Key Takeaways
There are lots of scholarships for students from underserved communities. We found three scholarships each for five groups that typically provide anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Each scholarship has a different deadline to apply, so finish your application before then to compete for scholarship funds. Check when yours closes, and check back to see when others open again next year.
Learn how to find scholarships, organize and plan out your application process, and the best practices for writing essays and keeping your scholarships.
Note from the editor: We recognize that the term "minorities" is commonly used in scholarship databases and online searches to describe financial aid opportunities for communities historically excluded from higher education, including Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Indigenous, and other students. On this page, we use inclusive language like "underrepresented," "minoritized," "marginalized," and "historically excluded" while acknowledging that "minorities" may appear in scholarship names and search queries.
The number of nonwhite, traditionally underrepresented students going to college is only growing, with Black and multiracial students increasing the most in 2024. As you explore college, you can find scholarships specifically for your group, whether you can apply for the Free Application for Student Aid or are ineligible due to residency limitations.
We found scholarships specifically for students from minoritized groups, including Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and Latino, and Asian and Pacific Islander backgrounds.
However, a few scholarships may be open to all ethnic backgrounds while focusing on underserved populations, such as requiring students to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or preferring applicants from certain backgrounds.
Scholarships for Minoritized Students
Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Students
Arab American Women's Business Council Scholarship
Eligibility: Michigan women of Arab descent entering into an undergraduate or graduate program at a Michigan college or university
Award Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October, annually
Dr. Adawia Alousi Scholarship
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate Muslim women demonstrating financial need who are accepted into a STEM program at a U.S. university and meet GPA requirements
Award Amount: $2,500-$10,000
Deadline: Summer, annually
Black and African American Students
Aside from the opportunities listed below, we also have a list dedicated to helping students from all backgrounds that are enrolled at HBCUs, and another extended resource on scholarships for Black students.
National Association of Black Journalists Scholarships
NABJ presents annual awards to Black students pursuing undergraduate or graduate programs leading to careers in journalism. Applicants must hold NABJ membership and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Candidates must demonstrate an interest in newsgathering and reporting. NABJ scholarships award up to $10,000 each.
*Scholarship does not explicitly say for Black students only
Scholarship awards and deadlines vary, and all scholarships for the 2026-27 year are now closed. Applications are expected to open in August.
The RADM (ret.) Jeffrey A. & Linda J. Cook Scholarship
Eligibility: U.S. active duty military, veterans, and their dependents enrolled in a full-time undergraduate STEM degree at an HBCU
*Scholarship does not explicitly say for Black students only
Award Amount: Up to $4,250
Deadline: August 24
The Development Fund for Black Students in Science and Technology (DFBSST) Scholarship
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or residents who are African-American, majoring or intending to major in a technical field, and enrolled at a listed predominantly Black college
Award Amount: $3,000 annually, up to four years
Deadline: Opens in April; closes in June, annually
Indigenous, Native American and Alaska Native Students
American Indian Services Scholarship
Eligibility: Members of a Federally Recognized American Indian or Alaska Native Tribe/Entity or a direct descendant of a base roll member enrolled in a university, college, or junior college
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: July and November, annually
American Indian College Fund Scholarships
Eligibility: Members of a federally recognized tribe enrolled in a full-time higher education institution
Award Amount: $2,000 to $3,000
Deadline: May, annually (priority deadline)
Indian Health Service Scholarships
Eligibility: American Indian and Alaska Native students who are members of federally recognized, state-recognized, or terminated Tribes enrolled in a bachelor's program leading to a health profession or a health profession degree. Health Professions Scholarship recipients must commit to full-time clinical practice after academic or post-grad training
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Opens December 15; deadline TBD
Hispanic and Latino/a Students
Despite representing only around 20% of the U.S. population, Hispanic and Latino students have high enrollment rates, at 33% in 2022, as per the National Center for Education Statistics. Find more information on scholarships for hispanic students here, broken down by subject of study.
LULAC National Scholarship Fund
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and DACA students enrolled in or applying to a full-time two- or four-year college program
Award Amount: $250 to $2,000
Deadline: TBA
The Dream.Us National Scholarship
Eligibility: First-generation immigrant student who entered the U.S. before November 1, 2020, entered before turning 16, is undocumented with or without DACA or TPS, has financial need, graduated from a U.S. high school, and is intending to enroll in a full-time associate or bachelor's degree
Award Amount: Up to $6,000
Deadline: November annually
Prospanica Scholarship
Eligibility: Prospanica members enrolled or planning to enroll in a master's or doctoral business school program in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
*Scholarship does not explicitly say for Hispanic and Latino students only
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: May annually
Asian and Pacific Islander Students
Eligibility varies for these AAPI scholarships, but most will require that applicants be U.S. citizens of Asian or Pacific Islander descent.
CIC/Anna Chennault Scholarship
Eligibility: Full-time graduate students with an active AAJA membership
*Scholarship does not explicitly say for AAPI students only
Award Amount: $5,000
Deadline: November annually
Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship
Eligibility: Citizens or permanent residents of the U.S., the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau enrolled in an undergraduate degree program
*Scholarship does not explicitly say for AAPI students only
Award Amount: $2,500 to $20,000
Deadline: January annually
Banatao Family Filipino American Education Fund and Helen and L.S. Wong Memorial Scholarship
Eligibility: California residents with at least 50% Filipino heritage majoring in engineering, mathematics, computer science, environmental, or physical science at a four-year college or university.
Rising first-years from Fairfield or Suisun, CA, enrolled full-time at a four-year or community college with financial need, who are at least 50% Asian heritage
Award Amount: $5,000 annually up to four years; $1,000 to $3,000
Deadline: TBA
How to Find and Apply for Scholarships and Grants
Finding and applying for multiple scholarships and grants can be a lot of data to keep track of, so we'll show you how to research, organize, and submit your scholarship applications to cut down your college costs.
1. Research Scholarships from Counselors, Your College, and Online
You can find scholarships in your local community through your high school counselor and academic counselor, and by searching your local and state community websites. Your prospective college may also have institutional or departmental scholarships worth looking into. College-specific scholarships may require you to fill out the FAFSA.
2. Get Organized and List Your Scholarships
Once you find the scholarships you're eligible for, sit down, list them all and jot down what you need to submit (a spreadsheet could be very helpful for this). Some of the most common requirements for scholarships for underserved populations are:
The FAFSA
Short essays
Transcripts including GPA
A Tribal membership card or identification, if applicable
Demographic information
Make sure you write down the details of how you need to submit the application (online, in person, or by mail) and when to submit each one, since they all will have different submission dates.
3. Prepare the Scholarship Application Packets
The most challenging part of your scholarship application is your essay. Remember that these portions help scholarship boards see who you are beyond your academics, giving them an idea of the person and student you are and will be. When you write your essay, show specific examples of your life, leadership, experiences, extracurricular activities, and passions rather than telling the reader about them.
4. Submit Your Applications
You can submit your applications one by one as you complete them, in batches or all at once. If you choose the latter, make sure to send them before their respective deadlines to ensure the scholarship hosts receive your applications in time.
5. What To Do After Receiving a Scholarship
After you receive any scholarships, it's important to read the details to see:
How you'll receive your funds
How long you'll receive your funds, and whether the scholarship is renewable
Any commitments you must keep to keep receiving the scholarship
Your scholarship provider may send your funds directly to your school or provide you with a stipend for educational expenses. Make sure you know which avenue is being used so that everyone involved provides and receives their funds.
If you received a one-time scholarship, you likely won't be able to apply for it again. With a renewable scholarship, you can either reapply for it or meet certain criteria to receive it again the next semester or year.
Lastly, some scholarships may require you to maintain a certain GPA or meet other requirements to receive or renew the scholarship. Check whether any of these apply, and if there are any consequences for not fulfilling the requirements.
Financial Aid Resources for Underrepresented Students
While scholarships can get you more money for school, your best chance to lower the cost of college is by applying for federal aid through the FAFSA. If you have financial need, you may qualify for the Pell Grant, which provides up to $7,395 per academic year (for the 2026-2027 period). Bear in mind that some specific school scholarships and other scholarships require that you submit the FAFSA.
If you're ineligible for the FAFSA, you may still qualify for state financial aid. States like New York and California host state aid for noncitizens, and you may even qualify for free tuition if you have exceptional need. To see if your state has financial aid for noncitizens, look up your state's Department of Education.
