Top Scholarships for UCLA Students

With an acceptance rate of about 14%, getting into University of California, Los Angeles is an accomplishment for students pursuing higher education. But, this accomplishment is not cheap, especially for students who have to relocate to attend classes. 

Scholarships play a big part in lifting some of the financial burden off of these students, so they can focus on their studies and enjoy the liveliness of the surrounding city. Luckily for these students resources and scholarships are available to help. 

About UCLA Scholarship 

As of February 2022, the average student admitted to UCLA will pay around $37,000 for in-state students or around $60,000 for out-of-state students. These numbers include the cost of books, transportation, and personal costs as well as the cost of tuition. Without the help from financial aid, many of these students and their families would struggle to cover these costs.

There are scholarships that are open for these students specifically or available to all students that UCLA students can apply for. 

What are UCLA Scholarships?

UCLA scholarships are financial awards that are given to students who attend the University of California, Los Angeles. These are usually scholarships that are only open to those who are enrolled in the university, but students are able to apply for outside scholarships that can be applied to their school costs if they win. 

What Qualifies as a UCLA Scholarship?

UCLA scholarships are scholarships that are open to students who are enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles. These can be sponsored by the school or by smaller organizations or colleges within the university. 

Types of UCLA Scholarships Available

Maybe you have already found some scholarships that are open to UCLA students and are interested in more specific types of scholarships that are open to these students. Here’s a short list of the types of scholarships that you can apply for. 

Academic Merit-based Scholarships 

These scholarships are based solely on your proven academic ability. These can be decided on the applicant’s grade-point average (GPA), standardized test scores (ACT, SAT, AP exams, etc.) or other academic scores.

Colleges may have academic merit-based scholarships for students who are part of their incoming class, so they’ll receive these scores when you apply. But, there are other organizations that have academic scholarships that you will have to submit these scores to. 

If you are accepting recurring award money from an academic scholarship from UCLA, there may be a minimum GPA requirement you have to meet each year to keep getting the money each year or each semester. 

Major-based Scholarships

Major-based scholarships are financial awards that are only available to students who have declared or intend to pursue a particular major. Some of these scholarships can be looking for a more broad selection of applicants like STEM majors or art majors.

Identity-based

Scholarships with the qualification partially based on the applicant’s identity are open only to people within those groups. Reasons why these scholarships exist range from trying to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds and marginalized communities to giving awards to students who share the same characteristics as someone who has passed in their honor. 

Athletic Scholarships

Athletic scholarships are decided based on a student’s athletic ability usually within a given sport. Oftentimes, coaches from interested schools will scout out students who are performing well during their sport’s season and decide whether or not to make an offer.  

Oftentimes the conditions for accepting award money from an athletic scholarship is that you are required to play for the college team of the school sponsoring the scholarship. So, if you are thinking of accepting an athletic scholarship from UCLA, you’re likely going to be required to play for the university.This will be a huge time commitment, so take time to consider if you can handle a college course load alongside time on the court or field.  

Leadership merit-based Scholarships

Leadership scholarships are given to students who display the qualities of a good leader in and out of the classroom. It is not uncommon for contenders for these scholarships to be recommended instead of applying directly. 

One of these scholarships that UCLA students should keep an eye out for is the UCLA Freshman Regents Scholarship as a part of the Regents Scholarship Program. All incoming freshman or transfer students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership and exceptional promise. This scholarship is by invitation only so there is not an application that you have to submit to be considered. 

How to Find UCLA Scholarships to Apply for?

There are an abundance of places to look for and find scholarships for UCLA students. If you are new to the scholarship search, see if there are any scholarships offered by your university or listed on your school’s website from outside organizations. UCLA has a page dedicated to scholarships that their students can apply to on their main website. 

Once you’ve exhausted the list provided by UCLA, check out other popular scholarship websites. There are so many websites dedicated to collecting and showcasing scholarships to students in need that you are sure to find plenty that you qualify for. 

Before or after you register for classes, you should meet with an academic advisor to discuss a plan to finish your degree program on time. This meeting would be a great opportunity to ask your advisor questions about scholarships you should apply for. They may be able to suggest a few by name or direct you to another staff member or student who will be able to help you.  

Tips for Winning UCLA Scholarships

So now you know where to look for scholarships, but how do you make sure that you get picked for the award? Well, there is no way to guarantee that you’ll win all the scholarships that you apply for, but you can definitely increase your chances. 

A lot of scholarships that you may apply for will have some sort of written component whether it is a full length essay or questions that require an extended response. When your written responses are longer, make sure that you stay on topic and answer all parts of the question. Rambling or unrelated extra information will make it difficult for your application to keep the sponsor’s attention. 

Another way to increase your chances of winning, is to find ways to decrease the number of applicants that you have to compete against for the award. Some students do this by deciding to apply for scholarships with smaller award amounts. A lot of students will overlook these scholarships as a waste of time and instead apply for scholarships where they have the chance to get the most money possible. But, if you apply for and win smaller scholarships consistently, over time that money will build up. 

You can also increase your chances by applying for scholarships for a specific type of applicant. So instead of applying for scholarships for any STEM major, apply for scholarships for biology majors who are attending UCLA.

Frequently Asked Questions About UCLA Scholarships

Still have some questions about UCLA scholarships? Here are some common questions that you might have. 

Are UCLA scholarships legit?

Yes, UCLA scholarships are legit. Although unlikely, it is possible that you may run into some scam scholarships online especially if you are looking online.

A way you can reduce the risk of falling victim to a scam is to use reputable sites that you or other people that you trust. Also, be mindful of the information that you submit when you apply. Scholarships will never ask you for your social security number, credit or debit card number, or bank information. If you are asked to submit any of this information, that scholarship is likely a scam. 

How can I improve my chances of winning UCLA scholarships?

There are several things you can do to improve your chances of winning college student scholarships.

• Go for scholarships with smaller dollar amounts
• Apply for scholarships that are looking for a specific type of applicant 
• Fully answer the prompt when an essay is required 
• Check the format requirements for written responses 
• Make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements 
• Look for awards that give awards to multiple winners 

How many UCLA scholarships can you get?

There is no limit to the number of scholarships that UCLA students can get, so you don’t have to limit yourself when you are applying. 

If a scholarship comes with any stipulations that will affect your ability to apply for other scholarships, that information will be available to you, so make sure you understand all the terms of the award before you accept.

Are UCLA scholarships taxable income?

In general, scholarships are not considered taxable income. This is only true if you are enrolled in an eligible college and degree program and use the funds appropriately. 

Check the description and other fine print of the scholarships that you apply for to see if there is a requirement for how the awarded funds are used.

If it is discovered that you have used scholarship funds for expenses unrelated to what is detailed in the description of the scholarship, then these funds may be considered taxable income. 

What’s the best way to apply for UCLA scholarships?

Applying online is likely one of the easiest ways to apply for scholarships. You can find and filter the scholarships you apply for as well as keep track of these scholarships after you apply. Other students who are applying at the same time can also share links to scholarships that they think you would have a good chance of winning.