How Do Students Apply for a Korean American Scholarship?
If you are a qualified Korean American student, you may be eligible for Korean American scholarships. To apply for a Korean American scholarship, you must meet the criteria set by each provider.
A common first rule is you need to be of Korean heritage. Maybe you have a Korean parent, grandparent, or great grandparent. Or, you were adopted from Korea.
Many providers also look for applicants with a 3.0 GPA and who need financial help to pay for college. To make your application shine, you might need to submit references and an essay as well.
The people of Korea developed a unique artistic sense. Their heritage blends traditional value for humanity, Korean customs and now, modern vibes.
Today’s Korean culture has monochrome paintings, shrines, palaces and literary works. Not to mention, Kpop music from BTS, Kdrama, dance and yes, yummy Korean BBQ.
You don’t necessarily need to speak the Korean language. But you must show proof you are a full time student at an accredited college in the U.S.
If this is part of your family history, many scholarships for Korean college students exist. In fact, a main provider is the nonprofit, Korean American Scholarship Fund, or KASF.
KASF offers scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000. They have different awards for high school students, college and graduate students.
Also, the scholarships they offer go by regions. For instance, the KASF Eastern Region Scholarship is for students who go to a partner school located in this area.
What Colleges Provide Scholarships for Korean Americans?
Many colleges partner with the KASF to offer scholarships to Korean American Students.
Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences is one example. They offer the scholarship stipend through the KASF. It is open to Korean American students who are pursuing a MA in United Nations and Global Studies at Rutgers.
Some of the costs of college go to tuition and fees. But as any student knows, there are books and supplies to buy. Room and board plus meals are additional expenses for college students.
The main benefit of a Korean American scholarship is that it is not a student loan. You don’t have to pay it back, so the money is yours to use for college and expenses.
List of Korean American Scholarships
Check out our list of Korean American scholarships below. We have awards worth $.
Best [year] Minority Scholarships You Should Apply For 2025 List
This award is available for graduating high school seniors from the state of Colorado who plan to enroll in an accredited college or university in Colorado. Applicants must have a grade point average of 2.8 or higher, and must be a member of a minority group or a first-generation college student.
This award is available for U.S. female high school seniors and/or current college students who are permanent residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania. Students must have a grade point average of 3.2 or higher overall, and major in a communications-related field, such as advertising, broadcasting, communications, journalism, marketing, new media or public relations.
This scholarship is available for Hispanic women who are majoring in journalism or communications. Applicants must demonstrate academic achievement and must be residents of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, or Pennsylvania.
This award is available to U.S. students of Hispanic descent who are currently enrolled in or planning to enroll in an undergraduate program. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, and must be a resident of Oregon or Clark County, Washington.
This fellowship is open to U.S. undergraduate students who wish to pursue graduate careers (Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D) in microbiology. Students will have the opportunity to conduct full time research at their home institutions with an ASM member; both students and their faculty members must be ASM members to be eligible.
The Gwendolyn Gives Perseverance Education Scholarship is awarded annually to college students currently pursuing a bachelors degree in education. Scholarships are awarded in amounts ranging from $500-$5000 annually. Applicants can begin submitting their application in October of each year, and the deadline for submission is February 15th. To learn more about the Gwendolyn Gives Foundation, please visit our website at: https://sites.google.com/view/gwendolyngivesfoundation/home Scholarship Recipients are announced at the foundations annual fundraising event, Gwen’s Gala, in April of each year.
U.S. students who have achieved a junior class standing or higher and are enrolled in an aviation program are eligible for this award. Students must be Native American and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
U.S. female undergraduate students between the ages of 17 and 35 who are majoring in chemistry, physics, or chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering are eligible for this award. Each student must be a member or the daughter or granddaughter of a member of the Sons of Norway; such membership must have been of three or more years in duration on the date the application is submitted.
This award is available for minority high school seniors who attend an inner-city school. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and a record of community activity and/or leadership.