Upakar Foundation Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Upakar Foundation
Congratulations on taking steps to advance your education and career. Upakar is dedicated to helping members of the Indian American community reach their academic and professional goals through financial support.
Award amounts
- For scholars selected beginning in 2025:
- University track: $10,000 total paid over four years ($2,500 per year), or
- Community college track: $2,000 total over two years ($1,000 per year). Community college recipients may later receive a university award of $5,000 over two years ($2,500 per year) upon transfer.
- For scholars selected through 2024:
- University track: $8,000 total paid over four years ($2,000 per year), or
- Community college track: $1,000 total over two years ($500 per year). Community college recipients may later receive a university award of $4,000 over two years ($2,000 per year) upon transfer.
Renewal and enrollment requirements
- Scholarships are renewable each year as long as the recipient maintains the program’s required minimum cumulative GPA.
- Recipients must remain enrolled full-time to continue receiving funds.
Estimate of savings
- For an example showing potential savings in principal and interest payments, click here.
Who is eligible
Applicants must meet all of the following:
- The applicant or at least one parent was born in the Republic of India.
- The applicant is a U.S. citizen or a U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder).
- The applicant plans to begin full-time study at an accredited, not-for-profit institution — either a 4-year university or a 2-year community college — in the FALL of the scholarship year.
- The family’s prior-year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) reported on IRS Form 1040 is less than $125,000.
- The applicant is a current U.S. resident who is a graduating high school senior with a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.6 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Application guidance
The selection process is competitive. Complete every section of the application carefully and accurately. Give particular attention to the essay responses, as they provide the strongest insight into your background, goals, and motivations. Be sure to submit your application before the posted deadline.
Privacy and confidentiality
All application materials are held strictly confidential. Scholar-specific information will not be disclosed outside of the scholarship committee under any circumstances.