eQuality Scholarships

eQuality Scholarship Collaborative has fostered student leadership for over 30 years. In 2024, our cumulative scholarship awards surpassed $2,100,000.

Why?

eQuality Scholarship Collaborative awards scholarships to honor and encourage northern and central California students for their service to the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community.

Who?

In general, eligible students fall into one of these categories:

• Resident of northern or central California who completed or expects to complete high school or equivalent between 1 Jul 2020 and 30 Jun 2025;
• Resident of northern or central California who completed or expects to complete community college between 1 Jul 2020 and 30 Jun 2025;
• Students pursuing a medical degree at an accredited medical/graduate school in northern or central California

For complete eligibility requirements, see the Apply page.

What?

Scholarships may be used for post-secondary education at accredited institutions - colleges, universities, and trade schools. Some of the scholarships are specifically for college/university or medical/graduate school.

How Many?

In 2024, eQuality awarded scholarships to eight graduating high school seniors, four graduates of Oakland Unified School District high schools, two community college transfer students, and three medical students. We expect to award a similar number of scholarships in 2025.

Check Eligibility

Applicants for all scholarships must have demonstrated service to the LGBT+ community. Applicants of all sexual orientations and gender identities are eligible.

For 2025, we are offering scholarships for three types of students. The eligibility requirements are somewhat different for each type. If you have questions, please email us before spending time on the application or deciding not to apply because you're unsure whether you're eligible.

Scholarships for Graduating High School Seniors and Recent High School Graduates

Applicant must:

• be a resident of or attend a high school in northern or central California (see map of specific counties);
• have completed or expect to complete high school (or equivalent) between 1 Jul 2020 and 30 Jun 2025; and
• plan to attend or began attending a U.S.-accredited post-secondary institution (college, university, or vocational/trade school) for the first time in 2025.

In 2025, we expect to award about 10 scholarships to assist with post-secondary educational expenses. In 2024, we received about 90 applications for these scholarships.

Scholarships for Community College Transfer Students

Applicant must:

• be a resident of or attend a community college in northern or central California but may study elsewhere (see map for specific counties);
• have graduated or expect to graduate from community college between 1 Jul 2020 and 30 Jun 2025; and
• plan to attend or began attending a U.S. accredited 4-year college or university for the first time in 2025.

In 2025, we expect to award one or more of these scholarships. In 2024, we received 10 applications for these scholarships.

Scholarships for Medical Students

Applicant must be:

• enrolled or accepted by the interview date in an accredited medical/graduate school in northern or central California;
• pursuing a MD, DO (osteopathic), DNP (nursing practice), or MPA (physician assistant) degree;
• in good academic standing;
• not be completing your degree in Spring 2025; and
• not have received an eQuality graduate student scholarship before.

In 2025, we expect to award one or more scholarships to assist with medical/graduate school expenses. In 2024, we received 10 applications for these scholarships when they were open to students throughout California.

We may ask you to establish your residency by providing a copy of:

• a utility, phone, or cable bill with your name (or parent/guardian's name) and address
• your California driver's license or ID