About Golden 1
Founded in 1933. Built to serve Californians.
With a commitment to uplift our 1+ million members, we go beyond what our financial institution can be. As a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union, our #1 priority is to improve the lives of those who trust us with their money, their assets, and their future.
We’re proud to help California’s future leaders achieve their educational goals and dreams with our renewable Golden 1 Scholarship program.
The Golden 1 Scholarship has two components: Members Scholarship and Dependents of Employees Scholarship.
Eligible Recipients
High school seniors, high school graduates, or current undergraduate students in accredited, nonprofit California colleges and universities who meet the following requirements:
- Plan to attend an accredited nonprofit, two-year community college or four-year college/university in California as a full-time student for the 2026-27 academic year
- Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
- Have a minimum of 24 hours of community service or 24 hours of employment in the past 12 months
- Be a Golden 1 member or a dependent of a Golden 1 employee
Special Notes for dependents of Golden 1 employees:
- Employees and dependents of employees are NOT eligible to apply for the Members Scholarship.
- Employment status and position are considered when a scholarship is initially awarded and upon renewal each year.
- Immediate family members and dependents of Golden 1 Board or Committee members are NOT eligible to apply for either the Members Scholarship or the Dependents of Employees Scholarship. For purposes of this scholarship program, immediate family member includes spouse, registered domestic partner, sibling, child, in-law, or step-relation.
Application Process
Applicants must:
- Complete all the required fields on the application form
- Upload all required documents
- Submit application
Scholarship Amount
- Up to $1,200 annually to full-time students who plan to attend an accredited, nonprofit, two-year community college in California
- Up to $5,000 annually to full-time students who plan to attend an accredited, nonprofit, four-year college or university in California
Scholarship Renewability
The scholarship is renewable, as follows:
- Two-year community college scholarships will be renewable for up to 1 year beyond the initial year depending on the student’s prior college credits and providing all other criteria are met.
- Four-year college/university scholarships will be renewable for up to 3 years beyond the initial year depending on the student’s prior college credits and providing all other criteria are met.
Application Deadline
January 31, 2026, 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time
Golden 1 Scholarship FAQ
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply?
High school seniors,high school graduates and current undergraduate students planning to attend an accredited, nonprofit 2- or 4-year college or university in California as a full-time student for the 2026–27 academic year.
Do I need to be a Golden 1 member to apply?
Yes. You must be a current Golden 1 member before you apply and be the primary account holder. Priority is given to members with more than one year of membership. If you have been a member of Golden 1 for less than a year, but are a dependent of someone who has been a member of Golden 1 for more than a year, you may rely on their membership to avail yourself of the scholarship pool that is set aside for long-term members. Two scholarships are reserved for applicants who have been members for less than one year.
Are Golden 1 employees or their families eligible?
There are two separate programs:
Members Scholarship
Golden 1 employees and their dependents are not eligible.
Dependents of Employees Scholarship
Dependents of employees may apply.
Immediate family/dependents of Golden 1 Board or Committee members are not eligible for either scholarship. “Immediate family” includes spouse, registered domestic partner, sibling, child, in-law, or step-relation.
Academic & Activity Requirements
What GPA is required?
- High school applicants: Unweighted 3.0+
- Current college students: 2.5+ college GPA
Is community service or work experience required?
Yes. You must have at least 24 verifiable hours completed within the past 12 months from:
- Community service, or
- Paid employment
Can extracurricular activities help my application?
Yes. Activities such as student government, clubs, arts, publications, scouting, religious programs, and 4-H are considered.
Do I have to agree to a media release?
Yes. Scholarship recipients must allow Golden 1 to publish their name, photo, and scholarship details.
Scholarship Details
How much is the scholarship award?
- Up to $1,200 per year for students attending a nonprofit 2-year community college in California.
- Up to $5,000 per year for students attending a nonprofit 4-year college/university in California.
Is the scholarship renewable?
- 2-year community college scholarships may be renewed for up to 1 additional year, based on prior credits and continued eligibility.
- 4-year college/university scholarships may be renewed for up to 3 additional years, based on prior credits and continued eligibility.
Can I defer my scholarship?
You may request a one-time deferral for up to one year due to:
- Medical issues
- Military service
- Death of an immediate family member
- Another extreme circumstance, as determined by Golden 1
Application Process
How do I apply?
Applicants must:
- Complete all required fields in the online application below
- Upload their required school transcript
- Submit the application by the deadline
What documents are required?
High school seniors and college freshmen will need to upload an unofficial copy of their high school transcript. College sophomores, juniors, and seniors will need to upload an unofficial copy of their most recent college transcript.
When is the deadline?
January 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Membership & Enrollment Questions
Does length of membership matter?
Yes. Golden 1 gives priority to members with more than one year of membership. If you have been a member of Golden 1 for less than a year, but are a dependent of someone who has been a member of Golden 1 for more than a year, you may rely on their membership to avail yourself of the scholarship pool that is set aside for long-term members. Two scholarships are set aside for applicants with less than one year of membership, who are not dependents of someone who has been a member of Golden 1 for more than a year.
Can part-time students apply?
No. You must be enrolled full-time each academic year you receive the scholarship.
Can I use the scholarship outside California?
No. You must attend a California-based, accredited, nonprofit college or university.