As the second largest minority group in the United States, there are numerous scholarships dedicated to helping African American students in need of financial assistance for college. The challenge for many students is not finding a scholarship, as there are literally hundreds if not thousands available to African American students, but finding one that suits their individual needs and will help them to best accomplish their goals while they’re in college.

With so many available scholarships out there, many students who could not otherwise afford to attend college can do so, encouraging many African American students to pursue higher education. Each scholarship has its own requirements, but most take into consideration both academic success and financial need. Students may be required to submit proof of income or to write essays about topics chosen by the organization donating the scholarship money in order to be eligible.

Students will find that a wide range of organizations offer scholarships to African American students. Many are geared towards fields that want to encourage minority interest like engineering, nursing and a variety of science majors. Students will find generous programs through state-run and private organizations as well as individual universities. Additionally, big corporations like McDonalds, UPS and Kodak also offer scholarships that can be quite beneficial to African American students.

Some scholarship recipients will receive their money with no strings attached, but there are a few programs that require service from a student in order to receive funds. In exchange for paying for the student’s college some organizations like the National Society of Back Engineers will expect the student to work for a particular business for one to two years after graduation. While this may sound restrictive, it can also be a great way to guarantee employment after graduation as well as get a free college education. Students will also find that there are many scholarships geared particularly towards men or women in an attempt to even out the sexes in certain fields.

African American Scholarships

• Kodak Engineering Excellence Program Scholarship: $4,800 to a varied number of African American UNCF students majoring in Engineering or Computer Science.
• United Parcel Service Foundation Scholarship: Amounts and number of awards vary each year. Recipients must be African American undergraduate students.
• National Society of Black Engineers: $500 to $7,500 to African American engineering students who are members of NSBE.
• Jackie Robinson Scholarship: Up to $6,000 to 50-60 African American and other minority undergraudate students.
• Ford African American Scholars Program: Up to $5,000 to a varied number of African American students.
• Ed Bradley Scholarship For Minorities in Communications: $10,000 to an African American or minority student majoring in communications.
• Minority Corporate Council Association Scholarship: $10,000 for up to three years to 10 minority students in undergraduate or graduate studies.
• African American Achievement Scholarship: $2500 to $3000 to 9 African American undergraduate students who are residents of certain counties in Massachusetts.
• Louie F. Cox Memorial AK Steel African-American Scholarships: Up to $16,000 awarded to 2 African American freshmen undergraduate students.
• The Sallie Mae American Dream Scholarship Fund: $500 to $5,000 to African American students who can demonstrate financial need.