History

Since 1936, thousands of UCLA students, loyal alumni, dedicated donors and enthusiastic volunteers have come together to create a program the personal impact of which exceeds its substantial monetary value.

  • A Video: Alumni Scholarships, A Continuing Legacy
    By graduated Alumni Scholar and volunteer, Jonathan Huer ’03
    Watch Video »

A Brief Timeline

1936 UCLA Alumni Association awards two $150 scholarships.
1945 The number of high schools represented by UCLA scholarship recipients jumps from 2 to 29.
1961 The Association recognizes 139 students with scholarships totaling $32,000.
1973 The first Dr. Ralph J. Bunche Freshman Scholarship is awarded.
1976 The Alumni Scholars Club is founded.
1980 Distinguished Scholar Awards (now Distinguished Senior Awards) are established for current UCLA students.
1981 The first Community College Transfer Scholarships, $1,000 each, are awarded to six students.
1994 The Lew and Edie Wasserman Grant Program is established to provide additional need-based funding.
1995 Arts Scholarships are established to help the Schools of Arts and Architecture and Theater, Film and Television recruit students.
2001 Freshmen Scholarships grow from one- to four-year awards; transfer scholarships are increased from one to two years.
2003 Annual Alumni Scholarship Awards exceed $1million.
2006 UCLA celebrates the 70th anniversary of Alumni Scholarships.
2008 Alumni scholars create “Dollars for Scholars” and raised $500 in support of alumni scholarships.
2010 The top alumni scholarship award increased from $15,000 to $17,500.
2011 Alumni scholars raised over $5,000 through “Dollars for Scholars.”
2012 The top alumni scholarship award increased from $17,500 to $20,000.
   

Then and Now

1936

$  27: Annual incidental fee charged to California residents
$  85: Monthly living expenses per person (clothing, food, fuel, housing)
$150: Amount of original scholarship, a one-time award worth $2,181.82 in 2006 dollars

2012

$12,685: Annual registration fee charged to California residents
$1,874: Monthly living expenses per person (clothing, food, fuel, housing)
$4,000: Amount of typical scholarship today paid over four years, worth $275 in 1936 dollars

Copyright © 2012 UCLA Alumni