African American College Grants

Black individuals who lack the necessary funds to attend an institution of higher learning can look into grants that specifically cater to African-Americans who qualify. The United Negro College Fund, or UNCF, is the oldest and largest organization devoted to providing college funding for African-Americans. It administers grants, scholarships, and loans to needy students who qualify.

Many historically black colleges and universities also offer financial assistance to potential students in need. Howard University in Washington, D.C., has a handful of freshman grants, including the Frederick Douglass and Mordecai Wyatt Johnson programs, based on merit. Morehouse College and Spelman in Atlanta are also top sources, with the former offering grants based on program major or athletic or academic excellence and the latter providing opportunities especially for single black mothers.

The National Black Nurses Association offers assistance for black women entering into the field who are enrolled in four-year nursing programs, with awards ranging from $500 to $2,000. The March of Dimes Nursing Scholarship also offers grants for minority students. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or AICPA, offers grants to minority students enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program for accounting or finance based on merit and academic standing.

Large corporations like Bell Labs, Xerox, and Coca-Cola also have grant programs, and grants can also be received from federal funding sources.

List of African American College Grants

• Lydia Donaldson Tutt-Jones Memorial Research Grant — $2000 awarded each year to African American graduate student.


• Minority Teacher Incentive Grant Program — $5000 awarded each year to minority junior or senior undergraduate student.

Paying for school is not easy, but we are here to help. OEDb's student finance section will help you find the money you need to pay your tuition and other college expenses. We cover scholarships, college grants, and student loans. Scholarships and grants are both forms of "free money", meaning they don't need to be paid back. Scholarships are typically awarded by businesses or individuals, with the money being earmarked specifically for tuition. They can be awarded based on a student's location or by religious affiliation, such as Catholicism or Islam. Grants are typically awarded by governments or non-profit organizations and the money often can be applied to several different expenses a student may incur, not solely tuition. They can be awarded based on location or ethnicity, for instance African American or Hispanic. Loans are not considered "free money", because unlike scholarships and grants, they do need to be paid back after graduation. Common federal loans include Perkins and Stafford. Loans are also available by location.