Other Scholarship Applications

The Youngblood Family Fund was established to provide assistance to undergraduate students in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California.

• Declared major in Dornsife
• Minimum USC GPA of 2.5 (Note: Students who are in their first semester at USC are eligible to apply, and GPA will be confirmed after the fall semester.)
• This award is intended for students who are systems-impacted (i.e., whose lives have been directly affected by the prison system or foster care system) or who have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity

Application deadline: Friday, November 22, 2024

Click here to download the application for the 2024-2025 Youngblood Family Fund.

Established to honor the life of Joseph Patrick Allen, former Dean of Admission and Financial Aid and Vice Provost for Enrollment at USC. Funds shall be used for tuition only, and shall not be allocated for room and board, research expenses, or supplies.

• Recipients of the 2025-2026 award must be full-time students enrolled in the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at USC beginning their junior year in the 2025-2026 academic year
• Must have entered the university with a high school GPA of at least 3.67 and have a current minimum cumulative USC GPA of 3.0
• Undergraduates should complete a minimum of 12 units per semester, plan to graduate in four years, and maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Must not be related to a current member of the Trojan League of Los Angeles Board or Scholarship Committee
• Must have demonstrated merit and financial need, academic strengths, leadership skills, and campus and community involvement
• Preference given to permanent residents of southern California
• A letter of recommendation from a USC Dornsife faculty member is required (emailed to scholarships@dornsife.usc.edu)

Application deadline: Friday, February 21, 2025

Click here to download a Microsoft Word version of the application for the 2025-2026 Trojan League of Los Angeles Joseph Patrick Allen Scholarship. 

Click here to download a PDF version of the application for the 2025-2026 Trojan League of Los Angeles Joseph Patrick Allen Scholarship. 

The Dean Joan Metcalf Schaefer Merit Scholarships in USC Dornsife reward students each year who follow in Dean Joan’s footsteps of scholarship, leadership and service. “It is the ultimate honor to have a living legacy named in one’s lifetime,” she once said.

An interview is required for this scholarship. Scholarship semifinalists will be notified during the week of March 25 and must be available to interview with the selection committee on Saturday, April 6, 2024.

• Recipients of the 2024-2025 awards must be full-time undergraduate students majoring in the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences for the 2024-2025 academic year
• Junior or senior class standing in the 2024-2025 academic year
• Minimum 3.5 grade cumulative point average
• A letter of recommendation from a USC faculty member is required

The application deadline for the 2024-2025 Dean Joan Metcalf Schaefer Merit Scholarship has passed. Please check this page in January 2025 for the application for the 2025-2026 Dean Joan Metcalf Schaefer Merit Scholarship.

Established in 1987, this scholarship honors Professor Emeritus J. Wesley Robb and his lifelong service to the University of Southern California. The award was established by administrators, faculty, and former students of Professor Robb. Over 9,000 students took his “Human Values” course or one of his seminars in medical ethics, philosophy of religion, or contemporary ethical issues. Students are chosen for their demonstration of significant moral leadership in the campus community, evidence of a commitment to human values, and a deep concern for others.

• Recipients of the 2024-2025 J. Wesley Robb Scholarship must be majoring in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences during the 2024-2025 academic year
• Senior class standing in the 2024-2025 academic year
•  Minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average
• A letter of recommendation from a USC faculty member is required

The application deadline for the 2024-2025 J. Wesley Robb Scholarship has passed. Please check this page in January 2025 for the application for the 2025-2026 J. Wesley Robb Scholarship.

Established to honor the life of Michael B. Preston, a valued USC professor and administrator who left behind a great legacy of teaching, scholarship, and service.

• Recipients of the award must be full-time undergraduate students in the 2024-2025 academic year with a major in Political Science who are studying urban politics or civil rights
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average
• Students graduating in Fall 2024 are eligible to apply
• A total of $5,000 in scholarship awards will be made
• A letter of recommendation from a USC faculty member is required

The application deadline for the Michael B. Preston Scholarship has passed. Please visit this webpage in January 2025 for the application for the 2025-2026 Michael B. Preston Scholarship.

Established in honor of Professor Alison Dundes Renteln, this award will provide assistance for promising students majoring in Political Science.

• Recipients of the award must be full-time undergraduate students in the 2024-2025 academic year with a major in Political Science
• Demonstrated interest in human rights, political freedom, international law, leadership, or public policy
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average

The application deadline for the 2024-2025 Lesher Family Scholarship has passed. Please visit this webpage in January 2025 for the application for the 2025-2026 Lesher Family Scholarship.

Established by Mark’s sister Elizabeth to reward outstanding achievement in poetry.

• Junior class standing in the 2024-2025 academic year
• Creative Writing major with an emphasis in Poetry
• 3.0 cumulative grade point average

The application deadline for the 2024-2025 Mark Greenberg Fellowship in Poetry has passed. Please check this page in January 2025 for the application for the 2025-2026 Mark Greenberg Fellowship in Poetry.

Established in memory of Brian Phillip Rakusin, USC’s first Neuroscience major. Successful candidates must demonstrate outstanding achievements and aspirations in the field of Neuroscience.

• Neuroscience major
• Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
• Recipients must have sophomore or junior standing and must remain on campus for a year following receipt of the award
• Must demonstrate excellence in both coursework and research

Award honorees will be selected by the Executive Committee of the undergraduate Neuroscience major program.

Information regarding the 2024-2025 Brian Phillip Rakusin Scholarship can be found online by clicking here. For questions about the application, please contact Erin Russell at erin.russell@usc.edu.

The Skull and Dagger Foundation is pleased to announce that six $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to continuing USC students for the 2024-2025 academic year. The scholarships will be awarded to students (graduate or undergraduate) who have demonstrated significant campus and/or community leadership.

The Skull and Dagger Society was founded in 1913 and is the oldest honor society at USC. Its members have been selected because of their service, dedication, and performance on behalf of the University. Two of the scholarships are named in memory of Dr. Kenneth Owler Smith, a professor of Journalism who served as an officer of the Society from 1983 to 1988, and Dr. Harrison M. Kurtz, a professor of Biological Sciences who served as an officer of the Society from 1989 to 2001.

The Barden Centennial Scholarship is dedicated in memory and honor of Bella and Don Barden, whose daughter Alana Marshall Barden is a member of the 2013 Centennial Class of the Skull and Dagger Society. It is supported by the Bella and Don Barden Foundation, which strives to promote growth, leadership, and entrepreneurship in youth and pledges commitment to the community. The William I. Griffith Scholarship is named in memory of Bill Griffith, a member of the Class of 1946, who served as editor of the Daily Trojan. The fifth scholarship is named in memory of Dr. Robert and Marjorie LaBriola, established by their son, Rocky LaBriola, a former officer of the Society. The sixth scholarship is name in memory of Darlene Hard, a member of the Society, who was a world championship and Hall of Fame tennis player, as well as a 45-year employee of the University and Student Publications office.

If you are selected as a semifinalist, you must be available for an in-person interview during the week of April 1, 2024, 6:00-8:00pm PT. If you have any questions about the application, please contact scholarship@skullanddagger.org.

The application deadline for the 2024-2025 Skull and Dagger Scholarships has passed. Please visit this webpage in February 2025 for information on the 2025-2026 Skull and Dagger Scholarships.

The Half Century Trojans Scholarship is open to continuing USC undergraduate students who are direct descendants (grandchild or great-grandchild) of (1) a person who received an undergraduate degree from USC 50 years ago or more, or (2) a person who received an undergraduate degree from a college or university 50 years ago or more and later received a graduate degree from USC. Selection criteria include academic achievement, potential for leadership, and community service. An interview is required for scholarship finalists. Finalists will be contacted by the Half Century Trojans Scholarship Committee.

Application deadline: Monday, February 3, 2025

For more information about the Half Century Trojans Scholarship, including a link to the scholarship application, CLICK HERE.

The SOAR program offers Dornsife students an opportunity to apply for funding up to $1,000 to participate in Maymester/Julymester programs or as a research assistant in a Dornsife faculty mentor’s project during the fall and/or spring semesters. SURF funding up to $3,000 is awarded for Problems without Passports Programs (PWP) or research with Dornsife faculty during the summer.

• Declared major in Dornsife
• Full-time enrollment
• 3.0 minimum GPA
• Participation in a Maymester/Julymester or PWP program, or approved research work with Dornsife faculty

Visit the Scholarships page on the Experiential Learning website for more information. Direct questions to soar@dornsife.usc.edu.

The Dean Joan Metcalf Schaefer Travel Award is given to undergraduate students attending the Pembroke-King’s College Programme in Cambridge who have demonstrated academic excellence and a continuous love of learning.

• Recipients of the Summer 2024 awards must be full-time undergraduate students majoring in the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences for the 2024-2025 academic year
• Junior or senior class standing in the 2024-2025 academic year
• Minimum 3.5 grade cumulative point average
• Must be planning to participate in the Pembroke-King’s College Programme in Cambridge in Summer 2024

The application deadline for the Summer 2024 Dean Joan Metcalf Schaefer Travel Award has passed. Please check this page in January 2025 for the application for the Summer 2025 Dean Joan Metcalf Schaefer Travel Award.

Provides funding for undergraduate Classics majors to undertake a research project with a faculty member abroad or in the United States during Summer 2024.

• Classics major
• 3.5 minimum cumulative grade point average

The application deadline for the 2024 Bhutani Summer Research and Travel Award has passed. Please check this page in January 2025 for the application for the 2025 Bhutani Summer Research and Travel Award.

Established by George and Bettina Kallins. Provides assistance to students for summer study and travel in Greece to explore and discover Greece and its rich cultural heritage. Students may contact the Classics department for information on possible uses of fellowship funds.

• Current or previous enrollment in at least one course in the Classics department (Classics, Greek, or Latin)
• 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA
• Students not currently majoring or minoring in Classics are especially encouraged to apply

The application deadline for the 2024 Kallins Hellenic Studies Summer Fellowship has passed. Please visit the Classics department webpage for further information about the fellowship.

Provides grants to undergraduate students for participation in co-curricular programs and internships offered through the USC Environmental Studies Program and the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies.

• Environmental Studies or Environmental Science and Health major -OR- Environmental Studies minor with a Dornsife major
• Completion of at least one full-time semester at USC -OR- full-time enrollment in Spring 2024
• 3.25 minimum cumulative GPA and major GPA

The application deadline for the Summer 2024 KCM Undergraduate Grant has passed. Please check this page in January 2025 for the application for the Summer 2025 KCM Undergraduate Grant.

Provides grants to undergraduate students for participation in co-curricular programs offered through the USC Environmental Studies Program and the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies. Preference is given to students participating in programs held on Catalina Island, although awarding is not limited to those programs alone.

• Environmental Studies or Environmental Science and Health major
• Completion of at least one full-time semester at USC -OR- full-time enrollment in Spring 2024
• 3.25 minimum cumulative GPA and major GPA

The application deadline for the Summer 2024 Huber Scholarship has passed. Please check this page in January 2025 for the application for the Summer 2025 Huber Scholarship.

Established by USC Alumna Roberta Persinger Foulke (BA/MA History 1936). Provides assistance for students who demonstrate the ability or desire to further the interests of women in the field of history or historical studies.

Two award categories exist:

• Merit Awards will be given to undergraduate students who demonstrate academic excellence and the ability or desire to further the interests of women in the field of history or historical studies. The support can be used for tuition only. You can apply for the Merit Award by completing the general USC Dornsife Continuing Student Scholarship application and submitting an additional essay for the Foulke Merit Award.
• Research and Travel Grants will be given to undergraduate students with the best proposals to use funds for scholarly research, travel, or other departmentally-approved programs. Funds will be applied to items such as travel expenses, conference fees, or research materials and can be used in the summer months.

The application deadline for the Summer 2024 Foulke Research and Travel Grant has passed. Please visit this webpage in January 2025 for the application for the Summer 2025 Foulke Research and Travel Grant.

Established in the early 1900’s. Provides assistance for undergraduate Religion majors and minors.

Two award categories exist:

• Merit Awards will be given to undergraduate Religion majors or minors who demonstrate academic excellence. The support can be used for tuition only. You can apply for the Merit Award by completing the general USC Dornsife Continuing Student Scholarship application and submitting an additional essay for the Walker Scholarship.
• Research and Travel Grants will be given to undergraduate Dornsife majors with the best proposals to use funds for scholarly research, travel, or other departmentally-approved programs with the Religion department. Funds will be applied to items such as travel expenses, conference fees, tuition for off-campus language study, or research materials and can be used in the summer months.

The application deadline for the Summer 2024 Walker Research and Travel Grant has passed. Please visit this webpage in January 2024 for the application for the Summer 2025 Walker Research and Travel Grant. 

Established by USC Almuna June Pollak (B.A. ’49, M.A. ’51, Ph.D. ’61), the Salz Pollak Fellowship for Undergraduates in Comparative Literature will provide research and travel grants for undergraduate students who are majoring or minoring in Comparative Literature.

Research and travel grants will be awarded to undergraduate students majoring or minoring in a Comparative Literature course of study who seek funds for scholarly research, travel, or other departmentally-approved programs, including courses of language study related to the Comparative Literature degree and Maymester or other summer programs with a comparatist emphasis. Students may apply for funding to assist in travel to archives or libraries, as part of the preparation of an honors thesis or other substantial research project, to acquire language skills for scholarly work, to complete a summer program essential to their Comparative Literature course or study, or to facilitate conference presentations. Awards will be made in the form of summer stipends.

The application deadline for the Summer 2024 Salz Pollak Fellowship for Undergraduates in Comparative Literature  has passed. Please check this page in January 2025 for the application for the Summer 2025 Salz Pollak Fellowship for Undergraduates in Comparative Literature.

Established by USC Alumna June Pollak (B.A. ’49, M.A. ’51, Ph.D. ’61 English), the Salz Pollak Fellowship for Undergraduates in the English Department provides assistance for students who demonstrate the ability or desire to further the interests of women in the field of English or English studies.

Research and Travel Grants will be given to undergraduate students majoring or minoring in an English Department course of study who offer the best proposals to use funds for scholarly research, travel, or other departmentally approved programs, in particular those whose research focuses on women, gender, or the family. Funds will be applied to items such as travel expenses, conference fees, or research materials and can be used in the summer months.

The application deadline for the Summer 2024 Salz Pollak Fellowship for Undergraduates in the English Department has passed. Please visit this webpage in January 2025 for the application for the Summer 2025 Salz Pollak Fellowship for Undergraduates in the English Department.

Established in 2020 in honor of Helen Leslie Milligan Turner who graduated from USC in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in human biology (formerly kinesiology). Mrs. Milligan Turner enjoyed her time at USC and wanted to give back to students who are interested in research in human biology. Provides a limited number of fellowships for undergraduate summer projects. Each undergraduate student funded by the program will receive a stipend in the amount of $3000 to support reaching the goals of the project, which can be in any academic sub-field of Human and Evolutionary Biology. The project can have a research, clinical, educational or community focus; should require a period of not less than ten weeks at 10 hours per week during the summer months; and should be sponsored by one full-time USC faculty.

Student eligibility requirements

Students must:

• Be majoring in Human Biology and working under the supervision of a faculty advisor housed in either Human and Evolutionary Biology (HEB) or any other section of Biological Sciences; however, preference will be given to HBIO students supervised by HBIO faculty.
• Enrolled full-time (12 units per semester) at USC for the entire academic year (at least the Fall semester following the summer research project). 5th year progressive degree students may be eligible if the student’s bachelor degree has not yet been completed and would be in progress during the Fall semester following the summer research project. Graduating seniors are not eligible.
• Not have received other concurrent funding for this project (a recipient of the Provost Fellowship (PURF), Rose Hills, etc. will not be contemporaneously considered).
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better

The application deadline for 2024 has passed.  

Please visit the Human Biology webpage for further information.

Believing that overseas experiences have tremendous impact on personal and intellectual growth, Stanley and Ilene Gold established this scholarship for outstanding USC Dornsife Trustee Scholars seeking to study abroad.

• Must be enrolled (or plan to be enrolled) in a USC-approved study abroad program for Summer 2024, Fall 2024 and/or Spring 2025
• USC Trustee Scholarship recipient
• USC Dornsife major
• 3.2 minimum cumulative grade point average
• Junior or senior in the 2024-2025 academic year
• A recommendation from a USC faculty member is required

The application deadline for the 2024-2025 Gold Family Scholarship has passed. Please visit this webpage in January 2025 for the application for the 2025-2026 Gold Family Scholarship.

Established in 2005 by Creative Writing alumnus Beau Boudreaux (1994). Given to one graduating senior poet.

• Graduating senior, eligible to graduate in the 2023-2024 academic year
• Creative Writing major with an emphasis in Poetry
• 3.0 cumulative grade point average
• Preference given to a student who intends to pursue a career in writing or academia and who wishes to supplement his or her undergraduate degree with travel and/or advanced study in a graduate program

The application deadline for the 2024 Beau J. Boudreaux Poetry Award has passed. Please check this page in January 2025 for the application for the 2025 Beau J. Boudreaux Poetry Award.

Established in memory of Gene, Etta, Candace, and Jamie Silverman who died in a plane accident on July 17, 1996. Candace attended USC for four years and majored in Creative Writing.

• Graduating senior, eligible to graduate in the 2023-2024 academic year
• Creative Writing major
• 3.0 cumulative grade point average
• Preference given to a student who demonstrates the ability or desire to further the interests of women and who intends to pursue a career in writing or academia, wishing to supplement the undergraduate degree with travel and/or advanced study in a graduate program

The application deadline for the 2024 Gene and Etta Silverman Family Award has passed. Please check this page in January 2025 for the application for the 2025 Gene and Etta Silverman Family Award.

This select group includes sophomores who are considering an academic career and will likely pursue graduate studies (especially a Ph.D.) in the humanities or humanistic social sciences. USC is one of a select group of colleges and universities who offer this program through the Mellon Foundation. This program is not intended for students interested in attending business school, law school, or medical school.

• Sophomore standing, but juniors are welcome to apply
• Academic promise
• Interest in pursuing graduate education (especially a Ph.D.) in a Mellon-approved field of study (see website for complete list)
• Potential for serving as a mentor and teacher to a wide variety of students
• Activities and leadership that reflect an interest in social justice issues and the promotion of multivocality
• U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident. Students who are undocumented or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients may apply if it is consistent with their institution’s policies

The application deadline for the 2024-2025 Mellon Mays Fellowship cohort has passed.

For further information about the program, visit https://dornsife.usc.edu/deib/mmuf/

If you have questions about the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship program contact: