APIA Scholars Scholarship
APIA Scholars (Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholars)
Need-based scholarships from $2,500 for one year up to $20,000 in multi-year awards for Asian and Pacific Islander American undergraduates. Selection prioritizes students at or below the poverty line and first-generation students.
Who should apply
AAPI high school seniors heading to college and current undergraduates in associate or bachelor's programs, especially those from low-income households or the first in their family to go to college.
Eligibility
- Must be of Asian or Pacific Islander ethnicity as defined by the U.S. Census
- U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident, including citizens of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau
- Enrolling or continuing as a degree-seeking undergraduate at a U.S. accredited college or university in the coming fall
- Full-time and part-time students pursuing associate or bachelor's degrees are both eligible
- Students who already hold a bachelor's degree or higher are not eligible
What you get
- One-year awards of $2,500 or multi-year awards up to $20,000
- Membership in the APIA Scholars alumni community
- Access to APIA Scholars career development and relief fund programs
What the application involves
- Online application through the APIA Scholars portal
- Documentation of financial need
- Academic records
- Review the official Application Guide and Tips page and FAQ before submitting, since required items are listed there each cycle
Application tips
- Do not skip the financial need section or leave it vague. APIA Scholars states plainly that selection prioritizes students living at or below the poverty line and first-generation students.
- The deadline is 5pm EST, not midnight. Plan to submit a day early.
- AAPI is a very broad category and the awards are not concentrated in one community. Apply even if you assume the scholarship is meant for someone else.
- Multi-year awards exist alongside one-year awards, so a single application can be worth far more than $2,500.
- Read the Application Guide and Tips page on the APIA site the week the application opens; requirements are refreshed each cycle.
Good to know
APIA Scholars states that its selection process prioritizes students who demonstrate significant financial need, live at or below the poverty line, and are first-generation college students. The organization also runs Scholar Relief Funds and a Career Development Fund for its scholars.