APIA Scholars Scholarship 2027–28: $2,500 to $20,000 — Opens November 15, Deadline January 15

The APIA Scholars Scholarship is the largest scholarship program in the United States dedicated to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students — and the 2027–28 cycle opens in just days. Awards range from $2,500 one-year grants to $20,000 multi-year packages, sent directly to your college. The application opens November 15, 2026 and closes January 15, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Here is who qualifies, what you need, and how to apply.

Quick answer: The APIA Scholars Scholarship for 2027–28 offers $2,500 one-year awards to $20,000 multi-year awards to AANHPI undergraduate students at accredited U.S. colleges. The application opens November 15, 2026 and closes January 15, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. ET; decisions are announced around April 15, 2027, and funds are distributed in summer 2027. You need a minimum GPA of 2.7, a filed FAFSA, and U.S. citizenship, national status, or legal permanent residency (citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau also qualify). Apply through Kaleidoscope on apiascholars.org/scholarships. Never pay to apply.

What Is the APIA Scholars Scholarship?

APIA Scholars — founded in 2003 as the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund — is the largest nonprofit scholarship provider dedicated to Asian and Pacific Islander American students. It has awarded scholarships in all 50 states plus the Pacific Island territories. Its flagship APIA Scholarship is sized to demonstrated financial need: $2,500 one-year awards up to $20,000 multi-year packages, paid directly to your college or university for tuition, fees, room and board, and textbooks.

The program deliberately prioritizes students with significant financial need — especially those living at or below the poverty line — and students who are the first in their families to attend college. About 500 scholarships are awarded in a typical cycle.

APIA Scholarship 2027–28: Key Dates

• November 15, 2026: Application opens (hosted on Kaleidoscope).
• January 15, 2027, 5:00 p.m. ET: Application deadline.
• April 15, 2027: Award decisions announced by email.
• Summer 2027: Scholarship funds distributed to colleges.

Who Is Eligible for the APIA Scholarship?

To apply, you must:

• Be able to describe your ethnicity, heritage, or ancestry in relation to the countries, territories, or lands in Asia or the Pacific Islands.
• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or legal permanent resident. Citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are also eligible.
• Be enrolling or continuing as a degree-seeking undergraduate (associate or bachelor's degree) at a U.S.-accredited college or university in fall 2027. Full-time and part-time students are both eligible.
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted), or have earned a GED.
• File the FAFSA for the relevant academic year — see our 2027–28 FAFSA guide.

Students who have already earned a bachelor's degree or higher are not eligible. Students with an associate degree who are pursuing a first bachelor's degree can still apply.

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How to Apply for the APIA Scholarship

1. File the FAFSA first. APIA requires a FAFSA on file, and your financial need is a central part of the selection. The 2027–28 FAFSA is open now.
2. Prepare your documents: your transcript or GED, proof of enrollment or acceptance, and financial information showing your need.
3. Apply on Kaleidoscope through apiascholars.org/scholarships between November 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
4. Write about your heritage and your need honestly. The application asks you to describe your AANHPI heritage and your financial situation — specific, truthful answers beat generic ones. See our guide on how to write a scholarship essay that wins.
5. Submit before the deadline. Portals slow down in the final hours — do not wait until January 15.

Never pay to apply for a scholarship. The real APIA application is free through apiascholars.org. Anyone charging a fee to apply is running a scam — report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Other Scholarships With January 2027 Deadlines

Pair your APIA application with these awards closing in the same window:

• Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship — up to $40,000, deadline January 5, 2027, 3:00 p.m. CT. See our Amazon guide.
• Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship — $5,000, $10,000, or $25,000, deadline January 5, 2027, 5:00 p.m. PT.
• Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship — up to $35,000 over four years, deadline January 14, 2027, 5:00 p.m. ET.
• Dell Scholars Program — $20,000 plus a laptop, Texas students only, deadline January 12, 2027.
• GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship — $10,000 a year up to $40,000, deadline January 7, 2027, 3:00 p.m. ET.

For a full calendar, see our scholarships with deadlines from November 2026 to March 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the APIA Scholarship worth?
Awards range from $2,500 one-year grants to $20,000 multi-year packages, sized to your demonstrated financial need and paid directly to your college.

When does the APIA Scholarship application open and close?
The 2027–28 application opens November 15, 2026, and closes January 15, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Decisions are announced around April 15, 2027.

What GPA do I need for the APIA Scholarship?
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 unweighted scale, or a GED. There is no higher GPA cutoff — financial need and first-generation status are the priorities.

Do I need to file the FAFSA to apply?
Yes. Applicants must apply for federal financial aid using the FAFSA for the relevant academic year.

Can part-time students apply for the APIA Scholarship?
Yes. Both full-time and part-time degree-seeking undergraduate students are eligible, as long as they are pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree at an accredited U.S. institution.

Who runs the APIA Scholarship?
APIA Scholars, founded in 2003 as the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund. It is the largest nonprofit scholarship provider dedicated to AAPI students.

Related: How to Complete the 2027–28 FAFSA · Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship 2027 · How to Spot Scholarship Scams

Sources: APIA Scholars official scholarship page (apiascholars.org/scholarships); The College Investor APIA Scholarship guide; Scholarships.com APIASF listing. Dates and requirements can change — always confirm the current cycle on the official APIA Scholars website before applying. Warning: never pay to apply for a scholarship — legitimate scholarships are free to enter.