What does the LOC Scholarship cover?

The LOC Scholarship is designed to cover the majority of your educational expenses while you are in college. The award generally includes full tuition, room and board, and required fees. Additional support is available through the following:

● A pre-college expenses stipend to help with costs during your senior year of high school

● An ongoing college expenses stipend paid across your freshman through senior years

● A professional growth fund available across three summers for internships, career exploration, and enrichment experiences

● A laptop, distributed at Scholars Weekend before your freshman year

You are not required to apply for financial aid. LOC Scholars will pay the difference between the bill from your school and any grants, scholarships, or aid you receive, even if the amount of other aid is zero. However, if you choose not to apply for financial aid, you may not be eligible for need-based support from your college or other organizations, including reduced-cost programs and other campus-based resources that are only available to financial aid recipients. We encourage you to weigh this carefully.

We select scholars during junior year, before the college application cycle begins, so they have the freedom to apply early decision where it strengthens their chances of attending their best-fit school. It also means that when the time comes to choose where to apply and where to enroll, scholars can make those decisions based entirely on fit, not finances.

Yes. The LOC Scholarship may be used at any accredited four-year college or university in the United States where you gain admittance. There is no restriction on school or major.

No. You must apply to and be admitted by the college or university you plan to attend. The LOC Scholarship covers your costs once you are admitted.

LOC Scholars awards scholarships to 3-4 of our strongest candidates each year. The program is highly selective.

LOC Scholars is a program of Arete Rising, an initiative of the Leonetti/O’Connell Family Foundation.

To be eligible, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• You are currently a junior (11th grade) at a LOC Scholars partner school, planning to enroll in college in fall 2028
• Your unweighted GPA is 3.75 or above on a 4.0 scale
• Your family income falls within the middle-income range ($90,000 to $360,000 for the 2026-2027 cycle; adjusted annually)
• You plan to enroll full-time at a four-year college or university after high school
• You are a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident

A list of current partner schools is available in the LOC section of the Areté Partners page. If your school is not on the list, it is not currently eligible for the 2026-2027 cycle.

Not for the current cycle. Eligibility requires attendance at a LOC Scholars partner school. If you would like to encourage your school to become a partner, you can share the school administrator section of this FAQ with your college counselor or principal.

LOC Scholars is designed for students in the “missing middle” whose families who may not qualify for need-based financial aid but for whom the full cost of a selective college is still a significant burden. We define middle income as approximately 50% to 200% of the mean married-couple family income for Los Angeles County, based on the latest US Census Bureau data.

For the 2026-2027 cycle, the eligible income range is $90,000 to $360,000. This range is recalculated each year using the American Community Survey and may shift slightly from cycle to cycle.

If you are unsure whether your family qualifies, email locscholars@areterising.org.

No. The 3.75 unweighted GPA is a minimum eligibility requirement and cannot be waived. If your GPA is below 3.75, you are not eligible for the current cycle.

No. LOC Scholars selects students during their junior year only. If you are currently a junior, this is your cycle.

The application process has four stages:

● Registration: December 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027

● Round 1 Application: January 1 – February 1, 2027

● Semi-finalist interviews: February 27 – March 20, 2027 (semi-finalists contacted February 26)

● Round 2 (finalists only): April 12 – May 7, 2027

● LOC Scholars announced: June 1, 2027

The application has two rounds, preceded by a registration screener:

Registration (December 1 – January 15): Confirm basic eligibility including household financial information and GPA. Provide contact details for your teacher and character reference.

Round 1 (January 1 – February 1): A full academic profile including your high school transcript, extracurricular and leadership experience, and three essay questions. Your teacher and character reference also submit their recommendations during this round, and your college counselor submits your academic transcript.

Round 2 (finalists only, April 12 – May 7): A short video submission and standardized test scores (if available).

Your character reference should be someone who knows you well outside of an academic setting, such as a coach, mentor, employer, faith leader, or community organization leader. This person should be able to speak specifically to your character, your values, and how you show up for others. References from family members are not accepted.

If you have standardized test scores, you are required to submit them as part of Round 2 (finalists only). If you have not yet taken standardized tests or do not have scores available, that will not count against you. We will simply weigh your other materials more heavily.

Yes. You can submit your Round 1 application as soon as it is complete. Your teacher and character reference submit their recommendations separately through their own portal. We encourage you to ask your recommenders early and give them a heads up when you register so they have plenty of time.

The Round 1 application closes on February 1, 2027 and we are unable to accept late submissions. Be sure to submit your application and confirm that both recommendations have been submitted before the deadline.

Semi-finalists will be contacted on February 26, 2027 to schedule their interview.

Semi-finalists are invited to complete a virtual interview with one or more members of our selection committee. Interviews are held between February 27 and March 20, 2027. The interview is a conversation, not a test. Come prepared to speak to your experiences, your thinking, and why LOC Scholars is the right fit for you.

Finalists are announced on April 12, 2027. As a finalist, you will be invited to submit a short video (under 3 minutes) and your standardized test scores (if available) by May 7, 2027. The video prompt will be shared by email in April. This is your final opportunity to show us who you are beyond the written application.

The interview is a conversation, not a test. It is your opportunity to bring your application to life and let us see how you think, what excites you, and who you are beyond the page. Come prepared to speak to your experiences and your values. Interviews are held virtually.

All finalists will be notified of their selection status by June 1, 2027.

Yes. All applicants will be notified of their status after the review process is complete.

The LOC Scholarship reflects an investment in your long-term potential, not a gift without expectation. Scholars are expected to:

● Maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA each term in college

● Maintain full-time, continuous enrollment and pursue on-time graduation in four years

● Respond to communications from LOC Scholars staff within 48 hours

● Submit all required documents, bills, and reports on time through the LOC Scholars portal

● Attend Scholars’ Weekend each year

● Limit work to no more than 10 hours per week if working while enrolled (and stop working entirely if GPA falls below 3.5)

● Uphold LOC Scholars values: excellence, persistence, growth, discipline, and service

● Contribute to the LOC Scholars community by supporting fellow scholars, mentoring younger cohorts, and remaining engaged over time

Scholars’ Weekend is a mandatory annual program event and a defining part of the LOC Scholars experience. It is designed to equip scholars with tools for academic and personal success, foster meaningful connections, and strengthen the LOC Scholars community. For your first Scholars’ Weekend, at least one parent or guardian must attend with you (up to two may join). After that, scholars participate independently.

The scholarship is designed to cover the majority of your academic and living expenses so you can focus on your education. In general, scholars should not need to work while enrolled. If you choose to work, you may do so for up to 10 hours per week, as long as you are maintaining a minimum 3.5 GPA. If your GPA falls below 3.5, you must stop working until your GPA is restored. We have found that when students work more than 10 hours per week, grades often begin to decline and scholars may struggle to meet the academic standards required to remain in good standing.

You are not required to apply for financial aid. LOC Scholars will pay the difference between the bill from your school and any grants, scholarships, or aid you receive, even if the amount of other aid is zero. However, if you choose not to apply for financial aid, you may not be eligible for need-based support from your college or other organizations, including reduced-cost programs and other campus-based resources that are only available to financial aid recipients. We encourage you to weigh this carefully.

Yes. Scholars are encouraged to study abroad when the experience supports their education and does not delay graduation. If you study abroad during the academic year for credit, LOC Scholars will pay your study abroad bill the same way we would if you were enrolled at your home institution.

If your GPA falls below 3.5, you will be required to meet with program staff to develop an Academic Action Plan (AAP). Your AAP will be tailored to your individual circumstances and will outline specific goals, action steps, and support resources to help you get back on track. You are expected to follow through on all components of your AAP. If you do not meet your AAP goals by the mid-term check-in, or fail to meet all goals by the end of the term, program standing procedures will apply. If you do not follow through on your AAP after two terms, you will be dismissed from the program. If you are dismissed from college for failing to maintain your school’s minimum GPA, or for any other reason, you will also be permanently dismissed from LOC Scholars.

All majors at accredited four-year colleges and universities are eligible. There is no restriction on field of study.

If a significant circumstance makes it necessary to leave college temporarily, contact the LOC Scholars team immediately. Leave requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. If approved, scholarship payments will be paused during your leave and resume when you return to your studies at the agreed-upon date, provided you do so within the four-year window during which the scholarship is active. In the vast majority of cases, LOC Scholars will not extend the scholarship beyond the four-year window. Circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis and only in rare circumstances will funding extend beyond four years to a maximum of five years.

LOC Scholars is a comprehensive, full-ride college scholarship for high-achieving students from middle-income families. It covers the full cost of four years of undergraduate study, including tuition, room and board, and required fees, along with financial support for living expenses, professional development, and more. Scholars also receive ongoing advising and become part of a close-knit community of high-achieving peers.

LOC Scholars is designed for students in the “missing middle” — families who may not qualify for need-based financial aid but for whom the full cost of a selective college is still a significant burden. We select scholars during their junior year of high school so they have the financial freedom to apply early decision where it strengthens their chances of attending their best-fit school, and so that when the time comes to choose where to apply and where to enroll, they can make those decisions based entirely on fit, not finances.

LOC Scholars is a program of Arete Rising, an initiative of the Leonetti/O’Connell Family Foundation.

To be eligible, a student must meet all of the following criteria:

● Currently a junior (11th grade) at a LOC Scholars partner school, planning to enroll in college in fall 2028

● Unweighted GPA of 3.75 or above on a 4.0 scale

● Family income within the middle-income range ($90,000 to $360,000 for the 2026-2027 cycle; adjusted annually)

● Planning to enroll full-time at a four-year college or university after high school

● U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident

We look for students who demonstrate strength across five areas: excellence, persistence, growth, discipline, and service. We are looking for students who set high standards for themselves, sustain effort over time, pursue their own interests with intention, show up consistently, and contribute to their communities. A strong LOC Scholars candidate is not necessarily the student with the highest GPA. It is the student who is doing the most with what they have and who has the character to thrive in college and beyond.

Very little, by design. We are asking you to share information about LOC Scholars with your junior class and encourage any students who believe they qualify to apply directly. There is no nomination quota, no administrative burden, and no vetting required on your end. The program handles all student screening and selection.

We will provide you with materials to share directly with your junior class, including a student-facing one-pager and a link to the LOC Scholars program page and FAQ. You can share these through whatever channels work best at your school: email, your college counseling newsletter, a school assembly, or a poster in the college counseling office. We are happy to provide any additional support you need.

No. Your role is simply to make students aware of the opportunity. Students apply on their own initiative and go through our selection process independently.

Students go through a multi-step selection process entirely managed by LOC Scholars. You do not need to be involved unless a student asks for your support, for example in completing a teacher recommendation or submitting an academic transcript, which are part of the application.

Complete the LOC Scholars school opt-in form here. The form takes approximately 10 minutes and asks for basic information about your school, a designated point of contact, your school profile, and confirmation of your intent to share the program with your junior class. Completing the form is the first step in the partnership process. Once we receive and review your completed form, we will reach out to confirm whether your school has been selected as a partner. Only schools that have been confirmed by LOC Scholars are eligible to refer students.

The opt-in form must be submitted by October 15, 2026. We will review all forms received by that date and reach out to confirm partnership status. Schools that submit after October 15, 2026 will not be eligible for the 2026-2027 application cycle but may be considered for future cycles.

The form asks for:

● School name and type

● Designated point of contact: name, title, email, and phone

● Estimated number of qualifying juniors at your school

● Your school profile (upload)

● College placement or matriculation data for the past two years (upload or describe)

● Confirmation of your intent to share the program with your junior class

No. There is no cost to partner schools.

Yes. All schools, including those who have participated in prior cycles, are asked to complete the opt-in form for the 2026-2027 cycle. To ensure our records are current and that we have the right point of contact for your school. We will review all submissions and confirm partnership status with each school directly.

Registration opens December 1, 2026. Application Round 1 opens January 1, 2027 and closes February 1, 2027. Semi-finalists are contacted February 26, 2027 to schedule interviews held February 27 – March 20. Finalists are announced April 12, 2027, at which point Application Round 2 opens and closes May 7, 2027.

● October 15, 2026: Opt-in form deadline for partner schools

● December 1, 2026: Student registration opens

● January 1, 2027: Application Round 1 opens

● January 15, 2027: Registration closes

● February 1, 2027: Application Round 1 closes

● February 26, 2027: Semi-finalists contacted to schedule interviews

● February 27 – March 20, 2027: Semi-finalist interviews

● April 12, 2027: Finalists announced; Application Round 2 opens

● May 7, 2027: Application Round 2 closes

● June 1, 2027: LOC Scholars announced

The application has four stages:

Registration (December 1 – January 15) confirms basic eligibility including financial information and GPA, and collects teacher and character reference contacts.

Round 1 (January 1 – February 1) includes a full academic profile, extracurricular and leadership experience, and three essay questions, along with teacher and character reference recommendations.

Semi-finalists complete a virtual interview in late February through March.

Finalists (announced April 12) submit a short video and standardized test scores by May 7.

Yes, as part of the application students are asked to submit a teacher recommendation. This is arranged directly between the student and their teacher. Your school is not responsible for coordinating this.

Point students to the student section of the LOC Scholars FAQ and the application information page. For questions that are not answered there, students can email locscholars@areterising.org.