Students often scramble to find assistance with paying for higher education. It is very normal for families to be unable to pay the full cost of getting a degree, which is why there are many financial aid options. This includes options for money that a student will not have to pay back, including Jewish scholarships.
There are a high number of scholarships for Jewish students available. As with any scholarship, they have various criteria, and some have restrictions. Not every scholarship will be a good fit for every student. A student should read the qualifying criteria carefully before applying.
List of the Top Jewish Scholarships
The following is a list of various scholarships available for Jewish students. Scholarships listed below can make it more affordable to pursue a degree by providing awards from $1,000 to $50, 000.
Singerman/Nosseck Memorial Scholarship
The National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles offers the Singerman/Nosseck Memorial Scholarship. This is available regardless of religion, but only to those living in the Greater Los Angeles area. Candidates must be attending a trade school or taking an online course that leads to certification in a marketable skill. The scholarship is worth $1,000 and is awarded two times a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.
For more information contact the National Council of Jewish Women.
University of Minnesota Leo & Lillian Gross Scholarship in Jewish Studies
The University of Minnesota offers the Leo & Lillian Gross Scholarship in Jewish Studies. This $1,000 scholarship is available to ungraduated students enrolled full-time at the university in a major or minor in Jewish studies. Students must have high academic performance and complete at least one Jewish studies course. A person may get this scholarship more than once. The deadline for applying is April each year. To apply, a student must submit an application letter, including an essay, transcript, and two letters of recommendation.
For more information, visit the College of Liberal Arts Jewish Studies Scholarships & Grants page.
The Meyerhoff Center Jewish Scholarships
The Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Studies provides multiple Jewish scholarship opportunities. Many of the scholarships are only for students who will study at an Israeli university, but there are some for those studying in the U.S. In any case, students with a Jewish studies major get preference, and students must currently attend the University of Maryland. To apply, students must complete an application, provide a transcript, and write an essay. Some scholarships offered include the D.M. Konigsberg Memorial Fund, the G. Wasserman Scholarship Fun, the M.S. & R.G. Cohen Scholarship Fund, and the I. & B. Gudelsky Memorial Scholarship Fund. Students may submit applications throughout the year.
For more information, see the scholarship page for Jewish Studies at UMD.
Melton Center for Jewish Studies Undergraduate Scholarships
The Melton Center for Jewish Studies at The Ohio State University offers various undergraduate scholarships. Most are for students enrolled in the Jewish Studies program at OSU. They offer up to $5,000 of award money. Most require applications, but one award is based on faculty nominations.
For more information, go to the Melton Center for Jewish Studies webpage.
Milwaukee Jewish Federation College Scholarships
The Jewish Community Foundation offers an opportunity for high school seniors to get a scholarship for college. These awards come from the Hecht Family Memorial College Scholarship Fund and are available to Milwaukee metropolitan area applicants. The application deadline is in the spring each year.
To find out more, visit the Milwaukee Jewish Federation website.
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Scholarships
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago offers scholarships from $1,000 to $8,000. These scholarships are available to students pursuing an education in helping professions. The deadline for applications is at the beginning of the calendar year. Students must be natives to the Chicago metropolitan area or have been employed in the area full time for at least a year. Only those who are Jewish may apply. There are also restrictions on the major. All awards are given to those with financial need.
For more information, visit the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago website.
Benjamin Goldberg Memorial Scholarship
Arizona State University College of Jewish Studies provides various scholarship options to students. To apply for the Benjamin Goldberg Memorial Scholarship, students must submit an application packet and FASFA, along with a statement of financial need. Two recommendation letters and a transcript are also required. The application deadline is at the beginning of the calendar year. The scholarship provides various amounts with a minimum award of $500.
For more information and to see other scholarship options, visit the ASU Jewish Studies website.
Indiana University Robert A. and Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program Scholarship
Indiana University offers various scholarships for the Robert A. and Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program. These include various scholarships for freshmen offering up to $40,000 worth of aid. The application deadline is early in the calendar year, and the scholarships are only for students with a Jewish studies major at the Indiana University Bloomington. Each scholarship option is available for specific majors within the program. They are awarded based on academic achievements.
For more information and additional scholarships options, visit the Robert A. and Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program page.
FEREP Graduate Scholarship Program
The Jewish Federations of North America Mandel Center for Leadership Excellence offers the Federation Executive Recruitment & Education Program, which provides scholarship assistance to graduate students. Awards up to $40,000 are available through FEREP. Students must study in specific areas to be eligible and must commit to a work study at a North American Jewish Federation graduate school.
To get more information, please visit The Jewish Federations of North America’s FEREP page.
Tips and Advice for Finding and Applying for Scholarships
This is not an extensive list of the many Jewish scholarships available to college students. However, it is a nice start to get an idea of the different types of offerings out there. As you can see, scholarships come from many different sources, including schools and private organizations. If you are serious about funding your education through money you do not have to pay back, scholarships are a great choice.
There is a lot of competition for them, and there are always limits on how many each organization will offer. Because of this, you need to do your best to make your application stand out. You also need to make sure that you find the right opportunities. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you have the best experience when applying for scholarships.
- Always read all instructions and requirements.
- Only apply if you meet eligibility requirements.
- Submit all the requested information.
- Look for options with the least competition, such as those limited to certain majors or specific geographic locations
Of course, applying is only a small portion of the process. You actually have to find the scholarships. While we have given you a nice list to start with, you also need to look for options on your own. Try asking around. Talk to your rabbi and others in your community as they may know of options. Look for Jewish organizations who help students.
Do not just stop at scholarships. There is a lot of different types of free money for education. You can consider contests, for example. You also don’t want to limit yourself to only those options for Jewish students. Look beyond at general scholarships for high school students.
The Final Word of Advice
It isn’t always easy to find the money you need to afford a college education, but there is a lot of help out there. You just need to take the time and make an effort to apply for Jewish scholarships or find other options. With the scholarships on our list, you can get off to a great start. Before you know it, you will have a few applications under your belt and find that applying for aid isn’t that difficult and that it pays off in the end. So, good luck with your endeavors!
