Scholarships in California are available for both domestic and international students through university funding or external sources. The external scholarships in California are offered by private organisations and government funding. International students may choose from an extensive range of scholarships offered by top universities in California, with each of them having their own set of selection criteria. The university-based scholarship may differ based on major, program level or academic department. Most of these scholarships are merit-based, while some are offered based on demonstrated financial need.
Apart from this, a special scholarship is offered by Study California for international students seeking admission to top universities in California. The scholarship is offered to 5 eligible students with an award of 1,000 USD each. The selection criteria for Study in California scholarships are based on academic excellence, financial need, and leadership potential. The deadline for this scholarship is October 31, 2025. In addition to this, some universities also help international students to explore several external scholarships.
| Scholarship Type | College-Specific, Merit-Based, Need-Based, Tuition-Fee-Waiver |
| Offered by | N/A |
| Organization | N/A |
| Application Deadline | Oct 31 ,2025 |
| Number of Scholarships | N/A |
| Amount | ₹90,620 ($1,000) |
| Renewability | No |
| International Student Eligible | Yes |
| Scholarship Website Link | https://studycalifornia.us/scholarship/ |
As there are several scholarships available in California, the requirements and selection may differ. However, the basic eligibility criteria for scholarships in California California mentioned below:
Eligibility Requirements:
Scholarships in California offered by Top Universities with Eligibility Requirements:
| University/College | Scholarships | Eligibility Requirements | Award |
| Associated Students Dianne F. Harrison Award | Continuing CSUN ug or PG international students | Student must be enrolled in 15 units during fall and spring season | A gpa of 3.0 | 1 LOR | | 500 USD | |
| Associated Students - International Matador Scholarship | A GPA of 3.0 for applicants and 3.5 GPA for PG applicants | Applicants enrolled in full-time courses with 12 units in UG or 8 units in PG | undergraduate, master's and doctoral students are eligible | Resume | 3,000 USD | |
| University Of Southern California | Dean's Master Scholarship For International Students | Merit-based based | Students enrolled in a master's degree at USC Viterbi School of Engineering | 5,000-20,000 USD |
| University of California, Berkeley | The Leadership Award | First year and transfer undergraduate students | Applicants with leadership potential, work experience or community involvement | Statement of Intent | 2,000 USD |
| CalArts Merit Scholarships for BFA International Students | Student with exceptional academic and artistic potential | | 10,000 USD | |
| CalArts Merit Scholarships for Graduate International Students | Merit-based | Audition or portfolio | Variable | |
| Stanford University | Knight-Hennessy Scholarship | Student from any country | Senior who is about to graduate or graduate in the last 4 year | must be admitted in Graduate program of Stanford University | Variable |
| University of California, Davis | Undergraduate Scholarship | Undergraduate applicants with 3.3 GPA in high school | Students who wish to pursue STEM course | Variable |
Scholarships in California offered by Private or Government Organisations with Eligibility Requirements:
| Organisations | Scholarships | Eligibility Requirements | Deadline | Award |
| Study in California | Study California Scholarship | Awarded to 5 qualifying international students | October 31, 2024 | 1,000 USD |
| IELTS USA | Andrea Scott International Graduate Student Scholarship | Graduate students admitted in fall | N.A | 5,000 USD tuition waiver |
| MPower Financing | Global Citizen Scholarship and Women in STEM | International student | Must be enrolled in a full-time degree | January 15, 2024 | 1,000-6,000 USD |
The application process varies for each California Scholarship. Students who wish to avail any of the scholarships are advised to first look for scholarships offered by the university they are applying to. The further steps are mentioned below:
The selection process for Process scholarships in California depends on the university, organisation, academic department and the program it is offered. For most courses offered at California universities, a minimum GPA of 3.0-3.5 is considered ideal to avail scholarship along with leadership potential, prior experience and extracurricular involvement.