Minority Grants and Scholarships

While some scholarships and grants are merit-based and some grants are designed for women, there are some grants that are specifically designed to help send minorities to college.  There are grants for people of various ethnicities, people who've traditionally been discriminated against or who have disabilities, bisexual, lesbian, gay and transgender individuals, and mute, blind or deaf students. These grants balance out the underrepresentation of minorities at universities.

What to Look For with Minority Grants and Scholarships

The federal and state governments and many private organizations have grants available for students of nearly every minority group, including people with serious financial hardships. While minority college grants often go to students with financial needs first, students who distinguish themselves from their peers through their athletic skills, creativity, or academic achievements can usually receive college grants. See what it would take to get a grant in your field.

Also, check out well-known organizations such as the United Negro College Fund,the Hispanic College Fundand the Bureau of Indian Affairs. All maintain grant and scholarship programs for ethnic minority students.

Learn how to identify grant programs from specific corporations that may be right for you. Competitive, but lucrative, grant programs are often launched by major businesses.  After you fill out the FAFSA, you can search for grants you're eligible for. Research large corporations in your area, and check their websites to see if they offer grants and scholarships.

Remember, just like scholarships, grants do not have to be repaid. Apply for everything that you are eligible for!

Grants for Minority Groups

• Gates Millennium Scholarsare intended to increase the number of African-Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Americans, and Hispanic Americans enrolling in and completing degrees. The program is open to students in mathematics, science, computer science, engineering, education, or library science.
• NACME is the nation's largest privately funded source of scholarships for minority engineering students. Scholarship amounts range from $2,500 per year to full scholarships.
• William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students is based on academic excellence and financial need and is open to both undergraduate and graduate students who are members of minority groups.

Grants for African Americans

• The National Black Nurses Associationsupports the professional and educational interests of African American nurses and offers nearly a dozen grants, scholarships and fellowships for nurses enrolled in four-year nursing programs. Average grant awards are between $500 and $2,000.
• United Negro College Fund (UNCF)awards grant and scholarship money for about 65,000 students a year and provides funding for historically black colleges and universities. Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and verifiable financial need.

Grants for Asian Americans

• The Asian American Journalists Associationoffers different grants to qualified individuals ranging from $1,500 to $2,000.
• The Asian Cultural Counciloffers grants to Asians working in the realm of visual or performing arts for the purposes of conducting research, studying, undergoing specialized training, or participating in observation tours in the United States.

Grants for Hispanics

• The José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fundis a need-based merit scholarship that provides financial assistance to eligible students of Hispanic origin attending Florida public or eligible private institutions.
• The Hilton Family Diversityprogram awards ten renewable $2,500 grants each year to deserving Hispanic students attending any four-year college or university within the United States.

Grants for Native Americans

FYI: For a student to be eligible for many Native American scholarships, the student should be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.

The student's Native American tribe can be another good source of financial aid.

• Blackfeet Nation Higher Education Grantawards $3500 each year to 140 Blackfeet Tribe undergraduate students.
• Native American Education Grantsaward $1500 to $2500 each year to 10-125 Native American undergraduate and graduate students.

How to Apply for Free Grant Money

• The easiest way to see what grants you qualify for is to fill out your FAFSA.
• Check with your school to see what kinds of grants and scholarships specific to the institution are offered for minority students.
• Research state and federal government and private organizations' grant programs.
• Make sure to keep your grades up, as a lot of grants are only applicable for certain GPAs.

A Great Resource to Find Minority Grants:

U.S. Department of Education, Higher Education Opportunities for Minorities and Women -- Annotated Selections, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1996. ISBN 0-16-045218-X ($8.00).

A list of opportunities for minority and female undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students, organized by academic area, with a separate list of general programs. (Note: This publication is by no means comprehensive.)

To order a copy, write to Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328. 

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