What African American Scholarships Can Students Apply For?
There are many African American scholarships to apply for. Some notable organizations that offer black scholarships are Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Jackie Robinson Foundation, NAACP, and UNCF.
In the past decade, the number of African American students has gone up by 14%. Studies by the NCES also show that out of 16.3 million undergrads, about 2.2 million are Black who are pursuing higher education.
Still, Black students are less likely to graduate ‘on time’. About 4 out of 10 African American students who seek a bachelor’s degree do so in 6 years.
One of the popular sources is the United Negro College Fund. Each year, UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarship dollars every year.
The Congressional Black Caucus Fund is another organization that offers African American scholarships. CBCF awards more than 300 scholarship each year. These awards tend to go to eligible students with academic achievement and community involvement.
To apply, most scholarships for African American students will ask you to fill out a form. In addition, they will ask about your academic achievements, transcripts, letters of reference and an essay.
The Ron Brown Scholar Program advances higher education for community minded and intellectually gifted African Americans. Eligible students receive awards four year $40,000 scholarships or $10,000 each year.
To be eligible, you must be a high school senior and United States citizen. Eligible applicants must show academic excellence, community service activities, and financial need. All applications will be reviewed and semifinalists will be invited to a weekend event in Washington D.C where finalists will be chosen based on interviews, event participation and application.
African American scholarships are a key source of financial aid. For many African American students, a scholarship fills the financial gap to graduate with a college degree.
10 Scholarships for African Americans in 2024
Here are 10 awards for African Americans you should apply for now.
UNCF STEM Scholarship
Ron Brown Scholar Program
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
NACME Collegiate Scholarship
ABA Diversity Scholarship
NACME Collegiate Scholarship
AABE William Grant Pinkard Scholarship
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Buckfire & Buckfire Medical School Diversity Scholarship
HBCU Connect Minority Student Scholarship
What HBCU Colleges Offer Scholarships to African American Students?
There are about 101 HBCUs located in 19 states, and many offer HBCU scholarships. HBCU is short for historically black colleges and universities. Some HBCU scholarships for incoming college freshmen are from Howard University and Spelman College.
Howard University is a private HBCU located in Washington, DC. It serves 6,166 undergrads and costs $39,792 (net) per year.
First year students may be eligible for five merit awards. To qualify, you must meet standards for GPA, SAT / ACT scores and submit a FAFSA. When you’re admitted into the university, the school will notify you if you qualify for their merit scholarships.
Spelman College is a private, women only HBCU. Located in Atlanta, GA it serves 2,166 undergrads and costs $40,840 (net) per year. Scholarships at Spelman are competitive and limited to first year students. To qualify, you must have a GPA of at least 3.8 (weighted).
Eligible applicants also need scores of 1330 SAT or 31 ACT. A record of leadership and community service will help you qualify for one of their scholarships.
Eligible Spelman students may win the Dean’s Scholarship. It covers tuition only for up to four years. Also, the Flanigan Scholarship is awarded based on need.
These schools provide a supportive community and provide the same quality level of education for Black students. Many historically black colleges and universities offer rigorous degree programs in STEM and business. They are also given public funding or endowments for resources to support and prepare Black students for success.
Are There STEM Scholarships for Black Students?
If you are a college student majoring in STEM, there are African American scholarship funds to help you pay for a STEM degree.
STEM stands for four different types of fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Careers in STEM include medicine, nursing, computer science, engineers, and IT. African Americans are also still underrepresented in the STEM workforce.
One of the providers of STEM scholarships for minority students is the NACME. NACME is the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering.
Each year, they partner with colleges to offer NACME Collegiate Scholarships. These awards range from $1,000 to $4,000. The funds are for high school students applying to an Engineering or Comp. Science program or current college students.
If you’re enrolled in, or plan to attend one of these partner schools, you may qualify. Eligible students must be a US citizen or permanent resident with at least a 3.0 GPA.
The United Negro College Fund in collaboration with Intel will award a $5,000 STEM scholarship. Eligible African American applicants must be a college junior, senior or grad student.
Eligible students must be majoring in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering with a 3.20 GPA or higher. To apply, you must submit a letter of recommendation, transcripts, resume, and an essay.
Can African American Women Students Win a Scholarship?
There are many scholarships for African American women. These awards promote more equality and encourage women to attend college. African American women have a strong presence in colleges and HBCUs. In fact, from 1976 to 2018, the number of female students at HBCUs went up to 62%.
African American women may apply for the Davis Scholarship for Women in STEM. Willma H Davis partners with UNCF and awards two eligible students up to $5,000 each.
To qualify, you must be an eligible female full time at an UNCF partner school. You must also major in STEM, have a 3.0 GPA and meet citizenship rules. When you apply, you must send transcripts, references, an essay and have unmet financial need.
Many scholarships for Black women typically encourage females to enter professions in which Black women have been historically underrepresented. Black scholarships specifically for women may help provide financial assistance to those who need it the most.
Why You Should Apply for an African American Scholarship?
College scholarships for Black students can make your college education more affordable. You may use the funds to pay for tuition, fees, books and other expenses.
In comparison, if you take out student loans, they will accrue interest. You will need to pay back the loans after you graduate. That’s why scholarship funds provide financial support to those who need financial assistance for their college education.
If you are a first generation or continuing generation student, a scholarship may be useful. A study by the US Department of Education found that 14% of all first generation students are African American. African Americans also make up 11% of continuing generation students.
What are Some Tips on Winning Black Scholarships?
As you search for scholarship opportunities, you may find some that match your goals and personal experiences. Keep an ongoing list and while you do, these tips may boost your odds at winning black scholarships.
Check if you are eligible. When you look for awards, make sure you meet the criteria first. You can focus on the ones you qualify for by their due dates.
Create a list. Keep track of all the awards you are eligible for in a document or calendar. Make sure to add due dates so you can submit your application on time.
Outline to do items. Along with the name of the scholarship, list out what it asks for. Common items are an essay, letters of recommendation, transcripts and test scores.
Follow application and essay instructions. Judges may discard applications that ignore instructions. That goes for the essay too, so make sure you understand the question and stick to the word count.
Save a copy of your submission. Many awards use online forms. But it is a good practice to make a copy of your submissions in the event it gets lost. You’ll have a record and material you may be able to repurpose for another award program.
Be on time. Don’t wait until the last minute! Give yourself enough time to complete your application and essay before the deadline. When you submit scholarships early, you will free up your time to apply for more scholarships!
List of 2024 African American Scholarships
We have awards worth . Check out our list of African American scholarships below.
The Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Graduate Scholarship were developed by the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee.
The goal of the enhancement programs is to increase the pool of and opportunities for qualified minority and female candidates in intercollegiate athletics through graduate scholarships.
The NCAA awards $10,000 to 13 ethnic minorities and 13 female college graduates who will be entering their initial year of graduate studies. The applicant must be seeking admission or have been accepted into a sports administration or program that will help the applicant obtain a career in intercollegiate athletics, such as athletics administrator, coach, athletic trainer or a career that provides a direct service to intercollegiate athletics.
This scholarship is available for U.S. students who are members of an ethnic minority group. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and acceptance or enrollment in an American Art Therapy Association (AATA) approved art therapy program.
We recognize the value and advantages of diverse ideas within our communities. We are committed to providing a platform to support the next generation of leaders and champions in our industry, and we are focused on growing diversity within the science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) fields.
The Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship will contribute to the creation of a critical mass of talented students that will fully represent our industry—it will provide an environment in which all can thrive academically and professionally. Through this scholarship, Stantec will award $200,000 annually. We believe everyone has a right to education, and we are committed to providing people in historically underrepresented and Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) groups with financial aid.
Here at Stantec, we value an inclusive and diverse workplace culture where we seek a broad range of perspectives and contributions to our industry—and the communities where we live and work.
The number of scholarships awarded will be based on the specific needs articulated by applicants, and the award values will be a variable range between $1,500 and $10,000. Additionally, there will be 10 paid internships (locations to be confirmed annually) available to applicants.
The Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship is part of a broader commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in our organization. We know that we must increase our focus on building the future talent pipeline and find more ways to support underrepresented populations in our industry. This scholarship program is just one example of our commitment to break through barriers to have an impact.
This award is available for minority students who are currently attending FSU or USF. Applicants must be enrolled as a graduate student in a program of library science.
This competition is open to African-American and Hispanic students who play violin, viola, cello or double bass. Applicants must be 26 years of age or younger at the time of the competition.
Graduating high school seniors who are minorities or economically disadvantage are eligible for this award. Students must rank in the top 25% of their graduating class and have an ACT/SAT of 25/1150 or higher.
Graduating high school seniors who are minorities or economically disadvantage are eligible for this award. Students must rank in the top 25% of their graduating class and have an ACT/SAT of 25/1150 or higher.
This scholarship is available for current high school seniors and undergraduate students who are applying to admission at Clemson University in South Carolina. To be considered for a Diversity Scholarship, applicants must add to the ethnic, cultural, geographic, or intellectual diversity of the campus.
To be considered for this scholarship, the student must have a demonstrated commitment to the promotion of diversity and inclusion. They must also meet one or more of the following criteria:
Be from a historically underrepresented group;
Be from a low socio-economic background; or
Be a first-generation college student (i.e., neither of your parent(s)/guardian(s) has a bachelor’s degree.
The student’s academic performance and their record of school and community service will also be considered.
Students will be selected by a committee established by the Office of Multicultural Services.
The Dr. Charles L. Cooke Scholarship is available for first-time students at the Southern California University of Health Sciences. Applicants must be African American and must have a grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
