There are many grants available for African American women who wish to pursue higher education. These are made possible by a variety of organizations and agencies and are designed to assist black women to obtain degrees in programs where they are often underrepresented. Many programs are also geared to encourage their entry in fields that are non-traditional for women.
This article highlights many of the college grants and scholarships available for black women.
Foundation and Organization Grants
These foundations provide grants and that cater to black women. These have requirements that range from general college attendance to specific courses of study.
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is one of the oldest and well-known organizations that provide grants and scholarships available to black women. It offers general scholarships that can be applied for online.
In addition, there are other grants and scholarships available through UNCF that are geared toward African-American students. Some of the UNCF’s partner entities and businesses include Liberty Mutual, Gap, Marriott, Google, Toyota, Intel, and Citibank
The National Black Nurses Associations (NBNA) awards grants, scholarships, and fellowships to black women interested in the field of nursing. The association’s annual scholarships are available for black women currently enrolled in a four-year nursing program.
The National Physical Science Consortium provides scholarships to black women who wish to purse a doctoral degree in the physical sciences. The physical sciences have traditionally been a field that is underrepresented by black women and these scholarships are designed to help encourage women and minorities to pursue doctoral degrees.
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) provides scholarships to students interested in a career in journalism. Black women can apply for the scholarships that range up to $25,000.
The Julianne Malveaux Scholarship is geared specifically towards black women who are college sophom*ores or juniors majoring in journalism, economics, public policy, or other related fields at an accredited college or university.
The Ethel Lee Hoover Ellis Scholarship is targeted towards black women from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or West Virginia. The applicant must also pursue a business program of study at an accredited college or university.
The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (NANBPWC) offers their National Scholarship to African Americans graduating high school senior with a 3.0 GPA (out of 4.0). The applicants must complete an essay to qualify.
Black Women in Sisterhood for Action (BISA) is a group organized to provide educational assistance and support to young black women. Its scholarships for black women esidents in the inner city are disbursed based on economic disadvantages and disenfranchisem*nt.
The National Press Club offers opportunities to black women through the Ellen Masin Persina Scholarship for Minorities in Journalism. The scholarship aims to educate journalists from minority backgrounds who would add diversity to the newsrooms of the future.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers scholarships for black women through its Women in Engineering and Computer and Information Science Awards program. These scholarships are designed to encourage women to pursue degrees in engineering, computer science, and information science.
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) provides scholarship opportunities for black women through its Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students program. Awardees can receive annual scholarships ranging from $1500 to $3000.
The National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) supports black women aspiring to become accountants through its National Scholarship Program.
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund provides merit-based scholarships to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People(NAACP) is one of the foremost organizations promoting justice and civil rights for blacks. They also offer a number of grants and scholarships available to black women. Among their grants and scholarships are the Department of Energy Scholarship, Earl Graves Scholarship, Roy Wilkins Scholarship, and others. These scholarships address applicants based on need, merit, and program of study.
Sponsored by the American Bar Association (ABA), the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund aims to help black women attend law school.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) is a national organization founded in the memory of the Jackie Robinson. It provides scholarships and support services that are available to black women. Applicants are personally interviewed and funds are awarded based on academics, leadership potential, and financial need.
Raise the Nation is devoted to providing educational support to single mothers. Black women who meet the criteria can receive grants directly from the college or university that they choose to attend.
The Women’s Independence Scholarship Program (WISP) provides education scholarships for women who have left abusive situations. These scholarships aim to help women achieve economic independence for themselves and their children through education.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) provides grants, scholarships, and fellowships for women pursuing higher education. It also offers grants that aim to support black women in fields where they are underrepresented, including law, medicine, and business administration.
The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) provides grants, scholarships, and fellowships to minority students pursuing degrees in engineering. Some of these scholarships are based on merit, need, community involvement, and leadership skills.
The National Society of Black Engineers seeks to increase the number of African Americans in the engineering profession.
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) provides scholarships that cater to women pursuing engineering degrees at accredited colleges and universities.
The American Architectural Foundation has scholarships available to black women through their Minority/Disadvantaged Scholarships program. The scholarships are for high school seniors and college freshmen pursuing an architecture degree in an accredited architecture program.
The Congressional Black Caucus Spouses have several scholarship funds offered to talented students pursuing full-time undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degrees. Many of these scholarships are geared to specific fields of study, such as performing arts, visual arts, engineering, and medicine. Black women interested in applying should contact the local office of their Congressional Black Caucus member.
The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts offers awards and scholarships to students pursuing the creative arts through their Young Arts Program.
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), an agency of the Department of Energy, offers the HBCU STEM Fellowship Program to black female students. It provides fellowships and stipends to graduates of historically black colleges and universities who wish to pursue Master’s level programs in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering. Information on how to apply for the program can be obtained from this page.
The Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund offers scholarships for women, 35 years and older, who are pursuing a vocational, technical, associate, or bachelor’s degree. These scholarships, for which black women can apply, require the applicant to come from a low-income situation and enroll in an ACICS accredited school.
Administered by the Hewlett Packard Company, the HP Scholars program provides scholarships for minority students interested in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering. These scholarships are for those interesting in attending the HP Scholar partnership university which includes UCLA, San Jose State, Morgan State, University of Washington, or North Carolina.
The American Chemical Society’s ACS Scholars Program is geared toward providing scholarships to underrepresented minority students who want to pursue the fields of chemistry or chemistry-related fields. Scholarships are granted based on academic standing, financial need, community and school involvement, and leadership potential.
Gates Millennium Scholars provides scholarships for minority students based on academic merits, leadership, and community involvement.
College Grants
These are grants provided by specific colleges that offer grants and scholarships for black women to attend that particular college. These are the women’s colleges that have scholarships targeted to black women. Many other coeducational colleges and universities may also have specific scholarships designated for black women. The applicant should contact the college of interest to determine what scholarships for which they may meet the eligibility requirements.
Spelman College
Locasted in Atlanta, GA, Spelman College offers scholarships and grants that are based on merit, need, or program of study. This women’s college is a historically black college that has served the needs of African-American women over the decades. Its website provides more information on grants and scholarships available.
Wellesley College
Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA, is a women’s college that offers grants and scholarships that are available to black women. Most of its grants are offered based on need. Its programs aim to provide women with opportunities to pursue degrees in non-traditional fields. The Davis Degree Program is offered to non-traditional female students that comes from diverse backgrounds and adult students beyond the traditional college age.
Bennett College
A women’s college located in Greensboro, NC, Bennett College has a long tradition of educating black women. This historically black college offers scholarships to black women who wish to pursue tertiary education.
Government Grants
These are grants and scholarships that are available through the federal, state, and local government entities that black women can apply for to use for a college education. Below are several federal grants that are available. Applicants should contact the specific state or local government’s website that they live in or wish to attend school in to determine what grants or scholarships may be available from those entities.
Federal Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants are available from the federal government for black women who come from low-income households. Grants can be applied for by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and applicants will automatically considered for the grant based on financial need.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are additional funds also available to those who qualify for Pell Grants.
ACG Grant
The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is geared toward recipients who qualify for Pell Grants and have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program.
Teacher Education Assistance
Another federal grant is the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program. The TEACH Grant Program is focused on those who intend to teach in schools that serve students from low-income families. These grants can range up to $4,000 per year. Information to apply for the grants can be found from this page.
ROTC
The different branches of the armed forces offers ROTC scholarships that black women may want to consider. These scholarships vary in the amount of tuition and other items they may cover and the commitment to serve in the military. Interested applicants should consult their local ROTC agency representative or visit the following websites depending on the branch of interest:
They can also visit this page for detailed information and how to apply.
Sorority Grants and Scholarships
Many of the African American sororities offer scholarships and grants to black women who are enrolling and attending college. The amount of the grants and scholarships and the criteria for obtaining them will vary by sorority and often by the local chapter. Interested black women can contact the local chapter in their area to determine how to obtain these scholarships. A list of the national organizations is shown below to provide contact information for the local chapters.
The The Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF) provides scholarships, fellowships, and community assistance awards designed to help supplement educational funding.
The Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority National Education Fund provides scholarships to assist needy students who are pursuing a college education.
The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority National Educational Foundation, Inc. offers scholarships and fellowship grants to black women pursuing degrees in higher education. These scholarships and grants are based on need and merit.
The following is a list of the websites for the sorority’s national organizations and the listing for the local chapters can be found within the websites.
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