Scholarships for Black Students

Major National Scholarships For Black Students

The Ron Brown Scholar Program pays $40,000 over four years to Black high school seniors who pair academic excellence with leadership and service. The Jackie Robinson Foundation, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the United Negro College Fund also run large national programs, and the Gates Scholarship covers the full cost of attendance for high-achieving, Pell-eligible students of color, though it closes in early fall.

Scholarships For Students At HBCUs

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund supports students at its member public HBCUs, including corporate programs like the McDonald's Black and Positively Golden Scholarship. Individual HBCUs run their own merit programs as well, and the Cheatham-White Scholars Program at North Carolina A&T covers four full years of costs for a small group of students each year.

Corporate And Professional Scholarships

Companies and professional associations fund many awards tied to a career path. The National Society of Black Engineers and the National Association of Black Accountants run scholarship programs for members, the National Association of Black Journalists funds students entering the news business, and corporate programs like Blacks at Microsoft and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's education scholarships add more options. Programs for students of color, like the ALA Spectrum Scholarship in library science, are open to Black students too.

How To Find More Scholarships For Black Students

File the FAFSA first, since many of these programs use it to measure need. Then check your counselor's office, your college's diversity and financial aid offices, local chapters of groups like 100 Black Men and the NAACP, and the professional association for your intended major. Local awards draw the fewest applicants, so apply broadly and start in the fall, ahead of the January rush.

Frequently Asked Questions