Funding Your PhD: Scholarships and Resources for Latino and Hispanic PhD Students

Scholarships for Latino and Hispanic Doctoral Students

Between 2004 and 2016, Latino students saw a 60% increase in average student debt, with an estimated 36% of Latino borrowers owing more than the amount they originally borrowed 12 years after starting college. Given this, it’s critical for Latino and Hispanic PhD students to look for alternative funding sources, such as scholarships.

Scholarships can help reduce both tuition and living expenses. Many are created specifically for Latino and Hispanic students, so you’re likely to find one that matches your background and field of study.

ACAE Scholarship

• Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: The Association of Cuban-American Engineers (ACAE) offers scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students of Cuban or other Hispanic heritage pursuing degrees in engineering,

AICPA Fellowships for Minority Doctoral Students

• Amount: $12,000
• Eligibility: Awarded to 25 minority accounting PhD students planning to teach in the field. Applicants must hold CPA licensure and be enrolled in or applying to a full-time PhD or DBA program.

ALA Spectrum Scholarship Program

• Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: For ethnic and racial minorities pursuing library and information science degrees. Applicants must plan to attend an ALA-accredited graduate program. Recipients also attend the Spectrum Leadership Institute.

American Physical Therapy Association Minority Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: For licensed physical therapists pursuing post-professional doctoral degrees who have completed at least two semesters of coursework.

APSA Diversity Fellowship Program

• Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: Helps underrepresented political science scholars in the early stages of doctoral study. Applicants should demonstrate interest in teaching and research potential.

ASA Minority Fellowship Program

• Amount: $20,000
• Eligibility: For doctoral-level sociology students from underrepresented groups. Applicants must be advanced in their PhD program at the time of applying.

AWWA David Caldwell Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: Open to female and minority graduate students pursuing engineering related to drinking water.

BECA Foundation Scholarships

• Amount: $500-$2,000
• Eligibility: For Latino students from San Diego County, including those studying healthcare. Applicants must attend or have graduated from a San Diego County school.

Brown and Caldwell Minority Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000
• Eligibility: For undergrad or graduate students in engineering or environmental sciences. Must identify as a minority and have a 3.0+ GPA.

Charles Cheesman’s Student Debt Reduction Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $7,500
• Eligibility: For first-generation Hispanic/Latino or African American students. Applicants submit an essay detailing their background, goals, and how the award would help.

Chicana Latina Foundation Scholarships

• Scholarship: $1,500
• Eligibility: For Chicana and Latina women in Northern California pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies. Graduate applicants need a 2.7+ GPA.

EMPOWER Scholarships

• Amount: $1,500
• Eligibility: Supports ethnically diverse students in medicine or rehabilitation. Open to students in Minnesota and Wisconsin, selected based on intent, need, and academic standing.

The Esther Ngan-Ling Chow and Mareyjoyce Green Scholarship

• Amount: $18,000
• Eligibility: For women of color pursuing graduate degrees in sociology whose dissertations focus on issues affecting women of color.

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

• Amount: $27,000, (renewable up to 3 years)
• Eligibility: For graduate students pursuing PhD or ScD degrees in research-based fields. Applicants must identify with underrepresented minority groups such as Mexican Americans or Puerto Ricans.

FTE Fellowships for Latino/a, Asian, and First Nations Doctoral Students

• Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: Supports PhD and ThD students of Hispanic, Asian, or First Nations descent in religion or theology who have completed coursework.

George A. Strait Minority Scholarship

• Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: For minority students in graduate library programs or law school who aim to become law librarians.

Great Minds in STEM Scholarship

• Amount: $500-$5,000
• Eligibility: Provides need- or merit-based scholarships for STEM or health-related degrees. Applicants must be Hispanic/Latino or committed to serving underserved populations.

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Scholarships

• Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: HACU offers multiple scholarships for Hispanic and Latino undergraduate and graduate students attending member institutions. Requirements vary, but all applicants must be enrolled in a degree program.

Hispanic Scholarship Consortium Scholarship Program

• Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: Provides renewable scholarships for Hispanic students in Texas. Applicants must be of Hispanic/Latino heritage, reside in Texas, and hold a 2.5+ GPA.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

• Amount: $500-$5,000
• Eligibility: Open to students of Hispanic heritage pursuing graduate degrees at public or nonprofit U.S. institutions. Applicants must have a 2.5+ GPA.

LAGRANT Foundation Graduate Scholarships

• Amount: $2,000-$3,250
• Eligibility: Awards 100 scholarships to minority students pursuing advertising, marketing, or public relations graduate programs. Includes an all-expenses-paid career development trip to New York, Portland, or Minneapolis.

LULAC National Scholarship Fund

• Amount: $250-$2,000
• Eligibility: Provided by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Open to Hispanic graduate students enrolled full- or part-time at participating LULAC Councils.

Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship

• Amount: $10,000
• Eligibility: For minority undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in public finance. Applicants must include a recommendation letter highlighting their commitment to public service.

NBCC Minority Fellowship Program (Doctorate)

• Amount: $20,000
• Eligibility: Offered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) to doctoral-level mental health counselors. Applicants must be board-certified, committed to minority communities, and actively pursuing their doctorate.

Papi & Mamita Memorial Scholarship

• Amount: $500
• Eligibility: For first-generation Hispanic/Latino or African American students (undergrad or grad). Applicants must submit a short personal essay describing their background and goals.

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

• Amount: $90,000
• Eligibility: For immigrants and first-generation Americans pursuing doctoral degrees in any field. Applicants must have immigrant heritage and show exceptional promise.

Prospanica Foundation Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Eligibility: Supports Hispanic Prospanica members pursuing PhDs or business-related graduate degrees. Requires a 3.0+ GPA, or 2.75+ with work experience.

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Scholarships

• Amount: Varies
• Eligibility: Available to SHPE members pursuing master’s or doctoral STEM degrees. Applicants must have a 2.5+ GPA and be enrolled in an accredited university.

Expert Insight

Connect with faculty members early in your academic journey. At many universities, professors nominate students for fellowships, research grants, and funding opportunities that are not widely advertised. Those relationships can be quite as valuable when it comes to finding lesser-known opportunities.

Timon Kaple

How to Find and Apply for PhD Scholarships and Funding

Applying for PhD scholarships takes strategy, organization, and persistence. Follow these best practices to improve your chances.

Step 1: Research Scholarships & Funding Options

1. Start early and explore all sources:

   Most scholarships have strict deadlines, so begin your search well in advance. Check universities, private foundations, professional associations, and federal databases.

2. Look into university funding:

   Many graduate programs provide assistantships or stipends—ask your advisor or financial aid office.

3. Use online databases:

   Search by eligibility, field, or demographic to find more targeted opportunities.

4. Focus on your field:

   Scholarships tied to your discipline or specialty reduce competition and often offer higher award amounts.

Step 2: Prepare Strong Applications

1. Follow directions carefully:

   Missing details or wrong formats can disqualify your application.

2. Verify eligibility first:

   Make sure you meet all requirements before investing time.

3. Customize every application:

   Tailor essays and materials to each scholarship’s mission and goals.

4. Highlight your achievements:

   Emphasize academic success, community impact, and leadership.

5. Secure recommendation letters:

   Cultivate relationships with professors and mentors early and give them ample time to write.

Increase Your Chances of Winning a Scholarship

1. Apply broadly:

   The more you apply, the more chances you create.

2. Prioritize quality:

   Proofread and polish each submission for professionalism.

3. Show passion:

   Let enthusiasm for your field and community work shine through.

4. Network strategically:

   Attend conferences and connect with peers in your discipline.

5. Ask for help:

   Lean on mentors, advisors, or writing centers for feedback and guidance.

Expert Insight

Look for funding that supports more than tuition. Research grants, conference awards, and professional development funding can help you build your academic profile while reducing out-of-pocket expenses. These smaller awards can add up over the course of a doctoral program

Timon Kaple

Resources for Latino and Hispanic PhD Students

Pursuing a PhD is challenging, especially when facing additional systemic and cultural barriers. These organizations, podcasts, and communities offer support, mentorship, and empowerment for Latino and Hispanic scholars.

Podcasts & Media

• All Things Latina – Guidance for Latinas on personal growth, finance, and entrepreneurship.
• Basic Brown Nerds – Conversations about identity, authenticity, and professional development.
• In the Thick – News and politics through a Latino lens.
• Tamarindo – Candid discussions on culture and identity; featured in Oprah’s O Magazine.
• This Latina Needs Therapy Too – Honest talk on mental health, relationships, and healing.
• Hyphenated – Explores the bicultural experience of living as a Latino-American.
• Break the Good Girl Myth – Author Majo Molfino encourages women to embrace power and self-acceptance.
• What Would Frida Do? – Lessons from the lens of Frida Kahlo on resilience and authenticity by Arianna Davis.

Professional & Academic Organizations

• Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) – Networking and career development for Latino business professionals.
• Council for Latino Workplace Equity (CLWE) – Advocates for Latino inclusion and rights in the workplace.
• Excelencia in Education – Promotes success for Latino students through research and advocacy.
• Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) – Leadership and career services for professionals.
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) – Supports Latino achievement in higher education.
• Latinos in Higher Ed – Career platform and community for Latino educators and administrators.
• League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) – Public policy engagement and education initiatives.
• MANA – Grassroots leadership development and community programs for Latinas.
• National Association for Chicano and Chicana Studies (NACCS) – Academic association for Chicano/Chicana and Latino/Latina studies.
• National Hispanic Corporate Council (NHCC) – Promotes Hispanic leadership in corporate sectors.
• National Immigration Law Center (NILC) – Provides legal and financial aid for low-income and undocumented immigrants.
• The PhD Project – Expands minority representation in business PhD programs through networking and mentorship.
• SACNAS – Supports Chicano/Hispanic and Native American students in STEM.
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) – Strengthens Hispanic success in engineering and STEM education.
• United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) – Leadership and education initiatives for Hispanic youth.
• United We Dream – Advocacy and resources for undocumented students, including DACA guidance.

Books & Tools

• The Latino Student’s Guide to College Success – Practical strategies and success stories for Latino students.