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How can I pay for college?
College can be costly. But, there is help! Financial aid can help cover your college expenses.
Financial aid is money given, paid, or loaned to you to make college affordable. Financial aid can be:
- Grants: Free money that does not have to be paid back.
- Scholarships: Free money awarded to students for academic achievement or many other special talents.
- Work-study: Salary for students to work part-time during the school year, adding money to their financial aid package to help pay for their schooling.
- Loans: Money that is borrowed and must be repaid with interest.
Want to find out more? Review the Financial Aid information presented at the 2024 Commerce to College Fair.
Pay for college with a grant, loan, or work-study
Federal Student Aid offers grants, loans, work-study, and more to help you pay for school. To find out if you qualify, complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov. The application period is between January 1st and March 2nd of your senior year in high school. This is the priority deadline for consideration for the CAL Grants and other institutional awards.
Pay for college with scholarships
Many local organizations offer scholarships to help students pay for school. This type of financial aid is free money, which is sometimes based on academic merit, talent, or a particular area of study. Scholarships can make a real difference in helping you manage your education expenses.
Check out these local scholarships
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Asian Pacific Community Fund offers scholarship programs annually to financially assist students in pursuing higher education. Scholarship recipients are selected by a review committee based on academic merits, community involvement, leadership skills, and a mentor recommendation. APCF supports low-income youth and encourages students to study locally at a community college or state university. |
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California Water Scholarship Program The Cal Water scholarship program assists students residing within its service areas who plan to continue their education. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice. |
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The City of Commerce Scholarship Program is open to residents of the City of Commerce. Applications may be accessed at the provided link. The application form becomes available in January and is due in April each year. |
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The Edison Scholars Program awards $50,000 college scholarships to 30 high school seniors to help them follow their dreams in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) and empower them to change the world. |
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Friends of Montebello Unified School District Foundation Scholarship Friends of Montebello Unified School District provides scholarships to graduating students. |
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GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program rewards college-bound students who demonstrate exemplary leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship with financial assistance to pursue higher education. Each year, the Program selects numerous recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for up to an additional three years – up to $40,000 per recipient. |
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Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) works to address the barriers that keep many Latinos from earning a college degree. HSF has awarded over $330 million in scholarships over the past 36 years and has supported a broad range of outreach and education programs to help students and their families navigate collegiate life. |
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The loved ones of the late Madeline Gardea, community leader, and original EYCEJ member, established a scholarship fund through East Yard following her passing in 2017. All proceeds will go towards the Madeline Gardea Social and Environmental Justice Scholarship, which supports students who live along the I-710 corridor, including Long Beach, Southeast LA, East LA, and more. The application form is typically available from April until June. |
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Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation nurtures environmental leaders to create positive environmental change. The Switzer Fellowship is a one-year fellowship for graduate students from diverse academic and personal backgrounds whose career goals focus on environmental improvement. |
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The SoCalGas Scholarship Program encourages students to pursue higher education and supports their academic endeavors. They aim to create a diverse pool of future scientists, mathematicians, technology experts, and engineers who can help address the complex issues communities face today and tomorrow.
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Spectrum Scholars is an educational program for eligible rising college juniors identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, or Native American. The annual scholarship program awards 20 college students $20,000 each, half during their junior year and half during their senior year. |
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Vernon CommUNITY Fund (VCF) Scholarship Program Scholarships are available for 12th-grade students enrolling in a post-secondary educational institution (vocational/trade school, community college, or university) who either attend high school or reside in the Vernon Area (which includes Vernon, Maywood, Bell, Huntington Park, Commerce, the area within the City of Los Angeles known as Boyle Heights, and the unincorporated area known as East Los Angeles). Visit https://www.cityofvernon.org/government/vernon-community-fund for details regarding eligibility and to download the VCF Scholarship application packet. The application submission period runs from Wednesday, January 3, 2024, through Thursday, March 28, 2024. |