Scholarships

Below are some external scholarships that have been shared with the Transfer Center. For information about scholarships from the Foothill-De Anza District, use our online AcademicWorks system. 

Asian Pacific Islander American Scholars Scholarships

Scholarships at APIA Scholars are open to applications from all undergraduate students attending U.S. accredited colleges or universities. Scholarship amounts range from $2,500 one-year awards to $20,000 multi-year awards. APIA Scholars has a focus on supporting students who live at or below the poverty line and are in the first generation of their family to attend college. 

APIA Scholars offers a wide range of scholarship opportunities for students currently attending or planning to attend 2-year as well as 4-year colleges. We welcome students from all backgrounds to apply; please note that the selection process prioritizes those who demonstrate significant financial need. 

Eligibility Criteria
All applicants must:

  • Be a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States. Citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are also eligible to apply.
  • Be enrolling or continuing as a degree-seeking undergraduate student in a U.S. accredited college or university in fall 2026. Full-time and part-time degree-seeking students are eligible. 

Note: students pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply; students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree or higher are not eligible to apply.

Learn more and apply here

Hoffman Agency HBCU Scholarship for students pursuing a communications degree

The Hoffman Agency Scholarship will cover tuition and fees for a California Community College student who transfers to an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) to study communications. The scholarship will cover the recipient’s junior and senior year at an HBCU, two years.

The Selection Process and Requirements

    1. Applicants must be currently enrolled at a California Community College during the 2025-2026 academic year.
    2. Applicants must provide a letter of acceptance from one of the 39 HBCU partners that participate in the California Community College Guarantee to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
    3. Applicants must major in a discipline that fall under the communications umbrella at their attending HBCU.
    4. Applicants must complete the application process by March 31, 2026.
    5. The Selection Council reviews the applications and identifies the top candidates in March.
    6. Heather and Lou Hoffman interview three candidates and announce the scholarship recipient in April.

To learn more about the scholarship and to apply, visit https://www.hoffman.com/hbcu-scholarship/ 

If you have any questions about the scholarship, contact the Hoffman Agency at HBCU@Hoffman.com

eQuality Scholarship Collaborative

Scholarships for Community College Transfer Students

Applicant must:

  • be a resident of or attend a community college in northern or central California but may study elsewhere (see map for specific counties);
  • have graduated or expect to graduate from community college between 1 Jul 2021 and 30 Jun 2026; and
  • plan to attend or begin attending a U.S. accredited 4-year college or university for the first time in 2026.

Apply Online

  • The application deadline is January 31, 2026.​
  • All applicants will be notified whether or not they have been selected as a finalist to be interviewed by the end of February.
  • Finalists will be interviewed by Zoom videoconference or phone. Interviews are expected to be held on Sunday, 15 March 2026, and Saturday, 21 March 2026.
  • All finalists will be notified whether or not they have been selected as an eQuality Scholar by the end of April.
  • Volunteers will review each application and score them based on the selection criteria (see below). Each application is typically reviewed by at least 10 volunteers.
    • The criteria on which scholarship recipients will be selected include:
      • Service to the LGBT+ community
      • Leadership
      • Hardship or special circumstances
      • Academic achievement

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship

The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is a highly selective scholarship for the nation’s top community college students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities. Each Cooke Scholar has access to generous financial support for two to three years, college planning support, ongoing advising, and the opportunity to connect with the thriving community of fellow Scholars.

Deadline: January 7, 2026

Eligiblity

Cooke Scholars possess exceptional academic records and demonstrate unmet financial need. At a minimum, each candidate for the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship must:

  • Be a current student at an accredited U.S. community college or two-year institution with sophomore status as of January 1, 2026, or a recent graduate (since spring 2021)
  • Plan to enroll in a full-time baccalaureate program at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2026
  • Have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent)
  • Demonstrate unmet financial need. We will consider applicants with a maximum annual gross income of $95,000. During the selection process, the Foundation will conduct a full financial review which will take into account all income and assets of the student and the student’s parents.
  • No previous enrollment or attendance at a four-year institution. Students who have attended a four-year institution in the past are not eligible for this scholarship.

For more information and to apply, .

Please direct questions about your application or the program to scholarships@jkcf.org.

Please note: Students who have attended a four-year institution in the past are not eligible for this scholarship. (If you started at a four-year institution, but did not complete a semester of full-time study, then you may be eligible. Please contact us to verify your eligibility.) Students who have already transferred to a four-year institution or plan to transfer to start during the spring 2024 semester are also not eligible for this scholarship.

Pursuit of Excellence Scholarship

The Pursuit of Excellence scholarship program is designed to support low-income students who are determined to pursue a college degree. For the Community College Transfer program, POE provides scholarship support during all years at a 4-year college, regardless of the number of years required to graduate, as long as satisfactory academic standards are met and the student continues working in good faith towards his or her graduation. POE scholarships vary depending on each student's financial needs and may vary year to year if financial circumstances change. In 202,5 first-year awards ranged from $6,000 to $7,000 per student.

Requirements

  • Community college students in their 2025-2026 academic year who are transferring to a 4-year college for the fall of 2026.
  • Must be attending one of the following community colleges:
    • Foothill College
    • De Anza College
    • Canada College
    • Skyline College
    • College of San Mateo
  • Documented financial need- a typical recipient's family income usually does not exceed $85,000, although special circumstances are definitely considered
  • Preference will be given to students who transfer to a UC.
  • GPA of 3.5 or better is preferred
  • Demonstrated ability to overcome obstacles to achieve academic and personal goals
  • Demonstrated quality involvement with others via work, school, family, or in the community
  • Student Work - Preference is given to students who have worked.
  • Attendance at the POE Awards dinner in June 2026
  • Contact with the POE mentor throughout college to renew the scholarship each year
Deadline to apply: February 28th. 
For more info, visit this ink 

UCSC Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Award  

The Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Award was established in 1993 by former UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Karl S. Pister to expand access for talented community college students seeking to transfer to UC Santa Cruz. This award honors students who have excelled academically while overcoming significant socioeconomic challenges, demonstrated a strong commitment to serving others, and who might not otherwise be able to attend UC Santa Cruz without financial support.

One or more students from each college are selected to receive the award, which provides $20,000 in total support—$10,000 per year for two years. Additionally, Pister Scholars receive priority enrollment.

Eligibility and Criteria

To be considered, applicants must:

  • Be admitted to UC Santa Cruz as a transfer student from one of the 13 participating community colleges.
    • In the scholarship section of the UC Admissions application, you will select the scholarship category in the Transfer Students section that states ‘Community college transfer student who has overcome adverse socioeconomic conditions…’.
  • Submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by March 2nd preceding the fall quarter admitted.
  • Students on a non-immigrant visa (F-1, J-1, etc.) are not eligible.

Applicants should also demonstrate:

  • Exceptional academic and extracurricular achievement.
  • Commitment to helping others through community involvement or service.
  • Strong leadership qualities consistent with the program’s ideals.
  • Financial need that would otherwise prevent them from attending UC Santa Cruz.
  • Admission eligibility as a new junior transfer student for each fall.

Stanford Summer Session Grant! 

For 2026, Stanford is offering a Merit Grant for students with a 3.5 GPA or higher, and for those who are awarded a Merit Grant, additional Need-Based Grants are available to help further reduce the cost of tuition for the summer session.  Merit Grant Eligibility and Requirements: Have completed at least one year of undergraduate study Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher (or equivalent) Submission of a short essay Need-based Tuition Grant Eligibility: Meet all requirements of a merit-based grant Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident Provide a copy of Student Aid Report from a completed FAFSA application for the 2024-2025 or 2025-26 academic year. FAFSA must be completed for the current institution and not for Stanford University. Interest? Sign up via this site: https://summer.stanford.edu/merit-grant-interest, and you will receive more information from the Stanford Team.

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