ESPERANZA FUND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Application Closed

The Esperanza Education Fund provides scholarships to students from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC who are immigrants or the children of immigrants.

The 2025 Application window is now CLOSED.

The 2026 Application will open May 1, 2026.

2026 Application Flyer

Scholarship Benefits

SCHOLARSHIP

The Esperanza Education Fund awards a total of $20K - $60K in scholarships annually, depending on available funding. Esperanza selects approximately 6 - 10 scholarship recipients from a pool of 200+ applications each academic year.

This year, Esperanza will award scholarships up to $10,000 that go towards a student's college/university costs.
Scholarship awards are divided into equal payments that are disbursed each qualifying academic semester of college/university enrollment in an accredited degree program.
- For example, a scholarship in the amount of $4,000 to a recipient attending a two-year community college will be disbursed as 4 equal payments of $1,000, one payment per qualifying academic semester to equal a total award of $4,000.
- A scholarship award in the amount of $5,000 to a recipient attending a four-year university will be disbursed as 8 equal payments of $625, one payment per qualifying academic semester to equal a total award of $5,000.
Scholarship awards are disbursed directly to the colleges and universities the scholars attend.

MENTORSHIP & SCHOLAR SUPPORT

Scholarship Awardees become Esperanza Scholars

As an Esperanza scholar, you have access to the invaluable resources of mentorship and annual programming. Each Esperanza scholar will

Be paired with a mentor who can help them throughout their higher education journey with academic and social support, networking, and career advice.
Participate in an annual Career Day with professional development activities.
Gain access to cohort program activities to build community among our scholars.

Scholar Benefit

Eligibility

If you do not meet all the criteria, please do not apply. Applications from ineligible applicants will not be reviewed.

Must have been born outside the U.S. OR have two parents who were born outside the U.S.

Must be a graduating senior at a high school in DC, MD, or VA, OR have graduated high school within three (3) years and not yet started college and reside in DC, MD, or VA, OR have earned a GED within the last three (3) years and reside in DC, MD, or VA.

Must plan to enroll full-time at one of the following in DC, MD, or VA:
- An accredited community college to pursue an Associate’s Degree OR
- An accredited college/university to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree

Must have had a household income that is not more than the following income:

# of people in family

1= $74,800

2 = $85,450

3 = $96,150

4 = $106,800

5 = $115,350

6 = $123,900

7 = $132,450

8 = $141,000

Must be able to attend three (3) events:
- New Scholar Orientation in August, 2026 (location TBD)
- Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. (date TBD)
- Career Day on the third week of March, 2027 in Washington, D.C.

You are not eligible if

You have already started college or university.
You earned your high school diploma outside the U.S., unless you have subsequently earned a GED in the U.S.
You graduated high school more than three (3) years ago.

Application Closed

Eligibility

Selection Process & Criteria

PROCESS

All eligible applications submitted by June 30 will be read by multiple judges. The top 10-16 applicants will be invited to interview. A panel of approximately five to seven judges will interview the finalists and select the top applicants to receive scholarships.

CRITERIA

Judges score applications on three criteria: academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and distance traveled

Academic achievement

This score is based on applicants’ high school GPA, class rank (if available), SAT or ACT scores (if available), and number of honors/AP/IB courses taken.

Extracurricular involvement

This is broadly defined. For example, someone working 20 hours per week might score highly in this section. High scores might also be awarded to someone who founded or served as president of a club at their school, who has performed a great deal of community service, or who watches their younger siblings every day after school while their parent works.

Distance traveled

This is metaphorical, not literal. Distance traveled is a measure of how much the student has achieved in light of the obstacles they have faced. For example, someone who crossed the border alone two years ago but has nonetheless achieved a 3.0 GPA and joined the soccer team would receive a high score. In contrast, a lower score might go to someone with a 4.0 GPA who was brought to the United States as an infant and was raised by parents who both had college degrees.

Selection Process & Criteria

Have Questions about the Application?

Email: apply@esperanzafund.org Please write to us in English.

Application Closed

2026 Application Flyer

Application Opens

May 1, 2026