More than $6 million in merit scholarships is available for continuing students from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships opened the 2024-25 Continuing Undergraduate Scholarship Application Oct. 1 and offer several online information sessions to help students with the application.

Merit scholarships can range from $100 to $16,000 per academic year, said Ron Bynes, assistant director for Undergraduate and Prestigious Scholarships. Most of these scholarships are for one year only so UC Davis students must reapply each year for consideration.

According to Bynes, scholarship criteria vary from scholarship to scholarship. However, merit scholarships do not require students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) in order to be considered.

“A small number of merit scholarships do have a financial need consideration though,” he advised. “So, we do recommend students apply for financial aid to maximize their funding options.”

Applying for the more than 500 awards available, though, is a fairly simple process, Bynes said, because students complete only one application. To be eligible, students need to:

• Have a cumulative UC Davis 3.25 GPA by the end of fall quarter.
• Submit one letter of recommendation from a professor, counselor, teacher, or community member who can speak highly of you.
• Plan to enroll for at least two quarters in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Bynes said his team also offers a several Sit Down with Scholarships online information sessions to answer student questions and guide them through the application process. While the process is fairly straightforward, he advises students to get started soon.

“The letter of recommendation is submitted online by the recommender,” Bynes said. “It’s important to provide your recommender plenty of time to complete the submission.”

The application is due Jan. 10 and the letter recommendation must be submitted at that time as well.

“It’s a good idea to begin that process before the Thanksgiving holiday,” Bynes said. “Trying to complete that process late in the year can be challenging with the holiday breaks.”

Because the scholarships are awarded on a merit basis, advisors cannot estimate students’ chances of receiving one or more scholarships.

“There’s no chance at all if you don’t apply,” Bynes said.

And, he added, even a small $100 award can make a difference.

“$100 can buy a lot of Top Ramen,” he joked.

Learn more and register for a Sit Down with Scholarships online.