Last updated: May 19, 2022
Colleges campuses across America are becoming more diverse every year. Underrepresented minority students are not only enrolling in college, but are making educational and professional impacts in all fields—from science to education to civil service—at an unstoppable rate.
College costs, however, are climbing. According to U.S. News & World Report, from 1995 to 2015, in-state tuition and fees at public universities rose a staggering 296 percent. Average costs continue to rise every year, well beyond the rate of inflation. With tuition bills and extra expenses like housing, meal plans, parking permits, books and fees, any financial assistance can make a sizeable difference.
To help offset college costs, you can obtain minority scholarships, grants and fellowships that are available to men and women of African American, Alaska Native, Asian American, Hispanic and Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander descent. Use this guide, including our interactive scholarship tool, to locate and apply for unique opportunities to help pay for college. After all, you can be the student who brings new ideas and perspectives to your own college campus.
How to Pay | Application Preparation | Scholarships for Minorities | All Scholarships
Talented and diverse young leaders have further opportunity to make an impact through a college education and scholarship opportunities. The first U.S. Congressional woman of color and first Asian American woman elected to the House of Representatives expresses the power of making contributions as a minority:
“We have to build things that we want to see accomplished, in life and in our country, based on our own personal experiences...to make sure that others...do not have to suffer the same discrimination.”
- Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink
To start building your future, consider the many college scholarships available to minorities through corporations, charitable organizations, advocacy groups and professional associations.
There are hundreds of scholarships for minorities, which are awarded by local organizations, private companies, societies and more.
Grants don’t need to be paid back and are based on your financial circumstances. They are usually funded by the federal government, your state or college.
While scholarships usually fund tuition, fellowships typically cover graduate study, research projects and abroad experiences without needing to be paid back.
You can borrow money from the government or a bank, but it needs to be paid back with interest. The federal government offers many loan options—fill out the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you qualify for financial aid. If you need help, use our interactive guide to learn how to answer every question.
Provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to pay education expenses.
If you’re just beginning the process of finding suitable scholarships, make sure you’re prepared for the application process by starting a folder with the assets below.
No matter your background, where you’re from or if your family members attended college, you can find ways to pay for college through scholarships and fellowships. Check out the scholarships below to see the opportunities available.
Instructions: Click through the dropdowns below to sort by your ethnicity, field of study and award amount. Click the box for a larger view.
Amount: $40,000
Deadline: April 19, 2024
Corris Boyd Schol., with an application deadline in April, offers numerous awards of $40000 each. Ethnicity requirements apply. Restricted to those with financial need.
Amount: $7,000
Deadline: April 27, 2024
Healthline Stronger Scholarship Program, with an application deadline in April, offers 3 awards of $7000 each. Ethnicity requirements apply.
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: May 4, 2024
AMA Valuing Diversity PhD Scholarship Program, with an application deadline in May, offers numerous awards of $2500 each. Ethnicity requirements apply.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 8, 2024
Diversity in Data Science Scholarship, with an application deadline in May, offers numerous awards of $1000 each. Ethnicity requirements apply.
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: May 18, 2024
ASHFoundation Graduate Student Scholarship for Minority Stud, with an application deadline in May, offers 3 awards of $5000 each. Ethnicity requirements apply.
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: May 30, 2024
iVisa Annual Scholarship, with an application deadline in May, offers one award in the amount of $1500. Ethnicity requirements apply.
Amount: $12,000
Deadline: May 31, 2024
AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students, with an application deadline in May, offers 25 awards of $12000 each. Ethnicity requirements apply.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: June 1, 2024
CESDA Diversity Scholarship, with an application deadline in June, offers 7 awards of $1000 each. Ethnicity requirements apply. Location restrictions exist. Restricted to those with financial need.
Amount: $3,500
Deadline: June 1, 2024
David Hudak Memorial Essay Contest For Freethinking Black, I, with an application deadline in June, offers numerous awards of $3500 each. Ethnicity requirements apply.
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: June 1, 2024
Ken Inouye Scholarship, with an application deadline in June, offers numerous awards of $1500 each. Ethnicity requirements apply. Location restrictions exist. Restricted to those with financial need.
Amount: $4,000
Deadline: June 2, 2024
Actuarial Diversity Scholarship, with an application deadline in June, offers numerous awards of $4000 each. Ethnicity requirements apply.
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: June 20, 2024
Pega Scholars Program, with an application deadline in June, offers 10 awards of $1500 each. Ethnicity requirements apply. Military service requirements apply.