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SCHOLARSHIPS
Funding Your HBCU Future
Discover national, corporate, athletic, STEM, minority, and grant opportunities — with deadlines, award amounts, and direct application links, all in one place.
NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Major Awards for HBCU Students
These nationally recognized scholarships are among the most competitive and well-funded opportunities available to HBCU students. Review eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines — then apply directly.
UNCF (United Negro College Fund)
Award: Up to $10,000/year
Eligibility: HBCU students with 2.5+ GPA, demonstrated financial need
Deadline: Rolling/Annual | uncf.org/scholarships
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Award: Up to $6,000
Eligibility: Full-time students at TMCF-member HBCUs, 3.0+ GPA
Deadline: Varies by program | tmcf.org/scholarships
Gates Scholarship
Award: Full cost of attendance (last-dollar)
Eligibility: Minority students, Pell Grant eligible, 3.3+ GPA, senior in high school
Deadline: September 15 | thegatesscholarship.org
Ron Brown Scholar Program
Award: $40,000 over 4 years ($10,000/yr)
Eligibility: African American high school seniors, academic excellence and community service
Deadline: January 9 | ronbrown.org
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Award: Up to $35,000 over 4 years
Eligibility: Minority high school seniors, 3.0+ GPA, financial need, leadership
Deadline: February 1 | jackierobinson.org/scholarship
HBCU Scholars Program
Award: $2,500
Eligibility: Full-time undergrad at accredited HBCU, 3.0+ GPA
Deadline: April 30 | diverseeducation.com
CORPORATE SCHOLARSHIPS
Companies Investing in HBCU Talent
Leading corporations and Black-owned enterprises are committing real dollars to HBCU students. Below are active corporate scholarships with sponsor name, award amount, field of study, and direct application links.
Google Generation Scholarship
Sponsor: Google
Award: $10,000
Field: Computer Science, Engineering
Deadline: December 1
Toyota HBCU Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Toyota
Award: $10,000/year
Field: Engineering, Business, Marketing
Deadline: February 28
Bank of America Scholarship
Sponsor: Bank of America
Award: $2,500-$5,000
Field: Business, Finance, STEM
Deadline: Rolling
Walmart HBCU Scholarship
Sponsor: Walmart Foundation
Award: $3,000
Field: Business, Retail Management, Supply Chain
Deadline: March 15
Target HBCU & Diverse Business Scholarship
Sponsor: Target
Award: $5,000
Field: Business, Marketing, Design
Deadline: January 31
Mastercard Foundation Scholarship
Sponsor: Mastercard
Award: Up to $15,000
Field: Business, Finance, Technology
Deadline: February 1
Robert F. Smith HBCU Endowment Scholarship
Sponsor: Vista Equity Partners / RF Smith Foundation
Award: $5,000-$20,000
Field: STEM, Business
Deadline: Rolling
Comcast NBCUniversal HBCU Scholarship
Sponsor: Comcast NBCUniversal
Award: $5,000 + paid internship consideration
Field: Media, Communications, Technology
Deadline: April 1
ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Play Your Way to an HBCU Degree
Athletic scholarships at HBCUs cover tuition, room, board, and fees for qualifying student-athletes across MEAC and SWAC conferences. Whether you're a football standout or a track phenom, here's what you need to know.
MEAC — Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Partial to full scholarships for football, basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, and track. Member schools include Howard University, Hampton University, Morgan State University, and North Carolina A&T.
SWAC — Southwestern Athletic Conference
Full athletic grants-in-aid for football (up to 85 scholarships), basketball, and Olympic sports. Member schools include Grambling State, Southern University, Jackson State, and Prairie View A&M.
How to Get Recruited
- Build a highlight reel and upload to NCSA or Hudl
- Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA — most HBCU coaches require it
- Attend HBCU athletic recruiting days and spring showcases
- Contact coaching staff directly — HBCUs actively recruit walk-ons
- Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center before your senior year
STEM SCHOLARSHIPS
Science, Tech, Engineering & Math Funding for HBCU Students
Federal agencies and leading tech corporations have dedicated scholarship pipelines specifically for HBCU STEM students. These awards range from $5,000 stipends to fully funded research fellowships.
NASA Scholarship for HBCU Students
Award: $11,000 (undergrad), $16,000 (grad) + internship
Field: Aerospace, Engineering, Physics
Deadline: February 4
NSF S-STEM Program
Award: Up to $10,000/yr
Field: STEM broadly
Deadline: Campus-administered, varies
DOE HBCU Initiative Scholarship
Award: $50,000 over 2 years + practicum
Field: Energy, Engineering, Environmental Science
Deadline: January 12
Microsoft HBCU Scholarship
Award: $5,000 + mentorship
Field: Computer Science, Software Engineering
Deadline: March 31
Lockheed Martin HBCU/HSI Scholarship
Award: $10,000
Field: Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity
Deadline: February 28
SMART Scholarship (DoD)
Award: Full tuition + stipend + employment after graduation
Field: STEM disciplines
Deadline: December 1
UNCF-Merck Science Initiative
Award: $25,000 (undergrad), $53,500 (grad/postdoc)
Field: Life Sciences, Biomedical Research
Deadline: January 31
MINORITY SCHOLARSHIPS
Awards Built Around Your Identity and Experience
Your background, community, and lived experience are assets — not checkboxes. These scholarships recognize the unique contributions and challenges of minority students, first-generation college attendees, women in leadership, and community builders.
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Scholarships
Award: $1,500-$7,500
Eligibility: African American students enrolled at accredited 2- or 4-year institutions | Focus: Various fields
Deadline: March 1
UNCF Women of Color Scholarship
Award: $3,000
Eligibility: Black women, 3.0+ GPA, undergrad | Focus: Any major
Deadline: March 31
National Action Network (NAN) Scholarship
Award: $2,500
Eligibility: First-generation African American students | Focus: Any major
Deadline: April 15
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)
Award: $500-$5,000
Eligibility: Hispanic/Latino students | Focus: Any major
Deadline: February 15
American Indian College Fund Scholarship
Award: $1,000-$2,500
Eligibility: Native American students at tribal colleges or accredited 4-year institutions | Focus: Any major
Deadline: May 31
Point Foundation LGBTQ Scholarship
Award: Varies (avg $13,600/yr)
Eligibility: LGBTQ+ students demonstrating leadership and financial need | Focus: Any major
Deadline: January 27
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Grants for Students and Institutions
Unlike scholarships, grants often fund research, community projects, institutional development, and specific academic programs. These opportunities are available to both individual HBCU students and the institutions themselves.
Title III Strengthening HBCUs Program
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education | Type: Institutional Grant | Award: $500,000-$3M/year | Purpose: Fund academic programs, faculty development, and campus infrastructure at eligible HBCUs | Eligibility: Accredited HBCUs meeting DOE criteria | Application: Via Grants.gov annually.
NSF HBCU Excellence in Research (HBCU-UP)
Sponsor: NSF | Award: $100,000-$500,000 | Purpose: Advance STEM research capacity at HBCUs | Who Applies: HBCU faculty/institution
Community Foundation Grants
Sponsor: W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ford Foundation | Award: $5,000-$100,000 | Purpose: Community development, first-gen students, social justice programs | Who Applies: Individual students and HBCU departments
NIH Research Supplements for Underrepresented Scholars
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health | Award: Up to $25,000/year | Purpose: Support underrepresented minority students and faculty in biomedical research | Who Applies: Students at NIH-funded institutions including HBCUs
SCHOLARSHIP FAQ
Common Questions, Honest Answers
Scholarship season comes with a lot of noise — scam alerts, conflicting deadlines, and confusing eligibility rules. Here are the answers HBCU students ask most.
How do I know if a scholarship listing is legitimate?
HBCU Now only publishes scholarships from verified sponsors — accredited institutions, registered nonprofits, publicly traded companies, and federal agencies. We cross-check every listing against official sponsor websites. Red flags to watch: any scholarship that requires an application fee, asks for your Social Security Number upfront, or promises guaranteed awards without eligibility criteria.Can I stack multiple scholarships?
Yes — in most cases. Federal grants like Pell and institutional scholarships are stackable up to your total Cost of Attendance (COA). Private scholarship rules vary: some cap total aid at COA, others are unrestricted. Always notify your financial aid office of outside awards so they can adjust your package correctly and avoid over-awarding.What if I don't meet the GPA requirement — should I still apply?
Some scholarship programs accept appeals or have rolling review processes that allow context around a low GPA (medical hardship, family circumstances, upward trend). Always read the full FAQ on the sponsor's website. Many UNCF-affiliated programs also have a personal statement component that can offset a GPA just below the threshold.How often are HBCU Now scholarship listings updated?
Our editorial team reviews and updates scholarship listings weekly during peak award season (October-April) and monthly during the off-season. Each listing shows the last-verified date. If you spot a listing that appears expired or incorrect, use the 'Report a Listing' link on each card to flag it for review.
Ready to start your HBCU journey? Explore our full admissions guide and financial aid resources.