Black and African American students have access to a wide range of scholarships to help finance their college education. Notable organizations offering scholarships for Black students include the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Jackie Robinson Foundation, NAACP, United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and the Ron Brown Scholar Program.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 2.4 million Black students are pursuing higher education in the United States. Despite increasing enrollment, African American students are less likely to graduate on time, with only about 40% of Black students completing a bachelor's degree within six years. Scholarships play a crucial role in bridging the financial gap, enabling more students to graduate.
$7,400
Award Amount
222
Awards
May 1
Deadline
This award is available to Kansas undergraduate minority students who are planning to enroll at a Kansas college or university. Students must demonstrate financial need and must be identified as members of any of the following ethnic/racial groups: African American, American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian or Pacific Islander; or Hispanic. Awarding priority is given to eligible renewals and freshmen students.
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$1,750
Award Amount
560
Awards
May 1
Deadline
This award is available for minority undergraduate students with financial need who are residents of Minnesota and attending a college or university in Minnesota. Students who accept financial aid from the foundation are required to return to their communities and perform annual service-to-children projects with younger children of color.
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$20,000
Award Amount
35
Awards
Mar 15
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. Colorado students who are high school seniors or high school graduates that have graduated not more than three years prior to application and have not or are not attending college. Students must be a member of the African American race. An applicant with mixed racial and ethnic backgrounds must demonstrate his/her racial identity to be predominantly African American.
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$2,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 1
Deadline
This award is available for international and U.S. minority high school seniors who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in journalism.
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$5,250
Award Amount
3
Awards
Dec 1
Deadline
This award is for U.S. college juniors who are pursuing a degree in occupational safety and health or a closely related field. The applicant must be of a minority ethnic or racial group and must be a United States citizen. The applicant must enroll full time and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$2,500
Award Amount
3
Awards
Nov 25
Deadline
This award is available for minority law school students who live in or attend law school in the San Francisco Bay Area. A $20,000 scholarship and one $5,000 scholarship, with the potential for additional scholarships and awards based on funding. Click here to learn more and apply today!
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$5,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 15
Deadline
This scholarship is available for U.S. students in their junior year of college who are American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, or Hispanic or Latino and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students must have a declared major in civil, chemical, or environmental engineering or in one of the environmental sciences (geology, hydrogeology, biology, ecology, public health, or industrial hygiene toxicology).
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$350
Award Amount
1
Award
Jun 30
Deadline
This award program is offered to African-American students in grades nine through eleven who attend schools in one of the following school districts in Tacoma/Pierce County, Washington: Bethel, Clover Park, Franklin Pierce, Puyallup, Steilacoom, Tacoma, or University Place. Students must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
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$4,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 31
Deadline
This award is for U.S. minority undergraduate students who are enrolled in an entry-level radiography, sonography, magnetic resonance, radiation therapy, or nuclear medicine program. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher; the student's program director must verify the grade point average based on one or more semesters of study.
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$5,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 14
Deadline
This award is available to African American seniors planning to graduate in 2014 from a Butler or Warren County, Ohio, high school. Selection is based on both academic and non-academic achievements as well as financial need.
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$2,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 31
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. and international students who have been accepted to or are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Students must be pursuing a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a closely-related field and have maintained the equivalent of a 'B' average.
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$11,000
Award Amount
11
Awards
Feb 1
Deadline
This scholarship is available for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who are of African-American descent and studying at a college in Hawaii. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$12,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 6
Deadline
This award is for Puget Sound area gay men of color who are U.S. citizens and have significant financial need and demonstrate activism in the gay/lesbian community and communities of color.
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$12,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 6
Deadline
This scholarship is available for African American undergraduate and graduate students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ). Applicants must reside in of one of the following states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana or Alaska.
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$2,000
Award Amount
60
Awards
Feb 26
Deadline
This award is available for U.S. undergraduates with a GPA of 2.75 or higher who are of either African, Asian/Pacific, Hispanic, or Native American heritage. Majors in public relations, marketing, advertising; or minors in communications with desire to pursue careers in public relations, marketing or advertising are eligible to apply.
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$1,500
Award Amount
2
Awards
May 31
Deadline
This award is offered to U.S. college juniors or seniors who are of African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native American, Alaskan Native, or Pacific Islander ancestry. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, and it is preferred that they major or minor in public relations (or are in a communications degree program if a public relations program is not offered at their school).
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$1,500
Award Amount
2
Awards
Mar 31
Deadline
This award is available for minority students currently enrolled in a graduate program for nutrition, public health nutrition, physical education, or an American Dietetic Association-approved pre-professional practice program at an accredited California college or university. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and have completed 12 to 15 units of graduate course work at the time of application.
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$4,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 31
Deadline
International and U.S. college sophomores, juniors and/or seniors are eligible for this award. Students must be enrolled in a pre-architecture program at Calvin College.
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$2,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
Apr 19
Deadline
This scholarship is open to Rhode Island students who are studying communications at the undergraduate or graduate level. Students must be from a minority group.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jun 1
Deadline
This scholarship is for U.S. undergraduate students currently enrolled in a respiratory care program. The applicant must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher to be eligible. Preference for this award will be given to minorities.
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$5,000
Award Amount
50
Awards
Dec 15
Deadline
This award is available for currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students who are African American (black) or of African descent and are active members of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA). Students must have an overall grade point average of 3.3 or higher and a major grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
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$2,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 1
Deadline
U.S. and Canadian citizens who will have earned no more than 12 hours towards a Master of Library Science degree by June of the award year are eligible for this award. Students must be members of a principal minority group; attend an ALA-accredited school; and plan to enter the library automation field.
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$12,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 8
Deadline
This award is available for African-American MBA students in good academic standing and currently enrolled in an accredited college or university.
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$4,000
Award Amount
3
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
College juniors, seniors and/or graduate students who are Illinois residents currently attending an accounting program of study at an Illinois college or university with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible for this award. Students must be African-American.
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$4,000
Award Amount
4
Awards
Apr 1
Deadline
HBCUConnect.com encourages minority students from all around the nation to pursue bachelors degrees at U.S. historically black colleges and universities. Applicants must be minority graduating high school seniors, transfer, or full time undergraduate students attending historically black college or university.
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Black and African American Scholarships
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is a prominent source of scholarships for Black students, awarding over $100 million annually to more than 10,000 students attending over 1,100 schools nationwide, including 37 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Similarly, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) offers over 300 scholarships each year to students demonstrating academic excellence and community involvement.
To apply for these scholarships, students typically need to complete an application form and provide their academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and personal essays.
The Ron Brown Scholar Program supports community-minded and intellectually gifted Black and African American students by awarding four-year scholarships totaling up to $40,000 (or up to $10,000 per year). Eligible applicants must be high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and financial need. Semifinalists are invited to a selection weekend in Washington, D.C., where finalists are chosen based on interviews, participation, and application materials.
Scholarships for African American students are essential financial aid sources, helping many overcome economic barriers to achieve a college degree.
10 Scholarships for African American Students in 2025
Here are 10 scholarships for African American students to consider applying for now:
- UNCF Scholarships
- Ron Brown Scholar Program
- Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
- NACME Scholarships
- ABA Diversity Scholarship
- Gates Scholarship
- Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarships
- Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship
- National Association of Black Journalists Scholarships
- American Chemical Society Scholars Program
What HBCUs Offer Scholarships to Black Students?
HBCUs are dedicated to providing quality education to Black and African American students. There are over 100 HBCUs located in 19 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Many of these institutions offer scholarships specifically for incoming freshmen.
Howard University is a private HBCU in Washington, D.C., enrolling over 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Howard offers several merit-based scholarships for first-year students. Eligibility typically requires a strong GPA, high SAT/ACT scores, and submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Spelman College is a private, historically Black women’s college in Atlanta, Georgia, with an enrollment of around 2,100 students. Spelman offers competitive scholarships limited to first-year students. To qualify, applicants generally need a weighted GPA of at least 3.8 and SAT scores of 1330 or ACT scores of 31. Demonstrated leadership and community service are also important factors.
These HBCUs provide a supportive community and high-quality education, often with strong programs in STEM and business fields. They receive public funding and endowments to support resources that prepare Black students for success.
Are There STEM Scholarships for Black Students?
Yes, numerous STEM scholarships are available specifically for Black students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) partners with colleges and universities to offer scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $4,000. These scholarships are for high school students applying to engineering or computer science programs and current college students enrolled in these fields. Eligibility requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency and a minimum GPA of 3.0.
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), in collaboration with corporations like Intel, offers STEM scholarships such as the Intel Scholarship. Eligible applicants must be college juniors, seniors, or graduate students majoring in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering with a GPA of 3.20 or higher. Application requirements typically include letters of recommendation, transcripts, a resume, and an essay.
Are There Scholarships for Black Women Students?
Many scholarships are specifically focused on African American women, promoting equality and encouraging them to pursue higher education. The number of female students at HBCUs has risen significantly, with women now comprising over 60% of the student population at these institutions.
The William H. Davis Scholarship for Women in STEM partners with UNCF to award scholarships up to $5,000 to eligible female students majoring in STEM fields at UNCF member institutions. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, demonstrate financial need, and provide transcripts, letters of recommendation, an essay, and proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
Scholarships for Black women often aim to encourage entry into professions where they have been historically underrepresented, providing financial assistance to those who need it most.
There are also a variety of scholarships dedicated to supporting black men.
Why You Should Apply for an African American Scholarship
College scholarships for Black students can make higher education more affordable by covering costs such as tuition, fees, books, and living expenses. Unlike student loans, scholarships do not need to be repaid, making them a valuable resource for reducing student debt.
Whether you are a first-generation college student or continuing your education, scholarships can provide the financial support necessary to achieve your academic goals. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 14% of all first-generation students are African American, highlighting the importance of financial aid in supporting educational advancement.
Tips on Applying for Black Scholarships
Applying for scholarships can be a competitive and involved process, but these tips can help improve your chances:
- Complete the FAFSA: Many scholarships administered by colleges and universities consider information from the FAFSA in terms of determining eligibility and award amounts. The FAFSA is also necessary for any state and federal grant aid you may be eligible for. Completing the FAFSA should be your first step.
- Check Eligibility Requirements: Ensure you meet all the criteria before applying to avoid wasting time on scholarships for which you are not eligible.
- Create a List of Scholarships: Keep track of scholarships, their deadlines, and requirements in a spreadsheet or calendar.
- Prepare Application Materials in Advance: Gather transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, and any other required documents ahead of time.
- Follow Directions Carefully: Adhere strictly to application guidelines, including essay prompts and word counts.
- Customize Your Essays: Tailor your essays to reflect the mission and values of each scholarship, highlighting how you align with them.
- Proofread Your Applications: Review your applications for any errors or omissions before submitting.
- Apply Early: Submitting your application before the deadline demonstrates enthusiasm and allows time to address any unforeseen issues.
Keep Copies of Your Applications: Save copies of all materials submitted for future reference and to help with other applications.
Our Scholarships
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$1,500 – I Have a Dream
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$10,000 – Unigo $10K Award
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$1,500 – Sweet and Simple
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$2,500 – Superpower
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$3,000 – All About Education
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$1,500 – Fifth Month Scholarship
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$1,500 – Do-Over
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$1,500 – Flavor of the Month
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$1,500 – Make Me Laugh
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$1,500 – Shout It Out
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$2,000 – Zombie Apocalypse
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$5,000 – Education Matters
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$1,500 – Top Ten List
Written by Dave Moniz
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Edited by Unigo Staff