USA Scholarships
Partial Funding Undergraduate the USA

APIA Scholarship 2027 - Up to $20,000

Deadline January 15, 2027, 5 p.m. Eastern Time 116 days left · Hosted by APIA Scholars · Published

The APIA Scholarship helps undergraduate students across the United States pay for accredited college study, with particular attention to learners from low-income households and first-generation college backgrounds. APIA Scholars distributes awards ranging from $2,500 one-time grants to $20,000 multi-year scholarships, sending funds directly to your institution for tuition, fees, room and board, and textbooks. For the 2027-2028 academic year, the Kaleidoscope-hosted application opens November 15, 2026, closes January 15, 2027 at 5 p.m. ET, and announces decisions around April 15, 2027 with summer disbursement. You must be a US citizen, national, or legal permanent resident, or a citizen of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, or Palau, and plan to enroll as a degree-seeking undergraduate in fall 2027.

One- or multi-year awards
$2.5K-$20K
Associate or bachelor's track
Undergraduate
5 p.m. ET deadline
Jan 15, 2027
All 50 states and Pacific Islands
US citizens & LPRs
How to apply Am I eligible? Official website

What is the APIA Scholarship?

The APIA Scholarship is one of the largest need-aware undergraduate awards managed by APIA Scholars, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit that has supported Asian and Pacific Islander American students and broader low-income cohorts for more than twenty years. Despite the organization name, the scholarship invites any eligible US undergraduate who meets citizenship and enrollment rules, then prioritizes applicants facing real financial barriers, including many who are the first in their family to attend college.

Award sizes stretch from a $2,500 single-year grant to a $20,000 multi-year package, and every dollar travels directly to your college or university rather than your personal bank account. That design keeps the money tied to tuition, fees, housing, meal plans, and textbooks on your cost-of-attendance bill.

The application lives on Kaleidoscope, opens each November, and demands a thoughtful 250- to 500-word essay plus detailed responses about your household and activities. You do not upload transcripts at first, which lowers the barrier for high school seniors still waiting on admission decisions. If you advance, APIA Scholars may ask for confirmation materials before funds release in summer 2027 ahead of the fall term.

Who can apply

Eligibility

Your progress 0 / 6
  • ✓
    US citizenship or eligible Pacific status
    You must be a US citizen, US national, or legal permanent resident. Citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or Republic of Palau may also apply.
  • ✓
    Degree-seeking undergraduate in fall 2027
    Plan to enroll or continue as a degree-seeking undergraduate at a US accredited college or university in fall 2027. Associate and bachelor's paths qualify; students who already hold a bachelor's degree do not.
  • ✓
    Full-time or part-time enrollment
    Both full-time and part-time degree seekers may apply when they meet citizenship and enrollment rules.
  • ✓
    Accredited US college, university, or community college
    Online and in-person programs count when the institution holds US accreditation. Community college students pursuing an associate or transfer pathway are welcome.
  • ✓
    No prior bachelor's degree
    If you already completed a bachelor's or graduate degree, you are ineligible. Students moving from an associate degree into a first bachelor's program may apply.
  • ✓
    Personal email for Kaleidoscope account
    Register with an email you will keep through selection. High school seniors should avoid school addresses that deactivate after graduation.
What you get

Benefits

  • Award range $2,500 to $20,000
  • One-year vs multi-year Both structures available
  • Tuition and fees Eligible cost of attendance
  • Room and board Eligible when part of attendance
  • Textbooks Eligible educational expense
  • Payment to student directly Funds sent only to your college
What to prepare

Document checklist

Documents gathered 0 / 6
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    APIA Scholarship Kaleidoscope application
    Complete the online form at apiascholars.org/scholarships/ when the 2027-2028 cycle opens. The initial stage uses questionnaire responses rather than uploaded transcripts.
  • ✓
    250-500 word personal essay
    Write at least 250 words and up to 500 words so reviewers understand your background, goals, and community context.
  • ✓
    College choice information
    List a first-choice or planned institution even if you have not committed yet. Finalists update enrollment details later.
  • ✓
    Activities and responsibility responses
    Share extracurriculars, work, family responsibilities, and community involvement inside the application fields.
  • ✓
    Scholar Confirmation Form after selection
    Finalists submit transcripts and financial information only if APIA Scholars requests the confirmation packet.
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    Disability accommodation requests
    Email [email protected] before the deadline if you need application accommodations.
Step by step

How to apply

Read apiascholars.org/scholarships/ and the FAQ so you understand citizenship, fall 2027 enrollment, and first-bachelor's rules before you register.
Use a durable personal email when the application opens November 15, 2026. The platform autosaves progress until you submit.
Answer household, educational, and activity questions honestly. APIA Scholars weighs financial need heavily but welcomes all eligible backgrounds.
Tell your story with specifics about school, family, work, and community. Use the Application Guide and Tips PDF linked from APIA Scholars if you want structure.
Click submit by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on January 15, 2027. Late or incomplete forms are automatically disqualified.
If you advance, complete any additional Kaleidoscope forms promptly. Only selected scholars upload transcripts during confirmation.
Award recipients coordinate with APIA Scholars so funds reach the college before the 2027-2028 term begins.
When

Deadline and timeline

Application deadline
January 15, 2027, 5 p.m. Eastern Time
116 days left
Nov 15, 2026
2027-2028 APIA Scholarship application opens on Kaleidoscope.
Nov 2026 - Jan 2027
Draft essay, gather activity details, and save progress in the portal.
Jan 15, 2027
Application closes at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
Jan - Mar 2027
Multi-phase review of complete applications.
Apr 15, 2027
Applicants notified of decisions by email per APIA Scholars calendar.
Summer 2027
Scholarship funds disburse to colleges for the 2027-2028 academic year.
Questions

FAQ

What is the APIA Scholarship?

It is a national undergraduate scholarship program run by APIA Scholars, a nonprofit focused on students with significant financial need. Awards range from $2,500 to $20,000 and pay directly to accredited US colleges for tuition, fees, room and board, and books.

When does the APIA Scholarship application open for 2027?

APIA Scholars plans to open the 2027-2028 cycle on November 15, 2026 and close it on January 15, 2027 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Decisions typically email around April 15, 2027.

Do I need to be Asian or Pacific Islander to apply for the APIA Scholarship?

No. APIA Scholars welcomes students from all backgrounds when they meet citizenship and enrollment rules. Selection emphasizes financial need and personal story, and many scholars come from first-generation or low-income households.

How much money does the APIA Scholarship provide?

Amounts range from $2,500 one-year awards to $20,000 multi-year packages. The exact offer depends on your application strength, need profile, and available funding that cycle.

Can community college students apply for the APIA Scholarship?

Yes. Degree-seeking students at accredited community colleges may apply whether they plan to finish an associate degree or transfer into a bachelor's program, provided they enroll in fall 2027.

Does the APIA Scholarship require FAFSA or tax documents upfront?

The initial Kaleidoscope application does not ask for uploads. You answer questions about your situation inside the form. Finalists later complete a Scholar Confirmation Form with transcripts and financial details if selected.

Can I apply for the APIA Scholarship if I already received one?

You may reapply after a prior award fully disburses, unless you still receive deferred or multi-year funding for the 2027-2028 year. Check the FAQ wording on repeat eligibility before you start.

Are international F-1 students eligible for the APIA Scholarship?

No. You must be a US citizen, national, or legal permanent resident, or hold citizenship from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, or Palau. Visa-only international students cannot apply even if they attend a US campus.

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