Scholarships and Financial Aid for Minority Students

The AAWBC offers this $1,000 scholarship to female Arab Michiganders staying in the state for college. Applications require a letter of intent. Recipients must volunteer for at least six hours of community service each week.

This Center for Arab American Philanthropy awards this scholarship to Muslim women in accredited STEM programs. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and a minimum 3.4 GPA. The scholarship awards $2,500-$10,000 to undergraduates and up to $10,000 for graduate students.

NABJ offers annual awards to Black students pursuing undergraduate or graduate programs leading to a journalism career. Applicants must hold NABJ membership and a minimum 2.5 GPA. Candidates need a demonstrated interest in newsgathering and reporting. NABJ scholarships award up to $10,000 each.

This NAACP-sponsored scholarship awards $2,000 to Black undergraduate or graduate students. Current NAACP members under 25 who can demonstrate financial need qualify. The scholarship requires a minimum 2.5 GPA for undergraduates and a minimum 3.0 GPA for graduate students.

Microsoft awards several scholarships to Black high school seniors planning to enter a four-year college or university. Ranging from $1,000-$20,000, these scholarships require applicants to hold a minimum 3.3 GPA. Candidates must plan to pursue a bachelor’s in a computer science, engineering, or business-related field. Applications remain open until March 31, 2021.

The American Indian Education Fund offers several undergraduate scholarships worth up to $2,000 annually. Applicants must provide official documentation of personal or parental tribal enrollment, academic transcripts, and test scores. Recipients must maintain an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.0.

DAR offers this $4,000 scholarship to Native American students of all ages, with preference given to undergraduate students. Applicants must provide documentation of tribal enrollment or Native ancestry, demonstrate financial need, and possess a minimum 2.5 GPA.

The IHS provides multiple scholarships for Native American students pursuing education in the health sciences. Applicants must be members or descendents of recognized or terminated tribes who intend to serve Native communities after graduation. These scholarships serve students at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health partners with the Merck Foundation and the Healthy Americans Foundation to offer these scholarships. They serve Hispanic students enrolling in college programs, particularly in STEM fields. The foundation offers scholarships to Hispanic students at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate level.

ALPFA offers various scholarship opportunities to Hisapnic students enrolled in business, finance, accounting, or STEM programs. Applicants must hold a minimum 3.0 GPA and submit a short essay answering the question “Why are you deserving of an ALPFA Scholarship?”

The AMS provides these scholarships for minority students entering bachelor’s programs in atmospheric, oceanic, or hydrologic sciences. Applicants must hold a minimum 3.0 GPA. The scholarship awards $3,000 each year for the first two years of a bachelor’s program.

The AMS provides these scholarships for minority students entering bachelor’s programs in atmospheric, oceanic, or hydrologic sciences. Applicants must hold a minimum 3.0 GPA. The scholarship awards $3,000 each year for the first two years of a bachelor’s program.

The APIA Scholarships award $2,500-$20,000 to Asian and Pacific Islander students facing underrepresentation on college campuses. The scholarship focuses specifically on first-generation college students, those demonstrating financial need, and those representing geographic and ethnic diversity.

The Asian Pacific Fund administers 10 scholarship programs to incoming or current college students. Scholarships range from $1,000-$20,000 and set their own eligibility criteria. All require a 3.0 GPA and U.S. citizenship unless otherwise noted. Many support Asian and Pacific Islander students specifically.

Before applying for scholarships, students need to research and identify potential options. Some organizations offer scholarships year-round, but deadlines often occur during the first half of the year. Generally, applicants should start researching up to a year before the semester for which they want scholarship funding.

With so many scholarships available, keeping track of potential awards can complicate the application process. A scholarship spreadsheet with application deadlines and other details helps students organize and prioritize their applications.

With hundreds of scholarships for minority students, applicants must inevitably narrow the list of awards they can realistically pursue. Applying for as many awards as possible usually does not make the best strategy. Instead, students should create a targeted list of scholarships catering to their personal background and academic interests.

Colleges often maintain specialized advising services to assist students in applying for scholarships. Schools may maintain a scholarship database that compiles awards relevant to applicants’ location or field of interest. Students should apply to the scholarships with the earliest deadlines first.

While scholarship application requirements vary widely, many awards maintain similar general requirements. Most scholarships require academic transcripts, which students can request from their current college or high school. Many scholarships call for proof of community engagement, such as volunteer experience. Students should give themselves plenty of time to gather application materials.

More selective scholarships often need recommendation letters from teachers, supervisors, or other professionals familiar with an applicant’s work. Students should request these months in advance of a scholarship’s deadline to not rush recommendation writers.

While submitting applications may seem like a formality, deadlines and varying submission requirements can easily overwhelm students. Applicants should double check a scholarship’s deadlines and requirements to ensure they include everything and submit their application on time. Having another person review essays, personal statements, and other writing requirements can help catch typos and other mistakes.

Most importantly, students must submit their applications either before or on the day of the scholarship deadline. Many scholarships use online application portals that close automatically after their application deadline passes.

While students can usually relax after applying to scholarships, recipients should remember that scholarships may require additional obligations. Students may need to officially accept their scholarship by a set deadline in order to claim the funding. Do not forget this important official step.

Some scholarships require students to fulfill certain requirements to keep their funding, such as maintaining a set GPA or performing regular community service. Students who receive these types of awards should remember recurring scholarship obligations, or run the risk of losing funding.

AAHHE brings together education, business, and other professionals to improve education for a rapidly increasing Hispanic population. The organization features many member resources, including professional development, fellowships, conferences, and a leadership academy for Hispanic professionals.

AAHHE brings together education, business, and other professionals to improve education for a rapidly increasing Hispanic population. The organization features many member resources, including professional development, fellowships, conferences, and a leadership academy for Hispanic professionals.

Serving Native American students, The College Fund offers connections to scholarships, tribal colleges, internships, and other resources. Any member or descendent of a federally recognized tribe can benefit from The College Fund’s scholarship resources. These include the Full Circle Scholarship for students seeking technical, undergraduate, or graduate education.

Empowering Hispanic students through education and access to resources, HSF hosts an extensive scholarship program. The organization offers resources on scholarships, federal financial aid, and the application process. HSF hosts various college preparedness programs and workshops.

Serving LGBTQ+ students, HRC’s scholarship database compiles financial opportunities, including fellowships, grants, and scholarships. This comprehensive database enables students to search by state or browse a national list of undergraduate and graduate LGBTQ+ scholarships.

A coalition of high-achieving school districts nationwide, MSAN serves a multiracial student body. The organization offers college financial resources, including scholarships for minority students, financial aid, education, and informational workshops and seminars. MSAN hosts conferences for high school students planning to attend college.

One of the country’s best known civil rights organizations, the NAACP emphasizes civic engagement and advocacy for Black Americans. The organization offers educational resources for Black students, including college scholarships for both undergraduates and graduates. Most scholarships prioritize current NAACP members.

Founded in 1973, JRF seeks to advance higher education for minority students through a generous scholarship program. Scholarship winners receive a four-year grant to attend the U.S. undergraduate college of their choice. Winners receive mentorship, academic advising, and support services.

Founded in 1973, JRF seeks to advance higher education for minority students through a generous scholarship program. Scholarship winners receive a four-year grant to attend the U.S. undergraduate college of their choice. Winners receive mentorship, academic advising, and support services.

Established in 1970, NARF works to preserve tribal existence and protect natural resources. NARF promotes human rights for Native Americans, develops Native American law, and holds governments accountable to Native Americans. The organization offers financial and professional opportunities to Native American law students, including fellowships, scholarships, clerkships, and internships.

The country’s largest scholarship provider for minority students pursuing engineering programs, NACME seeks to increase diversity in STEM fields. The organization focuses particularly on engineering and computer science. Along with scholarships for minority students, the organization offers career development, trade publications, and an executive speaker series connecting NACME students with engineering professionals.