Asian-American Scholarships
Financial aid options for Asian-American students include federal- and state-funded programs, available to all students, and scholarship funds awarded only to Asians and Pacific Islanders. Federal assistance programs include the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program. State-funded assistance can include programs such as Cal Grants, available for California college students. Asian-American foundations and associations also provide scholarships based on ethnicity, career path and educational institution.
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Finding Scholarships
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Student financial-aid offices on college and university campuses can provide complete listings of scholarship programs available for Asian-American students. The U.S. federal government has a grants website and the U.S. Department of Education offers the Student Aid on the Web website. The Asian-American Giving website features a list of foundations and funds available for educational funding. School websites typically include a financial section listing scholarships and loan programs for students. Privately operated financial-aid websites include College Tool Kit, Fast Web and Scholarships.
National Scholarship Programs
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National Asian-American organizations often have scholarships for students attending U.S. colleges and universities. The U.S. Pan American Chamber of Commerce awards up to 20 scholarships each year, offering up to $5,000 per student. The Asian Pacific Fund has 16 scholarship programs for graduate and undergraduate students; the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund awards financial aid to students throughout the United States.
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School-specific Scholarships
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Organizations and foundations often award scholarships to students attending specific colleges or universities. For example, Asian-American students attending the University of Maryland can apply for the Timothy J. Ng Scholarship to receive up to $500; the Linh-Thong Huu Nguyen Memorial Scholarship, which provides $1,000 per student; and the Major General Antonio Taguba Profiles in Courage and Leadership Scholarship, awarding $1,000 scholarships. Students attending law schools in northern California can apply for the Asian-American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area to receive financial assistance. Students interested in school-specific scholarships can contact their school's financial aid office.
Career-specific Scholarships
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Professional organizations often have scholarships funds for students enrolled in degree programs associated with their industry. For example, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Law Foundation and the Japanese American Bar Association Educational Foundation both award scholarships to students enrolled in law school. The Asian-American Journalists Association offers graduate and undergraduate scholarships to students pursuing print, photo or broadcast journalism careers. Students seeking career-specific scholarships can inquire with their academic advisor or their school's financial aid office.
Applying for Scholarships
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The majority of Asian-American scholarship funds require students to apply directly with the foundation, fund or organization offering the assistance. Methods of applying can include online submission, postal mail or both. All scholarship programs have application deadlines, typically in the winter or spring months for scholarship awards for the following fall semester or quarter. Application requirements often include submission of a certified grade point average or transcript and can also include submission of materials documenting past achievements or courses of study.
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References
- US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce: College Scholarships
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association: The NAPABA Law Foundation
- Asian Pacific Fund: Information for Student Applicants
- Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund
- University of Maryland: AAST Student Scholarships
- Berkeley Law: Scholarships for Asian-American Students
Resources
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