Scholarships for African American Students

Black History Month, also known as National African American History Month, is the time in which Americans celebrate the achievements of African Americans throughout history.

That makes this month the perfect time to celebrate the achievements of up-and-coming history makers, too. That means students like you!

There are abundant scholarship opportunities from notable African American advancement organizations, like the NAACP, UNCF and the Congressional Black Caucus, Inc., just to name a few.

This is in addition to the many opportunities from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), like Dillard University, sororities or fraternities, such as the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity and foundations in the like, such as the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Rosa L. Parks Scholarship Foundation and Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Celebrate your heritage with a scholarship and consider using your education to make a difference in the world like the many honorable African Americans who have rewritten history time and time again.

Who knows, YOU could be the next person the world is celebrating!

Remember, when you’d like to find scholarships within specific categories, check out Fastweb’s Scholarship Directory to find awards by school year, ethnicity, race, unique situations and more!

To help better organize your scholarship search, please note that the following awards for African American students are listed according to deadline, with the earliest deadline appearing at the top of the page. Deadlines that vary will appear at the bottom of the list.

Apply for the following African American scholarship opportunities today to help pay for school.

AICPA Minority Scholarship

Deadline: 4/01/17
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: 80 awards of $5,000

The Minority Accounting Scholarship is available to full – time minority students majoring in accounting. You must have a minimum 3.3 GPA and have completed at least 30 semester hours, with at least 6 hours in accounting, to be eligible for this award.

Learn more about the AICPA Minority Scholarship.

Royce Osborne Minority Student Scholarship

Deadline: 4/01/17
Available to: College Freshmen through College Senior
Award Amount: 5 Awards of $4,000

The Royce Osborne Minority Student Scholarship is open to minority students who are attending an entry- level radiologic sciences program. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate financial aid, and be a United States citizen or permanent resident to be considered for this award.

Learn more about the Royce Osborne Minority Student Scholarship.

Stanley J. Tarver Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: 4/01/17
Available to: Graduate Students, Year 2 through Year 5
Award Amount: $2,000

The Stanley J. Tarver Memorial Scholarship is available to graduate students from Dutchess County. You must be of African descent – African-American or a black person of another nationality – matriculating towards a doctorate or masters degree in African history or culture. You must have completed at least one year of graduate studies to be eligible for this award. Three letters of recommendation and a personal essay are required with your application.

Learn more about the Stanley J. Tarver Memorial Scholarship.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen through College Seniors
Award Amount: $2,000

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Scholarship is available to students at a historically black college or university that is a member or associate member of the IES consortium. Your school must also transfer at least 75 percent of home school aid to IES. You also must be planning on studying abroad to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Scholarship.

Goldman Sachs Scholarship for Excellence

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Sophomores through College Juniors
Award Amount: $10,000

The Goldman Sachs Scholarship for Excellence is available to Black, Latino, and Native American undergraduate students who are interested in the financial services industry. You must have a minimum 3.4 GPA, demonstrate team – oriented leadership, and be involved in service to your campus and / or community to be eligible for this award.

Learn more about the Goldman Sachs Scholarship for Excellence.

Diversity Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen
Award Amount: $10,000

The Diversity Scholarship is available to entering students at the Adler School of Professional Psychology.

You must demonstrate a commitment to diversity as it relates to your interest in psychology in order to qualify for this award.

Priority is given to applicants who belong to ethnic, racial, religious, cultural, and sexual identity groups that have traditionally been underrepresented populations in the field of psychology.

Get more information on the Diversity Scholarship.

DiversityAbroad.com Study Abroad Blogging Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen through College Seniors
Award Amount: 5 Awards of $500

The DiversityAbroad.com Study Abroad Blogging Scholarship is available to minority undergraduate students who have been accepted to participate in a study abroad, intern abroad, language immersion abroad, or volunteer abroad program offered through a DiversityAbroad.com partner organization.

You must have a minimum 2.75 GPA at an American college or university to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the DiversityAbroad.com Study Abroad Blogging Scholarship.

Cay Drachnik Minorities Fund

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: Varies

The Cay Drachnik Minorities Fund is open to students in an AATA- approved art therapy program. You must be a member of an ethnic minority group and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award.

Learn more about the Cay Drachnik Minorities Fund.

F. Armstrong Scholarship – Cornell College

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshman
Award Amount: $16,000

The F. Armstrong Scholarship is open to entering freshmen at Cornell College who contribute to campus diversity.

Get more information on the F. Armstrong Scholarship – Cornell College.

Reginaldo Howard Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen
Award Amount: 100% of Tuition

The Reginaldo Howard Scholarship is available to first-year students of African descent at Duke University.

To be considered, you must demonstrate outstanding leadership ability, scholastic achievement, community involvement, and evidence of serious commitment to a life of service to others.

Get more information on the Reginaldo Howard Scholarship.

Ventures Scholars Program

Deadline: Varies
Available to: High School Freshmen through College Freshmen
Award Amount: $10,000

The Ventures Scholars Program, provided by Ventures in Education, Inc., is open to underrepresented and first-generation college-bound students.

You must be pursuing a math- or science-based career to be considered for this award. Get more information on the Ventures Scholars Program.

Manhattan Central Medical Society Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: Graduate Students, Year 1 through Year 3
Award Amount: $2,000

The Manhattan Central Medical Society Scholarship is available to African-American medical students.

You must be enrolled at a school in the greater New York area to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Manhattan Central Medical Society Scholarship.

Black Professional Association Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen through College Seniors
Award Amount: Varies

The Black Professional Association Scholarship is available to African-American students at the University of Akron. You must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this award. Preference will be given to students from the Cleveland area.

Learn more about the Black Professional Association Scholarship.

Pedro Zamora Public Policy Fellowship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: Varies

The Pedro Zamora Public Policy Fellowship is open to young professionals, undergraduate and graduate students who seek experience in HIV-related public policy and government affairs.

You must have strong research, writing and organizational skills and a willingness to work in a professional office. Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment is critical.

Familiarity with HIV-related issues and the legislative process is preferred.

People of color, women, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, and HIV positive individuals are encouraged to apply.

Get more information on the Pedro Zamora Public Policy Fellowship.

Diversity Out-of-State Tuition Waiver – University of Idaho

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen to Graduate Students, 5th Year
Award Amount: Varies

The Diversity Out-of-State Tuition Waiver is open to students from diverse ethnic backgrounds attending the University of Idaho.

You must not be a resident of Idaho and have a minimum 2.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Diversity Out-of-State Tuition Waiver – University of Idaho.

Gerber Scholarship in Pediatrics Program

Deadline: Varies
Available to: Graduate Students, Year 1 through Year 5
Award Amount: $5,000

The Gerber Scholarship in Pediatrics Program is open to medical students who are members of an underrepresented minority.

You must demonstrate interest in pediatrics with an emphasis on nutrition to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Gerber Scholarship in Pediatrics Program.

YMCA of Greater Rochester Enhancement of Diversity Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Sophomores through College Seniors
Award Amount: $3,000

The YMCA of Greater Rochester Enhancement of Diversity Scholarship is open to racial/ethnic minority students who have a strong interest in YMCA involvement.

You must be a full- or part-time matriculated student at an accredited college or university with a minimum of one semester completed.

You must also intern at least half-time (16-20 hours per week) at the YMCA during the school year and full-time during the summer, and have an interest in post-graduate career opportunities with the YMCA to qualify for this award.

Get more information on the YMCA of Greater Rochester Enhancement of Diversity Scholarship.

Mentorship for Environmental Scholars Program

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Sophomores through College Seniors
Award Amount: $3,500

The Mentorship for Environmental Scholars Program is available to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are underrepresented in STEM and other related disciplines.

This internship is a 10-week hands-on research experience provided at a Department of Energy or Legacy Management site.

Get more information on the Mentorship for Environmental Scholars Program.

Anarcha, Betsy, and Lucy Memorial Scholarship Award

Deadline: Varies
Available to: Female Graduate Students, Year 1 through Year 5
Award Amount: $5,000

The Anarcha, Betsy, and Lucy Memorial Scholarship Award is available to female African -American students.

You must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. medical school program to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Anarcha, Betsy, and Lucy Memorial Scholarship Award.

Dr. Blanca Moore-Velez Woman of Substance Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen through College Seniors
Award Amount: Varies

The Dr. Blanca Moore-Velez Woman of Substance Scholarship is available to African – American female undergraduate students. You must be at least 35 years of age and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. You must also submit a 500 – word essay on the following topic: “Challenges to the Mature Student and How I Overcame Them.”

Learn more about the Dr. Blanca Moore-Velez Woman of Substance Scholarship.

BONUS! Internship

AAAS Minority Science Writers Internship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen through College Seniors
Award Amount: Varies

The AAAS Minority Science Writers Internship is open to minority undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in science writing. You must be enrolled in an academic program at the time you submit your application to be eligible for this internship. Preference will be given to those students pursuing a degree in journalism.

Learn more about the AAAS Minority Science Writers Internship.

Need Money to Pay for College?

Every semester, Fastweb helps thousands of students pay for school by matching them to scholarships, grants, and internships, for which they actually qualify. You'll find scholarships like the Course Hero's $5,000 Scholarship, and easy to enter scholarships like Niche $2,000 No Essay Scholarship, and internships with companies like Apple, Google, Dreamworks, and even NASA!

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