Getting an education can open doors and allow students to follow their dreams. Unfortunately, the cost of tuition makes getting a degree unattainable for many. One way to cover expenses, without dealing with student loan debt, is to qualify for financial awards. We’ve put together this list of excellent scholarships for Black students to make the search a little easier. Be sure to also check out resources such as Scholarships.com and Scholarships360 too!
Top Scholarships for Black Students
These scholarships help students reach their goals and follow their dreams.
ABA Diversity Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Eligibility: Students who demonstrate scholastic ability, leadership, character, diversity, and the potential to be future leaders in the transportation, travel, and tourism industry.
- Application Deadline: Varies
ACHE Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Eligibility: Minority students in health-care management graduate programs.
- Application Deadline: March 31
Augustana University Diversity Scholarships
- Amount: $4,000
- Eligibility: Full-time domestic students of color are awarded based on their application for admission.
- Application Deadline: Varies
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
- Amount: $5,000
- Eligibility: Applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during a study abroad program.
- Application Deadline: March 9
Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Education Scholarship
- Amount: $20,000
- Eligibility: Students that demonstrate leadership ability through exemplary community service and academic talent.
- Application Deadline: April 30
The Jackie Robinson Foundation
Ron Brown Scholar Program
- Amount: $40,000
- Eligibility: Applicants must excel academically, exhibit exceptional leadership potential, participate in community service activities, and demonstrate financial need.
- Application Deadline: January 9
The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship
- Amount: $12,000
- Eligibility: Applicants must demonstrate financial need and have a combined family income of $65,000 or less, as well as a record of academic achievement and a commitment to public service.
- Application Deadline: April 1
STEM Scholarships for Black Students
These financial awards provide support to Black students who are pursuing degrees and/or careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
ACS Scholars Program
- Amount: $5,000
- Eligibility: Minority students who want to enter the fields of chemistry or chemistry-related fields.
- Application Deadline: March 1
Actuarial Diversity Scholarship
- Amount: $4,000
- Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students pursuing a degree that may lead to a career in the actuarial profession.
- Application Deadline: June 1
Advocates for African Americans Carolinas Scholarship
- Amount: $2,000
- Eligibility: Applicants must plan to major in engineering, computer science, the sciences, accounting, finance or business administration.
- Application Deadline: March 4
American Association of Blacks in Energy Scholarship
AMS Minority Scholarships
- Amount: $6,000
- Eligibility: Students must plan to pursue careers in the atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences.
- Application Deadline: February 3
Blacks at Microsoft Scholarship
- Amount: $20,000
- Eligibility: Applicants must be high school seniors of African descent with a minimum 3.3 GPA, financial need, and plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in technology.
- Application Deadline: March 15
Brown and Caldwell Minority Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Eligibility: Students who identify as minorities and are interested in pursuing a career in an environmental profession.
- Application Deadline: April 15
Charles Shelton Veterinarian Medicine/Technology Scholarship
- Amount: $2,000
- Eligibility: African American students pursuing a degree in veterinarian medicine or veterinarian technology.
- Application Deadline: April 15
EPP Undergraduate Scholarship Program
- Amount: $45,000
- Eligibility: Undergraduate study majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines related to NOAA’s programs and mission.
- Application Deadline: January 31
NACME Scholars (Block Grant) Program
- Amount: $16,000
- Eligibility: Minorities pursuing degrees at schools of engineering.
- Application Deadline: Varies
Scholarships for the Arts
These scholarships are ideal for students who are pursuing degrees in the arts, whether it’s media, mental health counseling, or archaeology.
American Library Association Spectrum Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Eligibility: Students must attend an ALA-accredited graduate program in library and information studies or an ALA-recognized NCATE School Library Media program.
- Application Deadline: March 1
APSA Diversity Fellowship Program
- Amount: $5,000
- Eligibility: Students demonstrate an interest in teaching and potential for research in political science.
- Application Deadline: November 11
ASA Minority Fellowship Program
- Amount: $18,000
- Eligibility: This award supports the development and training of sociologists of color in any sub-area or specialty in the discipline.
- Application Deadline: January 31
Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship
- Amount: $3,000
- Eligibility: Applicant must be pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree full-time at an accredited college or university.
- Application Deadline: April 30
Congressional Black Caucus Performing Arts Scholarship
- Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: This scholarship is for full-time students pursuing a degree in performing arts.
- Deadline: April 30
George A. Strait Minority Scholarship
- Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: For college graduates with meaningful law library experience, who are degree candidates in an accredited library or law school, and who intend to have a career in law librarianship.
- Application Deadline: April 1
Historically Underrepresented Groups Scholarship (HUGS)
- Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Students obtaining a degree in archaeology.
- Application Deadline: January 29
Minority Teacher Education Scholarship
- Amount: $4,000
- Eligibility: Must be admitted into a teacher education program at any of Florida Fund for Minority Teachers’ participating universities/colleges and be a junior, senior, or graduate student who has not earned a baccalaureate degree in education.
- Application Deadline: November 30
National Press Club Scholarship for Journalism Diversity
- Amount: $2,500
- Eligibility: Applicants must be high school seniors with a grade point average of 3.0 or better who are preparing to enter college and intend to become a journalist who will bring diversity to U.S. journalism.
- Application Deadline: March 1
NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counselors (Masters)
- Amount: $15,000
- Eligibility: Applicants must commit to providing substance use disorder services to an underserved community for two years post-graduation.
- Application Deadline: December 31
NBCC Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors (Masters)
- Amount: $10,000
- Eligibility: Eligible applicants must commit to teaching, administering services, conducting research, and/or providing direct mental health counseling to at least one specified minority population.
- Application Deadline: December 31
RTDNF Carole Simpson Scholarship
- Amount: $2,000
- Eligibility: Students pursuing careers in radio, television, or digital journalism.
- Application Deadline: February 3
