Historically, access higher education has not always been equal. Many groups, including African American and Black students, have been left out of educational opportunities.

Because of this, many colleges and scholarships aim to support African American students as they pay for college. These scholarships include specific scholarships for African American women, full ride scholarships, and scholarships generally for students from minority backgrounds.

This post will cover everything including:

• Top African American Scholarships in 2021
• Scholarships for Black Women
• Tips for African American Students
• Summary of African American Scholarships
• Upcoming Scholarships

Jump ahead or keep on reading to learn more about these top scholarships for black students!

Top African American scholarships for 2021:

$5,000 Social Change Fund United Scholarship

• Eligibility: Black students who are currently studying or plan to study in the mental health care field
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: November 1, 2021

$1,853 Christian ‘Myles’ Pratt Foundation Fine Arts Scholarship

• Eligibility: Minority students interested in or already enrolled in classes going toward an art-related degree
• Amount: $1,853
• Deadline: August 12, 2021

$1,000 Wanda I. McLaurin HBCU Scholarship

• Eligibility: Graduate and undergraduate students from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, or surrounding areas in New York who currently attend an HBCU
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: August 1, 2021

Coding for Minorities Scholarship

• Eligibility:  Determined minority high school and undergraduate students pursuing a degree/career in coding or computer science
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: July 1, 2021

Writing With a Purpose Scholarship

• Eligibility:  High school seniors or undergraduate African American students looking to get into journalism
• Amount: $1,015
• Deadline: July 1, 2021

Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge

• Eligibility: African American men over the age of 18
• Amount: $10,000 for first place and $5,000 for runner-up
• Deadline: August 1, 2021

Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarships

• Eligibility: Incoming/full-time college students at one of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s (TMCF) 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities
• Amount: Up to $10,000
• Deadline: August 9, 2021

Gates Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors of African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American who are Pell-eligible
• Amount: Full funding for all college costs not covered by FA and family contribution
• Deadline: September 15, 2021

APF Queen-Nellie Evans Scholarship

• Eligibility: Minority graduate students committed to improving marginalized communities
• Amount: $4,000
• Deadline: November 15, 2021

Markforged Distinguished Black Engineers Grant

• Eligibility: African-American student studying any engineering field at a top-tier technical undergraduate or graduate university program 
• Amount: $2,500
• Deadline: November 18, 2021

Ron Brown Scholars Program

• Eligibility: African American students with demonstrated financial aid who are high school seniors.
• Amount: up to $10,000 per year
• Deadline: January 9, 2021 (Opens in August 2021)

EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship Program

• Eligibility:Rising junior undergraduate students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
• Amount: $45,000
• Deadline: Opens in September 1, 2021 (start reading over requirements now!)

Scholarships for Black women

When we find scholarships specifically for Black women, we will share below. If you are looking for other scholarships for women, we’ve got you covered with our top scholarships for women list that’s updated each month!

$1,019 Melissa Boston Memorial Scholarship

• Eligibility: Black female 2021 high school graduates who live in NY, who have been accepted to a two or four-year college
• Amount: $1,019
• Deadline: August 19, 2021

$500 Cocoa Diaries Scholarship

• Eligibility: Black undergraduate female students with a commitment to providing safe spaces and uplift other Black women
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: September 22, 2021

$500 Penny Collins Scholarship

• Eligibility: Black high school senior women planning to make the world a better place
• Amount: $500 (three scholarships are awarded)
• Deadline: August 1, 2021

Tips for African American students applying for scholarships

• Consider Historically Black Colleges and Universities (also known as HBCUs) in your colleges search! HBCUs include top schools like Howard, Spelman, and Morehouse have historically served African American students and have many merit scholarships for black women and men.
• In addition to merit scholarships, you should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA) to qualify for need-based financial aid.

Summary of scholarships for Black students

1. $5,000 Social Change Fund United Scholarship
2. $1,853 Christian ‘Myles’ Pratt Foundation Fine Arts Scholarship
3. $1,000 Wanda I. McLaurin HBCU Scholarship
4. Coding for Minorities Scholarship
5. Writing With a Purpose Scholarship
6. Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge
7. Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarships
8. Gates Scholarship
9. APF Queen-Nellie Evans Scholarship
10. Markforged Distinguished Black Engineers Grant
11. Ron Brown Scholars Program
12. EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship Program
13. $1,019 Melissa Boston Memorial Scholarship
14. $500 Cocoa Diaries Scholarship
15. $500 Penny Collins Scholarship

Upcoming scholarships for Black students

$2,500 Private Label Diversity in Cosmetology Scholarship

• Eligibility: Black high school students and undergraduates attending or planning to attend cosmetology school
• Amount: $2,500

$1,000 Impact Scholarship for Black Students

• Eligibility: Black students who excel at dreaming big and starting small while building their vision for the future. Strong candidates will be extremely ambitious, driven, and talented.
• Amount: $2,700

$730 Minority Students and Criminal Justice Reform Scholarship

• Eligibility: African-American high school seniors (including people who are homeschooled) and current undergraduates in college
• Amount: $730

African-American Journalism Scholarship

• Eligibility: Black students at any educational level who plan on (or already are) pursuing a career in journalism
• Amount: $1,000

African-American Entrepreneurs Grant — Female Award

• Eligibility: Open to current or aspiring Black female entrepreneurs at any level/field of education who share their business ideas
• Amount: $1,000

African-American Entrepreneurs Grant — Male Award

• Eligibility: Open to current or aspiring Black entrepreneurs undergraduate or graduate students across any field who share their business ideas
• Amount: $1,000

Annual Black Entrepreneurship Grant

• Eligibility: Open to current or aspiring Black entrepreneurs undergraduate or graduate students across any field or business stage 
• Amount: $2,000

BIPOC Educators Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to all BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) students who are pursuing or are interested in pursuing a major in education
• Amount: $1,000

Black Design Leaders Grant

• Eligibility: Current or aspiring Black entrepreneurial undergraduate or graduate students pursuing careers in design at a start-up
• Amount: $1,000

Black Engineering Leaders Grant

• Eligibility: Current or aspiring Black entrepreneurial undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a career in engineering at a start-up
• Amount: $1,000

Black Marketing Leaders Grant

• Eligibility: Black entrepreneurial undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a career in marketing at a start-up
• Amount: $1,000

Black Medical Students Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to current or aspiring Black undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a career in any medical specialty 
• Amount: $1,000

Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships

• Eligibility: High school seniors who identify as African American
• Amount: $20,000

Center for Advancing Opportunity Undergraduate Research Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to students who will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU)
• Amount: up to $7,500

Future Black Leaders Scholarships

• Eligibility: Open to Black students have large ambitions for their college and working careers
• Amount: $1,000

Future Leaders in Technology Scholarship – College Award

• Eligibility: Undergraduate college and university students pursuing a degree in computer science, electrical engineering or data science. Applicants must also be a member of an underrepresented group, including: Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, American Indian or Native American, LGBTQA+, and Women
• Amount: $2,500

Future Leaders in Technology Scholarship – High School Award

• Eligibility: High school students who plan to pursue a degree in computer science, electrical engineering or data science. You must also be a member of an underrepresented group, including: Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, American Indian or Native American, LGBTQA+, and Women
• Amount: $1,000

Gabriella Carter Music and Me Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to Black students who write an essay about the comfort that only music can bring
• Amount: $1,000

Generation Google Scholarship 

• Eligibility: Open to all high school seniors and college students who excel in technology. Historically underrepresented  groups, such as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students are especially encouraged to apply
• Amount: $5,000 to $10,000

Incarceration Impact Scholarship

• Eligibility:Black or Latinx students from low-income households with an incarcerated parent or legal guardian
• Amount: $1,000

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to high school seniors from minority backgrounds.
• Amount: up to $30,000 over 4 years
• Deadline: Opens November 1, 2021

KnowBe4 Scholarship for Black Americans in Cybersecurity

• Eligibility: African American or Black students who will be an undergraduate or graduate student in 2021 pursuing a degree in cybersecurity or a related field.
• Amount: Up to $10,000
• Opens: February 1, 2022

Make Your Mark BIPOC Arts Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to Black, Indigenous, and Person of Color students at all levels who are interested in new approaches to theater, dance, and/or film. Essay about a project you would like to complete is required
• Amount: $2,500

National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club Scholarships

• Eligibility:  There are a variety of scholarships available for college bound high school seniors, women over age 35, and single women
• Amount: Varies
• Opens: January 15, 2022

TMCF | McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship

• Eligibility: Enrolled full-time as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior at Thurgood Marshall College Fund Member-Schools during the 2021-2022 academic school year.
• Amount: $15,000

UNCF General Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students attending a UNCF member college
• Amount: $5,000