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Merit-Based ScholarshipsWorth a shot

California Teachers Association Scholarships

Offered by California Teachers Association (CTA) · Free to apply

Award
Up to $5,000
one-time award
Deadline
February 6, 2027
deadlines recur around February each year
Estimated odds
1 in 10
Solyo estimate, not a published rate
Application effort
~5 hrs
about $61 of expected value per hour

The California Teachers Association awards up to $5,000 to dependent children of active CTA members, CTA/NEA-Retired members, and deceased members. A maximum of 56 scholarships are awarded each year, and because the eligible pool is limited to the children of California teachers rather than the general public, the realistic odds here are far better than the raw number suggests. Graduating high school seniors qualify, and the transcript must include the first grading period of twelfth grade.

How hard is the California Teachers Association Scholarships to win?

Real competition, but not a lottery. The time cost is low enough relative to the award that a qualified student comes out ahead by applying.

Estimated odds
roughly 1 in 10 applicants
Modelled applicant field
~550 students
Awards each cycle
56
Payoff per hour of work
$61 / hr

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

  • Fewer rivalsOpen only to California residents
  • Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
  • Fewer rivalsRecommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip
  • Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the California Teachers Association Scholarships?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

  • Must be a resident of California
  • Open to high school seniors and current college students
Confirm these before applying
  • Must be the dependent child of an active CTA member, a CTA/NEA-Retired member, or a deceased CTA member.
  • Transcript must include the first grading period of 12th grade.

What the application takes

  • Essay required.
  • 1 letter of recommendation. Ask teachers or counselors early; good letters take time.
  • Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is February 6, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around February 6 each year. If a parent teaches in California and belongs to CTA, this is one of the most winnable awards available to the family.

Applications close
February 6, 2027
Apply on the official site →Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee.

Does your student actually qualify?

See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.

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Common questions about the California Teachers Association Scholarships

How much is the California Teachers Association Scholarships worth?

The California Teachers Association Scholarships awards up to $5,000. 56 awards are made each cycle.

When is the California Teachers Association Scholarships deadline?

The current deadline is February 6, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around February 6 each year. If a parent teaches in California and belongs to CTA, this is one of the most winnable awards available to the family.

Who is eligible for the California Teachers Association Scholarships?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of California; Open to high school seniors and current college students.

Does the California Teachers Association Scholarships require an essay?

Yes. The application requires an essay, 1 recommendation, and a transcript. Expect to spend about 5 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the California Teachers Association Scholarships?

Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 10 applicants, against a modelled field of ~550 students. The pool stays that size because open only to California residents and an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants. At 5 hrs of work, that is about $61 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.

Is the California Teachers Association Scholarships free to apply?

Yes. The California Teachers Association Scholarships is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

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Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.