FAQs for Students - About Scholarships

What scholarships do the Alumni Association offer high school seniors?

Freshman Scholarships are the largest scholarships offered by the Alumni Association. More than 550 alumni volunteers statewide review applications from more than 2,500 prospective students on an annual basis. Awards range from $4,000 to $15,000 and are paid over four years.

All applicants to UCLA from historically underrepresented backgrounds are also eligible to apply for Dr. Ralph J. Bunche Freshman Scholarships.

To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be enrolled in a California high school and be U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents or have official refugee status. You must be available for an interview in March or April if requested by the selection committee.

Students who are selected to receive Alumni Scholarships will be eligible for annual award renewals subject to the completion of 30 service hours to UCLA and the Alumni Association each year.

Applications may be filed beginning Nov. 1; they must be returned to the Alumni Association by Feb. 20, 2008.

For additional information or for an application, visit our Apply for Scholarships page.

You may also send a written request for an application to:

Alumni Scholarships
UCLA Alumni Association
James West Alumni Center
Box 951397
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1397

How much scholarship funding is available?

Scholarships for freshmen range from $4,000 to $15,000 paid over four years. Scholarships for transfer students are $4,000 paid over two years. Students who are selected to receive Alumni Scholarships will be eligible for annual award renewals subject to the completion of 30 service hours to UCLA and the Alumni Association each year.

What is the State Finals competition?

The top applicants for the Freshman and Bunche Scholarships are invited to compete in this challenging and exciting finale. Students compete in three categories: an individual interview, a group problem-solving/leadership exercise and an essay competition. Participants represent a cross section of academic interests and geographic regions in California. The top students are awarded $15,000 each, with remaining awards ranging from $6,000 to $12,000. All state finalists who participate in the entire competition receive a minimum $6,000 award.

I'm a community college transfer student. Am I eligible for a scholarship?

Community College Transfer Scholarships are available to entering students who transfer to UCLA from any of the 107 campuses in the California community college system. Eligible students must be transferring from a California community college with a minimum of 90 transferable quarter units, at least half of which must be from a community college, and carry a minimum cumulative 3.75 GPA. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or have official refugee status.
Applicants must be available for an interview in June if requested by the selection committee.

For additional information or for an application, visit our Apply for Scholarships page.

You may also send a written request for an application to:

Alumni Scholarships
UCLA Alumni Association
James West Alumni Center
Box 951397
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1397

I'm already a UCLA student and Alumni Scholar. Are there other scholarships available for me?

UCLA seniors may apply for the Distinguished Senior Award, which emphasizes UCLA and community involvement as well as academics. Last year, these awards provided a total of $30,000 to students who have completed at least one academic year at UCLA. Alumni committees screen undergraduates from all majors with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Lew and Edie Wasserman Alumni Scholar Grants provide additional financial assistance to continuing students who have received previous Alumni Scholarships. Applicants are evaluated using a combination of factors involving both merit and financial need.

Do other campus organizations offer scholarships?

Yes! Contact the Financial Aid Office at 310-206-0400 or www.fao.ucla.edu or the Scholarship Resource Center at 310-206-2875 or www.college.ucla.edu/up/src.

Do I still receive my Alumni Scholarship money if I'm studying abroad?

Different terms apply to different study-abroad programs. If you intend to study with an UCLA-sponsored Education Abroad Program (EAP), your award will be disbursed to your SBAR account in the normal fashion throughout the year, divided into three equal payments each quarter. If you choose to study with a non-UCLA program, your award money will disbursed to you when you return to UCLA. For instance, if you studied in a non-UCLA program for fall quarter and then returned for winter and spring, you would receive your award divided into two payments in winter and spring.

Who must I notify about studying abroad?

As soon as you decide you will be studying abroad, contact the ASC advisor at 310-206-0663 to inform Alumni Scholarships of your plans. They make the changes to your disbursement schedule, and also make the necessary arrangements to ensure your scholarship will be renewed for the following year if you will not be on campus to put in your 30 hours of service. It is extremely important that you inform us of your plans to study abroad; failing to do so could jeopardize your renewal.