Three USC students talking together outside in Alumni Park

USC Dornsife Continuing Student Scholarships are a collection of many privately-funded scholarships administered and distributed by USC Dornsife. Individual scholarships may have different requirements, including varying minimum GPA, financial need, specific majors, or geographic restrictions. Most scholarships, however, are quite general, and you will be considered for all for which you qualify. You must have a declared Dornsife major to be eligible for these scholarships. Also, unless otherwise stated, scholarships on this page require a minimum 3.0 cumulative USC GPA.

A few Continuing Student Scholarships have applications which are processed separately from our common CSS online application. Links to these applications are available on the Other Scholarship Applications page.

Apply for the following scholarships using the online Dornsife Continuing Student Scholarship application.

Scholarships requiring supplemental essays

All scholarship applicants must address the two standard personal statement prompts listed on the Dornsife Continuing Student Scholarship application page. The following scholarships require completion of an additional supplemental essay which should be submitted via the online Dornsife Continuing Student Scholarship application.

  • Established to support undergraduate and graduate students majoring in the natural sciences who have demonstrated a commitment to work with the Hungarian community.

    • Preference given to students who foster cooperation between USC and individuals and/or institutions with Hungarian affiliation

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    Given the focus of this scholarship, please discuss how you have shown a commitment to fostering cooperation between USC and individuals and/or institutions with Hungarian affiliation.

  • Established to support undergraduate students who have demonstrated a commitment to children’s health issues.

    • Preference given to students who have overcome a childhood medical or health issue and/or demonstrate a commitment to children’s health issues, such as infant birth defect research or children’s hospital volunteer service

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    Given the focus of this scholarship on children’s health, please discuss how you have responded to the challenges of a childhood health issue and/or describe the ways in which you have shown a vested commitment to children’s health issues.

     

  • Established in memory of Jason Baringer, a student who suffered from muscular dystrophy and attended USC until January 2001. The scholarship provides financial support to USC Dornsife students with physical disabilities.

    • Financial need
    • The determination and passion to succeed despite numerous challenges

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    Please discuss how your physical disability or challenges have influenced your academic and career goals.

  • Established for undergraduate International Relations majors who demonstrate a commitment to social and/or cultural innovation and problem-solving outside their coursework.

    • International Relations major
    • Preference given to students participating in internships with non-profit organizations, cross-disciplinary research, service, and/or extracurricular activities with a particular focus on the arts, technology, and media. All activities should address and seek solutions for global challenges that have an impact on people across the world.

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    The scholarship donor believes in the value of activities outside the classroom (including, but not limited to, internships, research, and service activities) that seek solutions to global challenges of all sorts. With this in mind, please discuss how your activities outside the classroom demonstrate your commitment to social and/or cultural innovation and problem-solving and show how your Berger Scholarship opportunity will further develop this commitment. Please also address the connection between your classroom lessons and your activities outside the classroom.

  • Established by George F. Davis, a USC alumnus, to provide annual merit-based scholarships to students majoring in Comparative Literature whose area of study is French or Russian literature.

    • Comparative Literature major studying French or Russian literature

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    Please discuss how your experience as a Comparative Literature major has inspired you, personally and intellectually. Please include references to your work in French and/or Russian. These could include courses taken, language study undergone, research projects completed or in progress, or other experiences related to your work in these languages.

  • Established for undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to social responsibility, kindness, and compassion toward others and to making a difference through leadership and service.

    • Financial need
    • Leadership
    • Community service
    • Preference given to first-generation college students

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    The Do Good Things award seeks to recognize students who are active leaders and selfless volunteers. With this in mind, please address how you exemplify the ideals of this award through your activities and involvement. Describe ways in which you’ve improved your community and given back to serve the greater good, and how you hope to make a difference after you graduate from USC Dornsife. How has attending college given you the tools, skills, and knowledge to “do good things,” both in the present and in looking ahead toward your future goals?

  • Supports rising junior or senior undergraduate students at USC Dornsife who possess a deep sense of belief and faith in their spiritual growth.

    • GPA of 3.3 or higher
    • Rising junior or senior

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    Describe how your faith or beliefs have helped you grow and respond to challenges, or how your faith or beliefs have helped guide your career plans.

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

    • Major or minor in a History department course of study
    • Preference given to students with financial need
    • Please note: If you are looking for the application for the Foulke Research and Travel Grant, click here. The Foulke Research and Travel Grant requires a separate application.

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    Please discuss how your undergraduate experience majoring or minoring in a History department course of study has altered the way you think about the world around you.

  • Established in 1988 by members of the Kalpakian family as a memorial to their parents, Harry and Helen Kalpakian, this scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate the ability or desire to further the interests of individuals of Armenian descent in liberal arts education.

    • GPA of 3.2 or higher
    • Sophomore standing or higher
    • Given to students who demonstrate the ability or desire to further the interests of individuals of Armenian descent in the fields of humanities, natural sciences, or social sciences

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    Please discuss how your involvement in the Armenian community and/or engagement with Armenian Studies have influenced your personal growth and future career plans.

  • Supports undergraduate students majoring in French for whom affordability may be an obstacle.

    • French major
    • Financial need

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    Please discuss how your experience as a French major has inspired you, personally and intellectually, and describe how your work in French and Francophone studies will contribute to your future goals. If you have plans to study or work abroad, please elaborate.

  • Established in 1999 by the Stahl Memorial Trust, this scholarship benefits students studying Biochemistry.

    • Biochemistry or Chemical Biology major
    • Financial need

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    Please describe your background, academic goals, research experience, career objectives, and future plans in the area of biochemistry, chemical biology, or biological chemistry.

  • Provides support to students who have the mission of studying to explore fundamental questions about who we are, how the world works, and what we can do on the ground to improve and enrich society.

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    Given the donor’s intent to support students who have the mission of studying to explore fundamental questions about who we are, how the world works, and what we can do on the ground to improve and enrich society, please discuss the experiences, interests, or goals that would make you a good fit for this scholarship award.

  • Established in the early 1900’s by Carrie D. and C.J. Walker, this scholarship benefits USC Dornsife students studying religion.

    • GPA of 3.5 or higher in Religion coursework
    • Religion major or minor
    • Please note: If you are looking for the application for the Walker Research and Travel Grant, click here. The Walker Research and Travel Grant requires a separate application.

    Additional supplemental essay:

    In lieu of submitting a supplemental essay for consideration for the Walker Merit Award, please send us a copy of what you consider to be your best essay written for a Religion course at USC. Please include your name and the essay topic or prompt at the top of your essay submission. If desired, the essay may be edited and polished from the version you submitted for your Religion course. The essay should be emailed directly to scholarships@dornsife.usc.edu by the scholarship application deadline, with the title “Walker Merit Award” in the subject line. It should not be submitted via the supplemental essay text box on the Dornsife Continuing Student Scholarship application form.

  • Established in 1994 by Anita Brown Wilson for outstanding students in the Environmental Studies program.

    • GPA of 3.25 or higher (both USC cumulative GPA and major GPA)
    • Environmental Studies major or Environmental Science and Health major
    • Completion of or acceptance into at least one of the following courses: ENST 320a, ENST 320a in the field, ENST 480, ENST 485, or ENST 499 (Tropical Coastal Zone Sustainability in the Caribbean)

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    Describe an environmental and/or policy issue that you want to address or tackle in your career. How does this issue fit into the larger global environment, and how would this scholarship help you begin to address this concern?

  • Established to provide scholarship support for USC Dornsife students with financial need.

    • Financial need
    • Preference given to students who attended high school in Hong Kong

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    The donor for this scholarship is interested in supporting students who attended high school in Hong Kong who have financial need. With this in mind, please discuss the background or experiences that would make you a good fit for this scholarship award.

  • Established by Wendy Wu to provide financial support to USC Dornsife undergraduate students.

    • Financial need
    • Preference given to: (1) students who attended a high school in Guam, and (2) students who self-identify as being impacted by the causes and effects of global conflict, particularly those affected by the Ukrainian war

    Additional supplemental essay prompt:

    The donor for this scholarship is interested in supporting both students who attended high school in Guam or students who have been impacted by the causes and effects of global conflict (for example, the war in Ukraine). With this in mind, please discuss the background or experiences that would make you a good fit for this scholarship award.

All other scholarships

The following list of scholarships do not require a supplemental essay. However, remember that all scholarship applicants must address the two standard personal statement prompts listed on the Dornsife Continuing Student Scholarship application page.

  • Established to support undergraduate students intending to pursue a career in physical therapy.

    • Financial need
    • Pre-physical therapy pre-professional emphasis
  • Established to support students who have successfully completed two years toward their majors and have demonstrated financial need.

    • Financial need
  • Provides support to undergraduate students in USC Dornsife for whom affordability may be an obstacle. Positive consideration given to students majoring in Economics, Mathematics, Political Science, or History.

    • GPA of 3.2 or higher
    • Economics, Mathematics, Political Science, or History major
    • Financial need
  • Established in 1946.

  • Established by the Bitzer family to support promising undergraduate students in the humanities.

    • Major in the humanities
  • Established by Albert and Tove Boyajian in 2007 to support students who demonstrate financial need.

    • Financial need
  • Established in 1986, this scholarship benefits middle-income students in USC Dornsife.

    • Financial need
    • Financial need
    • Preference given to students who are the first in their families to attend college and are from the eastern half of the United States
  • Provides merit and/or need-based scholarships to USC Dornsife students.

    • Financial need
  • This scholarship is intended for a USC Dornsife undergraduate student who is “needy and worthy.”

    • Financial need
  • Established to support talented undergraduate students in the USC Dornsife Department of Biological Sciences.

    • Major in Biological Sciences, Human Biology, or Quantitative Biology
    • Financial need
  • Established by James and Janie Crawford for USC Dornsife students who demonstrate financial need, extracurricular involvement, and involvement in community service.

    • Financial need
    • Extracurricular involvement
    • Community service
  • Supports deserving undergraduate students in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences who are pursuing a degree in biological sciences.

    • Dornsife major in the department of Biological Sciences
    • Financial need
  • Supports students for whom affordability might be an obstacle, with preference given to students interested in a career in teaching.

    • Financial need
    • Preference given to students who have demonstrated a desire to pursue a career in secondary education teaching
  • Supports talented and deserving undergraduate students in USC Dornsife.

    • Strong academic performance
    • Financial need
  • Created in 1987 by Albert Fisher in support of excellent undergraduate science majors who demonstrate financial need.

    • GPA of 3.2 or higher
    • Natural science major
    • Strong academic performance
    • Financial need
  • Established to provide scholarship support to undergraduate Dornsife students on the basis of merit.

  • Established to provide scholarship support for students with majors in the School of International Relations on the basis of merit.

    • Major in International Relations, International Relations (Global Business), International Relations and the Global Economy, or Intelligence and Cyber Operations
  • Provides support to USC Dornsife undergraduate students majoring in the sciences with the goal of attending medical school.

    • Major in the natural sciences
    • Pre-medical pre-professional emphasis
    • Students of Jewish heritage are encouraged to apply
  • Established to honor Mr. Frank Martin Gleberman, a distinguished USC alumnus whose dedication to family, friends, and the community continues to impact and inspire individual lives.

    • Financial need
    • Proven commitment to the betterment of the community
  • Established by the Goel family to provide support to undergraduate students at USC Dornsife for whom affordability is an obstacle.

    • Financial need
  • Established to provide scholarships for deserving undergraduate students at USC Dornsife, with preference given to students who are graduates of one of the college preparatory high schools administered by the Ednovate charter management organization.

    • Financial need
    • Preference shall be given to students who are graduates of one of the college preparatory high schools administered by the Ednovate charter management organization. Currently, these schools consist of Legacy College Prep, East College Prep, USC Hybrid High, Brio College Prep, Esperanza College Prep, and South Los Angeles College Prep
  • Established in 2005 by Professor Emeritus Dr. William Grings and his wife, Hilda Grings, in memory of their children Steven and Carol.

    • Graduate of a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) high school
  • Established in memory of Paul M. Halopoff to provide assistance for promising students who plan to attend medical school.

    • Financial need
    • Academic achievement
    • Pre-medical pre-professional emphasis
  • Established for USC Dornsife students who demonstrate financial need, extracurricular involvement, and involvement in community service.

    • Financial need
    • Extracurricular involvement
    • Community service
  • Supports students in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences who are studying astronomy.

    • Major or minor in Astronomy
  • Established to provide support for students for whom affordability may be an obstacle, and might not otherwise be able to attend the university.

    • Financial need
  • Established with a bequest from the late Mrs. Ingram to assist worthy undergraduates pursuing an education in the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

  • Supports undergraduate students in Dornsife who have declared a pre-health pre-professional emphasis.

    • Pre-health emphasis
  • This scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate the ability or desire to further the interests of individuals of Armenian descent in liberal arts education.

    • Given to students who demonstrate the ability or desire to further the interests of individuals of Armenian descent in the fields of humanities, natural sciences, or social sciences
  • Established by Philip P. and Colleen Kirst for outstanding USC Dornsife students. Academic excellence, campus involvement, and a proven commitment to the betterment of the community will be considered, as well as economic need.

    • Financial need
    • Campus involvement
    • Community service
  • Supports talented and deserving students at USC Dornsife for whom affordability is an obstacle.

    • Financial need
  • First awarded in 1992, the Lenore Kreiger Scholarship provides support to students majoring in Mathematics.

    • Mathematics major
  • First awarded in 1992, the Lenore Kreiger Scholarship provides support to students majoring in the natural sciences.

    • Major in the natural sciences
  • Established from the Betty Leach estate. Awarded to students who demonstrate the ability or desire to further the interests of women.

    • Completion of two years of undergraduate study in USC Dornsife
  • Supports undergraduate students at USC Dornsife for whom affordability is an obstacle.

    • Financial need
    • Financial need
  • Established to provide support for a USC Dornsife student for whom affordability may be an obstacle.

    • Financial need
    • Preference given to students who are from the East Coast and/or are members of the USC Helenes
    • Students of Hispanic or Latino/a heritage are encouraged to apply
  • Established in memory of Dr. Merten J. Mandeville for worthy undergraduate students majoring in Economics.

    • Economics major
    • Resident of Phoenix or Tucson
  • Established by Linda and Harlan Martens.

    • Transfer student
  • Supports talented students in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences who are majoring or minoring in a European language other than English, with a preference given to German studies.

    • Major or minor in a European language other than English
  • The Mayr Foundation assists deserving California students pursuing an education at one of California’s private colleges or universities.

    • Preference given to students with a permanent residence in a city in California
  • Established in 2007 to provide support to undergraduate students in USC Dornsife who demonstrate academic achievement and financial need.

    • Financial need
    • Community service
    • Extracurricular involvement
  • Established in 1992, this scholarship is awarded to financially disadvantaged students enrolled in USC Dornsife, with positive consideration given to students from Los Angeles.

    • Financial need
    • Community service
    • Extracurricular involvement
    • Positive consideration given to students from Los Angeles
  • Established to support students majoring in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at USC.

    • Financial need
    • Community service
    • Extracurricular involvement
  • Recognizes students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to community involvement.

    • Commitment to community service
  • Provides financial support to exceptional students in USC Dornsife.

  • Established to provide scholarship assistance to undergraduate middle-income students majoring in foreign languages.

    • Middle-income
    • Major in a foreign language
  • Established to provide support to undergraduate students from El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, or Brazil.

    • Preference given to students from El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, or Brazil
  • Established to honor the life of Brian Mitchell, a distinguished USC alumnus whose dedication to family, friends, and the community continues to impact and inspire individual lives.

    • Double major in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the Marshall School of Business -OR- USC Dornsife major with a minor in the Marshall School of Business
    • Financial need
    • Extracurricular involvement
    • Proven commitment to the betterment of the community
  • Established to support undergraduate students in USC Dornsife for whom affordability may be an obstacle.

    • Financial need
  • Provide scholarship support for undergraduate students studying Economics, International Relations (Global Business), or International Relations and the Global Economy.

    • Major in Economics, International Relations (Global Business), or International Relations and the Global Economy is preferred
    • Financial need
    • Positive consideration given to students who self-identify as first-generation college students
  • Established to support undergraduate students studying Economics.

    • Economics major
  • Scholarships to support middle-income students.

    • Middle income
  • Established in 1992 by the trustees of the Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation, these scholarships provide access to quality education to outstanding middle-income students.

    • Middle-income
  • Established to provide assistance for undergraduate students for whom affordability is an obstacle.

    • Financial need
  • Established to provide support for undergraduate students for whom affordability may be an obstacle.

    • Financial need
  • Provides support to USC Dornsife undergraduate students for whom affordability may be an obstacle.

    • Financial need
    • Positive consideration given to students from the greater Chicago, Illinois area
  • Established with a generous gift from Elaine and Graham Smith, this scholarship supports Dornsife students who demonstrate financial need, academic achievement and a proven commitment to the betterment of the community.

    • Financial need
    • Academic excellence
    • Community service
  • Established to provide scholarship support to undergraduate students majoring in Political Science at USC Dornsife.

    • Political science major
  • Awarded to deserving undergraduate students at USC Dornsife, with preference to those who are first-generation college students.

    • Financial need
    • Preference given to students who are the first in their families to attend college
  • Awarded to deserving undergraduate students at USC Dornsife, with preference for those who are studying neuroscience.

    • Preference given to students majoring in Neuroscience
  • Awarded to deserving undergraduate students at USC Dornsife, with preference to those who are studying anthropology.

    • Preference given to students majoring in Anthropology
  • Established by William H. Tetteh-Martey to support USC Dornsife students enrolled in pre-health studies.

    • Preference given to students pursuing pre-health studies
  • Awarded to outstanding students pursuing studies in the humanities who demonstrate financial need.

    • Major in the humanities
    • Financial need
  • Established to provide scholarship support for students studying International Relations.

    • Major in International Relations, International Relations (Global Business), or International Relations and the Global Economy
    • Financial need
    • Positive consideration given to students demonstrating leadership in the USC community
  • This scholarship supports undergraduate students majoring in USC Dornsife for whom affordability may be an obstacle.

    • Financial need
    • Preference given to students from the greater Chicago, Illinois area
  • Established by the Class of 1989 and family, friends and associates of the late Holly Wyatt Walter, this scholarship supports outstanding students who demonstrate a commitment to public service and need financial assistance.

    • Financial need
    • Community service
    • Extracurricular involvement
  • Awarded to promising students with leadership potential from middle-income families.

    • Middle-income
    • Leadership potential
    • Financial need
    • Preference given to History majors and/or students interested in education
  • Established by Mrs. Williams’ family. Benefits transfer students in the humanities.

    • Transfer student
    • Major in the humanities
    • Awarded to a student who demonstrates the ability or desire to further the interests of women
  • Established to support undergraduate students in USC Dornsife with financial need.

    • Financial need
    • Preference given to first-generation college students from Texas
  • Established to support undergraduate students in USC Dornsife with financial need.

    • Financial need

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