Scholarships are awards offered to students on the basis of academic achievement, talent, and/or athletic ability. Scholarships are typically "merit based" awards and do not require repayment.
UCR scholarships are awarded to entering students with a record of high academic achievement and/or leadership skills. Many scholarships awarded to continuing students by the UCR Financial Aid Office are based on both financial need and academic excellence. Applicants must meet all priority deadlines for consideration. Awards ranging from $100 to $5000 may be non-need based.
Some scholarships are awarded by community organizations, corporate donors, and private foundations which require completion of their own application. Others are available to the employees of certain companies and/or to the employees' dependents. Most private scholarships are based on good grades, special talents, leadership ability, future careers, and other criteria. Free on-line scholarship searches are available.
Entering Students: Entering students apply for scholarships on the University of California Application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarships during the month of November. The primary merit scholarships available to entering students are listed below:
Regents Scholarship: The Regents Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship awarded to incoming UCR freshmen. Students are selected based on a review of their academic record by the faculty Committee on Scholarships and Honors. The Regents Scholarship is a renewable award that covers the student's full in-state fees for students with demonstrated financial need. The Regents Scholarship may cover the student’s full financial need up to $10,000. New Regents Scholars are notified of this award at the time of admission. Regents Scholarships will be awarded to students for up to four years if all renewal criteria are met. In order to be considered for renewal of the need-based Regents Scholarship Stipend funding, students must submit the FAFSA annually by the March 2 application deadline, submit any other required documents by the May 2 deadline, and comply with all GPA requirements.
Chancellor's Scholarship: The Chancellor’s Scholarship is an award offered to incoming UCR freshmen with a distinguished high school academic record. The Chancellor’s Scholarship provides an honorarium applied toward your fees. For more information regarding the terms of your award and the amount of your honorarium please refer to the Chancellor's Scholarship Terms that you accepted on MyUCR when you were offered this award.
Alumni Scholarships: The UCR Alumni Association offers non-renewable merit-based scholarships to entering California resident freshmen and to re-entry students over the age of 25 who have had an interruption in their education of at least two years. Applicants must demonstrate leadership in extracurricular activities, community activities, employment or personal situations. The application process requires submission of an essay, and top candidates will be selected for an interview. Scholarships awarded include the Alumni Association Freshman Scholarship Program , the George Beattie Memorial Scholarship, the Brithinee Scholarship, and the Re-entry Scholarship program. Award amounts may vary annually.
Outside Agency Scholarships: Incoming and continuing UCR students are encouraged to check for scholarships opportunities sent to UCR from outside agencies. Various organizations send us scholarship announcements throughout the year. All the information you need to apply for these scholarships can be found at www.scholarshiplist.ucr.edu.
Continuing Student Undergrad Scholarship: Applications are available online in December each year and must be submitted by March 2 prior to the award year. Awards are based on a student's academic achievement and, except for honorary scholarships, on need. Awards generally range from $100 to $5000. All need based awards are subject to compliance with UCR priority aid application deadlines. Click here for a list of UCR continuing student scholarships.
Application requirements for continuing student UCR scholarships may vary. Most scholarship programs require submission of an essay describing educational objectives, career goals, and participation in extracurricular or community service activities. Award decisions may be made by a scholarship selection committee during the summer or fall quarter. Scholarship notifications may be included in financial aid offers when they are finalized.
Scholarships replace loan or Federal Work-Study whenever possible. However, state regulations may require adjustments to Cal Grant awards for students whose total awards exceed their Cal Grant need figure.
More information regarding scholarship opportunities available to UCR students is available at http://www.scholarships.ucr.edu/
Departmental Scholarships: Other scholarships are available from various academic departments or college offices. More information is available from the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and The Bourns College of Engineering. Students interested in doing an academic quarter of coursework, research, and internships in the UC Washington Center Program in Washington, D.C. may click here for information on the President's Washington Scholarship. Chancellor's Performance awards are available through the departments of Dance, Art, Music, Theatre, and Creative Writing. Please contact your major department or your college office for more information regarding available scholarships, application procedures, deadlines, and eligibility requirements.