LGBTQ Scholarships

As you look at the LGBTQ scholarships listed below, pay special attention to the due date. This is the final day on which the organization will accept applications and any information needed. You’ll also want to look at who can apply as some scholarships only accept undergraduates or upperclassmen. Some scholarships are only open to those who major in specific fields or subject areas too. Keep in mind that you can apply for multiple scholarships to earn even more money for school.

Check out all the top scholarship opportunities for students who identify as LGBTQ+ and apply as soon as possible.

Top LGBTQ Scholarships

Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund
Amount: Varies
Due Date: April 1
Who Can Apply? Undergraduates who identify as LGBTQ and live in Oregon or have parents who do
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund awards multiple scholarships every year. Applicants must either identify as LGBTQ or have a parent on the sexuality spectrum. Before applying, you need to either live in Oregon for a minimum of one year or reside in a neighboring county in Washington for the same amount of time.

Levin-Goffe Scholarship Fund
Amount: $25,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? LGBTQ immigrants
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Levin-Goffee Scholarship Fund offers scholarships of up to $25,000 for students who identify as LGBTQ and are also immigrants or the children of immigrants. It covers two full years of higher education for those planning to attend school in New York City.

Queer Foundation Scholarships
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: February 14
Who Can Apply? High school students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Queer Foundation helps students who identify as queer afford college with scholarships. You need to write an essay on the topic of the year to apply, which the foundation will judge against other essays.

CFPCA Endowed Scholarship
Amount: $500
Due Date: March 1
Who Can Apply? Students attending or planning to attend Wayne State University
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Wayne State University established the CFPCA Endowed Scholarship for LGBTQ students. Students can also apply if they demonstrate support for the LGBTQ community. The university gives priority to already enrolled students and offers funds for both undergraduates and graduate students.

Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship
Amount: $1,500 to $3,000
Due Date: June 24
Who Can Apply? Lesbian students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Peggy Traub and Phyllis Dicker established this scholarship fund to help young women afford college. It awards funds of between $1,500 and $3,000 to lesbians in high school as well as graduate school and college. The funds go directly to your school.

Acorn Equality Fund Scholarships
Amount: $1,000 to $4,000
Due Date: September 24
Who Can Apply? LGBTQ students who live in Downstate Illinois
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Scholarships for LGBTQ are available through the Acorn Equality Fund. To apply, you must be a student who lives in Downstate Illinois in a county such as Kane or Cook, but you can use the scholarship in schools in other states.

Walter M. Decker Point Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Due Date: January 29
Who Can Apply? High school seniors and enrolled college students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Though you do not need to major in a specific subject to receive the Walter M. Decker Point Scholarship, you must be a senior in high school or an undergrad enrolled in an accredited degree program in the United States. Scholarships of different amounts are available.

Out for Education Scholarships
Amount: $500+
Due Date: February 28
Who Can Apply? Students living in and attending college in the Houston area
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Out for Education offers scholarships for LGBTQ students who are between the ages of 17 and 25. You must reside in one of Houston’s surrounding counties and can win a scholarship of $500 or more.

David Womack Memorial West Virginia LGBT Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: June 30
Who Can Apply? Gay and lesbian students who live in West Virginia
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Established in honor of David Womack, this scholarship goes to worthy undergrad students who live in West Virginia. When you apply by the deadline, you will know around the beginning of August if you earned one of the scholarships.

Ronald P. Wilmot Scholarship Fund
Amount: $2,500 to $5,000
Due Date: March 31
Who Can Apply? LGBTQ living in or around San Francisco
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Ronald P. Wilmot Scholarship Fund offers awards of up to $5,000 for students who identify as LGBTQ or have LGBTQ parents. You must reside in San Francisco or one of the neighboring counties to qualify.

49 Fund Scholarships
Amount: $4,900
Due Date: February 15
Who Can Apply? Gay students from Central Florida
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The 49 Fund offers scholarships in honor of the people who lost their lives during the Orlando nightclub shooting. Ten students will receive $4,900 through the fund, but they must be residents of Central Florida and identify as gay.

Pride Foundation Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Due Date: January 6
Who Can Apply? LGBTQ students who live in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or Montana
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Both students enrolled in college and those planning to enroll can apply for scholarships through the Pride Foundation. You must be a resident of one of five specific states but can use the funds in a different state.

eQuality Scholarship
Amount: $6,000
Due Date: January 1
Who Can Apply? California students who helped the LGBTQ community
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Students who live in California or attend college in the state can apply for the eQuality Scholarship. Though priority goes to those who identify as LGBTQ, students who can show that they supported or helped the community can also apply. Students can apply during their senior years in high school too.

Pfund Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
Due Date: May 31
Who Can Apply? Students living in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin or Minnesota
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Pfund offers LGBTQ scholarships for students who live in one of four states in the Midwest. You must have strong leadership skills and show your commitment to the LGBTQ community.

Live Out Loud Educational Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Due Date: April 22
Who Can Apply? LGBTQ students from the tri-state region
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Live Out Loud is an LGBTQ organization based out of New York City that awards multiple $5,000 scholarships every year. You can apply while in high school or college if you live in New Jersey, Connecticut or New Jersey.

Association of LGBTQ Journalists Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? High school and college students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Yes, journalism

The Association of LGBTQ Journalists offers scholarships to foster the next generation of LGBTQ journalists. You must either be a journalism major or plan to major in journalism when you apply.

National Gay Pilots Association Education Fund
Amount: Varies
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? NGPA members
Do You Need a Specific Major? Yes, aviation or a related field

If you major in aviation or a similar field, you can apply for one of the scholarships available through the National Gay Pilots Association and its education fund. These scholarships start at $500 and are only available for members of the organization.

Gamma Mu Foundation Scholarships
Amount: $1,000 to $2,500
Due Date: March 31
Who Can Apply? Gay men with a GED or high school diploma
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Gamma Mu Foundation offers scholarships for gay men who are also American citizens. You must have your GED or diploma and demonstrate that you have a financial need.

Pacific Gas & Electric Company Pride Network ERG Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Due Date: January 31
Who Can Apply? Graduates of high school or community college in Northern California
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Pacific Gas & Electric Company established a scholarship fund that awards LGBTQ with different amounts based on where they attend school. You can only apply if you finished high school or community college and reside in Northern California.

Follansbee-Hansen Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: May 1
Who Can Apply? Enrolled college students with a minimum GPA of 2.5
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

PFLAG has locations across the country such as the chapter in Sacramento that awards this scholarship to LGBTQ students. You must be enrolled in a California university and demonstrate that you helped the LGBTQ community in some way. Only those with a GPA of 2.5 or higher can apply.

American Atheists Chinn Scholarship
Amount: $500
Due Date: April 22
Who Can Apply? LGBTQ students or activists who identify as atheists
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

Several members of American Atheists came together to create the Chinn Scholarship, which awards two $500 scholarships to LGBTQ annually. You must identify as both an atheist and LGBTQ.

Out to Innovate Scholarships
Amount: $5,000
Due Date: June 6
Who Can Apply? Undergraduate and graduate students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Yes, STEM majors only

NOGLSTP is an organization in the LGBTQ community that offers scholarships for students at both the undergrad and graduate levels. You must identify as LGBTQ and show that you helped the community when you apply.

Tang Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Due Date: April 20
Who Can Apply? Asian or Pacific Islander students who identify as LGBTQ
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Tang Scholarship is available through the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and awards scholarships of up to $15,000 that students can renew each year for a total of $60,000. You must be a full-time college student with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and identify as LGBTQ.

Collin Higgins Courage Award
Amount: $10,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Students nominated by their peers
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The Collin Higgins Courage Award refers to a series of awards given to LGBTQ students every year. To receive one of these scholarships, you need to have someone nominate you and go through the vetting process.

NWSA Lesbian Caucus Award
Amount: $500
Due Date: June 7
Who Can Apply? LGBTQ graduate or doctoral students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Yes, LGBTQ Studies

The NWSA Lesbian Caucus Award is one of the few LGBTQ scholarships available to graduate and doctoral students. You must be enrolled in a program where you’ll study lesbian or queer studies at a higher level.

LEAGUE Foundation Academic Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Due Date: April 30
Who Can Apply? High school and college students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No

The LEAGUE Foundation offers academic scholarships to students who identify as LGBTQ. Though you may qualify for a small or large scholarship, the organization requires that you have a minimum GPA of 3.0. You must also live in Canada or the United States.

Final Thoughts

Don’t be intimidated by scholarship applications, and don’t discount applications that are not for a lot of money – every little bit helps.