Many organizations and schools support Black and African American scholars through scholarships. Below you can find the best scholarships for this group.

Over half of prospective college students consider affordability before they decide to attend a college. Sadly, there’s still conspicuous racial discrimination regarding financial aid for Black and African American students. And speaking of federal loans, statistics say that more black students take out federal loans for their college education than white students. Nevertheless, black students acquire more debt compared to their white peers. All that shows why black student scholarships are crucial. Financial aid for black students helps them counteract the expenses of college learning, leaving them less dependent on borrowing.

Therefore, several scholarships and financial assistance have emerged meant exclusively to support Black, and African American students earn their degrees. Some of these scholarships are earmarked particularly for students taking STEM and Black women.

Black and African American Students General Scholarships

The Gates Scholarship

Who Is Eligible?: Eligible students are minority students who can substantiate excellent academic performance and leadership competency. With this extra-selective scholarship, high school senior applicants must qualify for the Pell Grant Program and have at least a 3.3 cumulative weighted GPA.

Application Deadline: September 2022

Scholarship Amount: The total cost of attendance

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Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must demonstrate outstanding leadership capabilities and excellent academic performance. They must be minority students who intend to join a recognized college for four years. And besides financial assistance, beneficiaries are provided career coaching and internship arrangement.

Application Due Date: January 2023

Scholarship Budget: Up to $30,000 over four years

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ETS Presidential Scholarship for HBCU Students

Who Is Eligible?: ETS and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund offer this award to Juniors or seniors admitted to a historically Black college or university (HBCU). Applicants should substantiate their financial needs and have at least a 3.5 GPA.

Application Deadline: Varies

Scholarship Amount: Full cost of tuition

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Scholarships for Black and African American Women

Dr. Julianne Malveaux Scholarship

Who Is Eligible?: Eligible applicants are African American women in their first or second year and are admitted to a recognized university. They must major in journalism, economics, or associate fields and have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Application Deadline: April 2022

Scholarship Amount: Varies

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The Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship

Who Is Eligible?: This need-based scholarship applies to female high school seniors who see themselves playing collegiate golf while doing their college degree. The Ladies Professional Golf Association offers it, and two yearly awards go to minority students.

Application Deadline: January 2023

Scholarship Amount: $5,000

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STEM Scholarship

ACS Scholars Program

Who Is Eligible?: This renewable scholarship is facilitated by the American Chemical Society and applies to marginalized scholars pursuing chemistry-related disciplines. Applicants should demonstrate an interest in careers related to chemistry science with a 3.0 GPA.

Application Due Date: March 2022

Scholarship Budget: Up to $5,000 per academic year

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Blacks at Microsoft Scholarship

Who Is Eligible?: Eligible applicants are Black and African American high school seniors interested in technology. They should be planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or specific business programs.

Application Deadline: March 2022

Scholarship Amount: Varies

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KnowBe4 Scholarship for Black Americans in Cybersecurity

Who Is Eligible?: Eligible applicants are scholars pursuing a cybersecurity and information assurance degree. Graduates or undergraduates must possess a minimum GPA of 3.2. This scholarship, also known as the KnowBe4, is offered by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education and applies to Black and African American students.

Application Deadline: April 2022

Scholarship Amount: $10,000 for college expenses and at most $3,000 for on-campus housing

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First-Generation Black and African American Students Scholarships

Enterprise Holdings ROAD Forward Scholarship

Who Is Eligible?: Eligible applicants must be first-generation, first-year African American college students admitted to a United Negro College Fund-member institution. They must substantiate the need for financial help.

Application Deadline: February 2022

Scholarship Amount: Up to $12,222

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Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program

Who Is Eligible?: Eligible applicants must be marginalized first-generation high-school seniors admitted to a four-year University and pursuing specific disciplines such as transportation management, math, science, engineering, architecture, and psychology.

Application Deadline: March 2022

Scholarship Amount: Varies

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Fund for Education Abroad Scholarships

Who Is Eligible?: Fund for Education Abroad provides more than one scholarship to support minority, first-generation college scholars seeking to learn abroad.

Application Deadline: Varies

Scholarship Amount: Up to $5,000

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Black and African American Graduate Students Scholarships

Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship

Who Is Eligible?: Eligible applicants are racially and ethnically disparate scholars in their last year of any healthcare management master’s degree program, for example, a master’s degree in healthcare administration. This scholarship is awarded by the Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Application Deadline: March 2022

Scholarship Amount: $5,000

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Spectrum Scholarship Program

Who Is Eligible?: Eligible applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program recognized by the American Library Association (ALA) or AASL. These programs could be in the library, information science, or school library media. The American Library Association Spectrum Scholarship offers it for racially and ethnically disparate scholars, including Black and African American students. Other benefits of this award include coaching opportunities.

Application Deadline: March 2022

Scholarship Amount: $5,000

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National Black MBA Association Scholarship

Who Is Eligible?: Scholars registered for a recognized graduate business degree program can apply. They must be financially active members of the NBMBAA and can substantiate an active involvement in their communities.

Application Deadline: March 2022

Scholarship Amount: Up to $5,000

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Grants for Black and African American Students

Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant

Who Is Eligible?: This scholarship is offered by the State of Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board to support minority scholars in Wisconsin. Scholars must be admitted for a certificate or degree program at any institution in Wisconsin.

Application Deadline: January 2022

Grant Amount: $250-$2,500 per year for up to eight semesters or 12 quarters

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American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students

Who Is Eligible?: Students who can apply must be the minority or planning to be registered in a recognized doctoral program in accounting. They must be willing to attend on-campus and full-time accounting programs with plans to pursue CPA licensure.

Application Deadline: May 2022

Grant Amount: $12,000

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Iowa Minority Academic Grant for Economic Success

Who Is Eligible?: This need-based grant applies to the few lowa scholars undergoing their undergraduate degrees. The application process involves completing and filing the FAFSA application by the due date. Beneficiaries must take at least six credits each semester, and they can get the grant for eight semesters.

Application Deadline: December 2022

Grant Amount: Varies

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