Scholarships for Black and African-American Students + Steps for Success

Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship

• Amount: $2,000
• Details: Sponsored by the NAACP, this award is available to “outstanding and qualified students pursuing undergraduate degrees.” The program is open to Black and African American students under the age of 25 enrolled or accepted into an accredited U.S. college or university. Other requirements include NAACP membership, minimum 3.0 GPA, U.S. citizenship or legal residency, and demonstrated financial need.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Ally Financial Public Policy Scholarship

• Amount: $10,000
• Details: Sponsored by Ally Financial and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, this scholarship is open to “academically and highly motivated” Black and African American students pursuing undergraduate degrees in the public policy field (e.g., public administration, political science, etc.). 
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Bill H. James Foundation Scholarship

• Amount: Varies
• Details: Undergraduate applicants for this award must be Black or African American and entering their junior or senior years as full-time students at four-year colleges or universities in California pursuing degrees or courses of study in engineering. Applicants must also possess a GPA of 3.2 or higher.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Black Philanthropy Bannister Scholarship (Rhode Island Foundation)

• Amount: Varies (renewable up to four years)
• Details: Applicants must be African American/Black high school graduates and Rhode Island residents pursuing or advancing careers in the healthcare field at colleges or technical schools. Demonstrated financial need is required.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarships

• Amount: $20,000 ($5,000/year over four years); $2,500 one-time awards
• Details: BAM scholarships are open to high school seniors of African descent planning to pursue bachelor’s degrees in computer science, computer information systems, engineering, or one of a select number of business majors. Other requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA, financial need, demonstrated leadership at school or in the community, and passion for technology.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Brittany K. Booker Foundation Scholarship

• Amount: $1,000
• Details: This foundation awards two scholarships annually to African American female high school seniors, one to a resident of Columbia, South Carolina, and one to a resident of Baltimore, Maryland. Applicants are scored on a combination of four categories: financial need, GPA, extracurricular activities, and answer to a given essay question.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Building Beautiful Futures Scholarship

• Amount: $10,000 (renewable up to three additional years)
• Details: Offered by the NAACP’s Inspire Initiatives in partnership with Dark & Lovely, this scholarship is available to Black females and females of color who are graduating high school or undergraduate students at an accredited U.S. college or university. Applicants must be NAACP members, possess a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in business, communications, finance, marketing, or science.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Carrington-Philbert Scholarship Program

• Amount: $2,500
• Details: This one-time award is available to Black/African American students entering as freshmen at a two-year community college or four-year college or university. It’s offered by The Carrington Peace, an organization that creates and operates various initiatives in support of others in need. 
• Deadline: May 1, 2024

Charles Shelton Foundation Veterinary Scholarship

• Amount: $2,000 (non-renewable)
• Details: This scholarship is available to Black African American high school seniors and current and returning college students planning careers in veterinary medicine or technology. Applicants must be legal residents of the U.S., have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and be enrolled full-time at accredited colleges or universities. Application submittals include an essay on a given veterinary-related topic. Two scholarships are awarded annually.
• Deadline: April 15, 2024

Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Education Scholarship

• Amount: Varies
• Details: Scholarships are awarded to full-time Black and African American undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. They must also be residents or attend school in a CDC Member’s district, have a minimum 2.5 GPA, exhibit leadership, and be active in their community.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Connecticut Wealth Management Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $5,000 each for junior and senior years
• Details: These need-based scholarships are open to African American college sophomores (at the time of application) residing in or who are permanent residents of Connecticut. They must also have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. 
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Dr. Arnita Young Boswell Scholarship

• Amount: $1,000
• Details: Sponsored by the National Hookup of Black Women, Inc. (NHBW), this scholarship is available to African American undergraduate students in the U.S., both men and women, who demonstrate academic excellence (minimum 2.8 GPA) and concern for their communities and the Black Family.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Dr. Julianne Malveaux Scholarship

• Amount: Varies
• Details: Sponsored by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc., this award is available to African American female college sophomores and juniors pursuing degrees in economics, journalism, or a related field (e.g., creative writing, public policy, etc.). Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and submit a 500-word essay on a given topic.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) Ruth Mullen Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000
• Details: Two awards are made annually to undergraduate African American students at HBCUs who are currently enrolled in degree programs leading to employment in the communications or publishing industries or careers that could lead to membership in the EFA. Must be a sophomore at the application time, possess a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and demonstrate financial need.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Exelon HBCU Corporate Scholars Program

• Amount: Up to $25,000 annually (renewable for three years)
• Details: Open to African American sophomores at any of 13 HBCUs who are pursuing majors in engineering technologies and engineering-related fields, computer and information sciences and support services, and business, marketing, management, and related support services. 
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship Program

• Amount: $10,000
• Details: Two awards are made annually to college seniors enrolled at an HBCU who have demonstrated “high academic achievement, strong leadership skills, commitment to community service and unmet financial need.” Applicant must possess a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Fund II Foundation UNCF STEM Scholars Program

• Amount: Up to $25,000 over four years
• Details: Applicants must be first-year, full-time undergraduate students at U.S.-based colleges who identify as African American. Must additionally have a minimum 3.0 GPA and major or have a study focus on a STEM subject (i.e., biological/life sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, information sciences, mathematics, or physics).
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Hester Richardson Powell Memorial Service Scholarship

• Amount: $500
• Details: Five $500 awards are given annually to female, African American high school seniors with a GPA of 2.7 or higher. Applicants must submit 400-600 word essays answering the question, “How have you demonstrated resilience to inspire someone else?”
• Deadline: February 28, 2024

Hubertus W. V. Willems Scholarship

• Amount: $3,000
• Details: Another scholarship sponsored by the NAACP’s Inspire Initiative, this award is open to African American and Black males with a demonstrated interest in pursuing careers in chemistry, engineering, physics, or mathematics. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or residents and graduating high school seniors or current undergraduate students at an accredited U.S. college or university. A minimum GPA of 3.0 and NAACP membership is also required.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $35,000 over four years.
• Details: This scholarship is available to graduating minority high school seniors intending to attend a U.S.-based four-year college or university. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, academic excellence, leadership potential, and a commitment to community service.
• Deadline: January 1, 2024

James J. and Margaret M. Kerrigan Endowed Scholarship

• Amount: Varies
• Details: Created to provide financial support to full-time juniors and seniors at HBCUs pursuing study in the arts or education field, this scholarship gives preference to students studying Fine/Performing Arts or K-12 Education. Applicants must possess a minimum 2.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

KnowBe4 Black Americans in Cybersecurity Scholarship

• Amount: $10,000
• Details: Sponsored through a partnership between KnowBe4 and the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, this award is available to Americans of Black heritage currently pursuing degrees in cybersecurity. Applicants are scored in three categories: financial need, merit, and passion.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

LEAD Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Details: The LEAD Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors (current college students are ineligible) of African descent planning to attend a two-year community college or four-year college or university. Additional application requirements include demonstrated financial need, a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and evidence of extensive community service and scholarly achievement. 
• Deadline: April 15, 2024

Legacy Lab Foundation Scholarship

• Amount: $15,000
• Details: Applicants must be Black or African American undergraduate or graduate students studying at an accredited institution (e.g., college, university, technical school, etc.) in the U.S. with the “intent to create positive and enduring change.”
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Lincoln Financial Scholars Program

• Amount: Up to $3,000
• Details: Open to HBCU African American students classified as juniors or seniors, preference for this scholarship is given to students majoring in any of several business, computer sciences, and insurance related subjects. Those chosen will receive their awards following the completion of a webinar series that provides training in preparation for internship and career opportunities.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Macy’s Brighter Futures Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Details: This scholarship program provides over 100 need-based scholarships to African American undergraduate students (all years) at HBCUs. Applicants chosen for phase two of the selection process must submit two 400-word essays on given topics and statements describing community service, extracurricular activities, and honors and awards received. 
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Mark A. Jefferson Teaching Scholarship

• Amount: $1,000
• Details: With the goal of increasing the number of Black male educators, this scholarship presents two $1,000 awards annually to extremely ambitious African American male students pursuing careers in teaching. Application requirements include a minimum 2.8 GPA and a 400-600 word essay describing how the applicant plans to make a “positive impact on the world” through his career as an educator.
• Deadline: January 14, 2024

Max B. and Josephine H. Ederington Medical Scholars Program

• Amount: $2,500 for sophomore year (renewable for $5,000 in junior year and $10,000 in senior year)
• Details: This need-based scholarship is open to rising sophomores at HBCUs and other UNCF-affiliated four-year colleges and universities. Applicants must plan to study osteopathic or allopathic medicine and demonstrate interest in becoming doctors. Recipients participate in a professional mentoring program.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

NAACP Creative Sole Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000 (renewable for up to three additional years)
• Details: Offered in partnership with Vans, this NAACP scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students with a demonstrated interest in a career in any of several creative fields. These include, but are not limited to, architecture, art, communications, design, film, journalism, marketing, and music. Applicants must be Black or a person of color, NAACP members, U.S. citizens or residents, and possess a 3.0 or higher GPA.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

NAACP x Society Awards Scholarship

• Amount: $8,000
• Details: This one-time award is open to Blacks and persons of color who are graduating high school seniors and interested in pursuing careers in the visual/performing arts. Examples include dance, fashion, film, graphic design, journalism, mass communications, music, and theater. Eligibility requirements include NAACP membership, U.S. citizenship or residency, enrollment in or acceptance to an accredited U.S. college or university, and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Napier Park Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000 junior year (qualifying recipients can renew for senior year)
• Details: Applicants must be full-time African American or Black college juniors pursuing careers in finance or investment management at a college or university in Connecticut, New Jersey, or New York. Must additionally have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club (NANBPWC) National Scholarship

• Amount: $500 to $2,000
• Details: The NANBPWC scholarship is open to African American graduating high school seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Application includes submittal of an essay (minimum 300 words) on a given topic.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) Scholarship Program

• Amount: $1,000 to $15,000
• Details: The NBNA offers a wide variety of scholarship opportunities for nursing students covering all program levels (LPN to Doctorate). Application requirements (e.g., program type, award amount, geographic location, etc.) vary by specific scholarship. However, all applicants must be NBNA members and have a minimum of one year of school remaining.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

100 Black Men of America, Inc. National Scholarship Program

• Amount: $1,000 to $5,000
• Details: This program is open to 100 Black Men mentees, Collegiate 100, and affiliate graduating high school seniors, and current undergraduate students enrolled full-time at an accredited postsecondary institution. It’s co-sponsored by 100 Black Men of America, Inc., UPS, and NextEra Energy.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Paula E. Waters Diamond in the Rough Scholarship

• Amount: $1,000
• Details: This scholarship is available to African American male graduating seniors at select high schools in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll in two-year or four-year colleges or approved trade-related programs at technical or vocational schools. A cumulative GPA between 2.0 and 2.99 is also required. Three scholarships are awarded annually.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Quoinsetta Franklin Physical Therapy Scholarship

• Amount: $1,000
• Details: This physical therapy scholarship is available to African American undergraduate students with a minimum 2.5 GPA who are pursuing degrees in physical therapy in the state of Mississippi. Applicants must submit a two- to four-minute video presentation answering a given question about physical therapy. 
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Richard B. Watkins Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000
• Details: This award is designed to support students who identify as Black or African American and who are majoring or concentrating in communications, graphic design, marketing, public relations, social media, or a related field. Applicants must be enrolled in community colleges, colleges, or universities in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C., be in their final year as community college students, or qualify as rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors. 
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Rising Black Designers Scholarship

• Amount: $10,000
• Details: Sponsored by Gensler, a global architecture and design firm, this program awards five scholarships annually to Black students enrolled in the final year of an NAAB-accredited architecture program at a not-for-profit, U.S. educational institution.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Ron Brown Scholar Program Scholarship

• Amount: $40,000 over four years.
• Details: This scholarship program is open to Black/African American high school seniors (at the time of application) who are U.S. citizens and exhibit leadership potential, excel academically, participate in community service activities, and demonstrate financial need.
• Deadline: December 1, 2024

Rooted in Science Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $10,000
• Details: In partnership with Proctor and Gamble and CVS Health, the United Negro College Fund offers this scholarship to African American women currently enrolled as sophomores or juniors pursuing degrees in biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, or mechanical engineering. Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Sour Patch Kids Mischief for Change HBCU Scholarship

• Amount: $16,400 ($8,200 per semester)
• Details: Offered through a partnership between The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and Sour Patch Kids, this scholarship provides financial support to outstanding Black/African American students attending TMCF member schools, including 47 HBCUs and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Applicants must be full-time undergraduates with cumulative GPAs of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate financial need.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Sprout Social UNCF Scholarship Program

• Amount: $11,000
• Details: This UNCF scholarship is a one-time, merit-based scholarship available to current African American college juniors enrolled full-time and pursuing degrees in computer science, software engineering, and related fields. All applicants are invited to apply and interview for a full-time role in Sprout Social’s engineering rotation program.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Tampax Flow It Forward Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $10,000 (renewable to qualifying recipients)
• Details: This need-based scholarship program is open to African American students currently enrolled as juniors at HBCUs who are pursuing careers in healthcare and with a demonstrated interest in Black women’s health. Applicants must have completed a service project benefitting women within the last year. 
• Deadline: TBA 2024

TE Connectivity African Heritage Scholarship Program

• Amount: Up to $22,500 (over two years)
• Details: Available to college sophomores and juniors majoring in business, engineering, finance, operations management, marketing, or supply chain management, recipients for this scholarship program are required to participate in paid internships with TE Connectivity for two summers following their sophomore years of college.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

TJX Scholarship Program

• Amount: Up to $10,000
• Details: This need-base scholarship program is for African American students enrolled full-time in a two-year community college or four-year college or university within the U.S. Applicants must have current GPAs of 2.5 or higher and must submit a one-page essay on a given topic. Priority is given to applicants at HBCUs.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

UNCF Black Women in STEM Scholarship Program

• Amount: $5,000
• Details: This scholarship is open to African American women enrolled full-time as juniors in a financial management or STEM/STEM-related major. A GPA of 2.75 or higher is required. It’s offered by the United Negro College Fund in partnership with Goldman Sachs and Loop Capital Markets, a black-led financial services firm. 
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Unmet NEED Last Dollar Grant Program

• Amount: $1,000 to $3,500
• Details: Designed to meet the last-dollar needs of low-income African American students residing in select counties in Pennsylvania, applicants for this scholarship program must be current students enrolled (or high school seniors planning to enroll) in an undergraduate course of study at an accredited post-secondary institution (two-year or four-year college or university or technical or vocational school). 
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Walker Williams Wilson Scholarship

• Amount: Varies
• Details: The Wilson scholarship program pays the tuition cost for African American males currently attending or planning to attend full-time at an HBCU. Application includes either a written essay (400 words maximum) or video (three minutes maximum) answering questions on three given topics. The scholarship is sponsored by the Seeking Visions, Gaining Success Foundation.
• Deadline: April 21, 2024

Wellington HBCU Scholars Program

• Amount: Up to $15,000 annually (renewable)
• Details: Available to Black/African American full-time college sophomores and juniors currently enrolled at an HBCU and majoring in an accounting, business, finance, liberal arts, STEM, or technology program. Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Write Your Future Scholarship

• Amount: $10,000
• Details: This non-renewable award from the NAACP and Lancôme is available to Black students and students of color who identify as female and are pursuing undergraduate degrees at accredited four-year, tax-exempt academic institutions. Applicants must be members of the NAACP and current participants in an active ACT-SO Achievement program.
• Deadline: TBA 2024

Step 1 – Research & Apply for As Many Scholarships as Possible

Start by making a list of the scholarships you’re eligible for based on your background, interests, and goals. There are lots of scholarship search websites and databases available to help, including our main scholarship page. Remember, you can win more than one scholarship, so don’t limit the number to which you apply. 

Step 2 – Don’t Forget About Local Scholarships

Prestigious national scholarships with big award amounts are great, and you should definitely apply to those for which you qualify, but they also tend to be much more competitive. That’s why we strongly suggest you also apply to scholarships offered by regional and local organizations as well since you’ll likely have a much better chance of landing them. These smaller awards can really add up.

Step 3 – Apply Ahead of the Game

Be sure to begin your scholarship search and application process as early as possible. There are a number of reasons why. First, many scholarships have early deadlines, and you don’t want to miss out on any award you’re eligible for. Second, completing a scholarship application and gathering all the documentation to be submitted takes time, more than you probably realize, so get going on those applications right away.

Step 4 – Get & Stay Organized

We strongly recommend that you use a spreadsheet or planner to keep track of scholarship requirements, submission instructions, and – most importantly of all – deadlines. Staying organized throughout the entire application process will help you successfully manage multiple applications and, critically, keep you from making that one small but fatal mistake. 

Step 5 – Pay Attention to the Small Details

As we mentioned earlier, the devil is in the details when it comes to scholarship applications, and those details can be very specific. Be sure you carefully read and fully understand each and every application requirement and follow each one to the letter. By reviewing the requirements carefully right off the bat, you won’t end up wasting time starting the application process before realizing you’re not actually eligible for the award.

Step 6 – Tailor Your Application to the Scholarship

Speaking of the small details, always take the time and effort to customize your application content for each particular scholarship. Tailor your essays and responses not only to match the application requirements but to also speak to the unique goals of the sponsor and their criteria for selecting the recipient. In other words, be sure you convince the sponsor you are the single best choice for their award. You can’t do that with generic content.

Step 7 – Focus on Your Achievements

You can talk all you want about how great a candidate you are for a scholarship, but nothing impresses a selection committee more than actual examples of your abilities and accomplishments. Make the most of your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and any awards or honors you’ve received. Remember, this is your one and only chance to make an impression, so make it the strongest one possible.

Step 8 – Highlight Your Community Involvement

If you’ve read through the scholarship list above, you can’t help but to have noticed that community service is a very common factor considered by scholarship committees in their award selections. That’s why it’s important to highlight all service activities, volunteer work, and any other initiatives you’ve taken to positively contribute to your community. If you can’t think of anything to highlight, get out there now and do something about it.

Step 9 – Write a Stellar Essay

Never underestimate the importance of a quality essay. It’s through your essay that you have the best chance of expressing to the selection committee your individuality, personality, and passion for your area of study. Spend time crafting a compelling essay. Rewrite it and rewrite it again. Find an English teacher or grad student to read it over and make any changes they suggest. After you’ve done all of that, and only after that, should you submit it.

Step 10 – Source Awesome Letters of Recommendation

Selection committees want to hear from letter writers who know you well (i.e., can speak to your abilities, accomplishments, and character) and can recommend you honestly and wholeheartedly. So, it’s imperative to choose your recommenders carefully. Be sure to provide your letter writers with all the information they need about the specific scholarship, letter requirements, and your academic and career goals. Be sure to give them plenty of time to write their letters and follow up with them to make sure they get their letters in on time.

Step 11 – Proofread and Edit

Here’s another one of those “devil is in the details” items. Before sending it in, carefully proofread your application for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors. Then do it again. Then have someone you trust proofread it one more time. Ensuring your application is well-organized and free of mistakes is critical. Selection committees have to eliminate applicants to get to the award winner, and a sloppy submission – or even one with a single small error – may be just enough to send your application to the reject pile.

Step 12 – Prepare for the Interview

If you’re selected for a scholarship interview, you’re likely well in the running to win the award, but so are all the other interviewees. Therefore, it’s important to be fully prepared. Review your application carefully to have a clear understanding of what the selection committee is looking for. Have a detailed plan for communicating the points you want to make about yourself. Put some time into doing mock interviews. Finally, whatever you do, don’t be late for your interview session.

Step 13 – Follow Up (if needed)

After you’ve submitted your scholarship application and given the sponsor a little time to receive it, confirm that it was received. Chances are that the sponsor will contact you to let you know they’ve received your application, especially if they require additional information or documentation, but it’s okay to check if you haven’t heard from them in a timely fashion. 

Step 14 – Thank You Letters Go a Long Way

If you’re awarded a scholarship, be sure to send a thank-you letter to the scholarship provider. Just a brief, simple note will do, but make it personal and individualized to the specific scholarship. A generic message won’t do. You might also want to consider sending a “thank you for considering me” letter out to the sponsors of the scholarships you applied to but did not win. This is especially true if you may be applying for those opportunities again. Doing so shows class, and a little class can go a long way.

Step 15 – Don’t Give Up

Scholarships are competitive, and you’re likely going to lose out on more of the awards you apply to than you win. The key, therefore, is to apply to any and all scholarships you’re eligible for. Most importantly, don’t give up. Keep applying to new opportunities as you find them. If you miss out on a scholarship you applied to this cycle, try again in the next cycle. In short, make searching and applying for scholarships an ongoing activity throughout your college journey.