BIPOC Scholarships

Currently, the five-year graduation rate for Black students is only 40.5%, trailing Hispanic or Latino students who have a 5-year graduation rate of 41.5%. That compares to white students who have a 5-year rate of 62.2%. 62% of students from high-earning families graduate with bachelor’s degrees versus 13% of students from under-resourced communities, according to 2021 data from the Pell Institute. This huge educational attainment gap is a result of a structural failure in our higher education system, and we need a structural solution.

BIPOC students might be the first in their families to attend college and have limited funds available to pay for their college expenses. As the cost of college in America keeps rising, many of these students may decide against pursuing their higher education goals.

BIPOC scholarships provide students with money they can use for their tuition and living expenses. These scholarship range in price from just a few hundred dollars to full scholarships that cover the total cost of their programs. Students can also apply for multiple scholarships and win more than one. If you’re a BIPOC student who needs help paying for college, take a look at the top scholarships we found, paying careful attention to due dates and to the other requirements for the scholarships, and checking the scholarship website for the most up-to-date information.

Top BIPOC Scholarships

NSHSS Diversity Scholarship
Amount: $3,000
Due Date: November
Who Can Apply? High school juniors or seniors
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The National Society of High School Honor Students offers this scholarship for high school students planning for the future. You need to write an essay on a specific topic and apply by the deadline. The NSHSS awards five scholarships every year.

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program
Amount: Varies
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? All students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program helps minority and BIPOC students cover the costs of college. There is a wide range of programs that include some full-tuition scholarships.

Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund
Amount: Up to $7,500
Due Date: April
Who Can Apply? Undergrads
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Jay-Z worked with his mother to create this scholarship fund, which awards students of color with needed funds. All applicants must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher, be in college, and write an essay.

CEW IV Foundation Scholarship Program
Amount: $500
Due Date: Not listed
Who Can Apply? Undergrads and high school students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

BIPOC students can apply for this scholarship as long as they are in high school or already enrolled in college. Priority goes to those who write a compelling essays on what education means to them and who also have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Award
Amount: Up to $30,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Minority students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Named in honor of legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson, this scholarship fund provides students with more than $7,000 a year. Students can renew their scholarships every year for four years or up to $30,000. It requires an essay and a minimum ACT/SAT score of 21/1000.

Cobell Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Native American undergrad and graduate students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The minds behind this organization created a program to help Native American students fund their educations. Students need a minimum GPA of 2.0. The organization gives priority to students in vocational programs.

Brown and Caldwell Minority Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Due Date: November
Who Can Apply? Undergrad and graduate students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Yes, STEM majors

Designed for STEM minority students, this program hopes to foster the next generation of professionals. Students need a GPA of 3.0 or higher when they apply. It’s open to both undergrad and graduate students majoring in related fields.

Jae’Sean Tate BUILT Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Due Date: May 6
Who Can Apply? Service industry workers
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Jae’Sean designed this scholarship as a way to help minority students who also work in the service industry. In addition to winning the scholarship, you have the chance to win autographed memorabilia from the player when you apply.

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Scholarships
Amount: Up to $10,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? All students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Available from the Congressional Black Caucus, this scholarship goes to four worthy students every year. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and write an essay. Winners can also renew their scholarships as long as they remain in school.

The Dream Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Due Date: February 28
Who Can Apply? Dreamers
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

You only qualify for one of these scholarships if you are a Dreamer. Applicants must be immigrants who came to the country before November 2017 when they were 16 or younger. It includes some scholarships that cover your tuition and other costs.

Francisco Toro Ramirez Sr. Scholarship
Amount: $500
Due Date: February
Who Can Apply? Puerto Rican high school seniors
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Students need to submit a two-minute video on what their Puerto Rican heritage means to them and how they use their family’s traditions. The committee will pick six finalists every year and award the prize to just one student.

George Floyd Memorial Scholarship
Amount: Varies up to full tuition
Due Date: July
Who Can Apply? Undergrad African American students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

North Central University offers this scholarship in honor of George Floyd. Students can apply as long as they are in college and working on a bachelor’s degree. They must also be African American and write an essay.

Sage Michaela Lucas Timing is Everything Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Due Date: Late fall
Who Can Apply? BIPOC students in accredited programs
Do You Need a Specific Major? Yes, beauty, cosmetic chemistry, and related fields

Beauty Changes Lives is an organization that awards three students scholarships every year through this program. Applicants must enroll in accredited beauty programs and have plans to work in the field. Only those 18 or older can apply.

The McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship Program
Amount: Varies
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Hispanic high school students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

McDonald’s offers several scholarships such as this one that accepts students who have at least one parent with Hispanic heritage. The application asks for transcripts, a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, and a GPA of 2.8 or higher.

L’Oréal Professionnel Empowering Diversity Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Due Date: November 30
Who Can Apply? Students in cosmetology programs
Do You Need a Specific Major? Yes, hairdressing

L’Oreal developed a scholarship program to increase the number of minorities working in the cosmetology field. BIPOC students can apply as long as they are 18 or older and are in an accredited cosmetology program or received acceptance to one.

Full Circle Tribal College Scholarships
Amount: Varies, up to full tuition
Due Date: Usually late fall
Who Can Apply? Native American students with tribal affiliation
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Students who have proof of their family’s tribal affiliation can apply for one of these scholarships. They must also provide a transcript and digital photo. Only those with a GPA of 2.0 or higher qualify.

Wells Fargo Scholarships
Amount: Up to $5,000
Due Date: May
Who Can Apply? Students with a minimum of 25% Native American ancestry
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Wells Fargo has scholarships available for Alaskan Native and Native American students. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.7 to get one scholarship per year.

DARE American Indian Scholarship
Amount: $4,000
Due Date: January
Who Can Apply? Native American undergrads
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) offers scholarships for Native American students with a GPA of 3.25 or higher. You can apply, even if your family doesn’t have tribal affiliation. The program is only open to undergrads.

Hispanic Empowerment No-Essay Scholarship
Amount: $750
Due Date: April 16
Who Can Apply? High school and undergrad students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Hispanic students can apply for this scholarship to get $750 for the next school year. Though it does not have an essay requirement, it does ask students to share some details about their backgrounds.

ALFPA Scholarship
Amount: $2,500 to $5,000
Due Date: May
Who Can Apply? Graduate students and undergrads
Do You Need a Specific Major? Yes, STEM fields, business, technology, accounting, or technology

Both undergrads and graduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who attend an accredited school can apply for one of the scholarships from the Association of Latino Professionals For America. They must write an essay about their career goals and have Hispanic or Latino heritage.

HSF Scholarships
Amount: $500 to $5,000
Due Date: February
Who Can Apply? Current undergrads and graduate students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund hands out multiple awards every year to current students. High school students can apply if they already received an acceptance letter and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The fund gives priority to STEM majors.

Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Due Date: Not Listed
Who Can Apply? African American undergrads and high school students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Poise Foundation awards between 20 and 40 scholarships to undergrads every year through this program. Applicants need a minimum 2.5 GPA if they apply while in high school. College students need a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Point Foundation Scholarship
Amount: Up to $1,500
Due Date: October 26
Who Can Apply? Incoming freshmen and current undergrads
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Point Foundation created a scholarship program for BIPOC students. Winners get up to $1,50, which covers only one semester of their tuition costs. Students can apply for a new scholarship next year.

Burger King Scholars Program
Amount: Up to $50,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Burger King employees and their families
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Burger King helps employees and their spouses, children, and domestic partners receive money for college. The program is open to current and future students who live in the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico and submit an essay when they apply.

MNACC BIPOC Scholarships
Amount: Up to $1,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? New students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Yes, counseling

MNACC offers scholarships for incoming freshmen who want to work as counselors. Applicants must write an essay of no more than 1,000 words on one of the listed topics. The topics are available on the organization’s website.

AIEF Undergraduate Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Due Date: April 4
Who Can Apply? Undergraduate students who are American Indian
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Available from the American Indian Education Fund, these scholarships range in size and are open to all undergrads. Students have a better chance of getting one of the scholarships if they have an ACT score of 14 or higher and a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Generator Scholarships
Amount: Up to $10,000
Due Date: November 14
Who Can Apply? BIPOC students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Yes, creative studies

Any student who wants to study a creative field like interior design or fine arts can apply for a scholarship through Generator. The selection committee will consider any BIPOC student who is 18 or older and completes the application.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Amount: Varies
Due Date: Rolling
Who Can Apply? Undergrad BIPOC students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund helps African American students and others of color who need help paying for college. Applicants receive a scholarship that lasts for just one year. They must write an essay when they apply.

Bringing the Dream Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Due Date: February 28
Who Can Apply? Incoming freshmen and current undergrads
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

These scholarships are open to BIPOC students who plan to attend college or a vocational training program. They need to either already be in school or plan to enroll full-time next year. All students need to submit a two-minute video, be a resident or citizen, and have a GPA of 2.75 or higher.

Do you know of any other BIPOC scholarships? Please tell us, we would love to add them!