5 Great Scholarships For International Students From Central America
International students from Central America face unique challenges when coming to study in the U.S. From harsh immigration policies and xenophobia to the high-cost of educational opportunities and raising a family, it’s not an easy road to the American dream for most Latinos these days.
In fact, according to La Unidad Latina Foundation, 74% of Latino students who cut their college education short do so due to the financial pressures of supporting their families.
Thankfully there are thousands of organizations out there dedicated to making the lives of Latino students and migrants better, undocumented or no.
With that in mind, today we are going to go over five of the best scholarships out there intended specifically for Central American or Latino students.
MPOWER Financing’s Central America Scholarship Program
MPOWER Financing is one of the few private lenders in the world, let alone the United States, that is focused on its social impact. MPOWER offers scholarships and loans for international students and DACA recipients, dishing out millions annually to support these underserved categories.
Each year MPOWER offers one $3,000 scholarship and two $1,000 scholarships for Central American migrants in particular. These scholarships are easy to apply for and should be at the top of your list if you’re an international student who will be studying in the U.S.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
This Hispanic Scholarship Fund(HSF) is one of the largest organizations designed to help students with Hispanic heritage in the U.S obtain a University degree.
Each year they give out millions in scholarships to hundreds of students around the country. Since its inception in 1975, the HSF has awarded over $588 million in scholarships.
If you have Hispanic heritage, at least a 2.5 GPA, and plan to enroll in a U.S university this year, don’t forget to apply for a scholarship with the HSF. Awards can range from $500 to $5000 based on need, and hundreds of awards are given out annually, so this is a great opportunity.
DREAM.us’s National Scholarship for DREAMers
DREAM.us is another national scholarship organization focused on helping immigrants obtain college degrees. Since its inception, DREAM.us has given out $141 million in scholarships to thousands of immigrants students from all over Central America and Mexico.
The National Scholarship Award is their flagship scholarship. It covers tuition and fees up to a maximum of $14,500 for an associate degree and $29,000 for a bachelor’s degree, at one of 70 Partner Colleges in 16 states.
This is one of the most exclusive scholarships on this list, but it’s also one of the highest dollar awards, so it’s well worth applying.
Chicano Organizing and Research in Education(CORE)
The Chicano Organizing and Research in Education(CORE) organization is dedicated to helping undocumented students with Chicano heritage find success in the U.S education system.
The organization was founded to provide a direct response to the U.S’s unfair immigration system that deprives aspiring undocumented scholars of the ability to continue their education in the only country they have ever known, the U.S.
In the eleven years since CORE began awarding scholarships, they have dished out over $94,000 to undocumented students across the country. The 12th annual Que Llueva Café scholarship is on offer this year and the competition can be fierce. So don’t wait to apply if you have Chicano heritage.
La Unidad Latina Foundation
Established in 1999 La Unidad Latina Foundation has provided support, education, and scholarships to thousands of Latino students across the country.
The company’s National Scholarship is open to students with a 2.8 cumulative GPA who have Latino backgrounds and are pursuing their bachelor’s degree. It provides awards ranging from $500 to $1000 each year.
Although this scholarship doesn’t come with a high dollar amount, each year there are a number of winners meaning you have a decent chance of getting chosen, if you apply early.
At the end of the day, going to University in the U.S. is going to be expensive no matter where you come from. However, if you’re able to take advantage of some of the thousands of scholarships on offer the process can become a little less daunting. Central American international students, and Latino students in general face more challenges than most when studying in the U.S, however thanks to all these amazing organizations those challenges are no longer insurmountable.
