Scholarship Opportunities for Minority Students

While college is important to build skills that prepare you for the workforce, the increasing cost of tuition makes attending college difficult for many students. In fact, many students rely on scholarships, grants, loans, and more to cover the cost of tuition, room and board, and their other college expenses. 

Colleges and other institutions want to ensure that everyone has access to their educational systems, no matter their race, gender, or sexual orientation. This is why colleges and other associations and programs offer scholarships for minorities who want to attend college but may have trouble covering the cost. 

Overall, minority students are more likely than non-minority students to use loans, scholarships, and grants to pay for higher education. On top of that, minority students tend to have higher student debt coming out of college than their non-minority cohort. This is why it’s extremely important to know your resources so that you can avoid some of the student debt that goes along with college attendance. 

You may be surprised at what students may qualify for minority scholarships. Do you think that you may be able to qualify for any scholarships for minorities? Read on to find out more!

Who Qualifies for Minority Scholarships?

Minority scholarships can apply to a wide range of races, gender, and sexual orientations. To qualify for many of the scholarships for minorities, you don’t need to be a first-generation immigrant and you don’t need to be a first-generation college student. You just need to be part of the listed minority for the scholarship, which may include POC, women, and even LGBTQ+ students. 

Scholarships for minorities also typically have a wide range of different criteria to meet to qualify, like location, potential college major, financial need, skills or talents, and more. There are scholarships available for: 

• minority women
• women in STEM
• POC
• LGBTQ+ students
• academic achievement
• athletic achievement
• and more

Even if you feel like you may not qualify, it doesn’t hurt to check! Our college consultants here at Clark College Consulting may be able to find a scholarship for you that you’d never considered before. 

Examples of Scholarships for Minority Students

If you’re currently applying for college, then scholarships should be at the forefront of your mind. This list is only a small example of the scholarships that could potentially be available to you - just be sure to look! If you aren’t sure where to look, speak with one of our college consultants or one of the college consultants at your school. You might be shocked at what you qualify for.

SOD Pearl Anna Neal Scholarship

The SOD Pearl Anna Neal Scholarship is one of the scholarships for minority women in North Carolina. It is exclusively for minority female high school students involved in the performing arts in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina who have been accepted into a four-year accredited university. This scholarship promotes high academic achievement, with a qualifying GPA of 3.2, and the amount awarded depends on need.

Brown and Caldwell Minority Scholarship

The Brown and Caldwell Minority Scholarship is a scholarship designed to get more minority students involved in the environmental sciences. This scholarship program is involved with societies like the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers. This scholarship offers up to $5,000 toward the recipient’s college education. 

Catching the Dream Program

This $5,000 scholarship is directed toward Native American students who wish to become professionals in Native American communities. If you’re a Native American student wanting to become a doctor, teacher, social worker, technician, or another professional to benefit the Native American community, then this scholarship may be what you’re looking for!

Charles Shelton Veterinarian Medicine/Technology Scholarship

Created for African-American students who want to go into Veterinary Medicine or Technology, this $2,000 scholarship is available for students who have shown a genuine interest in the continued care of animals. Students who apply for this scholarship must be African-American, have a 3.0 GPA, and have two letters of recommendation from professors or animal care professionals in the community that can speak to their love and dedication to the welfare of animals. 

Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholars Scholarship Program

Geared toward Asian and Pacific Islander students, this scholarship can be anywhere from a one-time gift of $2,500 to a multi-year contribution of up to $20,000. This scholarship has several criteria that applicants must meet to qualify, including the following: 

• are low-income
• are first-generation college students
• have a strong sense of community and have practiced community service
• are U.S. citizens
• have completed the FAFSA

La Unidad Latina Foundation

The La Unidad Latina Foundation gives out scholarships every year to Latino students looking to complete their education. This scholarship can be awarded to both undergraduate and graduate Latino students who meet the following qualifications:

• have a high GPA
• be enrolled in a qualifying four-year university
• submit transcripts and letters of recommendation from their professors or community members

This scholarship foundation awards scholarships ranging anywhere from $500 to $2,000. 

Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship Award

The Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship Award is geared toward United States citizens of Arab descent who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism or other media studies. This scholarship awards $2,500 to juniors or seniors in college or graduate studies who have a 3.0 GPA. 

Clark College Consulting

The scholarships listed above are only a small sampling of the scholarships for minorities available throughout the nation. Scholarships are available for nearly every potential major, for different races and backgrounds, and for different genders and sexual orientations. It’s more important now than ever to make sure that everyone is represented in college so that people from every walk of life can be present in the workplace in the future. Diversity can only improve a workplace’s culture and mindset. 

Our college consultants here at Clark College Consulting are happy to assist you in finding any scholarship opportunities that you may qualify for. All you need to do is ask. If you’re interested in working with our team to make the most out of your college experience, then contact us today!