Top College Scholarships for African-Americans

For college bound students, there are few factors as vital as securing the necessary funds to pay for school. Financial aid takes many forms, but one of the best and by far the least expensive methods is with college scholarships. Nevertheless, given the abundance of potential awards and the lack of easily digestible information, finding suitable scholarships for college and career readiness can be tricky. Take a look at these financial aid links and top college scholarships for African-Americans.

Minorities in Government Finance College Scholarship

Award Amount: $10,000

Deadline: January 26, 2018

Eligibility: This college scholarship is designed for minority students in public administration, accounting, finance, political science, economics or business administration, with a focus on government or nonprofit management at the upper division or graduate level. The award amount is $10,000 per student. To apply, students must write an essay as well as provide a letter of recommendation from a qualified source.

African-American Teaching Fellows College Scholarship

Award Amount: $15,000

Deadline: January 31, 2018

Eligibility: The African-American Teaching Fellows is an African-American scholarship designed specifically for future teachers. Recipients must be currently enrolled in an accredited teaching program to qualify. Applicants must have completed 60 credit hours (or two years) of undergraduate coursework. The potential college scholarship is a forgivable loan of $5,000 per year for up to three years to be used towards educational expenses. Part-time students receive $3,000 per year. 

Actuarial Diversity College Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,000 to $4,000

Deadline: March 1, 2018

Eligibility: The Actuarial Diversity College Scholarship aims to promote diversity in the industry with annual funding for students pursuing a degree in the field. Students must be enrolling or enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited school and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund

Award Amount: $15,000

Deadline: March 2, 2018

Eligibility: The American Bar Association offers $15,000 to each recipient over the course of three years with the goal of encouraging minorities to apply to law school. To qualify, applicants must be in their first year of law school and have achieved a GPA of 2.5 or higher at their undergraduate institution.

ACHE Albert W. Dent College Scholarship

Award Amount: $5,000

Deadline: March 31, 2018

Eligibility: An excellent option for those entering the healthcare field, the ACHE Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship was created by the Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) in honor of Albert W. Dent, the first African-American executive of ACHE. Offering up to $5,000 per student, this college scholarship is reserved specifically for minority students enrolled in their final year of a healthcare graduate program. Start your application with this checklist.

ABA Diversity Scholarship Fund

Award Amount: $5,000

Deadline: April 6, 2018

Eligibility: The American Bus Association offers the ABA Diversity Scholarship to promote diversity in the transportation industry. To qualify, candidates must be in their first year of college and must have a declared major in tourism, travel or transportation, as well as a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants must write a 500-word essay discussing the role they intend to play in the advancement of their chosen field.

Mae and Mary Scholarship Fund

Award Amount: varies

Deadline: April 30, 2018

Eligibility: On a mission to empower young people with unlimited potential via education, the Mae and Mary Legacy Foundation provides scholarships for high school seniors pursuing careers in the medical and healthcare fields. Offering varied amounts to each recipient, applicants must be attending a two- or four-year college or any technical institution, and the scholarship must be used on books, tuition, fees and other school-related costs.

African-American scholarships for high school seniors and beyond are available and waiting on your application. Pay close attention to deadlines and details in order to secure optimal funding. Don't pay out of pocket if you don't have to. Apply for scholarships, and walk away with minimal student debt on top of a degree you can be proud of.