Learn how HBCU scholarships and grants can help Black students pay for college. Fund your degree through alternatives to student loans.
by Meg Whitenton
Updated March 18, 2022
Reviewed by Pamela “Safisha Nzingha” Hill, Ph.D.
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Make the Most Out of Your HBCU Experience
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For students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), scholarships, internships, and fellowships can make higher education more affordable. HBCU scholarships and grants can supplement federal financial aid to help students fund their degrees and, ultimately, launch their careers.
While the majority of college students need financial aid to afford college, HBCU scholarships recognize the merit and potential of Black students with unique financial considerations. Read on to learn more about scholarships for HBCU students and related resources.
Financial Considerations for HBCU Students
Pursuing a college degree is a costly proposition for most students, but it can be disproportionately expensive for Black students. Many Black students at HBCUs face hardships beyond those of their white peers, including increased student debt and less available institutional aid.
A 2016 report from the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) found that 80% of HBCU students used federal loans for college, versus only 55% of non-HBCU students. Additionally, according to the Brookings Institute, Black students attending four-year colleges owed an average of $7,400 more in student loans than white students as of 2016. And that average debt gap more than tripled for Black graduates over the next several years. As a result, many Black students face significant student loan debt.
HBCU scholarships and grants, which typically do not require repayment, can help alleviate these critical deficiencies in federal financial aid for Black students. Scholarships may be awarded based on a variety of factors, including merit and financial need. The following sections describe some of the most generous and inclusive HBCU scholarships and grants.
Scholarships for HBCU Students
Many HBCUs offer partial and full scholarships to enrolled students. Learners should inquire about these institutional scholarships when applying to college. Additionally, local chapters of Black fraternities and sororities, alumni chapters, and other organizations offer scholarships, including those described below.
The ABOUT LOVE Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: Beyoncé's ABOUT LOVE Scholarship supports students at Lincoln State University in Pennsylvania, Norfolk State University in Virginia, Bennett College in North Carolina, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and Central State University in Ohio. Applicants must qualify for financial aid as determined by their institutions and pursue majors in creative fields.
- Application Deadline: September
- Scholarship Amount: Varies
Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must be full-time, first-generation undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a UNCF-approved school, excluding Morehouse College, Spelman College, the Interdenominational Theological Center, or Clark Atlanta University. Students must possess a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate unmet financial need.
- Application Deadline: April
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $5,000 per year, for four years
The Frederick Douglas Bicentennial Scholarship Program
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must be rising seniors, enrolled full time at a qualifying HBCU. Students also need to demonstrate a commitment to community service and have a minimum GPA of 3.5. Applicants must indicate unmet financial need, as verified by their school, and fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aide (FAFSA) form.
- Application Deadline: TBD
- Scholarship Amount: $10,000 per year
Fund II Foundation UNCF STEM Scholars Program
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must be African American, full-time, first-year students with demonstrated unmet financial need. They must have completed advanced math and science courses in high school, including precalculus. This scholarship is specifically for students intending to pursue science, technology, mathematics, or engineering (STEM) majors.
- Application Deadline: April
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $25,000
Intel Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must be African American U.S. citizens attending school full time as juniors, seniors, or graduate students. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be enrolled in an approved STEM program.
- Application Deadline: June
- Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Target Scholars Program
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must be Black first-year students enrolled full time at an approved HBCU. Potential awardees must demonstrate financial need, have a minimum GPA of 2.75, and plan to pursue a career in technology, leadership, or design.
- Application Deadline: July
- Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Thurgood Marshall College Fund/Lowe's Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have never received the TMCF/Lowe's Scholarship before and who aren't receiving another TMCF scholarship the same year. Students must be full-time sophomores, juniors, or seniors at a TMCF-member school with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and unmet financial need.
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Scholarship Amount: Varies
Thurgood Marshall College Fund/Wells Fargo Emergency Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must be seniors enrolled full time at a TMCF-approved HBCU and have verified U.S. citizenship or legal permanent resident status. Students also need a minimum GPA of 3.0, demonstrated leadership abilities, and unmet financial need.
- Application Deadline: TBD
- Scholarship Amount: $750
UNCF K-12 Education Fellowship
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must be undergraduate juniors at a qualifying HBCU. Students should be willing to relocate for a 10-week summer fellowship, which includes a paid internship within a K-12 organization or school. All majors are welcome to apply.
- Application Deadline: February
- Scholarship Amount: Varies
UNCF/Koch Scholars Program
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must be Black or African American U.S. citizens or permanent residents who attend or plan to attend an eligible four-year university. Students are also required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7. This program is for students with an interest in principled entrepreneurship, innovation, and economics.
- Application Deadline: TBD
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $5,000 per year, for four years
Grants for HBCU Students
Federal Pell Grant
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must be undergraduate students who have not previously earned bachelor's, master's, or professional degrees. They need to submit the FAFSA to demonstrate financial need.
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $6,495 (for the 2021-2022 award year)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Who Is Eligible?: Eligible students, as determined by the FAFSA, include undergraduates who have not previously earned bachelor's degrees. Priority is given to students with exceptional financial need.
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Scholarship Amount: $100-$4,000 per year
HBCU Tuition and Travel Grant
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must attend an HBCU that belongs to the IES Abroad consortium and apply to an IES Abroad program.
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Scholarship Amount: $2,000
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
- Who Is Eligible?: Eligible students do not qualify for a Federal Pell Grant based on their expected family contribution but meet all other criteria. Applicants must also have been younger than 24 or enrolled in college at least part time when their parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11.
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $6,425
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
- Who Is Eligible?: Applicants must meet the general criteria for federal student aid programs and be enrolled in a TEACH Grant-eligible program. Enrollees must score above the 75th percentile on one or more portions of a college admissions test or maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25. Awardees must also agree to complete a teaching-service obligation after graduation.
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $4,000 per year
Additional Resources for Financial Assistance
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for HBCU Students
Which HBCU gives the most scholarships?
While exact scholarship numbers vary each year, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania awarded the most HBCU scholarships during the 2016-2017 academic year -- according to HBCU Lifestyle -- totaling more than $6,750 per student. Many other schools, including South Carolina State University, Delaware State University, Tuskegee University, and Virginia State University also award generous scholarship packages to students.
What GPA do you need to get a full-ride scholarship?
Most full-ride scholarships require a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. However, many programs consider additional criteria, such as class rank and standardized test scores. Students should carefully read the scholarship's requirements to manage their own expectations. Scholarships that specify a particular minimum GPA tend to remain firm on that requirement, while others may give a range or state a willingness to consider other factors.
What is the least-expensive HBCU?
Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina is among the most affordable HBCUS. Annual tuition for the 2021-2022 school year totals $6,664 for in-state students and $10,664 for out-of-state learners. Shorter College -- a private, two-year HBCU in Arkansas -- is another affordable school, with estimated tuition and fees of about $6,000 a year. Even many of the most expensive HBCUs keep costs lower than the national average for tuition.
What percentage of HBCU students receive financial aid?
According to TMCF,more than 75% of students at HBCUs receive Federal Pell Grants and nearly 13% pursue PLUS Loans to attend college. Outside of federal financial aid, many HBCU scholarships are distributed based on available institutional funding, which pales in comparison to that of primarily white institutions. On average, HBCU's endowments are roughly 13% the size of non-HBCU institutions' endowments.
Which HBCU has the highest tuition?
Atlanta's Spelman College tops the list of the most expensive HBCUs in the U.S., with tuition and fees exceeding $28,000 annually for students during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Pamela “Safisha Nzingha” Hill, Ph.D.
Dr. Pamela "Safisha Nzingha" Hill, Ph.D., is a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant; Afrocentric scholar; activist; journalist; educator; student development practitioner; and life student of Africana studies. For over 20 years Dr. Hill has worked in higher education in both student development and academic affairs. She has served as a mid-level student affairs administrator in positions of assistant dean of students, diversity director, and assistant vice president, as well as adjunct assistant professor teaching in the areas of higher education, humanities, developmental writing, African American studies, and social work. As a student-centered educator/consultant, she is experienced at developing culturally based curricula and conducting specialized professional development sessions on cultural competency and sensitivity educational training within academic and organizational settings. Additionally, she has lectured at a number of colleges and universities across the nation on issues pertinent to the Black experience and multiculturalism in higher education.
Dr. Hill is a proud graduate of Langston University — Oklahoma's only Historically Black University — where she received a bachelor of arts degree in broadcast journalism. Additionally, she holds a master of science in college teaching/student personnel services from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma, and she earned a Ph.D. in higher and adult education with an emphasis in student development and minors in Black studies and educational counseling psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia — one of the nation's top-tier Research I institutions.
She holds membership in the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education, Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Langston University Alumni Association, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is the proud mother of a daughter, Safisha Nzingha, who is a student at Langston University.
Dr. Hill sees her life mission as moving people forward through the vehicle of culturally grounded education.
Feature Image: Peter Muller / Image Source / Getty Images
FAQs
Which HBCU gives the most scholarships? ›
- Alcorn State University. ...
- Alabama State University. ...
- Prairie View A & M University. ...
- Elizabeth City State University. ...
- Central State University. ...
- University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. ...
- South Carolina State University. ...
- Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Location: Cheyney, PA.
1. Spelman College. Spelman College is a private institution that was founded in 1881. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,417 (fall 2021), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 39 acres.
What is the cheapest HBCU to attend? ›- Simmons College, Louisville, Kentucky. Tuition and fees per year: $5,310.
- Selma University, Selma, Alabama. Tuition and fees per year: $7,115.
- Clinton College, Rock Hill, South Carolina. ...
- Southwestern Christian College, Terrell, Texas. ...
- Paul Quinn College, Dallas.
The much-anticipated U.S. News & World Report's “Best Colleges 2023” guidebook released Monday shows FAMU ranked No. 103 nationally among public universities, earning the university continued bragging rights as the highest ranked public historically black college or university in the country.
Can you get a full ride to an HBCU? ›Many HBCUs offer partial and full scholarships to enrolled students. Learners should inquire about these institutional scholarships when applying to college.
Which HBCU has the nicest dorms? ›The Historically Black College and University (HBCU) with the best dorms is Fort Valley State University located in Fort Valley, Georgia. Founded in 1895, Fort Valley State University is a public institution with a strong history of the education of black Americans.
What HBCU is called the Black Harvard? ›Howard University is known as the Harvard of HBCUs. It has the most selective admissions standards of any HBCU and the highest endowment, valued at nearly $800 million as of 2021. It also has the highest graduation rate of all coed HBCUs.
What is the richest HBCU in America? ›As mentioned before, Howard University has the largest endowment of any HBCU. It is followed closely by Spelman University in Atlanta, Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, Morehouse University, which is also in Atlanta and the Meharry Medical College in Nashville.
What is the hardest Black College to get into? ›Howard University is the hardest HBCU to get into, with an acceptance rate of just 39%. If you're looking for a challenge, Howard is the school for you. Other hard-to-get-into HBCUs include Spelman College (53%), Philander Smith College (21%), and Wiley College (15%).
What GPA is required for HBCU? ›What GPA do you need to get into an HBCU? The typical GPAs for students accepted into many HBCUs schools range from 2.5-3.0. Other HBCUs may require higher GPAs. For example, students accepted at Hampton University and Florida A&M had average GPAs above 3.25.
What is the largest black HBCU? ›
North Carolina A&T, the largest HBCU, is growing, still - The Washington Post.
What SAT score is required for HBCU? ›Average admissions requirements across all 105 HBCUs—including public and private schools and two- year colleges—are a 2.5 GPA and an 18 on the ACT or a 905 on the SAT (Montgomery County Public Schools, 2014). Seventy-five percent of all HBCUs have a minimum standardized test score requirement.
What HBCU is 90% white? ›It opened in the late 19th century as the Bluefield Colored Institute, created to educate the children of black coal miners in segregated West Virginia. Although it still receives the federal funding that comes with its designation as a historically black institution, today Bluefield State College is 90 percent white.
What is the blackest Ivy League? ›- Howard University (Washington, DC.)
- Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA)
- Spelman College (Atlanta, GA)
- Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, AL)
- Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (Cheyney, PA)
- Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD)
Tuskegee University is in Tuskegee, Alabama, and was founded in 1881. It is ranked #4 the best HBCU in the country, and is a Black Ivy League school.
What GPA gets you a full-ride? ›Although a strong GPA helps increase your chances of getting a full-ride scholarship, you don't need a perfect 4.0 to be qualified. In fact, GPA requirements are most commonly set at a 3.0 average, with what's considered to be a "good GPA" typically being a score between 3.5 and 3.8.
What is the largest HBCU enrollment? ›Total Enrollment: 14,121 students
North Carolina A&T in Greensboro has been the largest four-year HBCU by enrollment since 2014. Its student body continued to grow during COVID-19, with over 14,000 students enrolled throughout the 2020-21 school year, according to data from IPEDS.
Today that number stands at 1,577 campuses, yet the majority of the 105 federally-recognized HBCUs in the U.S. do not have comprehensive smoke- or tobacco-free policies to protect their students and faculty from the dangers of tobacco use and second-hand smoke. Dr.
What is the best HBCU academically? ›- 1Spelman College.
- 2Howard University.
- 3Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
- 4West Virginia State University.
- 5North Carolina A & T State University.
OVERALL RANK | DRUM MAJOR | DRILL DESIGN |
---|---|---|
1. +1Bethune-Cookman | 3 | 1 |
2. +5North Carolina A&T | 6 | 5 |
3. Jackson State | 1 | 3 |
4. +1Tennessee State | 4 | 4 |
What is the best black college to go to? ›
- View all 7 photos. Spelman College. Atlanta, GA. ...
- View all 12 photos. Howard University. ...
- View all 23 photos. Tuskegee University. ...
- Morehouse College. Atlanta, GA. ...
- View all 9 photos. Xavier University of Louisiana. ...
- View all 21 photos. Hampton University. ...
- Florida A&M University. Tallahassee, FL. ...
- View 1 photo. Delaware State University.
The First of Its Kind
On February 25, 1837, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania became the nation's first Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
Alabama is the state with the most HBCUs, topping out at 14 institutions. North Carolina, however, is the state in which the most black HBCU undergraduate students are enrolled. HBCU growth and development has not always been linear.
What is the blackest College in America? ›School | % Black |
---|---|
Spelman College Atlanta, GA | 95.8% |
South Carolina State University Orangeburg, SC | 95.8% |
Hampton University Hampton, VA | 95.2% |
Selma University Selma, AL | 94.2% |
Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Founded in 1868,Howard University College of Medicine (HUCM) boasts "the largest concentration of Black faculty and student scholars in the country." Degree programs at Howard include MD degrees, as well as dual degree programs for BS/MD and MD/Ph.
- North Carolina Central University (NCCU) ...
- Tennessee State University (TSU) ...
- Jackson State University (JSU) ...
- Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) ...
- Howard University (HU) ...
- Florida A&M University (FAMU) ...
- Texas Southern University (TSU) ...
- North Carolina A&T State University (NCAT)
Often called “Black Harvard” and “the Mecca,” Howard University is one of the most recognizable and elite of all the HBCUs. Howard University is known for many things, including: Its proximity to the U.S. capital and the extremely influential people who work there.
What percent black is Harvard? ›African American | 15.2% |
---|---|
Asian American | 27.9% |
Hispanic or Latino | 12.6% |
Native American | 2.9% |
Native Hawaiian | 0.8% |
Winfrey's history with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) dates back more than 30 years ago when she attended Tennessee State on a full scholarship and majored in communications. She fell just one credit short of graduating and instead decided to take her first job co-anchoring a TV show in Baltimore.
What GPA does Harvard except? ›You should also have a 4.18 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Harvard, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.
What is the youngest HBCU in the United States? ›
(Spelman College and Morris Brown were founded in 1881.) The “youngest” four-year HBCU, a designation to mark schools founded before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community, is the University of Virgin Islands, which opened in 1962. Schools founded after 1964, like the Charles R.
What College has the lowest required GPA? ›- Albany State University. ...
- American InterContinental University. ...
- Arkansas State University. ...
- Arkansas Tech University. ...
- Capella University. ...
- Colorado Technical University. ...
- East Coast Polytechnic Institute University.
Institute, West Virginia. West Virginia State University was established in 1891. Established in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute, West Virginia State University is an HBCU and the smallest land-grant institution in the country.
Are there any Division 1 HBCU? ›The MEAC encompasses Division 1 HBCU's along the eastern seaboard, from Delaware to South Carolina, including Howard University in Washington, D.C. One of its biggest rivalries is outside the conference now, the “Real HU” competition between Howard and Hampton University (Hampton left the MEAC and is a member of the ...
Can Caucasians go to HBCU? ›Students of any race and ethnicity can apply for an HBCU, provided that they meet the grade requirements. Usually when applying for university in the US, you're required to fill out one application per school.
What is the lowest SAT score that colleges accept? ›Less selective public institutions, as well as many small liberal arts colleges, regularly accept applicants in the 950-1050 range. Public universities in your state might also accept residents with scores on the lower end of the scale depending on their policies and your other qualifications.
Is it hard to get into a HBCU? ›HBCUs are not especially difficult to get into, but they are not a shoe-in either. The average acceptance rate at an HBCU is 59%. In terms of test scores, the mid-50th percentile SAT math range is 420-520 and verbal range is 430-530. Similarly, the mid-50th percentile ACT composite score range is 16-20.
What is the whitest College in America? ›United States Colleges Ranked by Highest Percent of White Students. Below is a ranking of the 3581 colleges in the United States with the highest percent of white students. American Conservatory Theater tops the list with white students comprising 100% of the school's enrollment.
Can white athletes play at HBCU? ›As unconventional as it seems, white athletes at HBCUs are pretty common. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, self-identifying non-black students makeup nearly one-fourth (24%) of HBCU enrollment, and according to the NCAA, 5% of HBCU football players identify as white.
What Black College has the best marching band? ›Overall Rank | Auxiliary | Pictures, Drill and Design |
---|---|---|
1. Florida A&M University | 7 | 1 |
2. Bethune-Cookman University | 10 | 3 |
3. Norfolk State University | 4 | 2 |
4. Southern University | 1 | 5 |
What is the lowest Ivy League school? ›
What Are the Cheapest Ivy League Schools? The cheapest Ivy League schools include The University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Dartmouth College, and Princeton University.
Which little ivy is easiest to get into? ›Based on the information provided above, you probably noticed that Cornell University has the highest acceptance rates out of all the Ivy League schools and can therefore be classified as the easiest Ivy league school to get into.
Is Yale University a HBCU? ›...
Yale University.
Coat of arms | |
---|---|
Latin: Universitas Yalensis | |
Website | yale.edu |
Cornell University is one of two Ivy League schools to rank among the most diverse colleges in the country, along with Columbia University.
What University gives the most scholarships? ›Rank | College | Students receiving need-based aid |
---|---|---|
1 | Columbia University | 2,973 |
2 | Yale University | 2,732 |
3 | Williams College | 1,014 |
4 | Amherst College | 1,066 |
Although a strong GPA helps increase your chances of getting a full-ride scholarship, you don't need a perfect 4.0 to be qualified. In fact, GPA requirements are most commonly set at a 3.0 average, with what's considered to be a "good GPA" typically being a score between 3.5 and 3.8.
How can I increase my chances of getting a scholarship? ›- Raise Your GPA for More Scholarships. Many scholarships have requirements surrounding GPA levels. ...
- Raise Your ACT / SAT Score. ...
- Raise Your Class Rank. ...
- File the FAFSA. ...
- Participate in Community Service. ...
- Brush Up on Your Essay Skills.
- Know where to look. ...
- Prepare in advance. ...
- Work hard and keep motivated. ...
- Make yourself stand out from other applicants. ...
- Read the application instructions carefully. ...
- Submit an exceptional scholarship essay or cover letter. ...
- Be realistic.
Howard University is known as the Harvard of HBCUs. It has the most selective admissions standards of any HBCU and the highest endowment, valued at nearly $800 million as of 2021. It also has the highest graduation rate of all coed HBCUs.
What is the largest Black university? ›- St Philip's College. State: TX. ...
- North Carolina A&T State University. State: NC. ...
- Howard University. ...
- Prairie View A & M University. ...
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. ...
- North Carolina Central University. ...
- Southern University and A & M College. ...
- Fayetteville State University.
What is the largest Black HBCU? ›
North Carolina A&T, the largest HBCU, is growing, still - The Washington Post.
What is the most popular major for Black students? ›Law and public policy is the top major group for African Americans with a Bachelor's degree. The highest concentrated detailed major among African Americans is in health and medical administration.