Affordability is a concern for all college-bound students, including African Americans. Fortunately, a number of scholarships, grants, and financial aid opportunities are reserved specifically for their population. Most of the time, scholarships have the potential of decreasing or even eliminating the need of taking out student loans, which leave students free to focus on their education instead of worry about how to pay for it. EDScholarship is devoted to helping African-American students find a wide variety of college scholarship funds available to them.
For the minority of African-Americans, the scholarship programs are intended to improve African Americans' image in certain fields as well as higher education as a whole by ensuring students in need of aid receive it.
Many efforts have been doing to raise up the representation of African-Americans in higher education. Some outstanding African-American institutions such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) have done tremendous work to yearly increase the number of black students in higher education in the country.
Besides those scholarships that are specific to African-Americans, they can also apply to any nonspecific scholarship. However, it is important that the applicant follows all the requirements from A to Z to be considered. If the scholarship, the grant, or the program you apply for requires essays, recommendations, or some other information, do not send your application without those requirements.
Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship
Deadline: Varies
Amount: $35,000
Description
Established in 1997, the Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship is a reflection of our Business Principles and is awarded to recognize outstanding students and their achievements. Fellowship recipients will receive a $35,000 award in addition to the Summer Associate salary. Upon successful completion of the summer internship and acceptance of a full-time offer, Fellowship recipients will be awarded an additional $40,000, plus any full-time Associate signing bonus, as applicable.
Criteria & Contact Information
First-year MBA students; Pursuing a 2021 Summer Associate position at Goldman Sachs; Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American or women.
Promoting Diversity – Actuarial Diversity Scholarship
Deadline: June 16, 2021
Amount: $1,000-$4,000
Description
The Actuarial Diversity Scholarship promotes diversity within the profession through an annual scholarship program for Black/African American, Hispanic, Native North American, and Pacific Islander students. The scholarship award recognizes and encourages the academic achievements of full-time undergraduate students pursuing a degree that may lead to a career in the actuarial profession.
Criteria & Contact Information
To be eligible for this scholarship, an applicant must meet the followings:
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having at least one birth parent who is a member of one of the following minority groups: Black/African American, Hispanic, Native North American, Pacific Islander.
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Enrolling as or enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at a U.S. accredited educational institution.
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Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), emphasizing on math or actuarial courses.
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Entering college freshmen must have a minimum ACT math score of 28 or SAT math score of 620.
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Intent on pursuing a career in the actuarial profession.
International Association of Black Actuaries Scholarship (IABA)
Deadline: April 1, 2022
Amount: $1,500 - $5,000
Description
The Actuarial Foundation offers the international Association of Black Actuaries Scholarship (IABA), which provides scholarships at the undergraduate and graduate level for black students who are interested in pursuing actuarial careers.
The scholarship program is available to students of African descent originating from the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and African nations.
Criteria & Contact Information
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must meet the followings:
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be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; or a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, a citizen of any Caribbean or African nation on a United States or Canadian student visa;
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be admitted to a college or university in the United States or Canada offering either a program in actuarial science or courses that will serve to prepare the student for an actuarial career;
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have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
CLICK HERE for more information about this scholarship.
George Washington Carver National Scholarship
Deadline: Varies
Amount: $22,000 to 3/4 tuition
Description
The Simpson College offers the George Washington Carver National Scholarship in honor of George Washington Carver who attended Simpson College. Carver Scholarships are awarded to both first-year and transfer students from distinctive and broadly diverse backgrounds, who will help enrich the educational environment and bring multicultural perspectives to the campus community. This scholarship is awarded based on academic merit or talent.
Criteria & Contact Information
This scholarship can be awarded in addition to the academic merit scholarships unless you are the recipient of any full-tuition award. CLICK HERE for more information about this award, please contact the office of admission.
Diversity Advancement Scholarship
Deadline: Varies
Amount: $20,000
Description
The Architects Foundation leads philanthropic efforts that lay the foundation of architecture’s future, by attracting, inspiring, and investing in new and diverse generations of architects who will create inclusive spaces and places of tomorrow.
The Foundation offers the Diversity Advancement Scholarship for applicants who want to design a better world. This scholarship attends to help more minority students pursue a successful career in architecture.
Criteria & Contact Information
The Architects Foundation is looking for minority students whose imagination and design thinking will influence the future of the built environment and the architecture profession. To be eligible, students must meet the followings:
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be a US citizen;
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have a minimum 3.0 GPA;
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be a high school student planning to enroll in a NAAB-accredited architecture degree program;
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be a rising second-year college student in a NAAB-accredited architecture degree program; or,
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be a technical school or community college student who has completed high school or its equivalent and intends to transfer to a NAAB-accredited architecture program.
Applicants must also submit the followings:
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A comprehensive essay that tells the Architects Foundation why you think it’s important to have diverse viewpoints and cultures represented within the architecture profession (1,200 words)
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A professional resume
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Two letters of recommendation
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A portfolio (3-5 creative works, do not have to be architecture-specific).
CLICK HERE to learn more about the diversity program.
William Randolph Hearst Foundation Endowed Scholarship - UAB
Deadline: Varies
Amount: Varies
Description
The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers The William Randolph Hearst Foundation Endowed Scholarship, which was established by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation in order to establish a scholarship in the School of Public Health for graduate students from underrepresented, low-income, and minority populations. The William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s interests in the health field seek to improve and increase health care while facilitating wellness, prevention, and rehabilitation.
This fund will allow the School of Public Health to assist deserving minority students who will make a crucial difference in the various fields of public health aimed at developing, disseminating, and applying knowledge to prevent disease and promote human health.
Criteria & Contact Information
The William Randolph Hearst Foundation created this scholarship to support minority public health students. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
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be from under-represented, low-income, minority populations with a demonstrated financial need and a commitment to pursue a future career in public health;
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be a U.S. citizen who plans to permanently reside in the U.S. after completion of degree; and,
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have a 3.0 GPA.
Cay Drachnik Minorities Fund
Deadline: June 15 of each year
Amount: Varies
Description
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) offers the Cay Drachnik Minorities Fund, which specifically designed for the purchase of books, this fund is available to an AATA student member of an ethnic minority group who can demonstrate financial need and acceptance or enrollment in an art therapy program; undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D.
Criteria & Contact Information
This award is available to AATA members only. Please Join today to ensure your eligibility for submission.
AICPA Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students
Deadline: June 1
Amount: $3,000 - $5,000
Description
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) offers the AICPA Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students. This award provides financial assistance to outstanding minority students to encourage their pursuit of accounting as a major and their ultimate entry into the profession.
The AICPA Minority Scholarship was created in 1969 with the purpose of increasing the representation of ethnically diverse CPA professionals. The fund will be sent directly to the student’s financial aid office to be used towards the payment of tuition and expenses directly related to obtaining a degree.
**This award is renewable; however, renewals are neither automatic nor guaranteed. Students who wish to renew their scholarship awards must reapply the following year.
Criteria & Contact Information
An applicant must meet the following criteria to be qualified:
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be an ethnic minority in the accounting profession (including but not limited to: Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino; Native American; Pacific Islander; or Asian American);
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pursuing an undergraduate or graduate-level degree in accounting or accounting-related major. (Accounting-related shall be as determined by Sponsors in Sponsors’ sole discretion.);
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planning to pursue the CPA licensure but not presently be a CPA;
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attending a public or private, not-for-profit (501(c)) four-year college or university in the U.S. or territories for the full 2021-22 academic year;
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maintaining an overall and major GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale);
CLICK HERE for all requirements about this scholarship.
AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students
Deadline: May 31, 2021
Amount: $12,000
Description
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) offers the AICPA Minority Doctoral Fellowship, which seeks to increase the representation of ethnically diverse CPA professors in college/university classrooms.
Criteria & Contact Information
An applicant must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
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a) applied to a doctoral program and am awaiting word on acceptance; b) been accepted into a doctoral program or c)already matriculated in a doctoral program and pursuing appropriate coursework;
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earned a Master’s Degree and/or completed at least 3 years of full-time experience in the accounting practice;
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be a minority student of Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino; or Native American ethnicity;
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attend school on a full-time basis and remain enrolled full-time until attaining one’s doctoral degree;
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be a CPA or plan to pursue the CPA credential.
CLICK HERE to learn more about this scholarship. For questions about the program, you may send an email to academics@aicpa.org with any comments or questions regarding the AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students.
Deadline: May 15, 2021
Amount: Varies
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) offers the AICPA Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop program (ASLW), which is an all-expenses-paid annual invitational program for minority accounting students. This event aims to strengthen students’ professional skills and understanding of the limitless possibilities and benefits of earning the CPA credential.
Attendees will participate in learning sessions and panel discussions covering a wide array of topics such as developing leadership skills and passing the CPA exam. AICPA Foundation covers the cost of student attendees’ transportation to/from the workshop location, hotel accommodations, training experience, and meals. Please click here to learn more about this program.
Deadline: April 30
Amount: $3,000
The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) offers the Ralph W. Shrader Graduate Diversity Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to full-time students (women and minority students), enrolled in their second semester and at least two semester-equivalent courses) currently pursuing a graduate degree at any accredited academic institution in the United States and living in the United States in an eligible major that supports the mission of AFCEA Educational Foundation. The expected graduation date cannot be in the year the scholarship is awarded.
For more information about the criteria and eligibility, please visit here the AFCEA.
Deadline: May 31, 2021
Amount: $3,000
The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Educational Foundation offers the Intel Graduate Diversity Scholarship. This Scholarship will provide scholarship funding for full-time college students that are underrepresented minorities (i.e. technical female, African-Americans, Latin/Hispanic origin, and/or Native American) or a Gold Star Family Member, currently pursuing a graduate degree (Masters or Ph.D.) at an accredited academic institution in the United States and living in the United States. The eligible majors for this scholarship support the mission of the AFCEA Educational Foundation. In addition to the diversity requirement, applicants must also be either a current member of the Armed Forces, have prior military experience, or be a Gold Star Family Member. Click here for more information.
Deadline: May 31, 2021
Amount: $3,000
The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Educational Foundation offers the Intel Graduate Diversity Scholarship. This Scholarship will provide scholarship funding for full-time college students that are underrepresented minorities (i.e. technical female, African-Americans, Latin/Hispanic origin, and/or Native American) or a Gold Star Family Member, currently pursuing a graduate degree (Masters or Ph.D.) at an accredited academic institution in the United States and living in the United States. The eligible majors for this scholarship support the mission of the AFCEA Educational Foundation. In addition to the diversity requirement, applicants must also be either a current member of the Armed Forces, have prior military experience, or be a Gold Star Family Member. Click here for more information.