Scholarships for Asian Americans

We are living among a socioeconomic wave of change for the present and future distribution of resources, jobs, careers, communities, leaders, and students. Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders account for more than 6% of the U.S. workforce, a number that continues to grow at exponential rates. With this influx of diverse and eager minds, this change will provide the one resource that our communities seek the most: innovation. While macro-innovation is a real growth trend among our population, it all starts with one individual, who is prepared and ready to make a difference.

If you’re an Asian-American looking for ways to help fund your college education, use our resources and scholarship guide below to find funding opportunities catered towards Asian-American students regardless of their field of study or socio-economic status.

Asian Americans Resources | How to Pay | Application Prep | Asian Americans Scholarships | All Scholarships

Educational Milestones for Asian Americans

Grace Xiao, the founder of Kynplex, is a 21 year-old entrepreneur choosing the less traveled path of the start-up, rather than working for tech giants such as Microsoft or Google. And she is not the only one thinking this way.

“There’s a changing perception of Asian Americans at the helm. It’s exciting to be on the front lines.”
— Grace Xiao

Regardless of the statistics being stacked against her—with Asians accounting for only 6 percent of the overall workforce, and of all Asian-American women working in tech—only 1 in 285 is an executive (compared to 1 in 87 for white men). Xiao doesn’t let the odds stop her from pursuing her dream, “what startups value is your ability to create value, not where you come from.” With this culture of social consciousness growing in Silicon Valley, it seems we are seeing only the beginning of a great wave of change.

Resources for Asian Americans

NAAPIMHA

The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association has resources to increase access and knowledge of total mental health and well-being.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health

This resource is a one-stop source for minority health literature, research, community organizations, funding search capabilities, as well as training and conference opportunities.

NAAAP

The largest and fastest growing association of Asian American professionals offering advisory, financial, and logistics that help students become valuable employees.

Asian & Pacific Islander America Scholarship Fund (APIASF)

Provides Asian American and Pacific Islanders with scholarship resources, mentorship, guidance, research, and other tools to increase access to higher education.

I’m First

This is an online community celebrating first-generation college students with inspiring stories, as well as interactive conversation and guidance through this community portal.

Asian Life

This community of Asian American professionals provides resources to improve their career, find jobs and friendships, and find research and articles to learn more about their community.

How to Pay for College

Scholarships

There are hundreds of scholarships for Asian-American students, which are awarded by local organizations, private companies, societies and more.

Grants

Grants don’t need to be paid back and are based on your financial circumstances. They are usually funded by the federal government, your state or college.

Fellowships

While scholarships usually fund tuition, fellowships typically cover graduate study, research projects and abroad experiences without needing to be paid back.

Student Loans

You can borrow money from the government or a bank, but it needs to be paid back with interest. The federal government offers many loan options—fill out the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you qualify for financial aid. If you need help, use our interactive guide to learn how to answer every question.

Federal Work-Study Program

Provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to pay education expenses.

If you’re just beginning the process of finding suitable scholarships, make sure you’re prepared for the application process by starting a folder with the assets below.

Scholarship Application Preparation

Not all scholarships are based off of your GPA, but most need to verify your high school education to qualify. Try to get certified copies of your transcript early, so you have plenty of time to meet the deadline.

Although there are scholarship opportunities that aren’t merit-based, it’s valuable to take the SAT or ACT standardized tests in case it’s a scholarship qualification.

Your scholarship essay is what will bring attention to your application out of the pool of applicants. That’s why it’s important to craft a stand out piece that attests to your experience, adheres to the scholarship guidelines and most importantly, highlights your true personality.

Letters of recommendation are a true judgement of your character—something that can’t be revealed through your test scores or transcript. Reach out to former teachers, counselors or bosses, so that they can speak to your qualifications. You may also want to provide them with a resume that outlines your achievements and goals as well.