Financial Resources for Asian American and Pacific Islander Students

Overwhelmed by the cost of college? There's more financial aid out there than you may be aware of.

Better yet, there are specific scholarships and grants that college-bound Asian and Pacific Islander students can take advantage of.

Whether you're looking for a field-specific fellowship or gearing up for your undergrad degree, the below list of over 100 scholarships, internships, and community organizations is a great resource to have in your back pocket.

Internships, Fellowships and Programs

Internships and fellowship programs are a great way to get field-specific experience and set yourself apart as a job candidate in the future. Start your search with this list of opportunities below.

Fellowships

• APSA Diversity Fellowship Program (DFP): Diversity Fellowship Program (DFP) is a fellowship competition for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds applying to or in the early stages of doctoral programs in political science.
  
• American Sociological Association: Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) supports the development and training of sociologists of color in any sub-area or specialty in the discipline.
  
• FTE Leaders: FTE Leaders Fellowship provides financial support for doctoral students of Latino/a, Asian, Pacific Islands or First Nations descent who have completed the course work stage of their Ph.D. or Th.D. program in religion, theological studies or biblical studies.
  
• Wyoming Space Grant: Wyoming Space Grant Consortium (WSGC) awards fellowships to undergraduate students attending the University of Wyoming or one of Wyoming's community colleges to provide the student with the opportunity to do "real" research.
  
• Fleishman Hillard: Fleishman Hillard provides 6-12 months paid fellowships for college seniors, recent college graduates and graduate students who are on underrepresented (racial and ethnic minority) groups.
  
• American Bar Foundation: American Bar Foundation provides Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program for students who are diverse and traditionally underrepresented in the fields of law and social science.
  
• American Educational Research Association: AERA provides Minority Dissertation Fellowship in Education Research to enhance the racial and ethnic diversity of faculty, scholars, and researchers who study topics in education research.

Internships

• Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment: CAUSE Community Engagement interns work at the CAUSE office to gain experience in learning firsthand about the political process and various aspects of the nonprofit sector.
  
• Deutsche Bank: dbAchieve is an eight-week introduction to a career at Deutsche Bank designed for students who are diverse and/or students who can show a commitment to diversity.
  
• American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME): AFSCME Union Scholars Program is a 8-week summer internship for students of color.
  
• American Association for the Advancement of Science: AAAS provides summer internship program for undergraduate students who are deeply committed to diversity and interested in pursuing journalism as a career.
  
• Microsoft: Explore Microsoft is a 12-week summer internship program specifically designed for first- and second-year college students who pursue degrees in computer science, computer engineering, or related technical disciplines (Microsoft encourage underrepresented group students to apply).
  
• NASCAR: NASCAR Diversity Internship Program is a 10-week, paid summer internship that seeks diverse undergraduate and graduate college students with high academic standing at elite institutions.
  
• Quality Education for Minorities: QEM provides Talent Development and Innovation in Sciences (TDIS) Summer Internship for minority students in STEM related fields.
  
• T. Howard Foundation: T. Howard Foundation's Internship Program is dedicated to improving the participation of diverse and underrepresented groups in the media and entertainment industry.
  
• Getty: Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship program in Los Angeles supports substantive, full-time summer work opportunities for college undergraduates from backgrounds that have traditionally been underrepresented in the arts.
  
• Smithsonian: Smithsonian offers internships to increase participation of groups who are underrepresented in the disciplines of research conducted at the Institution, and in the museum field.
  
• McKinsey: Sophomore (second-year) Summer Business Analyst program is an 8-10 weeks summer internship program for underrepresented group (including Black, African American, Hispanic, Latinx, and/or part of Indigenous groups in North America).
  
• PwC: Start is PwC's diversity summer internship experience for high-performing college sophomores/rising juniors who are in underrepresented minority groups.
  
• Facebook: Facebook University is an 8-week internship program that enables students from underrepresented communities to get to know Facebook's people, products and services.
  
• Asian American Journalist Association: AAJA annually offers up to $20,000 in scholarships and grants to journalism students to help offset the costs of education, internships, living expenses and other opportunities.
  
• Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance: KIWA provides internships for students (10-20 hours per week) doing program or campaign based on interns' interest and capacity, and KIWA's needs.
  
• LEAP Emerge: LEAP Emerge: Summer Internship Program is an eight-week paid summer internship program designed to develop emerging young leaders of Asian and Pacific Islander community in Southern California.
  
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice: AAJC provides internship for students interested in gaining firsthand experience in civil rights advocacy.
  
• Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APIACS): The Congressional Internship is designed for AAPI undergraduate aged students looking to increase their experience in public policy and service.
  
• OCA National: OCA National provides internship opportunities to cultivate future leadership for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
  
• Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund: The SikhLEAD Internship Program partners with congressional offices, federal agencies, and DC-based host organizations to provide Sikh American college, graduate, and law students with enriching internships.
  
• Southeast Asia Resource Action Center: SEARAC provides internship opportunities for students that have knowledge of and interest in the Southeast Asian American community.

Programs

• Center for Third World Organizing: MAAP is an 8-week summer paid intensive training program for young activists of color.
  
• East West Center: Asia Pacific Leadership Program brings together people who want to co-create the future as self-reflective, resilient agents.
  
• Asian American Journalist Association: AAJA's Executive Leadership Program provides learning opportunities year-round (online and in-person), including alumni programming, mentorship, workshops, and networking events for students or professional.
  
• Management Leadership for Tomorrow: MLT equips and emboldens high-achieving women and men from underrepresented communities through the leadership program.
  
• Asian American LEAD (AALEAD): AALEAD provides mentorship program for students.
  
• ILF National: Youth Leadership Academy is a weekly training during the summer to promote APA interests and success in public service careers and provide education on policy issues affecting the APA community.
  
• Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund: The Leadership Development Program (LDP) is a transformational program that empowers Sikh American youth to become effective leaders committed to exploring and realizing both their personal potential and that of the Sikh American community.

Scholarships and Grants

Taking some time to seek out scholarships can save you thousands in student loans in the long run. Start your search with the list below, and remember to check all necessary requirements before applying!

• Against the Grain Productions: The Against The Grain Groundbreaker Leadership Scholarship provides financial assistance and promotion of Asian American college seniors and graduate students.
  
• American Planning Association: APA Foundation scholarships provides scholarships to students of great merit and from historically underrepresented groups.
  
• APIA Scholars: APIA Scholars provides scholarships for underserved APIA students (with Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity).
  
• Augustana University: Augustana University provides Diversity Scholarship for full-time domestic students of color.
  
• Asian Pacific Fund: Frederick and Demi Seguritan Scholarship is awarded for first generation Asian American students. (not available for 2022-23)
  
• Association of University Programs in Health Administration: Corris Boyd Scholars Program is a scholarship for AUPHA full-member graduate students.
  
• Foundation 649: Foundation 649 provides scholarships for young, talented Asian Americans who are actively shaping Asian cultural and social identity.
  
• Grand Rapids Foundation: Grand Rapids Foundation provides several scholarships for students of color (African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander).
  
• Indiana University: Hudson & Holland Scholars Program (HHSP) is a scholarship and support program for high achieving underrepresented minorities.
  
• American Bar: American Bar provides annual Legal Opportunity Scholarship to first-year law racial and ethnic minority students.
  
• Illinois Student Assistance Commission: ISAC provides Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) scholarships for students who are African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Native American.
  
• The National Press Club: The National Press Club provides Scholarship for Diversity Honoring Julie Schoo consisting of a $5,000 one-year scholarship, which can be renewed for up to three years for a total of $20,000 toward educational expenses.
  
• OCA Advocate: OCA Advocate provides Spectrum Scholars for qualified rising college juniors and seniors.
  
• OCA Advocate: The OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship for Rising College Seniors awards $2,500 to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) college students who are rising seniors.
  
• OCA Advocate: The OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship for Graduating High School Seniors awards $2,000 to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) high school seniors who are the first in their family to attend an institution of higher education.
  
• Jackie Robinson Foundation: Jackie Robinson Foundation provides scholarship program for undergraduate students who are in minority groups.
  
• LWP Life Academy: LWP Life Academy provides several scholarships for high school seniors, undergraduate, vocational, or trade school students who represent diversity.
  
• Celebrasian Conference: Scholarships are granted for Asian American students from major corporations that established their Hallmark Scholarships with USPAACC.

Scholarships for Specific Majors

• American College of Healthcare Executives: Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship provides financial aid to racially/ethnically students in healthcare management graduate programs.
  
• American Chemical Society: ACS Scholars Program awards renewable scholarships to underrepresented minority students majoring in undergraduate chemistry-related disciplines, and are also intending to pursue careers in chemistry-related fields.
  
• Against the Grain Productions: The Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship provides financial assistance and promotion of Asian American college students pursuing a major in the performing, visual arts, journalism and/or mass communications.
  
• Against the Grain Productions: #LiveLikeLyly Memorial Scholarship provide financial assistance and promotion of Asian American college students pursuing a major in fashion and/or graphic design.
  
• Against the Grain Productions: The Lily Pabilona Emerging Entrepreneur Scholarship recognizes Asian American high school, graduate and post-graduate students pursuing a career in entrepreneurship.
  
• Architects Foundation: Diversity Advancement Scholarship is a scholarship for minority students so they can pursue a successful career in architecture.
  
• AIA Chicago: AIA Chicago Foundation Diversity Scholarship Initiative, is an opportunity to attract and retain diverse, talented young professionals in Chicago who interested in architectural profession.
  
• American Institute of CPAs: The AICPA Minority Scholarship awards outstanding minority students to encourage their selection of accounting as a major and their ultimate entry into the profession.
  
• Library and Information Technology Association: LITA/LSSI Minority Scholarship is awarded to minority students (American Indian or Alaskan native, Asian or Pacific Islander, African-American, or Hispanic) who are pursuing library and automation field related degree.
  
• American Library Association: ALA provides Spectrum Scholarship Program for American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students to assist them with obtaining a graduate degree and leadership positions within the profession and ALA.
  
• Brown and Caldwell: Brown and Caldwell offers a $5,000 Minority Scholarship to support students who identify as minorities and are interested in pursuing a career in the environmental profession.
  
• Asian Pacific Fund: Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship is awarded for Asian students enrolled in California college or university (majoring in accounting, political science, public policy, business administration or related fields).
  
• Asian Pacific Fund: Hsiao Memorial Social Sciences Scholarship is awarded for Asian graduate students (graduate degree in the social sciences, economics is preferred but not required).
  
• Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange: CIEF Scholarships in Architecture is open to minority students pursuing a career in Architecture and is intended to help increase the representation of minorities in the Architecture profession.
  
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: The EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship provides funds for two years of undergraduate study to rising junior undergraduate students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
  
• ESA Foundation: ESA Foundation provides scholarships for women and minority students across the United States earning a computer science or video game arts and sciences-related degree.
  
• American Association of Law Libraries: George A. Strait Minority Scholarship & Fellowship is granted for minority students who pursue ALA accredited library graduate school program; or law school.
  
• Society for American Archaeology: Historically Underrepresented Groups Scholarship (HUGS) grants scholarships for under represented minorities who obtain degrees in archaeology.
  
• American Association of School Personnel Administrators: AASPA provides Leon Bradley Scholarship Program to encourage more minorities or persons of color to enter the field of teaching and school leadership.
  
• Government Finance Officers Association: Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship is granted for outstanding minority students enrolled in a course of study preparing for a career in state or local government finance.
  
• Society for Classical Studies: Frank M. Snowden Jr. Undergraduate Scholarships is offered for undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups who study classics or classical archaeology.
  
• Branch Cook Scholarships: Nola Cook Scholarship is awarded for students in underrepresented group who pursue STEM related degree.
  
• Pacific & Asian Affairs Council: Paul S. Honda Scholarships is awarded for graduating seniors who have demonstrated a desire to pursue Asian Studies, International Affairs, or a related field at the post-secondary level, and have been actively involved in PAAC.
  
• Radio Television Digital News Association: Carole Simpson Scholarship is granted for minority students to overcome hurdles along their career path in electronic journalism.
  
• Gates Millennium Scholar Program: GMSP promotes academic excellence, provides opportunities, and reduces financial barriers by providing scholarships for outstanding students of color who study STEM related fields.
  
• The Engineering Center Education Trust: The Rossiter Family Scholarship is offered for the benefit of women and minority students currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in civil or environmental engineering.
  
• Japanese American Citizens League: JACL National Scholarship and Awards Program offer scholarships to students who are entering freshman, undergraduate, graduate, law, in the creative & performing arts, and those with financial need.
  
• NACME: NACME provides scholarships for under-represented minorities who pursue STEM related fields.

Scholarships for Specific Groups

• Angels Wings Foundation: Angels Wings Foundation provides financial assistance to underserved Thai students.
  
• Asian Pacific Fund: Banatao Family Filipino American Education Fund is awarded to students with Filipino heritage (at least 50%) who study engineering, mathematics, computer science, environmental or physical science.
  
• Pennsylvania Medical Society: Endowment for South Asian Students of Indian Descent (ESASID) scholarship is awarded for South Asian student of Indian descent enrolled full time in his/her second, third, or fourth year at an accredited Pennsylvania medical school.
  
• Prism Foundation: Prism Foundation provides scholarships to empower outstanding students who are making a positive impact on the Asian & Pacific Islander and LGBTQ+ communities.
  
• Next Day Animations: Illustrating Awesomeness Scholarship is a scholarship opportunity for young women or gender non-conforming individuals of color who are actively working to change the world.
  
• Asian and Pacific Islander Queer Women and Transgender Community: APIQWTC scholarship supports queer Asian and Pacific Islander women and transgender people in their pursuit of technical/professional training or higher education.
  
• Laotian American Scholarship Foundation: LASF provides scholarships for young Laotian American High School graduates who want to pursue higher academic learning.
  
• Oregon Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association: Portland Chinese Scholarship Foundation is awarded for high school graduates of Chinese ancestry in their pursuit of higher education.
  
• SOULE Foundation: SOULE Foundation provides financial support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) youth of color who are pursuing a college degree.
  
• Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund: Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund (TASF) provides financial assistance to economically-challenged Taiwanese American youth.
  
• Silicon Valley Community Foundation: The Tang Scholarship is awarded for Asian/Pacific Islander youth, self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender with demonstrated involvement in the LGBT community.
  
• Vietnamese Physician Association of Northern California: VPANC provides scholarships for outstanding Vietnamese high school seniors.

Regional Scholarships

• Central California Asian Pacific Women: Central California Asian Pacific Women (CCAPW) provides financial assistance to Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women pursuing higher education who are from Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, or Tulare County.
  
• National Association of Asian American Professionals - Philadelphia: NAAAP Philadelphia gives scholarships for Asian American students in the Philadelphia region who have demonstrated strong leadership potential.
  
• KLJ Way: The Kearns Louis-Jean Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students of color within Boston, and neighboring cities/towns, entering their first year of college, and pursuing a degree within STEM.
  
• Florida Fund for Minority Teachers: FFMT provides Minority Teacher Education Scholarship (MTES) for Florida students who are in the following racial groups: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaskan Native.
  
• Page Education Foundation: Page Education Foundation provides grants for students of color who graduate from a Minnesota high school and will be attending an accredited Minnesota post-secondary school at full-time enrollment.
  
• San Diego Chinese Women's Association: San Diego Chinese Women's Association awards scholarships to selected outstanding students of Chinese descent who are attending high school in San Diego County.
  
• Tennessee Higher Education Commission & Student Assistance Corporation: Minority Teaching Fellows Program is intended to encourage talented minority Tennesseans to enter the teaching field in Tennessee.

Organizations and Advocacy Groups

Nonprofits and organizations dedicated to Asian and Pacific Islander students can provide tons of helpful information, mentorship, and much more. Don't miss this list of resources below.

• Alpha Phi Gamma: Alpha Phi Gamma is Asian American Interest Sorority that provides service and Asian Awareness to the University and the surrounding communities for the betterment of society.
  
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum: APIAHF is an organization that focuses on improvement of the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
  
• Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies: APAICS is an organization dedicated to promoting Asian Pacific American participation and representation at all levels of the political process, from community service to elected office.
  
• Committee of 100: The Committee of 100 (C100) is a non-partisan leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, and the arts.
  
• Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund: AALDEF is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans.
  
• Japanese American Citizens League: The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose mission is to secure and safeguard the civil and human rights of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and all communities who are affected by injustice and bigotry.
  
• National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development : National CAPACD is a progressive coalition of local organizations that advocate for and organize in low-income AAPI communities and neighborhoods.
  
• OCA (Asian Pacific American Advocates): OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates is dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).
  
• Southeast Asia Resource Action Center: SEARAC is the national civil rights organization devoted to uplifting Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese American communities.
  
• National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum: NAPAWF is the organization focused on building power with AAPI women and girls to influence critical decisions that affect lives, families and communities.
  
• Asian Professional Exchange: (APEX) is a non-profit, non-partisan community-based organization with multifaceted goals and purposes that are charitable, cultural and educational in nature.
  
• National Association of Asian American Professionals: NAAAP is the premier leadership organization for Asian and Asian American professionals in North America.
  
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association: NAPABA is the preeminent professional development organization and voice for 60,000 Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students.
  
• Asia America MultiTechnology Association: AAMA aims to accelerate ideas and best-in-class collaboration, resulting in successful business ventures throughout the Asia-Pacific region and global economy.
  
• US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce: USPAACC is the most established and largest organization representing Asian American businesses in the United States.
  
• Asian American Economic Development Enterprises Inc.: AAEDE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to economic self-help for Asian Americans and others.
  
• National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians: NCAPIP is an organization for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander physicians who are committed to the advancement of the health and well-being of their patients and communities.

Bottom Line

Locating financial resources or scholarships can be an arduous task, but don't get discouraged. We hope that this list of helpful links can provide some guidance and a little inspiration to pursue the major that brings you joy. Best of luck!