Los Altos High School

• Scholarship Tools for Undocumented Students
• Test-Optional Scholarships & Merit Aid
• Scholar's App Scholarships
• Big Future's Scholarship Database
• US Labor Scholarships
• Unigo Scholarship Database
• Cappex Scholarship Database
• Niche.com Scholarships
• Scholarships
• Peterson's Scholarship Search

 

Warning: most of these if not all require registration.  Most likely share/sell info to 3rd parties so students should expect an uptick in spammy emails.  Not worth skipping, but can be annoying.

Self-Nomination Scholarships

 

PLEASE READ: For all self-nomination scholarships, email Ms. Duran at laura.duran@mvla.net. Please list all the self-nomination scholarships you would like to be considered for. For every self-nomination scholarship, you need to have an updated resume available in Naviance. If you have a Google doc resume, you can link the resume to Naviance. For particular scholarships, there may be additional steps to self-nominate, so pay attention to your email for further instructions. And lastly, if you are nominated there will be more application steps in the future, so please be aware of the possible future commitment.

 

Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team (BAASST)—Deadline January 20th, 2026: $5000. 

Need-aware. For students who display leadership qualities in and outside the classroom, demonstrate the value of education, good work ethic, community outreach and extracurricular activities. Minimum GPA 3.0. Only two male and two female nominees from each high school can be nominated.

 

Northern California Scholarship--Deadline January 20th, 2026: $8000. 

Renewable for 4 years. Merit and Need-based. US Citizens and Permanent residents only.  For students who have taken a rigorous course load, have excelled academically, are significantly involved in their community, and demonstrate financial need to afford college.

 

University Club of Palo Alto--Deadline January 20th, 2026: Up to $5,000. 

Renewable for 4 years. Need-based. No citizenship requirements. Strong GPA of A-/B+ average. Students with work experience are strongly preferred. Students should also have extracurriculars and volunteering experience.

 

Silicon Valley Realtors Scholarship--Deadline January 20th, 2026: $1,500. 

Merit-Based. Must be attending a four-year college in the fall of 2023. U.S. Citizens and permanent residents only. Students need extensive commitment to community service. It is recommended that students have a GPA of 3.7 and above.

 

 

Scholarships You Apply for Directly - No Nomination Needed

 

PLEASE READ: For the scholarships below, the applications are open or will open soon for you to apply. If you have questions about the applications, please ask us in the College and Career Center.

 

Peninsula Community Fund—Deadline February 6, 2026: 

$3000 per year for 4 years. Need-based. Local scholarship. GPA 2.8-3.8 cumulative GPA (unweighted). No citizenship requirements. Must plan to attend a four-year accredited college/university beginning in the fall. Underrepresented minority and/or first-generation college student. Demonstrate an ability to overcome obstacles to achieve academic and personal goals. Demonstrate active community involvement or engagement with others via work, school, or family responsibilities. Application linked HERE.

 

Silicon Valley Community Foundation Scholarships—Deadlines Vary ~ February 27, 2026 

This is an AMAZING set of scholarships because many are VERY local. Some are specifically for Santa Clara county residents only too! Be careful to check for their citizenship requirements as well. See the full list here.

 

Hale/Ruppert Educational Scholarship—Deadline February 28 to $10,000. 

US Citizens and AB 540 students. Need-based. Applicant is a 'late bloomer' who demonstrates academic promise and continuous grade point average improvement during high school or college; Maximum cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale; Applicant demonstrates community involvement. Application linked HERE.

 

Rotary Club of Los Altos--Deadline February 28: $800-2,500. 

Need-based. Minimum 3.0 GPA. Student committed to community service. Apply now using the roundtable application.

 

Rotary Club of Mountain View--Deadline February 28: $500-2,000. 

Need-based. Student with a solid academic record. Student committed to community service. Apply now using the roundtable application.

 

MVLA Scholars--Deadline February 28: $2,000-6,000.

Need-based. Renewable. Minimum 2.75 GPA. First-generation college students given special consideration. Students would be assigned a mentor to support them in college. Apply now using the roundtable application.

 

Quota International of MVLA-- Deadline February 29: $1,000-2,000. 

Need-based. Student committed to community service. Deaf and hard-of-hearing students given special consideration. Apply now using the roundtable application.

 

Mountain View Chamber of Commerce--Deadline February 28.

Need-based. Minimum 2.5 GPA. Student committed to community service. For students interested in community and 4-year colleges. Apply now using the roundtable application.

 

Science for Good Scholarship--Deadline February 28. $1,500-7,000.

Needs-based and Merit-based. Recommended above 3.0 GPA. A scholarship in memorial of R. Scott Chan, a former high school physics teacher. For seniors interested in majoring in science or engineering. Application linked HERE.

 

National League of American Pen Women--Deadline March 13: $1,000. 

Merit-Based. Minimum 2.5 GPA. Women who are pursuing fine or performing arts in college. Application Link Coming Soon.

 

Mountain View Sister City--Deadline March 31. $500.

Merit-Based. Student should be involved in extracurriculars and community service. Application Link Coming Soon.

 

Kiwanis Club of Mountain View--Deadline April 23: Up to $2,000. 

Need-based. Recommended be 3.0 GPA or above. Student committed to community service. Students involved in Key Club and Girl or Boy Scouts given special consideration. Application Link Coming Soon.

 

Barbara Emerich Memorial Scholarship-- April 7: $750. 

Merit-based.  For US Citizens and Undocumented students. For seniors who may attend community college or 4-year universities and are current members of the PTA. Must have demonstrated community service. Application linked HERE.

 

Los Altos Kiwanis Scholarship--Deadline April 24.  $3,200. 

Need-aware and Merit-Based. For seniors who plan to attend an accredited institution. Application Link Coming Soon.

 

Honmyo Nguyen Family Trust Scholarship--Deadline April 25.  $1,500 (2 students, non-renewable)

Needs-based. For students who plan to attend four-year California public college (Cal State, Cal Poly) or university (UC), 3.3 GPA. Apply HERE.

 

Mountain View Odd Fellows Scholarship--Deadline May 1. $1,000.  

Need-based and merit-based. For seniors with dedicated service to their community. Application linked HERE.

 

Club Estrella Scholarship--Deadline May 24.  $1,000 (15 students)

Need-based. For Latino/Hispanic students with a min. 2.5 GPA and plan to enroll in college this fall. Apply HERE &  Info Flier

 

 

Athletic Focused Scholarships

 

The CCS Scholarship applications for 2026 are now open and available on our website. This year, we are transitioning to a fully virtual application format using a Google Form.

 

To support students with the new digital process, here is a step-by-step video walkthrough for student-athletes interested in applying:  Scholarship Application (for students/applicants), how to complete the digital application

 

CCS Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Program- completed packet due to Ms. Duran by 2/8: $500 or 1,500. For outstanding student-athletes in the Central Coast Section. 

 

CIF Scholar-Athlete of the Year- completed packet due 3/7: $10,000 or 1,500. Recognizes college-bound high school seniors whose academic and athletic careers have been exemplary and whose personal standards (i.e., integrity, honesty, etc.) and accomplishments are a positive model for others. Two State winners (1 male and 1 female) will each receive a $10,000 scholarship. Additionally, 20 Section winners will be awarded $1,500.

 

The Joyce-Ridgway Scholarship– Deadline 3/11: $750

For a female-student athlete in the Class of 2023 who exemplifies leadership, determination, dedication, self-sacrifice, and integrity.

 

The Jeff Lamb Scholarship– Deadline 3/11: $750

Ideal candidates for the Jeff Lamb Scholarship are student-athletes who have exhibited an interest in becoming a teacher/coach and eventually attaining leadership in the Athletic Director role.

 

CIF Spirit of Sport Scholarship Award– Winter Deadline 12/11, Spring TBD: $1,000 or $2,500

Recognizes one male and one female state-wide winner during each season of sport (Fall (closed)/Winter/Spring). Student-athletes are selected based on exemplary sportsmanship, school/community service, and leadership.

 

And don’t forget, fill out the FAFSA or Dream Act application as soon as possible! It is the best way to access need-based financial aid.

 

Immigrants Rising Website - List of Scholarships that don't Require U.S. Citizenship