Scholarships for Black Students
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Foundation Education Award Scholarship
The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society offers the $5,500 Foundation Education Award Scholarship to underrepresented minority medical students who are Pennsylvania residents and enrolled at a Pennsylvania medical school.
Law School Diversity Scholarship Program
Buckfire Law firm annually offers the Law School Diversity Scholarship Program to support law school students belonging to minority groups or demonstrating a defined commitment to issues of diversity.
Medical Diversity Scholarship Program
Every year, the Buckfire Law firm offers one available scholarship valued at $2,000 per recipient for undergraduate study across the United States.
Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program
The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program of $2,800 is awarded to undergraduate or graduate students interested in advancing toward doctoral study upon completing their bachelor's degree.
Wellington Management HBCU Scholars Program
The Wellington Management Foundation offers the Wellington Management Foundation Scholarship of $5,000 to an African American college junior student to complete his/her studies.
The Legacy Lab Foundation Scholarship
The Legacy Lab Foundation, supported by The Giving Back Fund, is seeking Black or African American students enrolled in colleges, universities, or similar institutions (technical schools) in the United States.
Alma Exley Scholarship
The Scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in a teacher training program at a Connecticut college or university. Students in their junior or senior year and master’s students are eligible to apply.
CAA’s Professional Development Fellowship in Visual Arts
CAA's Professional Development Fellowship in Visual Arts was created to help multicultural artists and artists from underrepresented minority groups and culturally diverse communities in the various aspects of their work.
TMCF | Ford Blue Oval Scholarship
The Ford Blue Oval Scholarship awards $6,200 to seven male students for their undergraduate studies.
Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors Doctorate
The NBCC Minority Fellowship Program is a $20,000- scholarship and fellowship program that supports mental-health counselors pursuing doctoral studies in the United States.
Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors Master’s
The Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors is a program that supports mental health counselors and offers a $10,000- fellowship to graduate students pursuing their master’s in mental health.
Oracle Developer Scholars Program
The Oracle Corporation, with the UNCF, offers 25 scholarships valued at $10,000 for undergraduate studies across the United States. Only African American, Hispanic, and Native American students are eligible.
NACME Scholars (Block Grant) Program
NACME partners with like-minded entities to provide the NACME Scholars (Block Grant) Program of up to $16,000 for high-achieving, underrepresented minority college students pursuing careers in engineering and computer science.
Chairish Design Your Future Scholarship
The Chairish Design Your Future Scholarship is awarded to students from underrepresented minority groups and of all educational levels enrolled in accredited post-secondary institutions to further their education.
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship awards $30,000 scholarships to students with financial need from minority backgrounds.
APF Queen-Nellie Evans Scholarship
The APF Queen-Nellie Evans Scholarship offers one $4,000 scholarship grant to master’s or doctorate students who are from minority and underrepresented groups.
Minority Teacher Education Scholarship
The Minority Teacher Education Scholarship (MTES) is a renewable award of up to $4,000 a year to minority students in Florida pursuing education-related bachelor's undergraduate or graduate programs.
Oracle Corporate Scholars Program
The Oracle Corporate Scholars Program awards $10,000 to 10 college students each to further their education.
Arcadis Scholarship
Every year, Arcadis awards a $5,000 scholarship to a student from an underrepresented racial and ethnic minority group who is pursuing a graduate degree in STEM fields.
Jacobs Holly A. Cornell Scholarship
In partnership with the American Water Works Association, Jacobs Holly A. Cornell Scholarship offers $10,000 to a minority postgraduate student interested in waterworks.
EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship Program
As part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s mission, the EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship provides funds of $45,000 to rising junior undergraduate students for their final two years.
Student Excellence in Archaeology Scholarships
Historically Underrepresented Groups Scholarship offers $3,000 grants to three underrepresented minorities wishing to or undertaking archaeology courses.
LPA Scholarship
LPA, Inc offers scholarships of $5,000 to high school seniors in California and Texas accepted at an accredited institution for a degree program related to design or building industry.
Diversity in Hospitality Scholarship
The Network of Executive Women in Hospitality, Diversity in Hospitality Scholars Program offers a $5,000- scholarship for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Pursuing Academics with Support (PAWS) Scholarship
The Pursuing Academics with Support Scholarship is a $10,000- award offered to Black/African American students who seek to complete their higher education.
Black Student Scholarships
Black students are one of the most underrepresented demographics in various academic and professional fields. Historically, they have been denied access to education and now this is due to the increasing cost of higher education across the U.S. The general cost of college is not affordable for the majority of African American students. Some organizations, notably the United Negro College Fund, have created scholarships to help Black students obtain a college education, especially at HBCUs. For the majority of Black students getting a college education is still difficult due to financial limitations.
Did you know that 50.8% of Black students use student loans to pay for college? By applying for scholarships, you can avoid student loans altogether with a full-ride scholarship, or at least reduce the student loan debt you end up with.
Our list of scholarships for African American students includes scholarships for Black women, full-ride scholarships, minority or diversity scholarships, and STEM or Business scholarships. We’ve gathered the top scholarships to help you achieve your career goals regardless of your financial limitations. While most of these scholarships are for Black or African American students, some are for minority groups in general.
Top 10 Black students scholarships
We've gathered the top 10 scholarships for Black students. We evaluated scholarships based on award amount and ease of application and chose 10 with a high award but easier to apply for.
| Scholarship | Award Amount |
|---|---|
| Ron Brown Scholar Program | $10,000–$40,000 |
| Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship | $30,000 |
| API-JCU Diversity Scholarship | $6,850–$19,650 |
| Enterprise Holdings ROAD Forward Scholarship | $12,222 |
| The Legacy Lab Foundation Scholarship | $10,000 |
| Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship | $10,000 |
| TJX Scholarship Program | $10,000 |
| Dr. Blanca Moore-Velez Woman of Substance Scholarship | $1,000–$10,000 |
| TMCF | Ford Blue Oval Scholarship | $6,200 |
| Freedom From Religion Foundation Forward Freethought Scholarship | $5,000 |
Scholarships for Black high school seniors 2023
Nowadays, there are several options for Black high school seniors seeking scholarships to help fund their college education. We advise you to start with organizations that offer scholarships specifically for students who identify as African American or belong to the Black community. Many of these organizations provide general or targeted awards, such as those specific to majors, GPA requirements, and financial need. For example, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) provides various scholarships specifically tailored for Black students to help them complete their higher education studies.
You can also search for local organizations, businesses, and foundations that provide scholarships aimed at African American high school seniors. We recommend you check out the Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships worth up to $20,000. Microsoft awards nearly 45 scholarships each year to members of the Black community to make college and a career in technology more accessible. The program is open to Black high school seniors who are intending to pursue a bachelor’s degree in subjects such as computer science, engineering, finance, and even marketing.
Similarly Chevron, in partnership with UNCF, offers the Chevron Corporate Scholarship of up to $15,000 to help and support students from African American communities to advance their education in engineering and computer science. Check out the Black Scholarships for high school seniors page for more information.
Scholarships for Black Women 2023
Black women make up about 62.2% of enrolled Black undergraduates according to the American Council on Education. In fact, since 1976, female enrollment at HBCUs has been higher than men.
In 2020, Black women made up 14.4% of all enrolled female students — higher than men but lower than white female students (52.6%) and Hispanic (20.9%). To break it down further, 14.2% of all female undergraduates and 15.4% of post-baccalaureate students were Black women.
There are at least 13 scholarships on Scholaroo for African American women. They cover a variety of majors, from engineering and mathematics to public relations and interior design. If you’re looking for more Scholarships for Women, head to our page — we have more than 80 scholarships. Some organizations such as the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (NANBPWC) offer funding to Black women. Also check out the Dr. Blanca Moore-Velez Woman of Substance Scholarship. The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is another organization that provides funding opportunities for Black students — the Tampax Flow It Forward Scholarship and Olay Face the STEM Gap Scholarship are programs specifically for Black and minority women.
Black students in STEM
In the 2019-20 academic year, 55,642 degrees and certificates in total were awarded to Black students in STEM programs. Of which 33,494 qualifications were awarded to men and 22,148 to women. This total accounts for only 8.5% of the number of degrees and certificates awarded in STEM programs— 59.1% were awarded to white students, 14.6% to Hispanics, and 13.1% to Asian students. These metrics indicate a huge lack of representation for African Americans in STEM fields.
The journal article “Empowering Black Scientists in STEM: Early Success of the Black Biomechanists Association” points out that even though Black students have a similar college/university entering rate, the leaving rate of Black students is higher, meaning more Black students leave STEM majors than white ones. The authors put this down to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) barriers. DEI barriers refer to the financial and social obstacles Black people often face — these impact Black students' ability to complete their degrees.
The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics reported that there were 2,027,114 Black or African American students enrolled as undergraduates in 2018. This was actually the lowest enrollment number — lower than 2008 even, 10 years prior, when 2,097,256 students were recorded. But while Black student enrollment may have dropped, degrees earned by minorities increased. They reported that “in 2018, underrepresented minority students received 24.0% of all S&E bachelor’s degrees awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, 22.1% of S&E master’s degrees, and 13.6% of all S&E doctoral degrees.”
Does the government provide any financial assistance to Black students?
Under President Biden’s Build Back Better Framework, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) received more financing. The framework is intended to help the American middle class by creating more jobs, helping middle-class workers stay in the labor force, and growing the economy from the bottom up. Among the numerous plans is one to help lower the cost of higher education — which is one of the primary barriers minority groups face in obtaining a post-secondary education. Some examples of this are increasing the amount of the Pell Grant and making it accessible to DREAMers, and investing in HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to provide more financial aid and increase capacity. In 2021, the Biden-Harris released a proclamation officially recognizing National HBCUs Week thereby acknowledging the vital role they play in providing education and training for many. As part of the American Rescue Plan, a pandemic relief fund, $3.7 million was provided to HBCUs. $500 million was awarded to HBCUs by the Department of Education as part of the FY 21 Grant Funding. For the FY 22 Budget Request, President Biden requested $1.06 billion for HBCU-specific funding — these are Title III mandatory funds to “provide formula grants to all HBCUs to invest in capacity-building initiatives and student success programs”.
The Build Back Better plan will also provide tuition subsidies to students who attend HBCUs with a family income below $125,000. In 2020, the U.S. Census reported that 28.1% of Black alone households earned below $24,999 — 11,4% in the $15,000-$24,999 bracket and 16.7% in the below $15,000 bracket. For context, the NCES reported that the average total cost of attending a public four-year institution minus aid and scholarships was $14,200 — it was $28,100 at private nonprofit institutions and $23,200 at private for-profit institutions.
Increase your chances for a scholarship in 2023
Many of the scholarships for Black students are for studying at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, as they are known. We recommend that you apply for admission to one of the 107 HBCUs across the U.S. to stand a better chance of winning a scholarship. These scholarships are often meant to supplement federal aid so ensure that you have filed for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA). This will also help organizers determine whether you are eligible – financial need is usually an eligibility requirement and qualifying for federal aid is a way to prove that you need assistance. Read the tips we’ve provided on each of the scholarships to ensure you nail your application. Don’t forget the number one rule is to apply as early as possible!
No essay scholarships to win 2023
When it comes to scholarships, sometimes you only have time to apply for easy, simple ones that have a short process and provide a decent award. No-essay scholarships are a great option to consider. No-essay scholarships for Black students don't require any essays, letters of recommendation, or other formal documents that can take time and effort to complete. Instead, they often just require an online application and some basic information about the student's academic record and financial situation. These types of programs can award from small amounts to more substantial awards that can make a dent in tuition costs. Check out the Rooted in Science Scholarship sponsored by Pantene Gold Series and Head & Shoulders Royal Oils. Up to $10,000 is offered to need-based scholarships to Black students pursuing a degree in a STEM-related discipline.
Here are some other easy scholarships to apply for:
The AICPA Foundation also offers the AICPA Minority Accounting Scholarship of $10,000 to promote greater ethnic and racial diversity among CPA experts.
The American Association of Blacks in Energy offers the AABE National Scholarship ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 to support the studies of students from minority groups pursuing energy-related careers.
The Procter & Gamble Scholarship of $5,000 is offered to make higher education accessible and affordable to minority students troubled by financial constraints. The program is open to a number of majors including accounting, computer information systems, design, finance, human resources, information management systems, information systems, management, marketing, and marketing research.
Female students, who are pursuing careers in communications, can apply for Mission North The Future is… Fellowship of $15,000.
Frequently asked questions
Where to find scholarships for African American high school seniors?
Scholaroo has more than 100 scholarships for Black or African American students. There are 30 scholarships available for African American high school seniors. The award amounts range from $40,000 to $750. If you’re looking for full-ride scholarships, have a look at the Ron Brown Scholar Program, the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship, or the Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships.
What are HBCUs?
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs are institutions that previously were the only schools to admit Black or African American students. Many were established after the American Civil War and are still running. Today, while Black students are admitted to any university or college in the U.S., many still choose to attend HBCUs. They offer great benefits for African American and Black students, not just in terms of the quality of education but the atmosphere and on-campus culture. There are 14 HBCUs in Alabama, 11 in North Carolina, 10 in Georgia, 9 in Texas, 8 in South Carolina, and 7 each in Mississippi and Tennessee. The top HBCUs are often Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
Are there any scholarships for Black students going unclaimed in 2023?
While there are myriad scholarships available, many of them actually go unclaimed — in 2022, there were more than 14. Several factors contribute to this. Sometimes, not enough applications are received and the awarding body decides not to award any. Or, they decided that none of the applicants successfully met their requirements. Often, there are no applications because no one knows about the scholarship. There are so many scholarships available but they’re going unclaimed – so apply for as many as possible. Because most scholarships won’t cover the costs for all years of your degree. We suggest that you apply for a number of small ones — those small amounts will add up and could end up covering a large proton of your tuition.
Are there STEM Scholarships for Black students?
Yes! Black representation in STEM programs is falling, as the proportion of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Black graduates has been declining over the last few years. To encourage more Black students to enroll in STEM programs many universities, organizations and businesses are offering scholarships for Black students to study towards a qualification in a STEM field.
Which scholarships should Black students apply for in 2023?
Black students should apply for all scholarships where they meet the requirements and not only for scholarships based on race or demographic eligibility.