Scholarships for Hispanic Students

Colleges across the U.S. are prioritizing diversity and representation because it is important for alleviating inequality in the country. For example, did you know that Hispanics/Latinos make up almost 20% of the U.S. population but only about 1 in 5, just 20%, of Hispanic/Latino people hold a college degree? That’s why organizations and businesses offer scholarships based on race or ethnicity, with the aim of helping students from minority groups access a good college education. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the immediate enrollment rate for Hispanic students in 2020 was 60% — the third highest behind Asian (86%) and white (67%), while the percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college was 35.8%.

To be eligible for Hispanic scholarships you must be of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American descent/origin. Often, the line between Hispanic and Latino is blurred and the scholarships can usually apply to both of these groups. Our Scholaroo database has more than 100 different scholarships for Hispanic and Latino students.

Here are 10 easy to apply for scholarships. Some of them are open to students from any demographic, while others are specifically for Hispanic students. They all have minimal application requirements, which makes them easy to apply for. But you stand a chance to be awarded large scholarships so it’s worth a shot.

Hispanic students have been historically underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. Despite making up 18% of the U..S population, Hispanic students only account for 7% of those who graduate with a degree in STEM subjects. This is due to various factors such as language barriers, lack of resources or support from family and friends, and limited access to higher education opportunities. Fortunately, there are many initiatives emerging which aim to encourage more Hispanic youth into STEM fields by providing mentorship programs and scholarship opportunities as well as introducing them to role models from similar backgrounds who can share their experiences with aspiring scientists. With these initiatives in place, we are sure that Hispanics will soon be able to take their rightful place among the world’s leading innovators.

For the 2020 academic year, the NCES reported that 773,971 STEM degrees and certificates were awarded. Hispanic students made up 14.6% of that number, 14.4% were males and 14.9% were females. The actual number of degrees or certificates awarded was 94,927 — 61,963 went to Hispanic males and 32,964 went to Hispanic females. In 2020, there were 17,037 associate’s degrees awarded to Hispanic students — 11,670 went to males and 5,367 went to females; 52,905 bachelor’s degrees — 32,160 to Hispanic males and 20,745 to Hispanic females; 7,841 master’s degrees — 4,953 for males and 2,888 for females; and 1,203 doctor’s degrees — 691 were awarded to males and 512 to females.

In recent years, there has been a trend among Hispanic students to pursue STEM majors such as engineering, computer science, and mathematics. These fields of study have become increasingly attractive due to the well-paying job opportunities that they offer. Other popular majors for Hispanic students include business studies and health sciences, as these studies can lead to lucrative careers in the ever-growing healthcare industry. It is important for Hispanic students to be aware of the various options available to them, as well as the importance of choosing a major that aligns with their own goals and interests.

In 2020, 2,038,431 bachelor’s degrees were awarded and 302,615 of those were awarded to Hispanic students. The three fields of study with the most degrees awarded were Business, Health professions and related programs, and Social sciences and history. The top three degrees among Hispanic students were the same — 26,493 Business degrees, 11,808 Social sciences and history degrees, and 11,585 Engineering degrees.

Of those 302,615 bachelor’s degrees, 117,211 were awarded to Hispanic males. The fields of study with the highest number of degrees conferred to Hispanic males were Business (26,493), Social sciences and history (11,808), and Engineering (11,585) — the three most popular fields for males overall were Business, Engineering, and Social sciences and history. The fields with the fewest degree conferred among Hispanic males were Military technologies and applied sciences (102), Legal professions and studies (249), and Theology and religious vocations (326).

In 2020, 2,038,431 bachelor’s degrees were awarded and 302,615 of those were awarded to Hispanic students. Of those 302,615 bachelor’s degrees, 185,404 went to Hispanic women. The most popular fields of study among women in 2020 were Health professions and related programs, Business, and Psychology. For Hispanic women, the top three fields were the same — 28,256 Hispanic women in Health professions and related programs, 26,900 in Business, and 19,489 in Psychology. The fields with the lowest number of degrees were Transportation and materials moving with 91 degrees, Military technologies and applied sciences with 19, and Library science with only 15.

There are at least 9 different scholarships that are specifically for Hispanic women and Latinas on Scholaroo. The award amounts range from the $1,000 Ashton Washington Women of Color Annual Scholarship to the $15,000 Mission North The Future Is… Fellowship. The areas of study range from engineering and science to public relations and technology.

If those don’t fit your needs, head to our Scholarships for Women page — there are almost 100 scholarships listed so you’re likely to find something. If you’re looking to pursue a specific degree program, head to our College Majors page and search through the various majors. We’ve introduced search filters too to help make the search even easier, so use them to narrow down the search to scholarships that are valuable to you.

These scholarships are often meant to supplement federal aid so ensure that you’ve filed for Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. This will also help organizers determine whether you are eligible – financial need is usually an eligibility requirement and qualifying for federal aid is a way to prove that you need assistance. Read the tips we’ve provided on each of the scholarships to ensure you nail your application.

Something that we strongly recommend that you plan your essay. Most scholarship applications ask for an essay – either on a provided topic or a motivational essay in which you explain why you deserve the scholarship based on your goals for the future. We have an article on How To Write a Scholarship Essay that goes into more detail. We advise you to write multiple drafts and have others read them before you submit them. It’s also very important that you stick to the word count — anything significantly over or under will likely be disqualified. Take your time, and don’t rush the writing process because you need to submit your best work.