African American College Grants

Historically, African Americans have been the most disadvantaged race in the United States and, while plans that have been put into effect are increasingly changing this situation, many black individuals lack the necessary funds to attend an institution of higher learning. This condition is remedied through grants available specifically to African American individuals in the United States who qualify in one way or another.

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, DC 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 $2000. 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

• ABAFAZI-AFRICANA Women's Studies Essay Award — $400 awarded each year as essay prize to 2 female African American undergraduate or graduate students.


• 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.


• National Leadership Development Grants — $500 to $5000 awarded each year to 75 minority Methodist undergraduate students.

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.