African American Scholarships are more plentiful today than at any other time in U.S. history. African American students are now able to obtain grants and scholarships that are awarded based upon a wide variety of factors. This includes grants based upon financial need, scholarships awarded for academic merit, and both scholarships and grants for members of ethnic or religious groups and business/professional associations.
The availability of scholarships for African American students has been greatly bolstered by the generosity of the growing numbers of educated and successful African Americans today. By helping to remove financial obstacles, historically underprivileged groups are gaining better access to education, thereby improving their quality of life and contributing to the prosperity of the country overall. But while African American scholarships are plentiful, their availability is not typically advertised. The following information will help African American students find the grant or scholarship they need.
Five sources of African American Scholarships
Each source has its own distinctive features and benefits, as well as its own rules, regulations, and requirements. Students should check with each source in order to maximize their ability to obtain scholarships for college. In general the sources are as follows:
Federal and State Government Sources
The United States Department of Education has consistently sought to provide educational funding assistance to minority groups and those with financial need. The most common federal grants are the Pell Grant and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. Both of these grants are applied for using the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This same application will also determine if the student qualifies for other minority, underprivileged, or African American scholarships.
Black Colleges and Universities
There are several dozen colleges and universities around the country that are considered traditionally black. These schools often offer many different forms of scholarships for minorities that are funded federally, by the state, or by businesses, private individuals, and organizations. While these schools do specialize in curing financial obstacles for African American students, there are typically other qualifications for grants and scholarships, such as academic standing, stage of education, degree program, and other considerations. Many African American scholarships available at traditionally black schools can be applied for using the FAFSA. Information provided on the FAFSA is automatically used to determine a student’s eligibility for most school grant and scholarship programs.
Businesses and Corporations
Businesses have a vested interest in attracting qualified candidates from culturally diverse backgrounds. Because of this, scholarships for African American students may be obtained at some of the country’s largest employers, such as Xerox, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Sallie Mae and many others. Local businesses often offer grants and scholarships as well, and while the competition for such programs may be fierce in certain areas, awards can often be as high as those offered by large multinational companies.
Professional Associations
Like businesses, professions also have an interest in attracting and retaining well-educated members. Professional associations often provide scholarships and grants to African American students. Two particularly prominent examples are the National Black Nurses Association and the American Institute of Public Accountants. Both of these professional associations provide African American scholarships, as well as work study and fellowship awards.
Private and Charitable Organizations
One of the most well-funded but often under-utilized methods of obtaining scholarships and grants for African American students is through private or charitable organizations. These include well-known names such as the March of Dimes, the United Negro College Fund, and the Gates Millennium Scholars Program. These organizations and others like them provide millions of dollars in educational assistance each year to underprivileged, minority, and African American students.
Whatever a student’s personal and financial situation may be, the most effective way to capitalize on African American scholarships is to research accordingly and make applications with all of the above sources.