Scholarships & Financial Resources
Paying for college takes planning—but you don’t have to do it alone. A wide range of scholarships, financial aid programs, and support resources are available to help make your education more affordable. Whether you’re looking for need-based aid, merit-based scholarships, or financial wellness guidance, this page will help you explore your options and access the support you need—both at UC Santa Cruz and beyond.
Scholarship Opportunities
College is an investment—and scholarships can help ease the cost. Below are opportunities that support a range of academic interests, from STEM to business to cultural studies. Review the eligibility criteria and deadlines carefully, and check back regularly for updates.
El Centro also maintains a list of additional scholarship opportunities. Please contact elcentro@ucsc.edu for more information or to learn more.
American Nuclear Society (ANS) scholarships
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in nuclear science or nuclear engineering. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Award: Varies
Deadline: February 1
Contact: outreach@ans.org | (708) 352-6611
Learn more about ANC scholarships
Note: A separate Delayed Education Scholarship is available for mature women whose studies were postponed. Indicate interest on the Landis Scholarship form.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Scholarship
Eligibility: Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Award: Up to $2,000
Deadline: April 1
Contact: Deidra Schuler
Learn more about the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Scholarship
Campus financial resources
Find helpful resources on financial aid, FAFSA/CADAA, budgeting, emergency support, and financial wellness. These tools and services are designed to support you in building a strong financial foundation throughout your college journey.
Financial Aid
The UCSC Financial Aid and Scholarship Office is committed to minimizing financial barriers and helping students reach their educational goals. They aim to provide professional expertise with genuine warm regard for individual circumstances.
SlugCents
SlugCents is UCSC’s Financial Wellness Program, offering guidance to help you feel more confident about money—now and in the future. Their team provides a safe, welcoming space to talk about money, ask questions, and build practical skills.
Scholarship Application Tips & Best Practices
1. Schedule Time For Applications
Use a scheduling tool to allocate time for yourself to research and complete scholarship applications. This will help you submit more applications than if you were to do them only during your free time.
2. Meet All Deadlines
Use a calendar or planner to stay on track with due dates. Missing a deadline, even by one day, can result in the disqualification of your application. Treat your scholarship application as another assignment due for class.
3. Keep Materials Organized
Scholarship applications often require similar materials (academic transcripts, recommendation letters, family financial information, extracurriculars, community service, etc.), so keeping this information in a folder can save you time when applying for multiple scholarships.
4. Start Early
Give yourself ample time to gather the required materials and complete each step of your application. Rushed applications are often incomplete or sloppy.
5. Request Recommendations Early
Give your recommenders at least two weeks’ notice to write your letter. Choose people who know you well and can speak to your strengths and resilience. Be prepared to provide any additional information they may need about you or the scholarship. Be sure to follow up to confirm that your letter has been submitted.
6. Write a Strong Essay
Use the essay to highlight aspects of yourself not covered elsewhere in your application. Get help from the UCSC Writing Center with editing for grammar, spelling, and to ensure you are effectively addressing the prompt.
7. Showcase Your Achievements
Be confident in showcasing your accomplishments—awards, leadership positions, and personal challenges. Don’t underestimate the value of work or family responsibilities.
8. Don’t Ignore Small Awards
Smaller scholarships can add up over time, and they often have less competition than larger ones.
9. Keep Trying
If you don’t win a scholarship right away, don’t give up. Save your completed applications so you can easily reuse them in the future. The more scholarships you apply for, the better your chances are of receiving one.
Saúl Ordaz, El Centro Intern Scholarship Testimonio
“Throughout my undergraduate journey, scholarships have been essential in reducing the cost of my education and sustaining my livelihood as a low-income college student. Since my senior year of high school, I’ve applied to almost every scholarship I could find – whether local to my hometown, school-based, or at the national and international level. Scholarships are gift funds that don’t have to be repaid, making them an invaluable resource for all students, especially given the rising cost of higher education in the United States.
Over the past four years, I have been awarded 12 scholarships totaling more than $50,000. While these awards recognize my academic merit and leadership, it was the many rejections that taught me the most: the importance of starting applications early, seeking feedback, and presenting my authentic self and lived experiences as valuable assets to my education.
I believe everyone is capable of earning a scholarship with patience, persistence, and preparation because giving up guarantees you won’t win. As a first-generation, queer, low-income, Mexican-American college graduate, I can confidently say that resources exist to support our education; we just need to put in the work to find and use them. ¡Sí se puede!”