While most U.S. college students rely on financial aid and scholarships to help them pay for higher education, BestColleges.com claims many African American students struggle with higher-education affordability including facing less financial aid availability at the institutional or collegiate level.
Award Amount: Varies The Evolve502 Scholarship is available to entering college freshmen who are Kentucky residents. You must be graduating from a Jefferson County Public School and be planning to enroll at any Kentucky Community and Technical College, Simmons College of Kentucky, or Jefferson Community and Technical College to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $1,000 The Annie Ibok Scholarship is available to rising college freshmen who are attending HBCUs. You must be a resident of Washington State or California and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Priority is given to recent high school graduates.
Award Amount: Varies The AOTF District of Columbia Scholarship is available to students at Howard University and/or Trinity Washington University. You must be enrolled in the occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant program and be a resident of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: Varies The UNCF General Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate and graduate students attending a UNCF member college or university. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: Full-Tuition The Morgan Stanley HBCU Scholars Program is open to students attending Howard University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College. Eligible students will be invited to apply through their schools.
Award Amount: Varies The San Diego HBCU Scholarship is available to high school seniors. To be eligible, you must be graduating from a San Diego County high school, have been accepted to a HBCU, and submit a 500 - word essay on the following topic: "Why I want to attend an HBCU."
Award Amount: $10,000 The Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate HBCU students. You must be a certified descendant of Jesuit slaveholding within the Catholic Church in the United States to be eligible for this award. Spouses of descendants may also apply.
Minority students are also more likely to be first-generation college students. These circumstances, in combination with fewer Black students completing and filing the FAFSA, are likely contributing factors leading them to resort to student loans to pay for college.
Students, regardless of race, should apply for and renew their FAFSA annually. Federal student aid should be the primary source of college funding, followed by scholarships and grants. Student loans should be the last approach to paying for college.
High School students considering enrolling at a HBCU, and current minority students attending an HBCU have unique scholarship opportunities to help them pay for school.
Top HBCU Scholarships for Black Students in 2026
HBCU Connect HBCU Student Scholarship
Deadline: 7/1/26 Award Amount: $1,000 The HBCU Connect HBCU Student Scholarship is available to students who attend or plan to attend one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities. To be considered for this award, you must submit an essay answering the following prompt: "Why did you choose to attend an HBCU and how will attending an HBCU help you meet your future goals in life?"Evolve502 Scholarship
Deadline: 7/15/26Award Amount: Varies The Evolve502 Scholarship is available to entering college freshmen who are Kentucky residents. You must be graduating from a Jefferson County Public School and be planning to enroll at any Kentucky Community and Technical College, Simmons College of Kentucky, or Jefferson Community and Technical College to be eligible for this award.
Annie Ibok Scholarship
Deadline: 7/31/26Award Amount: $1,000 The Annie Ibok Scholarship is available to rising college freshmen who are attending HBCUs. You must be a resident of Washington State or California and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Priority is given to recent high school graduates.
AOTF District of Columbia Scholarship
Deadline: 9/30/26Award Amount: Varies The AOTF District of Columbia Scholarship is available to students at Howard University and/or Trinity Washington University. You must be enrolled in the occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant program and be a resident of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area to be eligible for this award.
UNCF General Scholarship
Deadline: 3/31/27Award Amount: Varies The UNCF General Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate and graduate students attending a UNCF member college or university. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Morgan Stanley HBCU Scholars Program
Deadline: VariesAward Amount: Full-Tuition The Morgan Stanley HBCU Scholars Program is open to students attending Howard University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College. Eligible students will be invited to apply through their schools.
San Diego HBCU Scholarship
Deadline: RollingAward Amount: Varies The San Diego HBCU Scholarship is available to high school seniors. To be eligible, you must be graduating from a San Diego County high school, have been accepted to a HBCU, and submit a 500 - word essay on the following topic: "Why I want to attend an HBCU."
Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: RollingAward Amount: $10,000 The Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate HBCU students. You must be a certified descendant of Jesuit slaveholding within the Catholic Church in the United States to be eligible for this award. Spouses of descendants may also apply.
Marki Lemons Ryhal Education Advancement Scholarship
Deadline: Rolling Award Amount: $500 The Marki Lemons Ryhal Education Advancement Scholarship is available to African-American female students residing in underserved communities within the Chicagoland area. You must be pursuing a real estate license, OR be attending an HBCU or Chicago State University to be eligible for this award.HBCU Pathways Program Internship
Deadline: Rolling Award Amount: Paid The HBCU Pathways Program Internship is available to college juniors and seniors who are passionate about the sports, entertainment, and hospitality industries. You must have a minimum 2.75 GPA to be eligible to apply. Internships are offered in brand communications, digital marketing, event operations, global partnership, analytics, retail, and ticket sales. Interns will participate in a 10-week program in Atlanta, GA, gaining valuable hands-on experience and insight into the industry.You Might Also Like
Shawna Newman
Managing Editor, Contributing Writer
Shawna Newman covers various topics related to post-secondary education, including trade schools, the military, and college. She details strategies for paying for school, such as scholarships, financial ai...
