Herb Alpert Scholarships for Emerging Young Artists

Overview

The Herb Alpert Scholarships for Emerging Young Artists are college scholarships awarded annually to 21 students selected from the California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA). The program is funded by the Herb Alpert Foundation, which has provided over $4 million to the initiative since 2008. The scholarships are open to high school-age artists across seven categories: animation, film, creative writing, dance, music, theater, and visual arts.

Each year, three students in each of the seven categories receive awards. One student per category receives a $40,000 college scholarship payable over four years. Two students per category receive one-time awards of $2,500. That means seven $40,000 scholarships and fourteen $2,500 awards are distributed annually, totaling $280,000 in direct scholarship funding each year.

The $40,000 scholarship recipients also receive professional financial aid consulting and coordination. This support is designed to ensure that the scholarship funds offset work and loan burdens rather than replacing other financial aid the student might receive from their chosen college. The scholarship can be used at any accredited institution, not only at CalArts.

What It Covers

• Top award: $40,000 college scholarship ($10,000 per year for four years) in each of seven categories, including film and animation
• Runner-up award: $2,500 one-time payment in each of seven categories
• Financial aid consulting: The seven top recipients receive professional coordination to maximize the scholarship's impact alongside other aid packages
• No restrictions on institution: Funds can be applied at any accredited college or university, including but not limited to CalArts, USC, NYU, UCLA, or community colleges with film programs

Eligibility

To be considered, a student must attend CSSSA, a four-week intensive summer program held on the CalArts campus in Valencia, California. CSSSA is open to California high school students in grades 9 through 12 (or ages 14 to 18 for homeschooled students). Admission to CSSSA itself is competitive, with applicants submitting portfolios, auditions, or writing samples depending on their discipline.

The film and animation departments at CSSSA accept students based on submitted creative work. Film students submit short films, scripts, or visual portfolios. Animation students submit drawings, storyboards, and any completed animation work. CSSSA charges tuition for attendance, but financial aid is available for the program itself through a separate application, with approximately 40% of CSSSA students receiving some form of aid.

There is no separate application for the Herb Alpert scholarship. During the fourth week of the CSSSA summer session, department faculty select the award winners. The selection criteria include artistic talent, character and motivation, likelihood of success in college or a professional training program, and financial need.

How to Apply

1. Apply to CSSSA: Submit an application through the CSSSA website (csssa.ca.gov) during the annual application window, typically opening in late fall with deadlines in February or March. The application requires a portfolio specific to the chosen discipline (film, animation, etc.).
2. Attend CSSSA: If accepted, attend the four-week summer residency program at the CalArts campus.
3. Faculty selection: During the fourth week of the program, faculty in each department evaluate students and select three award recipients per category. No additional application or interview is required for the scholarship itself.

The CSSSA application fee is $70, and the program tuition for 2025 was approximately $4,100 for California residents (with financial aid available). Out-of-state students may also apply, though the program prioritizes California residents and tuition rates differ.

Who Should Apply

High school students in California (or those willing to attend CSSSA) who are serious about pursuing film or animation in college. The scholarship is particularly valuable for students who plan to attend expensive film schools where $40,000 over four years can meaningfully reduce student debt. Students whose creative work shows originality, technical curiosity, and a personal voice are more likely to be selected by faculty.

Film students who have completed short narrative or documentary projects, and animation students with strong drawing skills and character design work, tend to be competitive. The scholarship is not limited to students planning to attend CalArts. Past recipients have used the award at schools across the country.

Historical Context

The Herb Alpert Foundation was established by Herb Alpert, the Grammy-winning musician and recording artist behind Tijuana Brass hits in the 1960s. Alpert and his wife Lani Hall have directed millions toward arts education through the foundation. In 2008, the foundation also endowed the Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts with a $15 million gift, making it the first school of music at a U.S. institution to be named after a performing artist.

The Emerging Young Artists scholarship program began in 2008 in partnership with CSSSA, which was itself established in 1987 as a state-funded summer arts program. CSSSA has operated on the CalArts campus since its founding, though it is a separate program run through the California state government, not through CalArts directly.

What the Scholarship Does Not Cover

The $40,000 award is paid as $10,000 per year over four years and is designated for college expenses. It does not cover CSSSA tuition, living expenses during college, equipment purchases, or film production costs during college. Students attending film schools with annual costs exceeding $60,000 (such as CalArts at $62,954 tuition for 2026-27, or USC at comparable rates) will still need substantial additional funding.

The $2,500 runner-up award is a one-time payment with no multi-year commitment. Both awards are taxable income in the year received.

Comparison With Similar Scholarships

The Herb Alpert scholarship stands out for its relatively large award size and the fact that no separate application is required beyond CSSSA attendance. However, the pool is limited to CSSSA participants, which restricts access to students who can attend the summer program in Valencia, California.

See Also

For information on CalArts degree programs, see the CalArts School of Film/Video directory entry. To estimate production costs for student films, use the Production Budget Calculator. For understanding frame rates relevant to animation work, see the Frame Rate Calculator.