Scholarships for Black women help aspiring students pay for college. Black women may be eligible for awards related to STEM, nursing, business, and more. Many scholarship funds exist to help Black female college students achieve their dreams of pursuing a college degree. These awards may come from four year colleges and HBCUs. Companies, and nonprofits also offer them. There are a range of national black organizations that offer financial assistance too. Many providers also have awards based on financial need, community service and a good GPA.
Need based awards go to middle and low income students. In comparison, merit scholarships are for students who show academic excellence. You typically need a great grade point average and strong SAT/ACT test scores. Many providers also value academic achievement. They may also look at your school awards, courses, and leadership skills. These show dedication and may catch the eye of the scholarship committee.
Eligibility may also depend on other factors:
Being a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
Full time enrollment with a postsecondary program
Degree level like bachelor’s degree or graduate students pursuing a master’s or PhD
Must be majoring in specific studies or related fields
10 Scholarships for Black Women You Should Apply for in 2024
We’ve curated a list of 10 scholarship awards for Black female students. Make sure to apply before the deadline.
NAACP’s Agnes Jones Scholarship
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Blacks for Microsoft Scholarship
The ESPN Scholarship
NDAF / Dr. Bessie Delaney Scholarship
Women Techmakers Scholars Program
James W. Stoudt Memorial Law School Scholarship
NACME Collegiate Scholarship
Honeywell International Scholarship for Undergraduate Students
NABA National Scholarship Program
Why Are College Scholarships for Black Women Important?
Scholarships for black women could help make college more affordable. The cost of tuition is on the rise. Since it’s not a student loan, you typically do not have to repay a scholarship. Black female students may use the money to help pay for tuition, fees, housing and other costs. Besides making college more affordable, eligible students may have other perks. Networking events could also grow a professional identity and leadership skills.
There is also the chance to learn from mentors and unite to achieve mutual goals. One example is the Ron Brown Scholars program. It offers mentoring and peer role models. It also aims to guide gifted black students through the college journey.
Are More Black Females Earning a College Degree?
The number of female Black students attending college is on the rise, according to the NCES. They also say college enrollment for Black women was 8% higher than black men. The benefits of earning a college degree may help with job prospects and earnings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 169 occupations require a bachelor’s degree for various occupations. Median weekly earnings are also higher at $1,248 for college students with a bachelor’s. Compared to students with a high school diploma at $746.
Black Women Organizations That Offer Scholarships
Many national organizations in the United States offer scholarships to students of color. NANBPWC, Inc is a Washington D.C. based nonprofit that offers a few annual scholarships. For instance, a recent award is the Dr. Blanca Moore Velez Woman of Substance Scholarship. It is for females, age 35 or older. You must be an undergraduate student. You must also have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
NCBW is a nonprofit women’s organization that supports the black community. Also, they promote gender equity across health and education. The QCMC scholarship is a merit and need based award. There are two recipients who receive $1,000 each.
Here are a few organizations that support the higher education needs of Black female students.
United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)
National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW)
Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)
National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc (NANBPWC)
National Council of Negro Women Inc (NCNW)
5 Tips to Help You Win a Scholarship
Eligible students may need to make their application and essays stand out. Use these 5 tips to set yourself up for success in order to win a scholarship for black women.
1. Consider Historically Black Colleges and Universities
HBCUs were set up to help Black college students earn a college education. These schools tend to offer awards to high school students. If you are an admitted college freshman, schools may also consider you for merit scholarships. HBCUs like Spelman College offer merit scholarships to Black women.
2. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
The FAFSA is on the Department of Education website. Accredited colleges, state and federal governments use this information to award financial aid. Afterwards, your college may offer a financial aid package. You may receive work study, the Pell Grant as well as federal student loans.
3. Apply for minority scholarship awards
These awards are for minority students who identify as Hispanic, Asian, Black, and others. If you have to write why you deserve the award, be clear, follow the word count and stay on topic.
4. Find specific scholarships related to your goals, major and interests
Are you a female engineer student? Are you a computer science major or member of a Church or community group? Many professional organizations and nonprofits offer financial support. There are scholarships for black women in STEM. For example, Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships is for eligible Black high school seniors. It awards three $5,000 scholarships. You must also plan to pursue careers in technology.
5. Stay Organized and Submit by Deadline
Your scholarship search may expand as you find various possibilities. Keep track of the organization, name of scholarship as well as amount, due date and required materials. Maintain a calendar with application deadlines. Create a spreadsheet with all of the scholarships you plan to or have applied to.
As part of Orchard’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, one of our goals is to encourage diversity within our industry and to find ways to make a difference outside of our organization. We’d like to support a woman of color in her pursuit to work in STEM. We are committed to giving a scholarship of $2,500 to qualified applicants looking to enter the STEM field. This scholarship will assist them in their pursuit of a degree in STEM.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides a multi-faceted experience designed to address financial needs of minority students pursuing an education. U.S minority high school seniors with SAT scores of 1000 or higher or ACT scores of 21 or higher are eligible. Financial need and other factors will be taken in consideration.
U.S. and Canadian citizens who will have earned no more than 12 hours towards a Master of Library Science degree by June of the award year are eligible for this award. Students must be members of a principal minority group; attend an ALA-accredited school; and plan to enter the library automation field.
We recognize the value and advantages of diverse ideas within our communities. We are committed to providing a platform to support the next generation of leaders and champions in our industry, and we are focused on growing diversity within the science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) fields.
The Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship will contribute to the creation of a critical mass of talented students that will fully represent our industry—it will provide an environment in which all can thrive academically and professionally. Through this scholarship, Stantec will award $200,000 annually. We believe everyone has a right to education, and we are committed to providing people in historically underrepresented and Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) groups with financial aid.
Here at Stantec, we value an inclusive and diverse workplace culture where we seek a broad range of perspectives and contributions to our industry—and the communities where we live and work.
The number of scholarships awarded will be based on the specific needs articulated by applicants, and the award values will be a variable range between $1,500 and $10,000. Additionally, there will be 10 paid internships (locations to be confirmed annually) available to applicants.
The Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship is part of a broader commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in our organization. We know that we must increase our focus on building the future talent pipeline and find more ways to support underrepresented populations in our industry. This scholarship program is just one example of our commitment to break through barriers to have an impact.
The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) is partnering with ESPN to help pave the way for Black women in the sports media industry. One undergraduate and one graduate female African American student will each receive a $3,750 educational scholarship.
On average, Black women in STEM earn salaries that are 45% lower than their highest-paid peers. BestColleges is committed to breaking down barriers for students in underrepresented communities, who desire careers in the most competitive fields. This year, we’ll be giving away five $6,000 scholarships to Black women who are currently pursuing careers in STEM.
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund and varying partners unite to offer the COVID-19 Emergency Award to students attending one of TMCF’s publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs).
The NLN Foundation for Nursing Education offers scholarships of up to $8,000 each year to support the NLN’s mission to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce of qualified nurse educators.
The African-American Journalism Scholarship will be awarded to a Black student at any education level who plans on (or already is) pursuing a career in journalism and shows both impact and drive.
The Black Design Leaders Grant will be awarded to a Black student or recent graduate who plans on (or already is) pursuing a career in design at a start-up and shows impact and drive.
