Minority Scholarships

When you think of scholarships, you may think of the star athlete gaining a full-ride to college or class valedictorians earning full-tuition rewards, but there are thousands of scholarships available tailored to students of all abilities who fit a particular profile, including minority scholarships.

Why Offer Minority Scholarships?

Minority scholarships are designed to increase the diversity of a particular school, a specific career field or the college-educated population in general.

The definition of minority can differ depending on the sponsoring group. In most cases, minority scholarships are offered to students of non-Caucasian racial and ethnic backgrounds. There are scholarships available to minorities in general and for specific groups like Filipino-Americans. Some scholarships consider women a minority category, especially in fields where women make up a significantly smaller percentage of working professionals than men.

The Scholarship Search

Local

Check with your high school guidance counselor for information on local scholarships. These funds may only be available to students graduating from your school, or they may be city-wide or county-wide awards. If there are any minority-focused social or community-service groups in your city, contact them to see if they sponsor a scholarship. You'll have a better chance of finding local minority scholarships if there is a large minority population in the area, but it only takes one interested group or individual to create an award. Don't lose hope if you live in a small town with little diversity.

College

Every college offers scholarships unique to that school. Some scholarships are offered by the university as a whole, while others will be provided by specific degree programs, sponsored by alumni groups, or created in honor of past professors and students. Awards are available for incoming and current students. Scholarships for incoming students may not even require an individual application form; the college will consider all eligible students when they submit their college application. Current students should ask an advisor or financial aid officer for information on relevant scholarship opportunities. Both current and future students can check out a college's available funds by visiting the school's financial aid website.

National

You can search any scholarship database for minority-focused scholarships. Some popular options include FastWeb and the College Board's scholarship search. The FinAid resource site also offers a list of minority fellowships and scholarships.

Some scholarships are dependent on major or future career field. For instance, The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants offers scholarships for minority accounting students, and the American Chemical Society provides funds to African-American, Hispanic, and American Indian students interested in chemistry. Visit the websites of professional organizations in your field of study or call their member services numbers to find out about potential scholarships. Scholarships may require membership in the sponsoring group, but consider the cost an investment.

Don't Be Too Focused

Just because you're a member of a minority group, don't get so caught up in finding minority scholarships you forget to find out more about your other funding options. All college-bound students should fill out a FAFSA application to see which grants and loans they may be eligible to receive. The same national databases you can search to find funds intended for minorities can be used to search for scholarships to reward your dedication to community service, your love of animals, or your interest in a teaching career.

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