George Lucas Scholarship (USC)

Overview

The George Lucas Scholarship is a merit and need-based award at the USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA), funded by filmmaker and USC alumnus George Lucas and the George Lucas Family Foundation. The foundation has committed $20 million in endowment funds to SCA for student support, split between an initial $10 million gift in 2016 and a second $10 million gift. This is the largest single donation for student support in the school's history. Lucas also donated $175 million to USC in 2006, a portion of which supports general scholarships and infrastructure at SCA.

The George Lucas Family Foundation Endowed Student Support Fund for Diversity provides financial support for African-American and Hispanic students enrolled at SCA at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students supported by this fund are known as George Lucas Scholars or Mellody Hobson Scholars, named after Lucas and his wife. Support is split equally between male and female students. Priority consideration goes to students from communities underrepresented in the entertainment industry who qualify for financial support.

SCA scholarships are awarded through the admissions process. There is no separate scholarship application. All applicants complete the scholarship application as part of their SlideRoom application for admission to SCA. The scholarship application is reviewed by a separate committee and has no impact on admission decisions. USC is need-blind in its admission process: a student's financial need will never influence an admission decision. Domestic students must apply for Financial Aid at USC to be considered for SCA scholarships.

What It Covers

• Award range: $1,000 to $25,000 per year, depending on the specific scholarship, merit, and financial need
• Renewable: Scholarships are generally renewable for the duration of the degree program, subject to maintaining academic standards
• Multiple named scholarships: The George Lucas Family Foundation Endowed Student Support Fund for Diversity is the largest, but SCA administers additional endowed scholarships including the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Fund for Student Support, the Shriram Family Graduate Student Support Fund, the Kelly and Ron Meyer Family Fund for Student Support, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Endowed International Student Support Fund
• Access to USC facilities: All SCA students, including scholarship recipients, have access to the George Lucas Building, soundstages, production equipment, post-production facilities, and the USC alumni network
• Domestic and international students: Both are eligible to apply for SCA scholarships

Eligibility

• Must be admitted to an undergraduate or graduate program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts
• Must complete the scholarship application within the SlideRoom admissions application
• Domestic students must apply for Financial Aid at USC to be considered
• The George Lucas Family Foundation Endowed Student Support Fund for Diversity gives priority consideration to African-American and Hispanic students at both undergraduate and graduate levels
• Support from the Diversity Fund is split equally between male and female students
• Other SCA scholarships have different eligibility criteria: some are merit-based, some are need-based, and some consider a combination of both. Awards are also available based on field of study, career interest, membership in underrepresented groups, or country of origin

How to Apply

There is no separate scholarship application for SCA scholarships. The process works as follows:

1. Apply to an SCA program through USC's graduate or undergraduate admissions process
2. Complete the scholarship section within the SlideRoom application for admission. This section asks for information relevant to scholarship consideration.
3. Domestic students must also apply for Financial Aid at USC through the standard financial aid process (FAFSA and any USC-specific requirements)
4. The scholarship committee reviews all applicants separately from the admissions committee. Scholarship consideration has no impact on admission decisions.
5. Selected students are notified of scholarship awards as part of their admissions offer or in a separate communication from the SCA Office of Student Services

For questions about SCA scholarships, contact the SCA Office of Student Services at studentservices@cinema.usc.edu.

What the George Lucas Scholarship Actually Pays For

USC SCA tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year is $2,624 per unit, with $2,750 in mandatory fees. The total cost of attendance varies by program:

A $25,000 scholarship covers approximately 27 to 31 percent of the total cost of attendance for an MFA student. A $1,000 scholarship covers approximately 1 percent. Most SCA scholarship recipients will need to combine the award with other funding sources: federal loans, private scholarships, graduate assistantships, and personal savings. About 70 percent of USC students receive some form of grant or scholarship.

The George Lucas Family Foundation Diversity Fund is large enough to provide meaningful support. With $20 million in endowment, the fund generates approximately $800,000 to $1,000,000 in annual spendable income (assuming a 4 to 5 percent payout rate), which can support multiple students with substantial awards each year.

Who Should Apply

Filmmakers applying to USC's undergraduate or graduate programs at the School of Cinematic Arts who demonstrate creative talent, academic achievement, and financial need. The George Lucas Family Foundation Diversity Fund is particularly relevant for:

• African-American and Hispanic students at the undergraduate or graduate level
• Students from communities underrepresented in the entertainment industry
• Filmmakers who would otherwise face financial barriers to attending USC

USC SCA accepts a small percentage of applicants each year. The program does not publish exact acceptance rates, but MFA programs at SCA are among the most competitive in the country. Applicants should have a strong creative portfolio, academic record, and clear statement of purpose. The scholarship targets students whose work and background will contribute to diversity in cinematic media.

Program History

George Lucas graduated from USC's film program in 1967. He went on to create Star Wars and Indiana Jones, building one of the most commercially successful careers in film history. His philanthropic relationship with USC spans decades:

• 2006: Lucas donated $175 million to USC, supporting scholarships, faculty, and infrastructure including the George Lucas Building
• 2016: The George Lucas Family Foundation established the Endowed Student Support Fund for Diversity with an initial $10 million endowment, the largest single donation for student support in SCA's history
• 2017: The foundation expanded the Diversity Fund with a second $10 million gift, bringing total diversity support to $20 million

The first George Lucas Scholars and Mellody Hobson Scholars were awarded for the fall 2016 semester. Jonathan Curtiss, a production student and one of the first George Lucas Scholars, stated: "The George Lucas Scholarship really opened the door for me because I wouldn't have been able to attend USC without it."

Common Confusions

There is no separate scholarship application for the George Lucas Scholarship. All SCA scholarships are considered through the SlideRoom admissions application. Students who try to apply for the scholarship after being admitted will miss the consideration window. Complete the scholarship section of the admissions application when you first apply.

The George Lucas Scholarship is not a single award. It is part of a portfolio of SCA scholarships funded by the George Lucas Family Foundation and other donors. Award amounts range from $1,000 to $25,000. The specific award a student receives depends on merit, financial need, and the specific fund criteria. Not every student designated as a "George Lucas Scholar" receives the same amount.

International students can apply. SCA scholarships are available to both domestic and international students. However, domestic students must apply for Financial Aid at USC to be considered. International students should check with the USC Financial Aid Office about equivalent requirements.

The Diversity Fund is not the only SCA scholarship. SCA administers multiple endowed scholarships with different eligibility criteria. Even if you do not qualify for the George Lucas Family Foundation Diversity Fund, you are automatically considered for other SCA scholarships when you complete the scholarship section of the admissions application.

Past Recipients

The George Lucas Family Foundation Endowed Student Support Fund for Diversity was established in fall 2016 with an initial $10 million endowment, expanded with a second $10 million gift in 2017, bringing total diversity support to $20 million. The first George Lucas Scholars and Mellody Hobson Scholars were awarded for the fall 2016 semester. Students supported by the fund are known as George Lucas Scholars or Mellody Hobson Scholars, with support split equally between male and female students and priority for African-American and Hispanic students.

Named first-cohort scholars and SCA alumni who reflect the fund's mission:

• Jonathan Curtiss - One of the first George Lucas Scholars (fall 2016), a production student. He stated: "The George Lucas Scholarship really opened the door for me because I wouldn't have been able to attend USC without it and my acceptance letter would have just been decoration in my room."
• Channing Godfrey Peoples - USC SCA MFA, 2011. While her SCA scholarship predates the 2016 Diversity Fund, she exemplifies the fund's target profile: an African-American filmmaker whose Miss Juneteenth (2020) premiered at Sundance and won the Lone Star Award at SXSW. She is also a DGA Student Film Awards alumna.

• John Singleton - USC SCA Filmic Writing program, 1990. His thesis script Boyz n the Hood became the film that made him the youngest person and first African American nominated for a Best Director Oscar. He founded the African American Cinema Society at SCA and remained a dedicated alumnus until his death in 2019. His career inspired a generation of Black SCA filmmakers, including Rick Famuyiwa.
• Tim Story - USC SCA, 1994. Directed Barbershop, Ride Along, and The Blackening. One of the highest-grossing African-American directors in history.

SCA does not publish a public list of individual George Lucas Scholars by year (scholarship awards are confidential student records), but the school's Spotlight Stories page features current scholars describing how the award enabled their education. One Hobson/Lucas Scholar described the award as allowing them to "exclusively focus on my education and film projects outside of the classroom in a way that I have never been able to," and to pursue unpaid internships with larger companies that lead to industry entry.

What Made Winning Applications Stand Out

SCA scholarships are reviewed by a separate committee from admissions, and the scholarship application is part of the SlideRoom admissions application. The committee evaluates merit, financial need, and fit with specific fund criteria. What tends to advance for the Diversity Fund:

• A creative portfolio that demonstrates a specific voice tied to underrepresented experience. The fund's purpose is to support storytellers whose voices are underrepresented in cinematic media. Portfolios that show work rooted in the applicant's own community, culture, or perspective are stronger than portfolios of generic competence.
• Demonstrated financial need. The Diversity Fund is need-aware. Domestic students must apply for Financial Aid at USC (FAFSA) to be considered. The award is sized to make attendance possible for students who could not otherwise afford SCA tuition.
• Academic achievement. SCA scholarships consider a combination of merit and need. Strong academic records support the application but rarely override the portfolio.
• The scholarship section of the SlideRoom application. There is no separate scholarship application. Students who skip or under-invest in the scholarship section of the admissions application miss consideration. The section asks for information relevant to scholarship fit, and completing it thoroughly is the only way to be considered.

Renewal Requirements

SCA scholarships, including the George Lucas Scholarship, are generally renewable for the duration of the degree program, subject to maintaining academic standards. This is a meaningful difference from the one-time awards in this directory. Specific renewal conditions:

• Renewable for the duration of the degree program. A George Lucas Scholar who maintains satisfactory academic progress can receive the award for multiple years of their undergraduate or graduate program, subject to the specific award's terms.
• Subject to maintaining academic standards. Renewal requires continued satisfactory academic progress as defined by USC and SCA. Students who fail to meet academic standards may lose the scholarship.
• Domestic students must reapply for Financial Aid annually. Domestic students must complete the FAFSA and any USC-specific financial aid requirements each year to maintain scholarship eligibility.
• Award amounts may vary by year. The award range ($1,000 to $25,000) means the specific amount a student receives can vary by year based on need, merit, and available funds. The scholarship is not a fixed multi-year guarantee of the same amount.

The renewable structure makes the George Lucas Scholarship one of the more financially significant awards in this directory for students who qualify, since a $25,000 award renewed across a three-year MFA program can total $75,000 in support.

See Also

For information on USC's film programs, see the USC School of Cinematic Arts directory entry. For guidance on choosing a film school, see Choosing a Film School. To plan your graduate film education costs, use the Production Budget Calculator. For exploring other funding opportunities, browse the full Film Scholarships Directory.