Inclusive Opportunities: Scholarships for Marginalized College Students

The troubling fact that minority and marginalized students are statistically more likely to face added barriers preventing them from pursuing postsecondary education is now common knowledge. Reputable public policy organizations like Brookings are studying these discrepancies, revealing, for example, that “White students receive an implicit subsidy that is $2,200 per year, on average, more than for Black students.”

Sadly, this is just the tip of the iceberg regarding the financial disparities affecting minority college students. 

But this guide — an extensive list of scholarships and helpful tips for finding, applying for, and earning a scholarship — was created with you in mind. Because minority-focused scholarships may not only help you attend school, but most believe can also contribute to the “…emotional and psychological boost that students need to reach their college dreams.”

Your dreams are within reach. Keep reading! 

Scholarships for Marginalized College Students

The first step you need to take to transform your college dream into reality is simply finding and applying for as many scholarships that you qualify for. Ideally, no one would need to go into debt to go to college, but in reality, student loan debt is pervasive and can be crippling to a student’s life and finances — and disproportionately affects minority students. Fortunately, you can complete your entire college career without excessive debt by applying for and earning grants and scholarships.

Below, find categories reflecting a variety of minority student populations, as well as links to the scholarships themselves. 

• Scholarships for Black Students

  Ron Brown Scholarship

  • Amount: $40,000 ($10,000 per year)
  • Eligibility: Available to African American high school seniors from low-income homes. Winners receive funding for their collegiate careers. The program also provides mentoring, leadership training, and service opportunities. 
  • Deadline: January 9

  Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship Program

  • Amount: $10,000
  • Eligibility: Available to seniors at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) nationwide who have academically successful good leaders, demonstrate a commitment to community service, and have an unmet financial need. Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. 
  • Deadline: January 13

  Advocates for African Americans Carolinas Scholarship

  • Amount: $2,000
  • Eligibility: Available to African American students from North and South Carolina majoring in math, engineering, computer science, science, finance, accounting, finance, or business administration.
  • Deadline: March 3 

  McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship

  • Amount: Up to $15,000 ($7,500 per semester)
  • Eligibility: Available to full-time undergraduate students attending HBCUs. Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher with demonstrated financial need and leadership skills. 
  • Deadline: March 27

  Dr. Julianne Malveaux Scholarship

  • Amount: Varied
  • Eligibility: Available to African American women enrolled at an accredited university in their sophomore or junior year. Must major in economics, journalism, or a related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0. 
  • Deadline: March 31

  Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Contest

  • Amount: $1,750 or $2,500
  • Eligibility: Available to Black/African American students headed to college or already enrolled. Must submit an essay about an inspirational Black American leader who lives in a state where Regions Bank is located (AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, SC, TN, or TX.
  • Deadline: March 31

  National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) Scholarship Program

  • Amount: Varies ($1,000 – $15,000)
  • Eligibility: Available to Black/African American students in various nursing programs; must be NBNA members.
  • Deadline: April 15 

  Charles Shelton Veterinarian Medicine/Technology Scholarship

  • Amount: $2,000
  • Eligibility: Available to African American students seeking veterinarian medicine/technology degrees. Applicants must be enrolled in a veterinarian medicine/technology-related field and have a 3.0 GPA; essay submission is required. 
  • Deadline: April 15

  KnowBe4 Black Americans in Cybersecurity

  • Amount: Up to $13,000 ($10,000 for tuition, fees, books, and electronics, and up to $3,000 may be applied to on-campus housing.)
  • Eligibility: Available to African American and Black undergraduate/graduate students pursuing cybersecurity or information assurance degrees. Must have a minimum GPA of 3.2.
  • Deadline: April 17

  Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Education Scholarship

  • Amount: Varies ($2,500-$20,000)
  • Eligibility: Available to scholastically gifted and highly driven full-time Black/African American students seeking undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degrees in various fields.
  • Deadline: April 28

• Scholarships for LGBTQIA+ Students

  Pride Foundation Scholarship

  • Amount: Varies ($3,250-$12,000)
  • Eligibility: Available to LGBTQ+ students and allies living in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington. Applicant must demonstrate financial need. 
  • Deadline: January 6

  Point Foundation Flagship Scholarship

  • Amount: Varied ($5,000 to $28,000 per year)
  • Eligibility: Available to LGBTQ+ students enrolled full-time in undergraduate or graduate studies at an American four-year accredited college or university.
  • Deadline: January 26

  Out For Education Scholarships

  • Amount: Varies
  • Eligibility: Available to students ages 17-25 identifying as LGBTQ+. Recipients must graduate from a high school in the Houston area or be enrolled in an accredited Houston college or university. 
  • Deadline: February 28

  Colin Higgins Courage Award

  • Amount: $10,000
  • Eligibility: Available to LGBTQ+ students who have overcome discrimination and/or adversities and channeled their past into activism. 
  • Deadline: March 1

  Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship

  • Amount: $5,000
  • Eligibility: Available to racially and/or ethnically diverse and LGBTQ+ students. Must be full-time and enrolled in an MPH, MHA, MBA in Healthcare Administration, or a similar program.
  • Deadline: March 31

  The Ronald P. Wilmot Scholarship Fund

  • Amount: Varies ($2,500-$5,000)
  • Eligibility: Available to students who are the children of gay or lesbian parents with a demonstrated financial need. Applicant must live in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
  • Deadline: March 31

  Markowski-Leach Scholarships

  • Amount: $2,500 annually (up to two years)
  • Eligibility: Available to those who identify as LGBTQ+, enrolled in a program with a degree or teaching certificate at Stanford University, San Francisco State University, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, or the University of California Hastings College of Law. Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
  • Deadline: March 31

  Gamma Mu Foundation Scholarships

  • Amount: Varies ($1,000-$2,500)
  • Eligibility: Available to gay males under 35 with a high school diploma or GED by June of the application year. Must be enrolled in an accredited institution the following fall. 
  • Deadline: March 31

  Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund

  • Amount: Varies ($5,000-$10,000)
  • Eligibility: Available to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Queer, or Intersex students or those with an LGBTQI parent. They must also live or have lived in the State of Oregon or Skamania, Clark, Cowlitz, or Wahkiakum Counties in the state of Washington.
  • Deadline: April 1

  League Foundation Scholarships

  • Amount: Varies
  • Eligibility: Available to those openly identifying as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Applicants must apply when they graduate from high school and apply for college. A 3.0 GPA or better using a 4.0 scale and a personal essay is required.
  • Deadline: April 15

• Scholarships for Asian-American Students

  Asian American/Pacific Islander Scholarship

  • Amount: $750
  • Eligibility: Available to Asian American and Pacific Island students. Must be high school seniors or undergraduates. Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Deadline: January 19

  PG&E Asian Employee Resource Group-Asian Employee Resource Group

  • Amount: Varies ($2,000-$3,000)
  • Eligibility: Available to Asians of all majors; those studying I.T., business, engineering, environmental, and energy-related fields are preferred. Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. 
  • Deadline: February 25

  Cecilia Moy Yep Scholarship Fund

  • Amount: Varies
  • Eligibility: Available to Asian American women/high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Must live in Montgomery, Delaware, Philadelphia, Chester, or Bucks counties.
  • Deadline: March 20

  Frederick and Demi Seguritan Scholarship

  • Amount: $5,000
  • Eligibility: Available to first-generation Asian Americans interested in the business sector. Must be a full-time freshman attending an accredited four-year college/university with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Must reside in Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, or Solano County in California.
  • Deadline: March 20

  Advancing Social Justice for Asians Scholarship

  • Amount: $500
  • Eligibility: Available to Asian students seeking advancement in social justice for Asians. Applicants must study politics, law, education, journalism, or similar disciplines. 
  • Deadline: April 10

  Portland Chinese Scholarship Foundation

  • Amount: Varies ($500-$3,000)
  • Eligibility: Available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are at least 50% Chinese and a graduating high school senior from an Oregon high school. Must be accepted or enrolled in an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
  • Deadline: May 13

  Groundbreaker Leadership Scholarship

  • Amount: $1,500
  • Eligibility: Available to students at least 25% Asian or another Pacific Islander ethnicity with U.S. citizenship. Must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and leadership skills. 
  • Deadline: May 31

  The OTEFE Foundation Scholarship

  • Amount: Varies
  • Eligibility: Available to those who are Korean or Korean American (U.S. or Korean citizenship). Essay submission required. 
  • Deadline: June 2

  Korean American Scholarship Foundation

  • Amount: Varies ($500-$5,000)
  • Eligibility: Available to Korean Americans/students from Korea or descendants of Korean War veterans enrolled in full-time college. Must demonstrate financial need and academic accomplishment.
  • Deadline: June 30

  Endowment for South Asian Students of Indian Descent (ESASID)

  • Amount: $5,000
  • Eligibility: Available to medical students in New Jersey or Philadelphia. Must be of South Asian Indian descent.
  • Deadline: September 30

• Scholarships for Latino/Hispanic Students

  Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar

  • Amount: Varies ($500 – $5,000)
  • Eligibility: Available to Hispanic students who are permanent U.S. citizens and enrolled in full-time college study; must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for high school students or a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale for college/graduate students. 
  • Deadline: February 15

  Chicana Latina Foundation

  • Amount: $1,500
  • Eligibility: Available to Chicana and/or Latina women enrolled in an accredited program; must have lived at least two years in one of 13 California counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, San Francisco, Sonoma, or Yolo). Undergraduate students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0; graduate students must have a minimum 2.7 GPA.
  • Deadline: March 31

  LULAC National Scholarship Fund

  • Amount: Varies ($250-$2000)
  • Eligibility: Available to Latino students enrolled in college full-time with a demonstrated financial need. 
  • Deadline: March 31

  Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Scholarships

  • Amount: $25,000
  • Eligibility: Available to Hispanic/Latino heritage pursuing a STEM degree. Must be a SHPE member and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. 
  • Deadline: April 2

  Hispanic Scholarship Consortium Scholarship Program

  • Amount: Varies ($1,000-$5,000)
  • Eligibility: Available to students of Hispanic/Latino heritage seeking to enroll in full-time studies in any college or certificate program. Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale and be a Texas resident. 
  • Deadline: April 30

  Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Scholarships

  • Amount: Up to $1,000
  • Eligibility: Available to students with at least one parent of Hispanic ancestry with at least one Hispanic grandparent. Must be enrolled full-time in an accredited post-high school educational institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  • Deadline: April 30

  Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Scholarship Program

  • Amount: $5,000
  • Eligibility: Available to undergraduate students attending a HACU institution. Applicant must demonstrate financial need. 
  • Deadline: May 1

  José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund

  • Amount: $2,000 annually
  • Eligibility: Available to Hispanic students seeking a scholarship in a Florida-based public or eligible private college. Must have a demonstrated financial need, be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen/Florida resident, and be enrolled full-time. 
  • Deadline: May 15

  Excelen-ΣΙΑ Scholarship Application

  • Amount: $1,000
  • Eligibility: Available to Latino students who are recent high school graduates starting school at an accredited four-year college or a freshman starting sophomore year. College freshmen must have a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and high school seniors must have a minimum 3.7 on a 4.0 scale. 
  • Deadline: $1,000

  NBCUniversal Media Scholarship

  • Amount: $5,000
  • Eligibility: Available to Latino college sophomores/juniors enrolled in an accredited program full-time in majors related to the media and entertainment industry. Must be at least 18 years old with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 
  • Deadline: October 18

• General Minority Scholarships

  The Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship

  • Amount: $5,000
  • Eligibility: Available to female students from a recognized minority background who will be full-time college students playing golf for their university. 
  • Deadline: January 11

  Educational Partnership Program (EPP) Undergraduate Scholarship Program

  • Amount: Up to $45,000
  • Eligibility: Must be a student in a discipline linked to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs and mission at an accredited minority-serving institution. Applicants must have and maintain a minimum 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
  • Deadline: January 31

  AMS Scholarship for Underserved Communities 

  • Amount: $6,000 ($3,000 per semester)
  • Eligibility: Available to students from underrepresented communities such as Hispanic, Native American, and Black/African American. Must be studying atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Deadline: February 24

  American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program

  • Amount: $5,000 per year (renewable until graduation)
  • Eligibility: Available to members of historically underrepresented groups seeking training and careers in chemical sciences, majoring in chemistry-related disciplines.
  • Deadline: March 1

  American Association of Blacks in Energy Scholarship

  • Amount: $20,000
  • Eligibility: Available to African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics pursuing positions to help improve energy regulations, emerging technologies, and environmental issues; must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • Deadline: March 10

  Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship

  • Amount: $5,000
  • Eligibility: Available to minority and LGBQ+ students in their final year of a healthcare management graduate program. Students must have a demonstrated financial need and be U.S. citizens. 
  • Deadline: March 31

  The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship

  • Amount: $12,000
  • Eligibility: Available to racial, ethnic, and cultural minorities in financial need. Applicants must have a combined family income of $70,000 or less, a demonstrated record of academic accomplishments, and a dedication to public service.
  • Deadline: April 1

  American Bus Association Diversity Scholarship

  • Amount: $5,000
  • Eligibility: Available to those from underrepresented communities seeking management-level careers in the sectors of transportation, travel, or tourism.
  • Deadline: April 2

  Brown and Caldwell Minority Scholarship

  • Amount: $5,000
  • Eligibility: Available to full-time students enrolled in their junior or senior year or graduate program at an accredited college/university. Must major in chemical, civil, mechanical, electrical, or environmental engineering or environmental science; must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and identify as a minority. 
  • Deadline: April 15

  The Actuarial Diversity Scholarship

  • Amount: Varied ($1,000-4,000)
  • Eligibility: Available to Black/African American, Latinx, Native North American, and Pacific Islander students. Must be a full-time undergraduate student seeking a degree that may result in a career in the actuarial profession. Must have a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
  • Deadline: June 1

How to Find & Apply for Scholarships

Now that you’ve reviewed our exhaustive list of scholarships and identified a few that may qualify for, it’s time to set yourself up for further success. While scholarships are usually competitive, you can improve your odds by taking advantage of the following tips. Read on to learn how to find scholarships beyond our comprehensive list, what to expect as part of the application process and how to make your application a stand-out winner. 

Step 1: Research Scholarships & Funding Options

• Start early and check as many sources as possible

  Applying for scholarships is a numbers game; the more you apply for and the sooner you start, the more likely you are to be successful. 

  Some ways to find the best scholarships for minorities are:

  • Ask your guidance counselor.
  • Ask friends and family.
  • Check with local ethnicity-based businesses and organizations.
  • Use the Department of Labor’s Free Scholarship Finder Tool.
  • Check your local State Education Agency.

• Look for university funding

  Another tip to help you find scholarships is to look for university funding. Many colleges have their own scholarship funds and other funding sources. Moreover, colleges also receive federal “gift aid,” another way colleges can create grants and scholarship funds. Therefore, checking in with the financial aid office of your chosen institution can be a great way to uncover additional opportunities. 

• Use online databases

  Online databases are an excellent choice for anyone who wants to be able to apply for multiple scholarships from the comfort of your own computer, phone, or other smart devices. 

  Here are some of the top online databases to find the best loans and grants for minorities:

  • Going Merry
  • Cappex
  • Niche
  • Chegg
  • Bold.org
  • Peterson’s
  • Scholly
  • Scholarship Owl
  • Sallie Mae

• Seek scholarships in your chosen degree or specialty

  One great way to find scholarships for minorities is by searching for scholarships based on your desired degree. This is because various sectors offer specific scholarships that are only available to those majoring in certain subjects and/or pursuing careers in designated fields. In addition, doing so tends to limit the competition, further increasing your chances of being awarded a scholarship. Therefore, when researching scholarships, you should include keywords commonly associated with your major of choice. 

Step 2: Prepare Your Applications

• Follow the scholarship guidelines carefully

  Scholarship guidelines exist for various reasons — not only do creators want to make sure that they cater to those belonging to the demographics they are trying to serve, but they also are there to let potential applicants know the minimum requirements to receive the award. Ignoring guidelines wastes your time and those who review the applications. Before applying for any grant or scholarship, take some time to ensure you are fully qualified. 

• Ensure you meet all the application requirements

  Like applying for jobs, following instructions is essential when applying for scholarships. This is because taking the time to fill out the application carefully demonstrates that you are an intellectual applicant taking the process seriously. Making mistakes and skipping steps will most often result in not being awarded the scholarship. Make sure you read the instructions before, during, and after completing the application to ensure you have not missed any steps.

• Customize your applications to fit the individual scholarship submission

  Applying for multiple scholarships can take time and effort. This is especially true when you are applying for scholarships that require you to submit letters, essays, videos, etc. Nevertheless, creating cookie-cutter responses will not work in your favor. Taking the time to customize each submission shows that you are serious about your schooling and your chosen scholarship. 

• Focus on your achievements, skills, and experience

  One of the best things you can do to increase your chances of winning a scholarship is to focus on what potentially sets you apart from other applicants. Relevant details from your background will show your qualifications, demonstrate what makes you unique, and tell a story about why you deserve consideration. Therefore, you should spend some time thinking about your specific skills and experiences. This is especially true if you have won awards or have exceptional expertise relevant to the scholarship. 

• Obtain quality letters of recommendation

  Before you begin the process of applying for scholarships, you should obtain letters of recommendation. Although not all scholarships will require you to provide letters of recommendation, those that do will not accept your submission without them. Professionals are often busy and may need more time than you have available to create the letter, so asking for letters on tight deadlines is not ideal. Requesting these letters before you start applying will ensure that you have them handy, regardless of your deadline.

Increase Your Chances of Winning a Scholarship

Now that you have found some scholarships and are ready to apply, be sure you take the following tips into consideration as you put your applications together. These tips can help to increase your chances of winning a scholarship (or multiple scholarships) that can help you to pay for your degree. Remember, the less debt you graduate with, the better off you will be post-graduation. Now let’s get into some of these tips:

• Apply for as many scholarships as possible

  You should find many scholarships to apply for by starting early and conducting thorough searches. Although you cannot apply for them all, you should prioritize them and work your way down the list. To avoid missing deadlines, be sure that you make a list of your scholarship options sorted by the due date. Moreover, finding more specialized scholarships may help you increase your chances of winning, as having fewer applicants automatically boosts your odds.

• Be detail-oriented and focus on quality

  Focusing on the details can be an excellent way to set you apart from the competition. Missed categories, misspellings, and other issues are more common than they should be. Therefore, take your time and complete each section carefully. You can also complete it over several days rather than trying to complete the whole application in an hour or two. Finally, review the instructions with a fine-tooth comb to ensure you’ve crossed your t’s and dotted your i’s. 

• Let your personality and passion shine through

  Ideally, applicants apply for scholarships in fields and categories they are truly passionate about. Otherwise, they should at least be passionate about the reasons they are applying. Either way, showing your passion is an excellent way to plead your case. In addition, by speaking candidly about why you need help financing your college career and/or why you picked your chosen field, you will increase your chances of compelling the reviewers to choose you. 

• Highlight what makes you stand out from others

  Oftentimes, applicants are so concerned with impressing decision-makers that they forget to be themselves. Nevertheless, your idiosyncrasies and other unique details often get you noticed. For example, discussing your special interests, hobbies, etc., will give them a more in-depth look into who you are. In addition, it helps you seem more genuine and personable in the eyes of the people reviewing your application. Ultimately, this vulnerability can give you an edge over the competition.

• Revise and edit

  Lastly, you should be revising and editing while you are writing, and you should also edit and revise at least one to two more times once you have completed the application. Once you’ve thoroughly edited your application, run it through editing software, such as Grammarly. Additionally, you should ask a friend or colleague to review your application, and you may even want to pay a professional editor to take your application to the next level.