Minority scholarships are those that are available only to minority cultures. Some minority scholarships make funds available to applicants from specific backgrounds: for example, Hispanic scholarships are available only to Hispanic and Latino applicants. But some scholarships accept a broader applicant pool and any student from a minority background is eligible. These scholarships seek to improve graduation rates among minority students, increase diversity in the job market, and meet financial needs.

Eligibility Requirements

The scope of minority scholarships is very broad, so eligibility requirements can vary considerably. However, most scholarships are based on merit and require students to meet specific academic and community involvement requirements. They might also focus on meeting financial needs and require to applicants to verify their dependence on financial aid to attend college. However, all minority scholarships are only available to students from minority cultural or ethnic backgrounds. Other requirements may include:

  • Are a high school graduate or graduating senior
  • Of minority ancestry or cultural heritage
  • Are a legal U.S. resident or citizen
  • Meet specific GPA, SAT, GRE, or other merit requirements
  • Present documented unmet financial need
  • Enrolled in an accredited program
  • Planning to study a specific subject or field

The above list is not an all-inclusive list of eligibility requirements for this type of scholarship. The requirements for minority scholarships can be very specific, so it's important to review the requirements carefully before applying. The list below includes a few minority scholarships to demonstrate the types of scholarships available:

Types of Minority Scholarships

  • AMS Minority Scholarships: The American Meteorological Society awards scholarships to minority students, particularly Hispanic, Native American, and Black/African American students, who are studying the science.
  • AICPA Scholarship For Minority Accounting Students: The American Institute of CPAs awards merit scholarships to minority students who are pursuing the CPA. Selected recipients can receive up to $5,000 per academic year.
  • LITA/OCLC Minority Scholarship Program In Library and Information Technology: This scholarship from LITA, a division of the American Library Association, offers $3000 scholarship to minority students planning to earn a Master of Library Science from an ALA-accredited program.
  • NASP-ERT Minority Scholarship Program: This $5,000 scholarship from the National Association of School Psychologists is available to minority students seeking graduate study in school psychology.
  • Xerox Minority Scholarship: Xerox offers between $1,000 and $10,000 to qualified minorities enrolled in a technical degree program at the bachelor level or above.
  • The National Press Club Scholarship for Journalism Diversity: This National Press Club scholarship consists of a $2,000 one-year scholarship, which can be renewed for up to three years at $2,500 per year.
  • The APS Minority Scholarship: The APS Minority Scholarship helps increase the number of under-represented minorities obtaining degrees in physics.
  • The AIChE Minority Scholarship Award: The AIChE awards $1000 to 10 AIChE undergraduate student members annually. Applicants shall be required to be undergraduates in chemical engineering during the current academic year and be members of a minority group that is under-represented in chemical engineering.
  • AWG Minority Scholarship: The AWG Minority Scholarship program encourages young minority women to pursue an education and later a career in the geosciences. The $6000 scholarship is awarded to one or more women each year for use during the following academic year.
  • The Brown and Caldwell Minority Scholarship: Brown and Caldwell offer a $5000 scholarship to qualifying minority students enrolled in a junior, senior year or graduate engineering program.