Last updated on December 2, 2024

The Best Immigrant Scholarships in 2024

The Best Immigrant Scholarships with Upcoming Deadlines

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60 SCHOLARSHIPS
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  1. W. Tong and A.C. Wong Legacy Scholarship

    Funded by
    Tong
    This scholarship seeks to support students with financial need as they pursue their dreams of higher education in order to create the life of their dreams.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school senior or college freshman
    • Financial Status: Low-income
    • GPA: 3.2 or higher
    • Involvement: Social club, volunteering experience, or athletics
    • Background: Child of an Asian immigrant family (must be 50% Asian ethnicity)
    Amount:$20,000
    Deadline is Approaching! 9 days left
    One Click Apply
    1
  2. Dreamer Scholarship by Lolah Alva Boutique

    Funded by
    Paola Alvarado
    This scholarship aims to support undocumented students who are pursuing higher education in the United States so they have the resources necessary to earn their degrees.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Financial Status: Financial need
    • Background: Undocumented student or DACA recipient
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 26 days left
    One Click Apply
    2
  3. Cyrilla Olapeju Sanni Scholarship Fund

    Funded by
    Cyrilla Olapeju Sanni Scholarship Fund
    This scholarship seeks to support African students who are struggling financially so they can fund their education and achieve their dreams.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Race: African
    • Financial Status: Low-income
    • GPA: 3.0 or higher
    • Background: Migrant from Africa or the child of African migrants
    Amount:$500
    Deadline:Feb 18, 2025
    One Click Apply
    3
  4. Arthur and Elana Panos Scholarship

    Funded by
    TA Wapakoneta
    This scholarship seeks to support students with entrepreneurial mindsets, who are guided by their faith.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    Amount:$1,000
    Deadline:Feb 28, 2025
    One Click Apply
    4
  5. Ilya Flantsbaum Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Steve Flantsbaum
    This scholarship seeks to support Jewish-Ukrainian students so they can complete their graduate degrees.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Religion: Jewish
    • Background: Born in another country
    • Education level: Graduate student
    Amount:$2,500
    Deadline:Feb 28, 2025
    One Click Apply
    5
  6. Yolanda and Sam Shuster Scholarship

    Funded by
    Daniel Shuster
    This scholarship aims to support first-generation Americans who need assistance to pursue higher education in order to create a better life for themselves and their families.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: Undergraduate student
    • Field of Study: Business
    • Identity: First-generation American (child of immigrant parents)
    Amount:$1,000
    Deadline:Feb 28, 2025
    One Click Apply
    6
  7. Alexander de Guia Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Family of Alexander De Guia
    This scholarship seeks to support students from immigrant backgrounds who are leaders in their communities.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school student or two-year community college student planning to transfer
    • GPA: 3.5 or higher
    • Background: Community service and/or leadership experience
    • Identity: Filipino or Filipino-American
    Amount:$5,000
    Deadline:Mar 10, 2025
    One Click Apply
    7
  8. American Dream Scholarship

    Funded by
    Charleen Cabay
    This scholarship seeks to support undocumented students so they have the resources necessary to thrive in college.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Citizenship Status: Non-citizen
    • Background: Community service or volunteering experience
    Amount:$1,000
    Deadline:Apr 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    8
  9. Collette Mahmood Scholarship for Women

    Funded by
    Collette Mahmood
    This scholarship aims to recognize and celebrate the resilience and courage exhibited by young women from immigrant backgrounds as they pursue higher education and carve out their own paths.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Gender: Female-identifying
    • Identity: First-generation immigrant
    • GPA: 3.9 or higher
    Amount:$10,000
    Deadline:Apr 15, 2025
    One Click Apply
    9
  10. Dr. Soronnadi Nnaji Legacy Scholarship

    Funded by
    Nnaji Family
    This scholarship seeks to honor Dr. Soronnadi Nnaji by supporting students who are first or second-generation African immigrants as they pursue higher education.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • GPA: 3.0 or higher
    • Background: First or second-generation African immigrant
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    Amount:$5,000
    Deadline:Jul 12, 2025
    One Click Apply
    10
  11. Bear Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support fans of "The Bear" who have a vision for the characters' futures!
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 26 days left
    One Click Apply
    11
  12. NYT Connections Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support avid players of The New York Times' "Connections" puzzle who have an idea for their own puzzle!
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 26 days left
    One Click Apply
    12
  13. Love Island Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship aims to support students who are fans of "Love Island" and are invested in the stories on screen.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 26 days left
    One Click Apply
    13
  14. Team USA Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship aims to encourage students to root for Team USA and share their appreciation for their favorite athletes!
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 26 days left
    One Click Apply
    14
  15. LeBron James Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support students who are fans of LeBron James and have been inspired by his career.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 26 days left
    One Click Apply
    15
  16. CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY Mid-Career Writing Scholarship

    Funded by
    CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY
    This scholarship seeks to support aspiring writers so they can go on to professional writing careers and find happiness.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Field of Study: Writing
    • Background: Experience in the workforce
    Amount:$2,000
    Deadline is Approaching! 25 days left
    One Click Apply
    16
  17. GUTS- Olivia Rodrigo Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship is perfect for students who have been impacted by Olivia Rodrigo's "Guts" album!
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 26 days left
    One Click Apply
    17
  18. Sabrina Carpenter Superfan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support fans of Sabrina Carpenter who have been impacted by her career.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 26 days left
    One Click Apply
    18
  19. Billie Eilish Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship aims to support students who are fans of Billie Eilish and have been impacted by her music.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 26 days left
    One Click Apply
    19
  20. Wicked Fan Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support fans of Wicked who are excited about the new movie adaptation of the story!
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 26 days left
    One Click Apply
    20
  21. Joe Gilroy "Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan" Scholarship

    Funded by
    Smart Boy Studios
    This scholarship aims to support any student who has dreams and a detailed plan on how to pursue and achieve them.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Background: Anybody pursuing further education
    Amount:$2,200
    Deadline:Feb 28, 2025
    One Click Apply
    21
  22. Redefining Victory Scholarship

    Funded by
    Chris & Mary Carnduff
    By embracing diverse avenues for personal growth, anyone can conquer the challenges of life and attain the pinnacle of success.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: Any
    Amount:$20,000
    Deadline:Apr 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    22
  23. NBA 2K25 Fan No-Essay Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bold.org
    This scholarship seeks to support dedicated fans of the iconic NBA video game series.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline is Approaching! 26 days left
    One Click Apply
    23
  24. Overcoming Adversity Cariño Scholarship

    Funded by
    Jonnathan Yepez Cariño
    This scholarship aims to support students who have demonstrated the ability to overcome adversity and fight for their success.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • State: Washington
    • Education Level: High school student
    • Ethnicity: Latinx
    Amount:$15,000
    Deadline:Jun 30, 2024
    One Click Apply
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    24
  25. Imagine Dragons Origins Scholarship

    Funded by
    Imagine Dragons
    The Imagine Dragons Origins Scholarship will help four refugee, immigrant, or first-generation American students to achieve their educational dreams.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$13,269
    Deadline:Sep 14, 2021
    One Click Apply
    Scholarship is awarded to
    4 winners
    25
  26. Mahlagha Jaberi Mental Health Awareness for Immigrants Scholarship

    Funded by
    Mahlagha Jaberi
    The Mahlagha Jaberi Mental Health Awareness for Immigrants Scholarship exists to support more awareness about the mental health of immigrants in the United States.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Background: First or second-generation immigrants in any field of study
    Amount:$1,000
    Deadline:Jun 01, 2021
    One Click Apply
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    26
  27. Bald Eagle Scholarship

    Funded by
    Alexis Olivas
    This scholarship aims to provide assistance to students whose families have faced difficulties so they have the support needed to pursue higher education.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school or undergraduate student
    • Background: Family hardship (single-parent household, a widowed household, an immigrant family, a family who's experienced medical hardship, etc.)
    Amount:$2,000
    Deadline:Apr 14, 2024
    One Click Apply
    Scholarship is awarded to
    2 winners
    27
  28. Abner & Irmene Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Emmanuelle Brown
    This scholarship aims to support students from immigrant backgrounds as they pursue their academic ambitions so they can overcome the hurdles on their path and succeed.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school or undergraduate student
    • GPA: 3.0 or higher
    • Background: Immigrant or child of immigrant parents
    Amount:$1,775
    Deadline:Oct 31, 2024
    One Click Apply
    Scholarship is in review
    28
  29. Maida Brkanovic Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Brkanovic
    This scholarship, in memory of Maida Brkanovic, will support one student who emulates Maida's lifestyle through their own selfless actions.
    All students are eligible
    Amount:$500
    Deadline:Nov 13, 2024
    One Click Apply
    Scholarship is in review
    29
  30. La Santana Scholarship

    Funded by
    Mango Street Dreaming
    La Santana Scholarship seeks to support students of immigrant backgrounds so they have the support and funding necessary to complete their degrees.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Education Level: High school senior, trade school student, or two or four-year undergraduate student
    • Background: Immigrant
    Amount:$550
    Deadline:Jul 15, 2023
    One Click Apply
    Scholarship is awarded to
    1 winner
    30
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About scholarships for immigrants

In 2022, immigrants made up 17.4% of the United States labor force, and in 2023, they represented a large proportion of workers with jobs requiring college degrees. In fact, immigrants in the United States are even more likely to obtain an undergraduate degree than U.S.-born citizens.

However, for many immigrants who want to pursue an undergraduate degree in a new country, the numerous barriers surrounding higher education can be a major obstacle. Not only must immigrants navigate the complex college application process in what is oftentimes a foreign language, but they also have to maneuver the complicated maze of tuition, financial aid, federal aid, scholarships, and more.

Furthermore, as the student debt epidemic continues to approach 2 trillion dollars, the need for financial support for college students is only growing. Immigrants and undocumented students alike make up a fair portion of student debt as well, and are thus also in need of financial assistance.

The growing presence of student loan debt can not only prevent students from finishing their undergraduate degrees, but it can also deter them from becoming graduate students, purchasing homes, getting married, and establishing post-graduate lives. This in turn can have major social and economic consequences across the nation.

While federal student aid and financial aid can be useful, scholarships are often a much better option for immigrants, whether they are community college students or graduate students. Not only do scholarships not have to be paid back, but there is also no limit to how many scholarships a student can apply for.

Fortunately, there are many scholarships that are available to students of all kinds, including scholarships that are for immigrant students specifically. With immigrant scholarships, all types of immigrant students can look into funding their higher education, be they high school graduates, undocumented students, community college students, first-generation college students, and more.

What is an immigrant scholarship?

Broadly defined, an immigrant is someone who comes to a foreign country in order to establish legal permanent residency. An immigrant scholarship is thus a scholarship made for immigrant students, who have taken up permanent residence in a new country, specifically.

However, this umbrella scholarship type can apply to a variety of categories. Depending on the criteria of the scholarship itself, immigrant scholarships can also be for undocumented students or international students whose immigration status is not yet permanent. Similarly, depending on the scholarship, immigrant scholarships can even be for second-generation immigrants, whose parents emigrated from their country of origin. For example, first generation American students are students who have at least one parent who immigrated to the United States.

Whatever the case, any student looking to fund their higher education journey with immigrant scholarships should be sure to conduct careful research and to thoroughly read the scholarship description before applying.

Can immigrants get scholarships?

Immigrants are indeed eligible to receive scholarships. This includes, but is not limited to, immigrant scholarships.

Unless the scholarship you are interested in explicitly states that it is only for certain students who are not immigrants or are from a specific location, it is most likely open to immigrant students.

Be sure to carefully read a scholarship description before applying. Not only will this prevent you from accidentally applying to scholarships that are not available to immigrants, but it will also keep you from applying to scholarships with other criteria that you may not match.

For instance, if you are an immigrant student pursuing a graduate degree in psychology, you do not want to unintentionally apply to a computer science scholarship for graduating high school seniors.

How to get an immigrant scholarship

Getting an immigrant scholarship is just like getting any other type of scholarship. First, it is important to conduct research on the type of scholarship that is right for you. You may be looking for an immigrant scholarship specific to undocumented students, refugees, or only high school graduates or college students. Whatever the case, be sure to carefully read the eligibility requirements for your scholarship of choice.

After ensuring that you meet those requirements, carefully read through the scholarship application process. The application process between scholarships can vary greatly, so it is important to make sure you read your scholarship's description thoroughly.

That being said, scholarships oftentimes require applicants to write essays in order to apply. In the United States, there are over 40 million immigrants, so you may be asked to write about your unique experiences as an immigrant.

Your chances of winning a scholarship may also be increased if you apply to scholarships with specific, narrow criteria that apply to you. For instance, a scholarship for undocumented students in graduate school studying computer science will have fewer applicants than a general scholarship for immigrant students. Thus, if you apply for a scholarship with specific eligibility requirements that apply to you, you are more likely to find success with your application.

After gathering your materials, be sure to submit them all in a timely fashion by the scholarship deadline to ensure that your application is accepted for review. There is no shortage of scholarships for immigrant students of all kinds, be they undergraduate students, graduate students, high schoolers, and more.

As you go about finding scholarships for immigrants that interest you, make sure you research thoroughly and prepare your application to the best of your abilities.

Best immigrant scholarships

Bold.org has plenty of scholarships for immigrant students with a wide variety of criteria. Some scholarships are for all immigrants, from those just finishing high school to those pursuing a graduate degree, while others may have narrower requirements.

Check out the list below to see exclusive scholarships for immigrant students that can only be found on Bold.org.

Scholarships for immigrant high school students

High school students can benefit from the extra time they have to find and win scholarships. By starting your search early, you'll be able to secure all the funding you need for college.

  1. Mahlagha Jaberi Mental Health Awareness for Immigrants Scholarship: This scholarship recognizes the unique challenges faced by immigrants. Things like xenophobia, inequality, and general cultural hostility can take a major toll on immigrants, particularly with regards to mental health. The Mahlagha Jaberi Mental Health Awareness for Immigrants Scholarship seeks to support a first or second-generation immigrant who has dealt with mental health struggles.
  2. To apply, write about your experience as an immigrant, your challenges with mental health, and your hopes for the future.
  3. Recent Immigrant Scholarship: This scholarship hopes to uplift immigrant students by recognizing their contributions to their new country. Seeking to support recent immigrants in particular, this scholarship is available to any immigrant high school student who immigrated to the United States in 2010 or later.
  4. To apply, write an essay addressing your background and how you ended up in the U.S., why you are optimistic about living and working in the U.S., and how the U.S. compares to your home country.

Scholarships for immigrant college students

There are plenty of scholarships for immigrants who are in college. Whether applicants are citizens or undocumented students, there are many scholarships seeking to help with the costs of a college education.

  1. WiseGeek Recent Immigrant Scholarship: This scholarship seeks to erase societal barriers that immigrants face in a new country by providing them with equal opportunity and access to higher education.
  2. This scholarship is open to immigrant students of all fields of study who moved to the US in 2010 or later and have plans to continue to live and work here.
  3. Amplify Immigrant Students Scholarship: This scholarship acknowledges the unique perspective immigrants can bring to a new country. To help immigrants gain access to higher education, this scholarship is for any first-generation immigrant hoping to pursue higher education.
  4. To apply, please write a 500-word essay on how your unique experiences as an immigrant have impacted you, what your future aspirations are, and how this scholarship can help you achieve those aspirations.

Scholarships for students with immigrant parents

Many students aren't immigrants themselves but may come from immigrant families. These students who have immigrant parents can benefit from exclusive scholarship opportunities to help them through their education.

  1. Hasanovic American Dream Scholarship: This scholarship will provide financial aid to one first or second-generation immigrant with a passion for learning and creating a better future. Applicants must also be in their senior year of high school.
  2. Scholarship applicants should write a short essay about what the American Dream means to them and how a college degree will help them achieve that dream

Frequently asked questions about immigrant scholarships

How to find scholarships for immigrants

Finding scholarships for immigrants is just like finding any other scholarship. However, the sheer number of websites and sources dedicated to scholarships and higher education can be overwhelming, especially when many sources are not very reliable.

A quick Google search may bring up any number of scholarships, but using a credible scholarship search engine like Bold.org will be helpful in finding the right immigrant scholarship for you. Not only can you find scholarships that are exclusive to Bold.org, but you can find scholarships with narrow criteria, whether they are for a specific accredited public university or for a specific gender or area of study.

Finding scholarships with narrow requirements will be beneficial to applicants as there will likely be a smaller applicant pool. For example, a scholarship for community service for first generation American students will have fewer applicants than a scholarship for immigrants attending college.

Finally, you can also find scholarships for immigrants through your institution, be it a graduate program, undergraduate program, or your high school. Be sure to check in with your school's financial aid office or college counselor to see if they can point you in the right direction for immigrant scholarships that can fund your pursuit of a college education.

Furthermore, speaking to a college counselor or financial aid office may give a better idea on how to strengthen your scholarship applications. Bold.org also has a comprehensive guide to scholarship applications that can help you gain the right skills to apply for all kinds of scholarships, from academic scholarships to community involvement scholarships.

When can I start applying?

When it comes to applying for scholarships, the earlier the better. The Federal Student Aid office of the United States even recommends that students begin to apply for scholarships the summer before they become high school seniors.

By applying earlier, not only will you be eligible for scholarships with lower school year requirements, but you will also optimize the number of scholarships you have time to apply for. This way, you can ensure that you have the funds you need while you are attending college.

How do I know if I'm eligible for a scholarship?

Scholarship eligibility will vary between scholarships, and it is important to ensure your eligibility before you begin to apply. Almost all scholarships include their eligibility requirements in the scholarship description, so be sure to read the description thoroughly.

If you fulfill all of the eligibility requirements, then you can begin the application process without any concerns.

What do I have to do to apply?

The application process looks different for each scholarship, so it is important to read all of the application requirements carefully before beginning to apply. For instance, whether you are looking at scholarships for immigrants or any other type of scholarship, there will be requirements like writing essays, getting a letter of recommendation, or submitting artwork. While one scholarship may ask you to write an essay about community service, another may request the submission of an art portfolio.

Whatever the case, be sure to begin the application process early on instead of struggling to get it done right before the deadline. This way, you will have plenty of time to gather all of your necessary documents for submission and to proofread any written work you have to submit. It may even be beneficial to have someone else read over your submission in order to ensure that it is free from any grammatical or writing errors.

Are scholarships counted as income?

In general, scholarships are not counted as income. Consequently, they are usually tax-free. However, there can occasionally be some variation regarding the taxation status of scholarships, so it is important to research your scholarship to know where it falls.

Generally, scholarship money will not be taxed unless it exceeds a student's cost or is used outside of the qualified costs, such as tuition, books, and course fees.

The Internal Revenue Service has a comprehensive page dedicated to informing readers of how their scholarship will be viewed with regard to income and taxation.

Frequently Asked Questions