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The application program will be available again in January. Please return then to view the updated Eligibility and Awards for the upcoming academic year! If you are an applicant who would like to discover more scholarship opportunities you might qualify for, please continue to the Scholarship America Hub and sign up!

Cal Water Scholarship Program
Application status: Closed

California Water Service (Cal Water) has established a scholarship program to assist students residing within its service areas who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice.

The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor, and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.

Eligibility
To be eligible for this scholarship program:

  • Applicants must be a minimum of 16 years of age and a high school senior or high school graduate, have received GED certification, or be a current post-secondary undergraduate student.
  • Applicants must plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.
  • Applicants must not have already received a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.
  • Applicant or applicant’s parents or guardians must live within a Cal Water service area.
  • Applicants must not be the child of a current or former employee of Cal Water, California Water Service Group, any of its subsidiaries, or a member of its Board of Directors.

Non-traditional students who are returning to school or planning to pursue a post-secondary education for the first time are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Award
If selected as a recipient, the student will receive an award ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. Awards are not renewable, but students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Notification
Applicants will be notified in late May. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of Cal Water. Payment is made in one installment in August.

Selection of Recipients
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Work experience
  • A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances
  • An online recommendation

Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. Other than verifying and confirming eligibility, no officer or employee of Cal Water plays a part in the selection. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

As part of your application, you must upload the following:

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
  • Student name
  • School name
  • Grades
  • Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.

NOTE: If you are uploading a high school transcript, you must also upload a copy of your official SAT or ACT test scores if the test scores are not available on your high school transcript.

One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than April 1, 2025 11:59 pm Pacific Time.

Your application is not considered complete unless all required documents are submitted electronically.

Customer service will only be available until 1:00 pm Pacific / 3:00 pm Central Time on March 27, so please plan accordingly. No late applications will be accepted.

Cal Water has partnered with Scholarship America. Selecting the button below will redirect you to the Scholarship America Student Hub, where you can complete your scholarship application.

Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address provided below in the footer as safe senders in your email contact list.