Scholarships for Asian American and Pacific Islander Students
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 18, 2026 • US Financial Aid & Scholarships
APIA Scholars pays $2,500 one-year awards up to $20,000 multi-year awards, prioritizing low-income and first-generation students. A federal designation for colleges with large Asian American and Pacific Islander enrollment adds campus support funding on top.
🎓 APIA Scholars awards range from $2,500 to $20,000
Priority goes to students at or below the poverty line and first-generation college students
Both full-time and part-time undergraduates can apply
2027-2028 cycle opens November 15, 2026, closes January 15, 2027
You must be a US citizen, national, permanent resident, or citizen of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, or Palau
🏠 AANAPISI-designated colleges get federal grants for tutoring and student support, not direct scholarships
APIA Scholars (Formerly APIASF)
APIA Scholars is the largest scholarship organization dedicated to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Awards range from $2,500 one-year scholarships to $20,000 multi-year scholarships, and the organization opens applications to both two-year and four-year accredited US institutions.
Selection prioritizes students who live at or below the poverty line and who are the first in their family to attend college. APIA Scholars explicitly welcomes students from all backgrounds to apply, though it historically serves Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Eligible applicants must be US citizens, nationals, or legal permanent residents, or citizens of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau. Both full-time and part-time degree-seeking undergraduates qualify, which sets APIA Scholars apart from programs that require full-time enrollment only.
The 2027-2028 application cycle opens November 15, 2026, and closes January 15, 2027. Since selection weighs financial need heavily, gather your FAFSA data and household income documentation before you start the application.
The AANAPISI Designation on Campus
Colleges with a significant enrollment of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students and a large share of low-income students can qualify for federal Title III funding as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). This works the same way the Hispanic-Serving Institution designation works for Latino students: the money goes to the college for tutoring, academic advising, and student support programs, not as a check to individual students.
If you are choosing between colleges, ask the financial aid office whether the school carries AANAPISI status and what programs that funding supports on campus. A school with active AANAPISI programming often has stronger peer mentoring, language support, and first-generation student services than a similarly priced school without the designation.
Other Places to Search
Check community-specific foundations tied to your family's country of origin or ethnicity. Groups like Chinese American, Korean American, Filipino American, and Vietnamese American community foundations often run smaller, less competitive local awards.
Ask your intended major's professional association. STEM fields in particular run diversity-focused scholarships that stack with APIA Scholars awards.
Search your state's Asian American and Pacific Islander commission or advisory council, if your state has one. Several states fund small state-level scholarships through these bodies.