Get our best scholarship practices, insights & tips delivered to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Sunny days and 300 colleges and universities make California a great place to be a student. But California is an expensive place to live, and college’s cost doesn’t make it any easier. The California Scholarship Federation helps ease some of the financial burdens. They award high-achieving students with college scholarships.

What Is the California Scholarship Federation?

The California Scholarship Federation is a statewide nonprofit organization that recognizes students for academic achievement. The federation consists of 1500 chapters across middle schools and high schools in California. Students can become members based on their academic achievements. Members of the organization are eligible for various benefits, including college scholarships.

Who Qualifies for the California Scholarship Federation?

Membership in the California Scholarship Federation is through individual school chapters. A staff advisor leads every chapter. If your school doesn’t have a chapter, you can talk to your school principal about starting one.

At the beginning of every semester, the foundation holds a membership drive. During this time, you can apply to become a member of the CSF chapter at your school. There is a three-week enrollment period during which you can submit an application. You must also submit a copy of your transcript or report card, along with the membership fee. The application is based on your report card grades from the previous semester.

The fastest path to earning scholarships

Simplify and focus your application process with the one-stop platform for vetted scholarships.

Check for scholarships

Membership is for one semester only, so you must apply every semester. Sophomore students who meet the eligibility requirements may apply in January. Junior and senior students may apply in August and January. 


Eligibility for Csf Membership

To be eligible to apply for CSF membership, you must have a minimum 3.5 GPA. You also must take core classes as signified by the federation. You may apply after completing the first semester of your sophomore year.

To become a member of CSF, you must earn 10 CSF points. You receive points based on your grades from the previous semester. The points are based on the following scale:

A = 3 CSF points 

B = 1 CSF point 

C = 0 CSF points

If you receive a D or F in a course, you won’t qualify for membership. Most of the membership points come from university-accepted coursework. The CSF lists what courses you may take to receive points. Courses such as P.E. or office aide may not count towards CSF points.

If you receive an A or a B in an AP, IB, or Honors course, you can receive an extra point. You can receive a maximum of 2 such points per semester.

Does the California Scholarship Federation Award Scholarships?

If you receive a lifetime membership in the CSF, you can win a scholarship for college. Every year, fifty students receive $2,000 and five of those students receive an extra $3,000. The award is a huge honor for students in California.

Is the California Scholarship Federation an Award?

The California Scholarship Federation itself is not an award. It is an honor society for students who excel academically. But, students can become lifetime members, or “seal bearers” of the federation. Seal bearers are students who show leadership and commitment to their community. 

Seal bearers receive several honors. This includes the CSF Gold Seal on diplomas and transcripts, the official CSF pin, and a Life Member Certificate. They also have the honor of wearing a cowl at graduation. Seal bearers are also eligible to win scholarships for college. 

How Many Semesters Do You Need?

To become a seal bearer, you must earn membership during four of the last six semesters of high school. The semesters can be from the second semester of sophomore year through the second semester of senior year. One semester must be from senior year. You need to submit an application, essay, letters of recommendation, and interview.

Is the California Scholarship Federation Good For College?

Being a member of the California Scholarship Federation is a huge honor. It can help you win money for college. It can also help boost your transcript and make you a more attractive candidate for college. It can also help give a push to your scholarship applications and essays. 

Final Thoughts

Being a member of the CSF is the highest academic honor for students in California. Membership in the CSF is a show of your hard work and academic achievements. Through the CSF, you might win scholarship money for college.