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.
| 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. |
$ 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
$8,851: Annual registration fee charged to California residents
$1,753: 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
