The Jewish community, like any community, strives to support its own members in order to ensure that beliefs and values are carried on. These communities tend to be more local than national. There is funding available, but when seeking financial aid from a Jewish community, you will likely need to apply to one in your own area and, ideally, to one which you are involved in.

Below are some examples of the types of scholarships available to Jewish students. Some are for students who are scholars, some for students with financial need, and some for students who have experience and interest in volunteer work. Check online to see what is available specifically in your area and specifically to you.

  • JCS (Jewish Community Services) offers a Newhoff Scholarship which is awarded to a student who is Jewish and has a diagnosed learning disability. This scholarship is available to students living in the Baltimore area, but applies to students who want to attend schools across the United States.
  • The University of Southern California (USC) offers two competitive scholarships to Jewish freshmen. Each applicant is considered for both scholarships.

 

The Jewish Leadership Scholarship awards $12,500 each year for four years. Jewish students entering USC can apply for this generous scholarship; two are awarded each year. Top academic scores are important, as well as involvement in the Jewish community and volunteer work in general. Scholarship winners are expected to get involved with the campus’ Jewish community and activities. The Casden Institute for Jewish Leadership Scholarship also grants a one-time award of $1,000- $5,000.

  • If you live in the metropolitan Washington area, you can apply to get educational funding through the Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA). The JSSA offers education scholarships and interest-free loans to Jewish students to support them as they pursue undergraduate and  graduate studies, and vocational training. They even offer funding to students who want to study in Israel. All of these scholarships need to be repaid if students do not complete their school year.

 

The Morton A. Gibson Memorial Scholarship is awarded to one Jewish high school student each year. The award amount is $2,500. This is given to students who are involved in the Jewish community.

Max and Emmy Dreyfuss Jewish Undergraduate Scholarships are worth from $1,500 to $4,000 and are given to Jewish students with financial need, including refugees. These scholarships are renewable.

The JSSA Educational Scholarship Fund awards up to $6,000 to eight Jewish high school students each year. Students must be seniors at a Montgomery County public high school. These scholarships are based on financial need and are renewable for an additional year.

 

Jewish Students

Jewish Students

The Sahm/Goldman Scholarship is awarded to students who have completed two years of undergraduate school and want to go to Israel to study or do research. Awards range from $250 to $2,500. Students are chosen based on academic achievement and financial need. Students are also given preference if they have not visited Israel before.

  • Jewish students from the Chicago metropolitan area can look at the scholarships offered by the Jewish Vocational Service (JVS). Students who have financial need or promising future careers in service professions are the focus of the awards. Service professions include: Education, Medicine, the Rabbinate, Social Service, Performing and Fine Arts, Business, Law, Technical/ Sciences, etc. Scholarship amounts vary, but two students are each given $10,000. Each year, the JVS gives out close to $500,000 to students in full-time studies.
  • The Oregon Jewish Community Foundation (OJCF) is another foundation which gives out scholarships to Jewish students. Several scholarships are offered; students must be Jewish, live in Oregon, and have financial need.

 

The Rebecca and Sada Tarshis Memorial Scholarship awards $1,000 to $5,000 to students who need help financially in order to pursue college, undergraduate, or graduate studies.

The Albert J. Kalles College Scholarship gives out an average award of $1,000 to students who live in Oregon and want to attend a college or university in Oregon. This scholarship is only given out to help with college and undergraduate studies.

  • The Phil and Ruth Sokolof Honor Roll Merit Scholarship is not need-based but merit-based. Up to six students are each awarded up to $10,000 through this program. The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation manages the scholarships.