10,000 Degrees Scholarships
Offered by 10,000 Degrees · Free to apply
10,000 Degrees is not a county foundation but functions as the scholarship layer for much of the Bay Area, and it is the only broad-reach provider found that serves a general low-income senior in San Francisco and Contra Costa county. It covers students who graduated from a high school in, or currently live in, Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa or Lake counties, and awards up to $1,500 per academic year. It also administers Community Foundation Sonoma County's entire undergraduate scholarship program. Significant financial need is required.
Other deadlines near this one
- Cal Grant A (High School Entitlement)Due March 2, 2027 · Full systemwide tuition & fees at UC/CSU; $9,358/yr at private nonprofits (2025-26 rate)
- Cal Grant A/B Competitive AwardDue March 2, 2027 · Follows the Cal Grant A and B award schedules
- Cal Grant Access Award for Foster YouthDue March 2, 2027 · Up to $6,000 per year, on top of your Cal Grant
How hard is the 10,000 Degrees Scholarships to win?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award.
- Odds
- not published by the provider
- Paperwork
- ~3 hrs to file
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 10,000 Degrees 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, current college students, and transfer students
- Must have graduated from a high school in, or currently live in, Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa or Lake county.
- Requires significant demonstrated financial need.
- 10,000 Degrees also administers the Marin Community Foundation and Community Foundation Sonoma County scholarship programs, so one relationship can reach several portfolios.
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
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 March 2, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 2 each year.
- Applications close
- March 2, 2027
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the 10,000 Degrees Scholarships
How much is the 10,000 Degrees Scholarships worth?
The 10,000 Degrees Scholarships awards up to $1,500 per academic year and is renewable in later years.
When is the 10,000 Degrees Scholarships deadline?
The current deadline is March 2, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 2 each year.
Who is eligible for the 10,000 Degrees Scholarships?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of California; Open to high school seniors, current college students, and transfer students.
Does the 10,000 Degrees Scholarships require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay, 1 recommendation, and a transcript. Expect to spend about 3 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the 10,000 Degrees Scholarships?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award. What is known: open only to California residents and an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants. Plan on about 3 hrs of work.
Is the 10,000 Degrees Scholarships free to apply?
Yes. The 10,000 Degrees Scholarships is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More need-based scholarships
- Austin Community Foundation ScholarshipsVaries by fund (more than 60 opportunities) · due March 25, 2027
- Big Tex Scholarship Program$12,000 · due February 1, 2027
- Brevard Schools Foundation Scholarships$250 to $5,000 · due March 16, 2027
- Bridging the Dream Scholarship for High School SeniorsUp to $10,000 · due April 24, 2027
- Broward Education Foundation Scholarship Application$1,000 for one year up to $20,000 across four years · due April 1, 2027
- Burger King Scholars Program$1,000 - $60,000 (most awards $1,000) · due December 15, 2026
Lists this award appears on
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.