Top 26 Scholarships for Black Students in January 2021
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:
$2,000 CollegeXpress Community Service Scholarship for Multicultural Students
- Eligibility: This scholarship is open to students who will be college freshmen in the fall
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: April 1st of each year
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
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 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 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
Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships
- Eligibility: High school seniors who identify as African American
- Amount: $20,000
- Deadline: March 31, 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
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
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 1, 2021
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
UNCF General Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students attending a UNCF member college
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: March 31, 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

Scholarships for Black Women
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
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 (Opens February 1)

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 African American Scholarships
- $2,000 CollegeXpress Community Service Scholarship for Multicultural Students
- African-American Entrepreneurs Grant — Female Award
- African-American Entrepreneurs Grant — Male Award
- Annual Black Entrepreneurship Grant
- African-American Journalism Scholarship
- Black Design Leaders Grant
- Black Engineering Leaders Grant
- Black Marketing Leaders Grant
- Black Medical Students Scholarship
- Black Students in St. Louis Scholarship
- Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships
- Coding for Minorities Scholarship
- Future Black Leaders Scholarships
- Gabriella Carter Music and Me Scholarship
- Generation Google Scholarship
- Impact Scholarship for Black Students
- Incarceration Impact Scholarship
- Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
- KnowBe4 Scholarship for Black Americans in Cybersecurity
- Make Your Mark BIPOC Arts Scholarship
- Minority Student Art Scholarship
- National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club Scholarships
- Philadelphia Black Entrepreneurs Grant
- Ron Brown Scholar Program
- UNCF General Scholarship
- Undiscovered Brilliance Scholarship for African-Americans
Expired Scholarships
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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 2020-2021 academic school year.
- Amount: $15,000
- Deadline: June 15
UNCF STEM Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to African American high school seniors who are taking college-level courses and African American college freshmen
- Amount: range from $2,500 to $5,000
- Deadline: March 19th