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
• Expired Scholarships

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

Top African American Scholarships for 2021:

$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
• Deadline: April 30, 2021

$1,000 Elevate Black Entrepreneurs Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to Black undergraduate or graduate school student entrepreneurs who are currently building or aspire to build a new business
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: July 1, 2021

$1,000 Impact Scholarship for Black Students

• Eligibility: Open to 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
• Deadline: May 11, 2021

African-American Journalism Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to Black students at any educational level who plan on (or already are) pursuing a career in journalism
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: May 11, 2021

Black Design Leaders Grant

• Eligibility: Open to current or aspiring Black entrepreneurial undergraduate or graduate students pursuing careers in design at a start-up
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: May 11, 2021

Black Engineering Leaders Grant

• Eligibility: Open to current or aspiring Black entrepreneurial undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a career in engineering at a start-up
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: May 11, 2021

Black Marketing Leaders Grant

• Eligibility: Open to current or aspiring Black entrepreneurial undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a career in marketing at a start-up
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: May 11, 2021

Black Students in St. Louis Scholarship

• Eligibility:  Black students at any educational level in St. Louis, Missouri who excel at dreaming big and starting small while building their vision of the future
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: June 11, 2021

Coding for Minorities Scholarship

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

Incarceration Impact Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to Black or Latinx students from low-income households with an incarcerated parent or legal guardian
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: April 18, 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
• Deadline: April 19, 2021

Melissa Ludwig Diversity in Yoga Scholarship

• Eligibility: This scholarship supports a person of color on their journey to become a yoga teacher. Essay response required. 
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: April 26, 2021

Philadelphia Black Entrepreneurs Grant

• Eligibility:  Black students at any educational level in Philadelphia who are currently building or aspire to build a new business
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: June 11, 2021

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
• Deadline: May 5, 2021

Undiscovered Brilliance Scholarship for African-Americans

• Eligibility: Awarded to a talented Black student at any level of education or field of study on the basis of their ambition, talent, and drive, as well as on the impact that additional support would have for them
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: May 16, 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

Scholarships for Black Women

Below are some scholarships that are specifically for Black women. 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!

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
• Deadline: April 15, 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. $2,500 Private Label Diversity in Cosmetology Scholarship
2. $1,000 Elevate Black Entrepreneurs Scholarship
3. $1,000 Impact Scholarship for Black Students
4. African-American Journalism Scholarship
5. Black Design Leaders Grant
6. Black Engineering Leaders Grant
7. Black Marketing Leaders Grant
8. Black Students in St. Louis Scholarship
9. Coding for Minorities Scholarship
10. Incarceration Impact Scholarship
11. KnowBe4 Scholarship for Black Americans in Cybersecurity
12. Melissa Ludwig Diversity in Yoga Scholarship
13. National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club Scholarships
14. Philadelphia Black Entrepreneurs Grant
15. TMCF | McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship
16. Undiscovered Brilliance Scholarship for African-Americans
17. Writing With a Purpose Scholarship

Expired Scholarships for Black Students

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
• Deadline: February 11, 2021

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
• Deadline: February 11, 2021

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
• Deadline: December 1

Art of Protest Grant for Black Students

• Eligibility:  This grant is for Black students who are furthering protests or social change through any form of visual art.
• Amount: $900
• Deadline: October 15

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
• Deadline: April 1, 2021

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
• Deadline: March 11, 2021

Black Students in Tech Grant

• Eligibility:  Open to black students at every educational level who are pursuing a career in technology
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: November 11

Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships

• Eligibility: High school seniors who identify as African American
• Amount: $20,000
• Deadline: March 31, 2021

Black Students in Public Health Grant

• Eligibility:  Open to black undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing a career in any area of public health
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: November 1

Black Visual Artists Grant

• Eligibility:  This grant is for a Black student pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in studio and/or visual arts
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: August 31

BLM Squared Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors who are permanent Illinois residents with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who plan to attend college in the United States. 
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: July 3

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
• Deadline: April 27th

Future Black Leaders Scholarships

• Eligibility: Open to Black students have large ambitions for their college and working careers
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: March 31, 2021

Future Leaders in Technology Scholarship – College Award

• Eligibility: The scholarship is open to undergraduate college and university students pursuing 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: $2,500
• Deadline: December 31

Future Leaders in Technology Scholarship – High School Award

• Eligibility: The scholarship is open to 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
• Deadline: December 31

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
• Deadline: March 4, 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

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
• Deadline: December 4

INTEL Scholarship 2020

• Eligibility: African American U.S. Citizens who are college juniors, seniors or graduates (MS and/or Ph.D) attending any four-year accredited college or university in the fall of 2020
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: August 31

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

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

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
• Deadline: April 2, 2021

Markforged Distinguished Black Engineers Grant

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

Minority Student Art Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to minority undergraduate/graduate students who are interested in, already enrolled in, or are recent graduates who took courses going toward a degree in the arts
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: March 1, 20221

Opportunity for Black Women Scholarship

• Eligibility:  Open to black females at every educational level who share about what they hope to achieve with their educations and careers 
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: November 11, 2020

Ron Brown Scholars Program

• Eligibility: Open to African American students with demonstrated financial aid who are high school seniors.
• Amount: up to $10,000 per year
• Deadline: January 9, 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: $500 to $15,000 
• Deadline: October 12, 2020

UNCF General Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students attending a UNCF member college
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: March 31, 2021