Top Scholarships for Black Students
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 2020
- 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 2020:
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
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: $400
- Deadline: September 15
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 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 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
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 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
CollegeXpress Community Service Scholarship for Multicultural Students
- Eligibility: This scholarship is open to students who will be college freshman in the fall
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: April 1st of each year
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
- African-American Entrepreneurs Grant — Female Award
- African-American Entrepreneurs Grant — Male Award
- Annual Black Entrepreneurship Grant
- African-American Journalism Scholarship
- Art of Protest Grant for Black Students
- Black Design Leaders Grant
- Black Engineering Leaders Grant
- Black Marketing Leaders Grant
- Black Medical Students Scholarship
- Black Students in Public Health Grant
- Black Students in St. Louis Scholarship
- Black Students in Tech Grant
- Black Visual Artists Grant
- BLM Squared Scholarship
- Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships
- Center for Advancing Opportunity Undergraduate Research Scholarship
- CollegeXpress Community Service Scholarship for Multicultural Students
- Gates Scholarship
- Impact Scholarship for Black Students
- INTEL Scholarship 2020
- Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
- Minority Women in STEM Bi-Annual Scholarship
- Opportunity for Black Women Scholarship
- Philadelphia Black Entrepreneurs Grant
- Ron Brown Scholar Program
- TMCF | McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship
- UNCF General Scholarship
- UNCF STEM Scholarship
- Undiscovered Brilliance Scholarship for African-Americans
Expired Scholarships
Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships
- Eligibility: High school seniors who identify as African American
- Amount: $20,000
- Deadline: April 10th
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
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors from minority backgrounds.
- Amount: up to $30,000 over 4 years
- Deadline February 1st (Opens November 1)
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
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
