Scholarships for African-American high school seniors
The scholarships for African-American high school seniors are many. You just have to know where to look for them. Here is a list of some of the most popular scholarships available:
Ron Brown Scholar Program
The Ron Brown Scholar Program is specifically for African-American students who are high school seniors and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, as well as an ACT score of 28 or higher.
The program pays for tuition, fees, books, and supplies. In addition to the financial support, you will also receive leadership development training and the opportunity to take part in internships with top companies around the country. You can check out my post on the Ron Brown scholarship.
United Negro College Fund Scholarships
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) offers scholarships for African-American students from high school to college and beyond.
UNCF scholarships are awarded to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students based on academic merit and financial need.
Each scholarship is worth $500 or more annually, but the maximum award is $40,000 over four years of study.
UNCF is open to members of all races and ethnicities who have a 2.5 GPA or above. Still, preference is given to African Americans with exceptional leadership skills who demonstrate community involvement and academic excellence in their chosen field of study. The organization also encourages applications from families that may be attending historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs).
Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc.
The Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc. Scholarship are awarded to African-American high school seniors who have demonstrated academic achievement and community service.
To be eligible, applicants must be in the top 15 percent of their class and have at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale; they must also have participated in at least 20 hours of community service during the current school year.
The scholarship pays up to $20,000 per year for up to four years if you attend an accredited university or college within the continental United States.
It’s renewable only once you remain enrolled full-time during each semester (excluding summers).
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship awarded to African-American students who are accepted to an accredited four-year college or university.
The scholarship is awarded based on GPA, community service, leadership, and financial need.
You can apply for this scholarship if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You must be African American
- You must be entering your first year at an accredited four-year college or university in the fall of 2020 (exception: students who have already taken one semester at their designated college/university)
- You must have a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale (or a cumulative high school GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4 million point scale).
William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) | scholarships for african-american high school seniors
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) is a merit-based scholarship program for African-American and Latino students.
Since its launch in 1999, GMS has awarded more than 50,000 scholarships totaling $750 million to students from low-income families who have demonstrated exceptional academic talent.
Scholarships are renewable for up to five years if you maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Each year approximately 4,000 high school seniors are selected as Gates Millennium Scholars through their high schools.
The selection process varies by state; your school may ask you to complete an application or submit other materials such as teacher recommendations and extracurricular activities information, but no essay is required at this stage in the application process.
All applicants will be notified by early March whether they have been selected or not.
If selected as a Gates Millennium Scholar, you would also be eligible for additional financial assistance through other sources such as federal work-study programs and state grants/scholarships that do not require repayment of loans after graduation (such as New York Excelsior Scholarships).
National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME)
NACME offers a variety of STEM scholarships that are open to all students, regardless of race.
The organization was formed in 1991 to increase the number of underrepresented ethnic groups in engineering. NACME offers three types of scholarships:
- $1,000 scholarships for high school seniors who plan on attending a university as an undergrad or graduate student in engineering
- $2,500 scholarships for undergrads who have completed at least one year of classes and are pursuing an engineering degree
- $3,000 scholarships for grad students who have completed at least two years of post-bachelor’s study
William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship | scholarships for african-american high school seniors
The Commission provides scholarships to minority students, which are defined as Black or Hispanic/Latinx people who plan to teach at an Indiana school after graduation. Students must sign a written agreement to apply for teaching positions in Indiana. If hired, they will be required to teach for at least three years in Indiana.
A minority student who was eligible for the Scholarship initially must apply for it again each year. The cumulative grade point average (GPA), or at the minimum, 2.0 on a scale of 4.0 or the equivalent is required to be admitted to the school’s school.
The Reverend Pinckney Scholarship | scholarships for african-american high school seniors
The Reverend Pinckney Scholars Program was established by Coastal Community Foundation in 2016 through the generous support of anonymous donors. This program promotes access to higher education for African American youth from Beaufort and Charleston counties. Pinckney Scholars receive financial support as well as mentoring and professional training. This ensures their success in college and beyond. Students get a $10,000 scholarship renewable each year.
Coca-Cola Scholars Program
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is an award that allows students to pursue a four-year degree at one of 150 participating colleges and universities.
The program offers scholarships to students who have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher, are interested in pursuing a career in business, and have demonstrated leadership qualities.
National Achievement Scholarship Program
The National Achievement Scholarship Program is for high school seniors who are academically talented and have at least a 3.5 GPA and 27 ACT or 1240 SAT scores (or higher).
If you meet these criteria, you can apply for this scholarship program through the National Scholarship Providers Association website. The application deadline is February 15th of each year.
United Negro College Fund Scholarships
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) offers scholarships for African-American students from high school to college and beyond.
UNCF scholarships are awarded to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students based on academic merit and financial need.
Each scholarship is worth $500 or more annually, but the maximum award is $40,000 over four years of study.
UNCF is open to members of all races and ethnicities who have a 2.5 GPA or above. Still, preference is given to African Americans with exceptional leadership skills who demonstrate community involvement and academic excellence in their chosen field of study. The organization also encourages applications from families that may be attending historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs).
Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc.
The Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc. Scholarship are awarded to African-American high school seniors who have demonstrated academic achievement and community service.
To be eligible, applicants must be in the top 15 percent of their class and have at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale; they must also have participated in at least 20 hours of community service during the current school year.
The scholarship pays up to $20,000 per year for up to four years if you attend an accredited university or college within the continental United States.
It’s renewable only once you remain enrolled full-time during each semester (excluding summers).
National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME)
NACME offers a variety of STEM scholarships that are open to all students, regardless of race.
The organization was formed in 1991 to increase the number of underrepresented ethnic groups in engineering. NACME offers three types of scholarships:
- $1,000 scholarships for high school seniors who plan on attending a university as an undergrad or graduate student in engineering
- $2,500 scholarships for undergrads who have completed at least one year of classes and are pursuing an engineering degree
- $3,000 scholarships for grad students who have completed at least two years of post-bachelor’s study
Horatio Alger Association | scholarships for african-american high school seniors
The Horatio Alger Association is a nonprofit that provides scholarships for students who have overcome adversity to achieve academic success.
You must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, in good academic standing with the high school, you currently attend, and taking the SAT or ACT by April 30th of your senior year to be eligible.
If you meet those requirements, you can apply no matter your financial situation; there are no income limitations on applying to this scholarship program.
The maximum amount awarded is $7,500 per year (up to four years). Students should apply as early as possible—the application deadline is January 15th each year—and remember that it’s best practice to submit all of your materials at once rather than wait until the last minute and rush through it.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund | scholarships for african-american high school seniors
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship awarded to African-American students who are accepted to an accredited four-year college or university.
The scholarship is awarded based on GPA, community service, leadership, and financial need.
You can apply for this scholarship if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You must be African American
- You must be entering your first year at an accredited four-year college or university in the fall of 2020 (exception: students who have already taken one semester at their designated college/university)
- You must have a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale (or a cumulative high school GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4 million point scale).
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) | scholarships for african-american high school seniors
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) is a merit-based scholarship program for African-American and Latino students.
Since its launch in 1999, GMS has awarded more than 50,000 scholarships totaling $750 million to students from low-income families who have demonstrated exceptional academic talent.
Scholarships are renewable for up to five years if you maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Each year approximately 4,000 high school seniors are selected as Gates Millennium Scholars through their high schools.
The selection process varies by state; your school may ask you to complete an application or submit other materials such as teacher recommendations and extracurricular activities information, but no essay is required at this stage in the application process.
All applicants will be notified by early March whether they have been selected or not.
If selected as a Gates Millennium Scholar, you would also be eligible for additional financial assistance through other sources such as federal work-study programs and state grants/scholarships that do not require repayment of loans after graduation (such as New York Excelsior Scholarships).
There are scholarships available to African-American students.
With more than 1,000 scholarships available to African-American students, the odds of getting a scholarship are in your favor. Here are some tips to help make sure you don’t miss out:
- Apply for as many scholarships as you can. Many organizations offer a variety of award amounts and types. If you don’t win one scholarship, it’s always worth applying again next year—or even every other year.
- Read the fine print on each application carefully before submitting it. It’s easy to overlook a requirement that disqualifies you from receiving the money or other benefits associated with the scholarship.
- Start working on your application early so that it has plenty of time to be reviewed by all parties involved (the organization awarding funds; financial aid offices at colleges).
- If you need recommendation letters, request them early from your teachers or employers to give them enough time to complete your recommendation letter.
