USA Scholarships
MAES Scholarships 2026 - Latino STEM Students
This guide stays up for reference. Check the official website for the next round, or see what else closes in April.
MAES Scholarships help Latino students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics finish degrees at accredited US institutions. MAES (Latinos in Science and Engineering) runs the program to grow Latino leadership in STEM fields. For 2026, the application window opens 13 February and closes 12 April 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Every applicant must be a registered MAES student member in good standing. Awards include Graduate, Founders, Presidential, and General categories, judged on academic achievement, financial need, leadership, community service, and personal merit. Most awards expect US citizenship or permanent residence, though some sponsor-funded prizes may allow limited international eligibility when noted in the application.
What are MAES Scholarships?
MAES, short for Latinos in Science and Engineering, has run scholarship programs since the 1970s to help Latino students stay in demanding STEM majors. The organization pairs national conferences, professional networking, and chapter activities with direct financial support so members can graduate and move into industry or graduate school.
The 2026 scholarship cycle follows a spring timeline: applications open 13 February and close 12 April at 11:59 PM Pacific. That window gives you roughly two months to renew MAES membership, request transcripts, and secure a faculty recommendation. A volunteer panel of MAES professionals scores each file on grades, financial need, leadership, service, and the personal statement.
STEM means science, technology, engineering, and math in the strict sense MAES publishes. Nursing, clinical medical tracks, and social science majors fall outside the list even when they feel scientific. Community college students count when they are on a documented transfer path to a four-year STEM degree.
Membership is non-negotiable. If you are not in the MAES system as a student member in good standing, the portal will not treat your application as complete. Join early, stay active in your chapter if one exists near your campus, and treat the scholarship as one piece of a longer MAES career pipeline rather than a one-off check.
Eligibility
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✓Registered MAES student memberYou must join MAES as a student member, stay in good standing, and register in the MAES membership system before you submit the scholarship application. Membership is a hard gate for every category.
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✓At least 18 years old by the deadlineApplicants must be 18 or older on 12 April 2026. High school students who have not yet reached 18 are not eligible for this cycle.
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✓Full-time STEM enrollment at a US institutionEnroll full time at an accredited US university or community college in a transferable STEM major. Undergraduates need at least 12 credit hours; graduate students need at least 9. Nursing, medical sciences, and social sciences do not qualify.
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✓Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPAMAES requires a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Upload an official college or university transcript with your application.
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✓Citizenship rules vary by awardMost MAES scholarships go to US citizens or permanent residents. The application collects citizenship data because some corporate sponsors restrict awards to citizens only; other general scholarships may be open to all eligible members when the sponsor allows it.
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✓Community college students in transfer majorsCommunity college students may apply if they are enrolled in majors that transfer toward a bachelor's degree in STEM at a four-year institution. Show proof of the transfer pathway on your transcript or advising record.
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✓Co-op or internship enrollmentStudents on approved co-op or internship programs may apply if they provide proof of enrollment in the co-op or internship for the terms covered by the scholarship application.
Benefits
- General Scholarships Merit and need-based
- Founders Scholarship Named tier for top files
- Selection criteria GPA, need, leadership, service
- Attendance at MAES events Not required for all general awards
- Renewable automatically Reapply each cycle
- Presidential Scholarship Top leadership award
- Graduate Scholarship Master's and PhD STEM
- Event attendance May be required for top prizes
- Sponsor-specific amounts Set by corporate partners
- Tuition and fees paid directly Varies by sponsor
Document checklist
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✓Online MAES scholarship applicationComplete the application linked from mymaes.org/programs/ when the 2026 cycle opens on 13 February 2026. Save progress and submit before 12 April 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific.
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✓Official college or university transcriptUpload an official transcript showing cumulative GPA, major, and credit hours. Unofficial printouts may be rejected.
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✓Resume or CVSummarize STEM coursework, research, internships, leadership roles, and MAES chapter activities.
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✓Personal statementAddress prompts in the application about your STEM goals, Latino community involvement, and how the scholarship supports your degree plan.
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✓Letter of recommendationOne letter from a professor or academic mentor who can speak to your STEM ability and character. The writer submits through the portal or by email as instructed for 2026.
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✓Proof of MAES membershipConfirm active student membership in the MAES system. Renew early if your membership lapses before the deadline.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What are MAES Scholarships?
MAES Scholarships are awards from MAES (Latinos in Science and Engineering) for student members pursuing STEM degrees at accredited US colleges and universities. Categories include General, Founders, Presidential, and Graduate scholarships, evaluated on GPA, financial need, leadership, community service, and personal merit.
When is the MAES Scholarship deadline for 2026?
The 2026 cycle opens 13 February 2026 and closes 12 April 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. You must be a registered MAES student member before you submit.
Do I need to be Latino to apply for MAES Scholarships?
MAES exists to advance Latino representation in STEM, and most applicants are Latino students active in MAES chapters. Membership is open through mymaes.org; read the current membership and scholarship pages for any explicit eligibility language for the year you apply.
What GPA do I need for MAES Scholarships?
MAES requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Competitive Presidential and Founders files usually show much higher GPAs, but 2.0 is the published floor.
Can nursing or biology pre-med students apply?
Medical sciences, nursing, and social sciences are excluded from the STEM definition MAES uses. Pure biology, chemistry, engineering, computer science, and similar majors qualify when they are not classified as nursing or pre-clinical medical programs.
Are MAES Scholarships only for US citizens?
Most awards target US citizens or permanent residents because corporate sponsors set those rules. The application still asks citizenship questions so MAES can match you to sponsors; some general scholarships may allow broader eligibility when the funder permits it.
How much are MAES Scholarships worth?
Amounts vary by sponsor and category. General awards may be a few hundred to several thousand dollars, while Presidential and Founders tiers are larger. Check the award letter for the exact figure tied to your sponsor.
Where do I apply for MAES Scholarships?
Start at mymaes.org/programs/ when the 2026 application opens. Questions go to [email protected] or your local MAES chapter contact listed on the site.
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