🎓 9 Scholarships Every Puerto Rican & Hispanic Student Should Know About
- Amanda Rhoden
- Sep 24
- 3 min read
¿Prefieres leer esto en español? Haz clic aquí.

College can feel expensive, but here’s the good news: there are scholarships made just for you. Whether your teen is in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 or on the mainland, these awards celebrate Hispanic heritage, leadership, and achievement, and they can add up to thousands in free money for school.
Here are 9 scholarships worth applying to in 2025–2026 (with deadlines and insider tips so you don’t miss out).
1. Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)
💰$500–$5,000; thousands awarded each year.
📅Deadline: Opens in January, due mid-February.
⚖️Competition: Very high — it’s the big one.
💡Stand Out Tip: Start early. Essays should highlight leadership, resilience, and service. Even smaller awards come with mentorship and networking perks.
2. McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship
💰Up to $100,000 spread across 4 years (multiple winners).
📅Deadline: Usually in February.
⚖️Competition: High — but big prize.
💡Stand Out Tip: They want more than grades. Share your story, community service, and how being Hispanic shaped your journey.
3. Colgate-Palmolive Haz La U Scholarship (via HHF)
💰Up to $10,000 for Hispanic high school seniors.
📅Deadline: December 31, 2025.
⚖️Competition: High, but very generous.
💡Stand Out Tip: Show both academic strength + leadership. Essays should connect your identity to your goals.
4. Puerto Rican Day Parade Scholarship (NPRDP)
💰$2,000 each; ~100 students selected.
📅Deadline: Typically March.
⚖️Competition: Medium — lots of applicants, but 100 awards give good odds.
💡Stand Out Tip: Focus on Puerto Rican pride, community service, and cultural identity. Strong recommendations matter.
5. Florida Puerto Rican Parade Scholarship
💰Up to $2,000.
📅Deadline: February 6, 2026.
⚖️Competition: Medium — smaller pool, PR-specific.
💡Stand Out Tip: Highlight heritage, academics, and leadership roles in your essay.
6. ScholarSHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers)
💰Varies; thousands awarded yearly (millions in total).
📅Deadline: Spring 2026 for the next cycle.
⚖️Competition: Strong among STEM students, but lots of opportunities.
💡Stand Out Tip: Emphasize STEM projects, internships, or research. This is gold for future engineers and scientists.
7. LULAC National Scholarship Fund
💰Awards vary ($250–$2,000).
📅Deadline: Spring 2026.
⚖️Competition: Moderate; applications go through local LULAC councils.
💡Stand Out Tip: Apply through multiple local councils if eligible. Local involvement and community service make you stand out.
8. HITEC Foundation Scholarship (for IT/Tech students)
💰$5,000 scholarships for Hispanic students in technology.
📅Deadline: Early 2026.
⚖️Competition: Medium; tech-focused means fewer applicants outside STEM.
💡Stand Out Tip: Show your passion for tech (coding, robotics, IT). Mention future career goals in tech leadership.
9. New York League of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. Scholarship
💰$1,000.
📅Deadline: May 23, 2026.
⚖️Competition: Smaller and more niche (PR women only).
💡Stand Out Tip: Share how your identity as a Puerto Rican woman shapes your goals. Essays that are personal and authentic shine here.

📥 Free Download: Scholarship Tracker
Keeping track of deadlines is half the battle. That’s why I created a Scholarship Tracker pre-filled with these 9 scholarships, with space to add your own notes and new opportunities.
👉 Click here.
✨ Final Thoughts
Whether you’re in Puerto Rico or on the mainland, these scholarships are worth your time. Some are big nationals (like HSF and HACER), others are niche (like NPRDP or NYLPRW). Apply to a mix of both; even the smaller awards add up quickly.
📌 Action step: Download the tracker, mark deadlines in your calendar, and start knocking out applications now.

👉 Want personalized help finding scholarships (and colleges) that fit your teen’s goals and budget? Book a free consultation with me at Future Bound. Whether you’re in Puerto Rico or on the continental U.S., I’d love to help your family.



Comments