If you’re like most undergraduate and graduate students, you’ll have student loans to pay off after graduation. Sadly, this educational debt burden tends to be higher for Black students. In fact, the Education Data Initiative reports that Black and African American college graduates owe an average of $25,000 more in student loan debt than white college graduates. Additionally, four years after graduation, Black students owe an average of 188% more than white students.
This data helps demonstrate how important it is for Black graduate students to find ways to pay for education, especially with scholarships that don’t need to be paid back. So if you’re looking for a huge list of scholarships, keep reading: This guide provides information and resources about graduate scholarships for Black students and insights into how to improve your chances of receiving an award.
Available Graduate Scholarships for Black College Students
One of the biggest hurdles to graduate school is the financial cost. While online classes can significantly reduce the cost of graduate degrees by eliminating commuting costs and similar expenses, tuition rates and other fees can still be prohibitive. Luckily, there are many financial aid opportunities to help pay for graduate school.
A scholarship is one of the best forms of financial aid because it does not need to be paid back. To get one, a student must complete an application that then goes to a committee for selection and approval. What makes a student worthy of a scholarship typically revolves around having financial need, possessing a certain characteristic, and/or excelling in academics.
To give you an idea of what’s available, we’ve identified some scholarships open to Black graduate students below.
General Scholarships
Scholarship Amount: $10,000
Annual Deadline: Oct. 23
Basic eligibility requirements: Applicants must attend an accredited graduate or undergraduate institution, demonstrate leadership qualities, and desire to bring about social change. The unique application process consists largely of providing a video clip of five minutes or less answering certain questions.
HBCU National Racial Equity Initiative Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $10,000
Annual Deadline: March 31
Basic eligibility requirements: This is for students attending a historically Black college or university (HBCU) as undergraduate or graduate students. Applicants must be studying a social justice field like civil rights, education, or criminal justice. They must also demonstrate prior experience with activism, community service, or promoting social justice.
American Bus Association Diversity Scholarships
Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Annual Deadline: Varies
Basic eligibility requirements: This award aims to improve the level of diversity in the travel and tourism industry. Awards are based on a student’s area of study as it relates to tourism or travel. Applicants must show how they are diverse through race, nationality, socioeconomic status, and other factors.
AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students
Scholarship Amount: $3,000-$10,000
Annual Deadline: March 15
Basic eligibility requirements: Applicants must be members of a racial minority and pursuing an undergraduate or graduate-level degree in an accounting or accounting-related major. They must also intend to apply for CPA licensure, show some financial need, and be legal U.S. residents (i.e., green card holders or citizens).
American Library Association (ALA) Spectrum Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Annual Deadline: March 1
Basic eligibility requirements: This scholarship is open to full-time or part-time students attending an ALA-accredited graduate program in library or information studies. Applicants must identify as a racial or ethnic minority, including Black/African American.
George A. Strait Minority Scholarship & Fellowship
Scholarship Amount: Varies
Annual Deadline: April 1
Basic eligibility requirements: The George A. Strait Minority Scholarship and Fellowship awards scholarships to minority students who want to pursue a career in law librarianship. You must be enrolled in an ALA-accredited library graduate school program or law school in the U.S. and be a member of a recognized minority group (as defined by current U.S. guidelines).
American Sociological Association Minority Fellowship Program
Scholarship Amount: $18,000
Annual Deadline: Varies
Basic eligibility requirements: The Minority Fellow Program is open to underrepresented students who are lawful U.S. residents and enrolled in a PhD program in sociology. In addition to the racial or ethnic background of the applicant, award criteria include research experience, academic achievement, writing ability, and financial need.
CIEF Scholarships in Architecture
Scholarship Amount: $4,000/year
Annual Deadline: Feb. 6
Basic eligibility requirements: Applicants must be minority students accepted into a bachelor’s or master’s architecture program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. The scholarship serves to increase the representation of minorities within the architecture profession.
ELC Protecting Black Voices Graduate Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $10,000/year
Annual Deadline: Varies
Basic eligibility requirements: Applicants must pursue a graduate degree in political science, history, communications, journalism, media, policy, or related fields. Awards are based on a student’s experience with community service and civic responsibility as well as on their academic achievement and financial need.
Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program
Scholarship Amount: $30,000
Annual Deadline: March 31
Basic eligibility requirements: Sidney B. Williams Jr. Scholars are underrepresented racial or ethnic minorities. Applicants must be applying to or accepted in an American Bar Association-accredited law school. They must also plan to pursue a career in patent law.
Scholarship Amount: $42,000
Annual Deadline: Sept. 19
Basic eligibility requirements: The Rangel Graduate Fellowship is a program that prepares high-achieving graduate students for foreign service careers. You can apply in your senior year of undergraduate studies or be a college graduate applying to a graduate program. Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher and be a U.S. citizen. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the foreign service, women, and those with financial need.
STEM Scholarships
Brown and Caldwell Minority Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Annual Deadline: Varies
Basic eligibility requirements: This scholarship is for minority students pursuing careers in the environmental field. Other eligibility requirements include enrollment in an accredited graduate or undergraduate engineering or environmental sciences program and at least a 3.0 GPA.
American Water Works Association David Caldwell Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Annual Deadline: Varies
Basic eligibility requirements: Offered in partnership with Brown and Caldwell, this scholarship is for graduate students enrolled in an engineering program related to the drinking water field. Applicants must be female or a member of a minority group and show a propensity for leadership and an interest in research or consulting on drinking water issues.
NCSEA Diversity in Structural Engineering Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $3,000
Annual Deadline: Varies
Basic eligibility requirements: The National Council of Structural Engineers Associations promotes structural engineering professionals from underrepresented groups, including Black/African Americans. The scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student showing genuine interest in structural engineering or who is currently enrolled in a structural engineering program.
Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $1,500 to $10,000
Annual Deadline: October
Basic eligibility requirements: Each year, Stantec allocates $200,000 to use as financial aid to help students who are part of Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) groups. To apply, students must show financial need. The award amount depends on the number of scholarship awards and the extent of the financial struggle of applicants.
Scholarship Amount: $3,000
Annual Deadline: Jan. 10
Basic eligibility requirements: Offered through the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), this scholarship is open to Black applicants who are U.S. citizens and pursuing a graduate degree from an accredited institution. Applicants must be members of the NSBE and have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Medical & Healthcare Scholarships
ACHE Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Annual Deadline: March 31
Basic eligibility requirements: This scholarship is for ethnically or racially diverse students who show financial need and are enrolled in a full-time healthcare management master’s level program. Preference is given to applicants who are Student Associate members of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
Scholarship Amount: $40,000
Annual Deadline: April 1
Basic eligibility requirements: Applicants must be accepted into an Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) Full Member master’s degree program as full-time students and identify as members of an ethnic or racial minority group. Award criteria also include financial need, professional aspirations, and academic achievement.
Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarships
Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Annual Deadline: April 5
Basic eligibility requirements: These awards consist of five scholarships given to outstanding students entering their third year of medical school who have shown leadership in efforts to eliminate inequities in medical education and health care. They also should have demonstrated leadership initiative in addressing educational, societal, and health care needs of racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S.
Scholarship Amount: Varies
Annual Deadline: Varies
Basic eligibility requirements: The National Medical Fellowships organization offers a variety of scholarships for students studying healthcare. General requirements include enrollment in an accredited healthcare program at the graduate level, being a member of a racial or ethnic group that’s underrepresented in medicine, leadership ability, and an interest in serving a medically underserved community.
Business & Finance Scholarships
Steven Skinner Endowed Scholarship Fund
Scholarship Amount: up to $5,000
Annual Deadline: Aug. 15
Basic eligibility requirements:
To be eligible, applicants must be a member of the National Black MBA Association, be a first-generation MBA or graduate student working on a business-focused degrees, and have at least two years of work experience. Students must also have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
ELC Otsuka Graduate Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $10,000/year
Annual Deadline: Varies
Basic eligibility requirements: This scholarship is available to incoming or current Black undergraduate or graduate students studying in a business, engineering, or technology field. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $10,000
Annual Deadline: Varies
Basic eligibility requirements: This scholarship is open to minority studies who show academic excellence and are enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program preparing them for careers in local or state government finance. This scholarship is open to full-time and part-time students.
Women Specific Scholarships
Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy Memorial Scholarship Award
Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Scholarship Amount: $10,000
Annual Deadline: Varies
Basic eligibility requirements: This scholarship is available to Black female students enrolled in an accredited U.S. medical school. Applicants must also show they are descendants of enslaved Americans.
Scholarship Amount: $3,000
Annual Deadline: July
Basic eligibility requirements:
Awarded by the International Honor Society in Psychology, the Psi Chi Graduate Scholarships help defray the direct educational costs (tuition, institutional fees, required textbooks) of exceptional Psi Chi students who are women of color attending graduate school.
Scholarship Amount: $2,500 to $10,000
Annual Deadline: Feb. 28
Basic eligibility requirements: New York Women in Communications offers scholarships to students pursuing a career in communication.
Applicants must reside in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania (or live in a different state but go to school in New York) and be a high school senior or full-time undergraduate or graduate student majoring in the field of communications.
Helene M. Overly Memorial Graduate Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $10,000
Annual Deadline: Varies
Basic eligibility requirements: Awarded by the WTS Foundation, this scholarship is open to any female graduate student in any field related to transportation. Minority students are encouraged to apply. Awards are primarily based on academic achievement and demonstrated interest in the transportation industry.
Brown & Caldwell Women in Leadership Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Annual Deadline: March
Basic eligibility requirements: Female students enrolled in a full-time graduate program may apply. Applicants must be studying in a field such as environmental science or an engineering field related to the environment. Preferential treatment is given to students who excel academically and show leadership qualities.
Jacobs Holly A. Cornell Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: $10,000
Annual Deadline: December
Basic eligibility requirements: In conjunction with the American Water Works Association, this scholarship is for applicants identifying as female or who are a minority pursuing a graduate degree in the area of water supply and treatment.
Minority Corporate Counsel Association LMJ Scholarship Program
Scholarship Amount: $10,000
Annual Deadline: May 1
Basic eligibility requirements: Applicants must be accepted to an ABA-accredited law school as a full-time student and be female or diverse. Applicants must also show a commitment to improving diversity and inclusion and a desire to work in corporate law.
How To Stand Out on Your Application
Most scholarships are competitive, but a higher-than-perfect GPA or an overwhelming amount of community service are not always required to win an award. You’ll find that descriptions often present the ideal expectations, yet scholarship committees generally look for unique students they think will best advance or promote the goals of the scholarship.
They are also looking for a complete application. Many otherwise top-notch applications never get seriously considered because they’re missing a simple requirement. Balance this with a healthy amount of extracurricular activity, a good word from a quality source who knows you well, and solid writing, and you’re sure to stand out on any scholarship application.
Below are a few ways to stand out from among a crowded field of fellow scholarship applicants.
1. Beef up your extracurriculars
Extracurricular activities help prove your true interest in an area of study or profession. They can also help compensate for a less-than-stellar GPA by demonstrating that you are a well-rounded student with skills and experiences that go beyond your academic performance. If you do have a perfect GPA, your extracurriculars show you can do more than study or do well on tests; they show you can also make a difference with your peers and in your community.
2. Letters of recommendation
Having someone vouch for your abilities and qualities goes a long way to enhancing a scholarship application. Because anyone reading your letters of recommendation knows they will say positive things about you, be sure to find a recommender who can write about specific examples of how you demonstrate one or more traits the scholarship committee is seeking in applicants.
3. Wow with your essay
This is the one part of your application where you have 100% control. Even if you’re given a topic, you control how you present it, discuss it, and explain why you deserve the scholarship. Start writing your essay early, look for guides that help you master quality writing, and have another person provide feedback and editing.
4. Be first in line – well before the deadline
It sounds obvious, but submitting application materials by the deadline is a frequently overlooked aspect of the scholarship application process. It’s common for otherwise promising applicants to lose out on a scholarship because they missed the submission deadline. Avoid this by starting on the application as soon as you can and turning it in as soon as possible, even well before the deadline. Adopting effective time management tips during early in your master’s program will not only help you make a scholarship application plan, but will also help you thrive during your graduate study.
5. Look for local and regional scholarships
The less competition for an award, the better your chances. Local or regional scholarships that are only advertised or open to students in a certain area, such as a state or county, likely have less competition than do scholarships casting a wider net. Depending on where you live, you might have just a handful of fellow applicants to compete against to earn a coveted scholarship award.
Additional Scholarship Resources for Black Students
The above resources are just a sampling of the scholarships available to Black graduate students. Don’t forget to also search for guides that offer specific scholarships for STEM students or women in STEM, for example, or even in more specific fields of study — like scholarships for speech pathology master’s students.
You can also find hundreds of additional scholarships available to specific demographics, and many are administered or funded by nonprofit and civil, civil rights, and social advocacy organizations. These entities understand the importance of improving education to help end discrimination in the U.S.
Historically known as the United Negro College Fund, the UNCF’s primary mission is to raise money to help improve the opportunity for minorities to gain an education. Much of the UNCF’s funding supports scholarships and HBCUs.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund offers more than just scholarships. This organization represents the interests of HBCUs as well as PBIs (predominantly black institutions) and works to advance the interests of those in the Black college community through the use of scholarships, research, and partnership programs.
Founded more than 100 years ago, the National Urban League is a civil rights organization that works with localities to advance the economic, social, and educational standing of individuals living in historically underserved communities. The NUL’s efforts include vocational training, improving housing availability, and promoting higher education.
Before Congress could pass a series of civil rights laws making racial segregation illegal, many Blacks and African Americans struggled to continue their education past high school. Many colleges and universities were founded to meet this unmet educational need, and these institutions are known today as HBCUs.
Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF)
This organization focuses on helping minority students earn college degrees. Besides offering a host of scholarships, the Jackie Robinson Foundation also operates the JRF Impact Program and the Jackie Robinson Museum to emphasize important social issues and provide resources to students to make the most of their college learning.
Possibly the most well-known civil rights organization, the NAACP’s broad mission is to end racial discrimination. Activities include political advocacy, taking legal action, fostering future leaders, and promoting educational initiatives.
The Shawn Carter Foundation, founded by Gloria and Shawn Carter (aka Jay-Z), is a charitable organization that helps socioeconomically challenged groups to improve themselves through education. Much of this organization’s work helps students pay for school, but it also contributes to professional development, student support, and community programs.
The U.S. Black Chambers represents the interests of Black and African American businesses in America. In addition to advocacy, its activity includes professional training, newsletters, and conferences. The U.S. Black Chambers also helps businesses understand the various coronavirus economic aid programs available.
The Black Career Network is part of a family of job and professional recruiting websites, including those focusing on helping women, Asian Americans, Hispanics, veterans, and LGBTQ professionals. Besides helping companies and individuals create employment opportunities, the Black Career Network also hosts networking and career events for various Black and African-American professionals.
This organization recognizes the significance of young adults becoming the first in their families to enroll in college and earn degrees, offering various resources to help them do so. They help students apply to college, introduce techniques for balancing academic and personal needs, and encourage healthy adjustment to the culture shock of college life.