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Top 82 Scholarships for Black Students in March 2023
Historically, access to 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.
Jump ahead to…
- Top scholarships for Black students
- How to win scholarships for Black students
- Tips for African American students applying for scholarships
- Prestigious scholarships for African American students
- What you should know about HBCUs
- Don’t forget financial aid
- Resources for Black students
- Frequently asked questions about scholarships for Black students
- Explore these additional scholarship categories
Top 81 Scholarships for Black Students in March 2023
The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:
- The scholarship requires a fee to apply
- The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
- The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
- Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
- The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
- The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
- The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
- There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
- The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
- There is no available contact information
If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!
* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system.
** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements.
***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.
$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship
Scholarships360 Exclusive
The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to…
Show More$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay
Sponsored
Easy scholarship from Nitro College open to all high school, college, community and graduate students.
$25,000 No Essay Scholarship
Sponsored
Easy scholarship from Niche open to high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.
Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship
Offered by American College of Healthcare Executives
Are you a racial or ethnic minority who’s enrolled full-time in a healthcare management graduate program? Alternatively, are you a member of the LGBTQ+ community who’s enrolled in such a…
Show MoreUNCF General Scholarship
Offered by UNCF
Are you a full-time student at a UNCF Member College or University with demonstrated financial need? If so, you may be eligible for some of the many available UNCF Scholarships!…
Show MoreRegions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest
Offered by Regions Bank
Are you a Black, college-bound high school senior or current college student who will be enrolled in an accredited university for this upcoming academic year? If so, you may be…
Show MoreNANBPWC National Scholarship
Offered by National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club
The NANBPWC National Scholarship is funded by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, an organization that promotes and protects the interests of African American business and…
Show MoreAfrican American Leadership Society STEM Scholarship
Offered by United Way of South Hampton Roads
Are you an African American high school senior, current college student, or veteran who will be entering college for the first time this fall? Consider applying for the African American…
Show MoreABA Diversity Scholarships
Offered by American Bus Association
Are you planning on working in the travel, transportation, or tourism sector and are part of a group that is underrepresented in the industry? If so, consider applying for the…
Show MoreCBC Spouses Performing Arts Scholarship
Offered by Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Are you a current or prospective Black/African American college student majoring in a performing arts field? If so, you might be interested in applying for the CBC Spouses Performing Arts…
Show More$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship
Sponsored
Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.
CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship
Offered by Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Are you pursuing a degree in visual arts? You might consider applying for the CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship! This scholarship is open to Black high school seniors, college, and…
Show MoreLegal Opportunity Scholarship Fund
Offered by American Bar Association
The Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund is funded by the American Bar Association (ABA), an organization that serves their members, their profession, and the public by defending liberty and delivering justice…
Show MoreCharles Shelton Veterinary Scholarship
Offered by Charles Shelton Foundation
Are you a Black or African-American student planning to or currently pursuing a degree in Veterinary Medicine or Technology? If so, consider applying for the Charles Shelton Veterinary Scholarship! The…
Show MoreKnowBe4 Scholarship for Black Americans in Cybersecurity
Offered by Center for Cyber Safety and Education
Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field and KnowBe4, a platform that trains people on security issues, is offering a scholarship to support cybersecurity students! The KnowBe4 Scholarship for Black Americans…
Show MoreSVGS Foundation Walker Williams Wilson Scholarship
Offered by Seeking Visions Gaining Success Foundation
Are you an African American male student planning to attend a Historical Black College or University or currently enrolled full-time? If so, consider applying for the SVGS Foundation Walker Williams…
Show MoreJCS Beauty “Nourish and Shine” BIPOC Cosmetology Scholarship
Offered by Beauty Changes Lives
Are you a Black student who is currently or will soon be enrolled in a cosmetology program in the U.S. or Canada? If so, consider applying for the JCS Beauty…
Show MoreSage Michaela Lucas “Timing is Everything” Scholarship
Offered by Beauty Changes Lives
Are you a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color) student pursuing a career in esthetics? If so, consider applying for the Sage Michaela Lucas "Timing is Everything" Scholarship! This scholarship…
Show More$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship
Sponsored
Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to high school students in the class of 2024, 2026, and 2026.
Niche $2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
Sponsored
Easy scholarship from Niche open to all high school, college, and graduate students.
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How to win scholarships for Black students
As with any scholarship opportunity, scholarships for Black students are highly competitive, and in order to achieve success, you’ll need to craft an application that stands out from the crowd. One great way to write a strong application is to spend some time reflecting before you start your essays.
Because these applications are offered specifically to Black students, they will often ask questions relating to your heritage and its importance in your life. Before answering these questions, try to reflect on what your Black background means to you, and talk to family members or friends to get some ideas for your application. You can jot down some informal notes about your findings, and come back to this document as you fill out your applications.
How to write a great essay
Once you have an idea of what you want to say in your essays, it’s time to make sure you say it in the most compelling way possible. Try to be succinct, charismatic, and insightful in your responses. Oftentimes, getting someone to proofread your essays can help you gain some perspective.
We have a host of resources to help you fine-tune your applications, including guides on writing 250 word or 500 word essays, writing about yourself, and answering some of the most common scholarship essay prompts. You can also check out our guides for starting and ending your essays, as well as a guide on how to write a winning scholarship essay.
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.
- Check out our scholarship search tool to stay up-to-date on current scholarship opportunities custom-matched to your demographics, interests, and major.
- Make sure to put a lot of work into your scholarship essays. This includes working on writing about yourself, and learning to write for word limits. Some common word limits for scholarship essays are 250 and 500 words.
- Talk to the guidance counselor at your high school to see if there are any local scholarships you can apply for.
Prestigious scholarships for Black and African American students
These scholarships are some of our top picks, as they come with high awards, can be used at any accredited college, and are very prestigious to receive.
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Black high school seniors can apply to this program to earn $35,000 over their four years of college. They also receive invitations and funding to attend annual leadership conferences in New York to help support them through their college journey and beyond. In order to qualify, you’ll have to be a member of a minority group, demonstrate financial need, and demonstrate civic engagement through volunteer work, leadership roles, or other similar achievements.
Ron Brown Scholar Program
Black high school seniors who show interest in business and public service and who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds can qualify for this scholarship. The program offers up to $40,000 over a student’s four years of college. Community service, academic achievement, and financial need are all weighed heavily in this scholarship.
Blacks at Microsoft Scholarship
Students who are of African descent and who are planning to major in engineering, computer science, computer information system, or business programs such as finance and business administration, are eligible. Students apply in their senior year of high school. The scholarship can provide up to $20,000 over four years of college. You’ll need to submit letters of recommendation for this one, so if you are planning to apply, make sure to request them earlier rather than later.
What you should know about HBCUs
HBCUs have historically been extremely important in the education of Black students. For many years, they were the only universities that admitted Black students. Fortunately, this is no longer true. However, they continue to provide unique benefits for Black students across the country. Here is a list of some of the highest-rated HBCUs:
School | Location | Enrollment | Tuition | Acceptance Rate |
Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 2,120 | $29,972 | 43.4% |
Howard University | Washington, DC | 6,526 | $28,440 | 36.1% |
Xavier University of Louisiana | New Orleans, LA | 2,530 | $25,947 | 60% |
Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 2,394 | $22,679 | 51.7% |
Hampton University | Hampton, VA | 3,714 | $29,287 | 36% |
Morehouse College | Atlanta, GA | 2,238 | $28,847 | 99.8% |
There are many scholarship opportunities specifically for Black students attending an HBCU. These include the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame General Scholarship. We also have a full list of HBCU scholarships to check out.
Don’t forget financial aid
While scholarships are a great way to pay for your education, it’s important not to forget financial aid as you move through the application process. Be sure to fill out the FAFSA to discover your eligibility for federal funding such as the Pell Grant, Stafford Loans, and state grants, as well as institutional aid. If your school requires the CSS Profile, make sure to fill that out too. And be sure to check in with your local community to see if there are any grants available for students.
Resources for Black students
If you have a good idea of the type of work you want to get into, it’s a good idea to seek out some Black professional organizations in your field. These organizations often offer their own scholarships, and they also host events that unite professionals in the field. From these events, you may gain additional guidance on your career trajectory, or even land a job or internship.
Professional organizations can vary widely in scope and focus. Some may be regional organizations, whereas others will be national. For example, the National Association of Black Accountants boasts of over 200,000 members nationwide, and could be a great resource for Black students interested in accounting.
And they are far from the only ones – whether you plan to be a physicist, cardiologist, a psychologist, or a host of other professions, there is an organization out there for you! Even students who are not set on a career path may benefit from joining or investigating these organizations. The firsthand experience with professionals in the field can help you decide whether it is a good fit for you or not.
Black Student Unions
Most colleges around the country have Black Student Unions, which unify Black students on campus. If you are considering attending a school, you may find it beneficial to reach out to their Black Student Union. They may be able to steer you in the direction of school-specific scholarships and other resources. They can also offer insight about the experience of being a Black student on that school’s campus.
Additional organizations to check out
- Black Career Network – a great resource for landing a job after graduation or an internship while you’re still in school
- United Negro College Fund (UNCF) – an organization that offers a wide array of dependable and lucrative scholarships for Black and African American students
- HBCU Network – a catch-all hub of resources for students attending an HBCU or considering attending one
- I’m First – if you are a first-generation college student, this is a great hub of resources to answer questions you may not even know you had. This can make your application process and your first semesters in school much easier and more successful