subject: Where to Find Scholarships For African Americans [print this page] African Americans seeking a college education need not worry too much about being able to pay for college. There are billions of dollars in scholarship funds available for the right applicants. It is best to search for organizations that offer scholarships for African Americans, but you should not disregard outside grants and regular scholarships as well.
Many scholarships are allocated for students attending a particular school or residing in a particular area. You should contact your high school, college, local minority organizations and Chamber of Commerce to find out if there are any scholarship programs available in your area.
There are over 300 college scholarships available to African Americans. This is fortunate because financial aid is badly needed to help black students finish college. A research by the U.S. Department of Education indicates that white Americans are nearly twice as likely to earn a bachelor's degree as African Americans by the age of 29. Having access to financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants can help a greater number of black Americans complete their college education.
A big number of organizations and companies donate funds to help black students earn a college degree. Finding the right scholarship for African Americans is simply a matter of knowing where to apply.
One of the major scholarship programs for black Americans is the Ron Brown Scholar Program. This scholarship is awarded to at least ten high school seniors every year. Recipients are chosen based on academic excellence, community service, leadership potential and financial need. The selection process is highly competitive. This is a very prestigious award that gives away $10,000 per year for four years, or a total of $40,000.
Another important scholarship program for African Americans is the Jack and Jill of America Foundation Scholarship. Students who qualify for this scholarship can receive $1500 to $2000. To qualify for this award, students must have a GPA of at least 3.0, excel in community service, and display leadership potential. The foundation decides if the grant is renewable for all four years of college.
There are many other programs that provide monetary assistance to black students, such as the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Scholarships that provide scholarship and grant money for thousands of students and provide funds for historically black educational institutions. Other scholarship programs include the Sallie Mae Fund American Dream Scholarship, Abercrombie & Fitch Scholarship Program and the Malcolm X Scholarship for Exceptional Courage. These scholarships award several hundred to several thousand dollars annually.
With so much college educational funding available for black students, finding a scholarship for African Americans can be a simple process. The time it takes to raise the money needed to complete a four-year college degree course is time well spent.
