Paying for college is hard enough without the extra barriers many Hispanic students face. Several scholarship programs exist specifically to help, and knowing the real ones saves time.
The McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship is one of the largest. It awards up to $100,000 paid over four years to Hispanic high school seniors. To qualify, applicants need at least one parent of Hispanic heritage, a minimum 2.8 GPA, and to be under 21. The program also runs smaller regional awards. Selection weighs academics, financial need, community service, and a personal interview.
The Gates Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship for outstanding high school seniors from low-income households. It covers the full cost of attendance that other aid does not, including tuition, books, housing, and food. Applicants must be Pell-eligible, US citizens or permanent residents, and hold at least a 3.3 weighted GPA. It is highly competitive and rewards leadership and perseverance.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship supports students of color who show leadership and a commitment to service. Scholars receive financial help across four years of college plus mentoring and an annual leadership conference.
The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley runs the Latinos in Technology Scholarship for Latino students studying science, technology, engineering, or math. It combines financial aid with internship connections in the tech industry.
The League of United Latin American Citizens offers engineering scholarships for Hispanic high school seniors entering full-time engineering programs, with several awards given each year.
Goldman Sachs also runs an MBA fellowship for underrepresented students, including Hispanic and Latino students, that pairs financial support with mentoring and a summer internship. For funding strategy, see how to maximize financial aid and financial aid options for online degrees. Also review scholarship opportunities and scholarships for online master’s degrees.
Deadlines are strict and details change yearly. Check each program’s official site before applying, and apply early. FAFSA completion is usually required for need-based awards.

