Everyone knows that college is expensive. And scholarships for black women can be helpful when you want to avoid debt or if paying for college would be a challenge.
Scholarships are essentially free money that you don’t have to pay back. When you don’t have to pay out of pocket or take out student loans, you’re free to focus on your studies and future career.
Here is a list of 19 black women scholarships to help you pay for college without creating a mountain of student loan debt.
A list of scholarships for black women
There are plenty of opportunities out there, from scholarships for black women in STEM to law and communications. But the search can be stressful.
Not to worry, this list can help you find the information you need to pay for college! Below we list the top scholarships:
1. SPEAK UP! SCHOLARSHIP
If you’re a high school junior or senior and are passionate about the field of communication, this is one of the scholarships for black women you’ll want to know about.
The Speak Up scholarship awards five winners $2,000 who are involved in clubs related to communication, such as journalism, marketing, yearbook, and other related subjects.
To apply, you must submit a letter of recommendation, a 500 to 800-word answer to their writing prompt, transcripts, and an academic resume.
You can also follow the information on their website for a complete list of requirements.
2. The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship
The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship is an excellent chance for people already in college to get some expenses covered. You can be either a senior in high school or already accepted into college and have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
There are additional requirements like demonstrating financial need and showcasing your interest in pursuing a career in any field/study. This scholarship provides $2,000 towards your education.
3. The ESPN Scholarship
ESPN and the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWM) offer scholarships for black women, one for an undergraduate student and one for a graduate school student.
Your degree must be in sports media to apply, and if you get it, you’ll also get your writing published on the website for AWM. In addition, the two winners will receive $3,750.
4. The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Another way to beat student loan payments is the Jackie Robinson Foundation scholarship. You can be given up to $35,000 over four years while earning a bachelor’s degree.
The eligibility requirements include submitting your official SAT and/or ACT test exam scores and the college you attend must be an accredited and approved 4-year college.
Also included in the scholarship offerings are mentorship and job placement opportunities.
5. The Dr. Wynetta A. Frazier Sister-to-Sister Scholarship
The Dr. Wynetta A. Frazier Sister-to-Sister scholarship is perfect for the black woman who had to cut her education short due to life circumstances.
You may have had to take care of a family member or needed a break for personal reasons, but you can still return to college and receive financial support of up to $500.
You must be an African American woman at least 19 years old to apply. Additionally, you must be entering college for the first time or returning to college to get this black women’s scholarship.
6. The Gates Scholarship
The Gates Scholarship is a great opportunity for low-income individuals to get full tuition costs, fees, and more covered, but it’s highly competitive. In fact, only 300 seniors each year are chosen.
However, winners can receive funding for the total cost of attendance, including fees, tuition, books, room and board, and transportation.
To apply, you must have a 3.3 GPA, be pursuing an undergraduate degree, and also have proof of leadership qualities.
7. Dashanna K. McNeil Memorial Scholarship
Is your dream career becoming a nurse? If so, many scholarships for black women are available for nursing students.
One such scholarship is the Dashanna K. McNeil Memorial Scholarship. It is open to all educational levels and also requires an essay for its application.
You also must plan on or be enrolled in an accredited nursing institution. Recipients can receive up to $1120.
8. @ESPDaniella Debt Grant
The @ESPDaniella Debt Grant is perfect for anyone in undergraduate or graduate studies or who has either completed or dropped out of college and can show proof of loan debt. You don’t need a perfect academic background to apply for this black women scholarship.
Up to three winners will be chosen with a chance to win $1,500 each.
9. Desiree Jeana Wapples Scholarship for Young Women
The Desiree Jeana Wapples Scholarship helps high school students with some of the financial burdens of starting college. Applicants must be female high school seniors living in Virginia and have at least a 3.0 GPA.
The recipient can receive up to $500.
10. Freemont Foundation Scholarship Program
The Freemont Foundation scholarship is for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who have shown leadership abilities while volunteering and caring for their community.
Applications are available online through their website, and those that apply must be pursuing or planning to pursue a degree in the sciences. Additional requirements include a 3.0 GPA.
11. Legal Opportunity Scholarship
Ran by the American Bar Association, the Legal Opportunity Scholarship supports minority students entering their first year of law school. A generous scholarship amount of $15,000 is meant to support students throughout their three years of law school.
As a result, this scholarship has helped over 400 students of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities pay their way through college.
To apply, you must be in or entering your first year of law school and have a GPA of 2.5 based on a 4.0 grading scale. In addition, you must be part of an ethnic or racial minority.
13. Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship
For black women who are in their last year of a college graduate program and are studying healthcare management, the Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship is for you.
The application process requires three letters of recommendation, your transcript, your current resume, an essay answering why you are pursuing your career, and more information on your financial need.
Each year 15 students receive a scholarship of $5,000, and it’s one of the best scholarships for black women to look into.
14. General Scholarships from the American Library Association
The American Library Association, or ALA, has various scholarships for minorities pursuing a master’s degree in library and information studies.
To be considered for an award, you must demonstrate leadership, academic excellence, and also a dedication to librarianship.
If you’re interested in applying, you can do so through the ALA program website to put your hat in the running.
15. The Herbert Lehman Scholarship
The Herbert Lehman scholarship started to support African American students entering formally segregated colleges and now continues a similar mission.
As a result, every year, minorities receive financial support to continue their pursuit of higher education.
There are no GPA or SAT/ACT score requirements; however, a student’s grades, community service, and financial needs are all considered. To read through their eligibility requirements, you can access their application portal.
16. International Association of Black Actuaries
The IABA scholarship supports African American undergraduate and graduate students who want to start an actuarial career.
When applying, a student’s GPA and test scores contribute to the selection process. Scholarship awards can vary between $1,500 – $5,000/year, depending on where students are in their college years.
17. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
The Dr. Nancy Foster scholarship is for women in the early years of their master’s or doctorate degrees. In addition, the program accepts applicants studying maritime archeology, oceanography, and marine biology.
Requirements include strong letters of recommendation, proof of finances, and also your research proposal that aligns with the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
18. The Generation Google Scholarship
The Generation Google scholarship could support you if you’re pursuing a career in computer science. It’s a good option for scholarships for black women in STEM.
Open to students pursuing any level of degree in the United States or Canada. In addition, applicants must demonstrate a solid academic record, a financial need, and leadership skills.
To apply, you will fill out an application online, upload various documents such as your resume, and answer essay questions. Winners from the United States can earn up to $10,000 and up to CAD 5,000 for Canadian students.
19. Minority/Women in STEM Scholarship
Many scholarships for black women in STEM can be found on bold.org. One such scholarship, the Minority Women in STEM Scholarship, aims to support first-generational low-income students from minority backgrounds.
To apply, you must share what challenges you have overcome in order to pursue your interest in STEM.
There are five scholarship recipients, and each receives $1,000.
You can find even more scholarships by checking out the UNCF website. However, scholarships aren’t the only way to pay for college.
Other places to find money for college
Although there are many scholarships for black women, you can fund your college degree in other ways.
For instance, diversity-focused funding opportunities, such as grants and tuition reimbursement programs, can help you avoid the student debt crisis and pursue your education.
Tuition reimbursement plans from an employer
Did you know that some companies will pay you to go to college? Tuition reimbursement plans are popular in many well-known companies. These types of programs are beneficial to both you and your employers.
For instance, a tech company can pay for part or all of your tuition to study computer science. You get free financial support, and they get an educated employee that will work for them in the future.
Some companies that have tuition assistance programs are:
Federal and state grants
Grants are money from the federal or local government that is for college tuition that usually doesn’t have to be paid back. Grants can also come from organizations, schools, and foundations.
Popular grants to consider applying for are Federal Pell Grants if you’re pursuing your bachelor’s degree.
Other grants to look into are the:
Student loan forgiveness
If you’ve taken out loans to pay for college and have made consistent payments, you may be eligible to have the remaining balance canceled.
To see if you qualify for student loan forgiveness, you can visit the official government website as well as look into public service loan forgiveness.
Black women scholarships can help you pay for college!
Getting into college is one of the first steps to starting your dream career. The next step is paying for it, and that’s where black women’s scholarships come into play.
The free money programs can help you focus less on money and more on your studies.
Use the above list to find the perfect black women scholarship for you.
Remember that black women scholarships are out there. It may take time to apply, but it will pay off in the long run.
You can also apply for multiple scholarships for even more funding. If you’re lucky, you may even win a scholarship that offers a full ride.