, policy, and community outreach programs.
Healthcare Education
- American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
The AMSA is an organization for future doctors and physicians. They offer a host of resources, including educational, networking, and professional development opportunities. - HOSA
With the help of education assistance, professional collaboration, and experiential learning, HOSA works to help professionals improve the international health community. - The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)
The LMSA exists to represent the interests of Latino and Latina medical students. Activities include advocacy and financial assistance.