The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara has received 3,481 applications for financial assistance during the 2026-27 academic year – an increase of more than 5 percent over last year’s total of 3,299.
The applications are currently under review, and awardees will be announced in April and May.
Last year, the Scholarship Foundation awarded some $7.7 million to 2,125 students throughout Santa Barbara County.
“This year’s application total suggests a surging hunger for post-secondary education among young people in our community, as well as an intensifying search for financial assistance to fund their studies,” said Melinda Cabrera, foundation president/CEO.
“We are proud to support local students pursuing college, and we invite the community to join us in this important work,” Cabrera said.
The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara provides scholarships to Santa Barbara County students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or vocational studies.
For more information, call 805-687-6065 or visit www.sbscholarship.org.
The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara is the nation’s largest community-based provider of college scholarships, having cumulatively awarded in excess of $167 million to some 64,000 county students since its founding in 1962.
The nonprofit Scholarship Foundation also provides free financial aid advising services. For more, visit www.sbscholarship.org.