Scholarships and Grants for African American Students

If you are like many students across the country, you are looking for any and all monetary outlets to help with your college tuition. While there are many scholarships and grants for people of all races, HSU has compiled a list of scholarships and grants specifically for African American students. For more information, visit http://eric-web.tc.columbia.edu, a clearinghouse for the U.S. Department of Education.

• All-Ink.com College Scholarship Program
www.all-ink.com

All-Ink.com awards between $250 and $2,500 twice a year, and is open to all students. There is a minimum 2.5 GPA required. The application deadlines are December 31 and July 31, and application requests must be done online at www.all-ink.com/storeinfo/scholarship/scholarship.html

• Baccalaureate Scholarship Program

ADHA Institute for Oral Health
Baccalaureate Scholarship Program
444 North Michigan Ave., Ste. 3400
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-8900

This program offers funds for students preparing to teach dental hygiene or training for dental health projects in communities.

• Fredrikson & Byron Minority Scholarship

1100 International Center
900 Second Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 347-7000
www.fredlaw.com/recruit/scholar


This scholarship sponsors educational opportunities for minority law students.

• Hallie Q. Brown Scholarship Fund

National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs
Scholarship Committee
5808 Sixteenth Street NW
Washington, DC 20011
(202) 726-2044


Open to minority students who are U.S. citizens and have been recommended by a member of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs.

• Herbert Lehman Scholarship Fund

Herbert Lehman Education Fund
Scholarship Program
99 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 219-1990

Scholarships are awarded based on academic record and community and school involvement.

• Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Award

Jackie Robinson Foundation
Scholarship Program
3 West 35th St., 11th Floor
New York, NY 10001-2204
(212) 290-8600
www.jackierobinson.org

To be considered, U.S. citizens must be accepted to a four-year accredited college or university, have high academic achievement, illustrate leadership potential, and demonstrate financial need.

• Minority/Disadvantaged Scholarship Program

American Institute of Architects
American Architectural Foundation
1735 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 626-7511

For minority and/or disadvantaged high school seniors, technical school/junior college students, or freshmen beginning a professional degree in architecture.

• PC&U ScholarshipsPrivate Colleges and Universities

Scholarship Program
239 Littleton Road 8A
Westford, MA 01886
(978) 692-2313

Scholarships will be awarded to students based on academic performance and community service.

• Ron Brown Scholarship

Ron Brown Scholar Program
1160 Pepsi Place, Suite 110-B
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Tel: (804) 964-1588
Fax: (804) 964-1589
www.RonBrown.org
e-mail: mmallory@cstone.net

The academic-based aid is open to African-American high school seniors who demonstrate leadership potential, community involvement, and financial need.

• The Leonard M. Perryman Communications Scholarship for Ethnic Minority Students                                  

Scholarship Committee
United Methodist Communications
Public Media Division
PO Box 320
Nashville, TN 37202-0320
e-mail: scholarships@umcom.umc.org

This scholarship is awarded to ethnic minority undergraduates studying religion, journalism, or mass communications.

• Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund

Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
TMSF Selection Committees
100 Park Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 878-2988


Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have a 3.0 minimum GPA, and be admitted to an HBCU.

State-Based Scholarships:

  • Alabama Student Grant ProgramDirector of Grants and Scholarships

Alabama Commission on Higher Education
PO Box 302000
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-1998

This program provides aid to Alabama residents for undergraduate study at certain independent colleges in Alabama. The renewable awards range up to a maximum of $1,200. Application deadlines are September 15, January 15, and February 15. 

• CAL Grant B

California Student Aid Commission
PO Box 419029
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9029
(916) 526-7900

This grant provides help to high school seniors from disadvantaged or low-income families who would otherwise not be able to pursue postsecondary education. Awards range from $1,410 to $8,574. Deadline is March 2.  

• Colorado Diversity Grants

Colorado Commission on Higher Education
1300 Broadway, 2nd Floor
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 866-2723


This renewable award is for Colorado residents who are members of underrepresented groups and are currently pursuing studies at a Colorado state-supported college or university. 

• Bright Futures Scholarship Program

Florida Department of Education
1344 Florida Education Center
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(850) 599-3793

This award is for Florida high school graduates who demonstrate high academic achievement and enroll in eligible Florida postsecondary institutions.

• Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE)

Director, Scholarships and Grants Division
Georgia Student Finance Commission
2082 East Exchange Place, Ste. 100
Tucker, GA 30084
(770) 724-9019

The HOPE program aids undergraduates at accredited Georgia institutions. Tuition and fees that are not covered by federal aid may be covered by the grant. The award is renewable if the student maintains a minimum 3.0 GPA.  

• Monetary Award Program (MAP)

Client Information
Illinois Student Assistance Commission
1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015-5209
(847) 948-8500

This grant program aids students attending a public or private college in Illinois on at least a half-time basis. Awards range from $300 to $4,000 and are renewable up to five years. Deadlines are May 31 and September 30.  

• Freedom of Choice Award

Deputy Director
State Student Assistance Commission
150 West Market Street, Ste. 500
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2811
(317) 232-2350

These renewable grants provide additional funds for Indiana residents who have won the Indiana Higher Education Award, which ranges from $300 to $3,000.  

• Michigan Tuition Grants

Office of Scholarships and Grants
Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority
PO Box 30462
Lansing, MI 48909-7962
(517) 335-1790

These need-based grants aid student residents attending an approved Michigan institution. Awards are renewable and range up to $2,450. The FAFSA form must be completed.

• Mississippi State Student Incentive Grant

Board of Trustees of Higher Learning
3825 Ridgewood Rd.
Jackson, MS 39211-6453
(601) 960-8725

Mississippi students who demonstrate financial need are eligible for this renewable award of up to $1,500 per year. 

• Edward J. Boustein Distinguished Scholars

New Jersey Office of Student Assistance
4 Quakerbridge Plaza 
PO Box 540
Trenton, NJ 08625-0540

This renewable scholarship distributes over $4 million to 4,000 students annually. Applicants must be in the top 10% of their class and have 1260+ SAT scores. Deadline is October 1. 

• Garden State Scholars

New Jersey Office of Student Assistance
4 Quakerbridge Plaza 
PO Box 540
Trenton, NJ 08625-0540
(609) 292-4310

This program awards $500 to over 4,000 students annually. Applicants must be in the top 20 percent of their class with a minimum SAT score of 1000.

• New York State Tuition Assistance Program

New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12255
(888) 697-4372

This program is a renewable, need-based award of $275–$3,900 per applicant. Deadline is May 1.

• North Carolina Student Incentive Grant

Grant Services Manager
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
PO Box 2688
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688
(919) 549-8614


This is a renewable grant of up to $1,500 per North Carolina resident who demonstrates financial need.

• Ohio Academic Scholarship Program

Program Administrator
Ohio Board of Regents
PO Box 182452
Columbus, OH 43218-2452
(614) 466-6000

This program aids academically outstanding Ohio high school seniors. The awards are up to $2,000 per year for up to four years. Deadline is February 23.

• Pennsylvania State Grant

Press Office
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
1200 North Seventh St.
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 720-2860

This grant of up to 80 percent of tuition and fees is based on the financial need of residents who apply. Deadline is May 1.

• Student Incentive Grant (SIG)

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Tuition Exemption
PO Box 12788 Capitol Station 
Austin, TX 78711-2788
(512) 483-6101

This grant aids residents and nonresidents attending public colleges or universities in Texas at least half-time.

• The College Scholarship Assistance Program (CSAP)

Financial Aid Manager
Virginia Council of Higher Education
James Monroe Building
10th Floor, 101 North 14th Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 828-2285

These renewable grants provide between $400 and $5,000 to undergraduates with financial need.

• Wisconsin Higher Education Grants (WHEG)

Program Coordinator
Wisconsin Higher Education Aid Board
PO Box 7885
Madison, WI 53707-7885
(608) 267-2206

These grants aid Wisconsin residents attending the University of Wisconsin or public vocational, technical, or adult education institutions. The maximum award is $1,800 per year for five years.

You may also want to pursue other outlets for tuition assistance. You can also check with religious organizations, foundations, labor unions, businesses, or town and city groups for scholarships based on achievement, ethnicity, hobbies, or talents. Include in your search community organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and civic groups such as 4-H, American Legion, Boy Scouts, Elks, Girl Scouts, Jaycees, Kiwanis, and the YMCA.

The U.S. Armed Forces also offer financial aid opportunities. For example, all branches of the Armed Forces offer the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC), a federal merit-based scholarship program that will pay for tuition, fees, and books, and provide students with a monthly allowance.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs) are federally-funded grants, available based on financial need. While FSEOG and Pell Grants are available for undergraduate students, they’re not an option for graduate school.