APIA Scholarship Opening Soon
Offered by APIA Scholars
About This Scholarship
APIA Scholars — founded in 2003 as the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund — is the largest nonprofit scholarship provider dedicated to Asian and Pacific Islander American students, and has awarded scholarships in all 50 states plus the Pacific Island territories. Its flagship APIA Scholarship ranges from $2,500 one-year awards to multi-year packages worth up to $20,000, sized to demonstrated financial need.
The program deliberately prioritizes students with significant financial need — especially those living at or below the poverty line — and students who are first in their families to attend college. Eligibility is broader than most awards: both entering freshmen and current undergraduates can apply, part-time students qualify, and citizenship extends beyond U.S. citizens and permanent residents to citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau. Applicants must be pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree at an accredited U.S. institution.
The 2027-28 application opens November 15, 2026 and closes January 15, 2027 at 5 p.m. ET, with award notifications going out by email around April 15 and funds distributed over the summer.
Eligibility
- U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident (citizens of certain Pacific Island nations also qualify)
- Asian and/or Pacific Islander heritage
- Enrolling as a degree-seeking undergraduate (associate or bachelor's) at an accredited U.S. institution
- Priority given to students with significant financial need and first-generation college students
How To Apply
- Complete the online application at apiascholars.org between November 15 and the January 15, 5 p.m. ET deadline
- Submit required documentation; incomplete applications are automatically disqualified
- Award notifications go out April 15, with funds distributed over the summer
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to attend a specific type of college?
The core APIA Scholarship can be used at accredited U.S. institutions for associate or bachelor's degrees; some partner-funded awards are limited to AANAPISI-designated campuses, so check which award you're matched to.