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Welcome to the 12th Grade Oakland Promise Scholarship Application!

Oakland Promise will be awarding 1,600 scholarships this year to eligible Oakland students attending Oakland public schools, including both district and charter schools.  We offer two types of scholarships. As you begin applying for the General Scholarship, the application will indicate whether you meet the qualifications to apply for our Great Expectations Scholarship. Details about each scholarship are provided below.

OAKLAND PROMISE GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP
Eligibility Requirements

• Must graduate during the 2026-27 school year from an Oakland district or charter high school
• Have earned a 2.0 unweighted GPA as of your Spring 11th grade unofficial transcript
• Demonstrate a financial need, which can include,
  • Qualifying for free/reduced lunch
  • Being unhoused
  • Being involved in the foster care system
  • From completing your FAFSA/CADAA, having an SAI of 25,000 or less
• Plan to attend a 4-year, 2-year, or Career Technical Education program full time 

How to apply

• Complete the 2027 OP General Scholarship Application
• Upload your CA Dream Act/FAFSA submission summary
• Upload your unofficial transcript which includes your cumulative 11th grade UNWEIGHTED GPA

Award Amounts

• All OP general scholarship recipients will receive $1,000 per year
  • $2,000 for attending a 2-year or CTE program directly after high school
  • $4,000 for attending a 4-year program directly after high school

OAKLAND PROMISE GREAT EXPECTATIONS SCHOLARSHIPS
Eligibility Requirements

• Must graduate during the 2026-27 school year from an Oakland district or charter high school
• Have earned a 3.50 unweighted GPA as of your Spring 11th grade unofficial transcript
• Demonstrate a financial need, which can include,
  • Qualifying for free/reduced lunch
  • Being unhoused
  • Being involved in the foster care system
  • From completing your FAFSA/CADAA, having an SAI of 25,000 or less
• Apply to a minimum of three 4-year colleges
• Plan to attend a 4-year college directly after high school

How to apply

• Complete the 2027 OP General Scholarship Application
• Upload your CA Dream Act/FAFSA submission summary
• Upload your unofficial transcript which includes your cumulative 11th grade UNWEIGHTED GPA
• Complete the 2027 GREAT EXPECTATIONS scholarship application which includes three, 250-350 word essays
• 1 Letter of Recommendation: You must provide the contact information for your recommender who will then receive an invite
• Select students will be invited to interview between March 28th - April 2nd 2026. 

Award Amounts

• Awarded students will receive between $8,000-$16,000, Split over four years

IMPORTANT DATES 

• November 9, 2026 - Online Application portal opens

• February 26, 2027 - Great Expectations Scholarship: Recommender information must be submitted

• March 5, 2027 - Great Expectations Scholarship application closes @ 11:59 PM 

• March 12, 2027 - General Scholarship application closes @ 11:59 PM

• March 29, 2027 - April 2,2027 - Great Expectations Scholarship: Interviews will be held during this week

• April 8, 2027 - All scholarship decisions will be delivered via Email

• April 28, 2027 - All awardees must set up their OP Scholar portal and accept their scholarship

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] and a college access team member will reach out to assist you.