Scholarships for Black College Students — By Category
Black college students at HBCUs have access to a wide range of scholarship types. Understanding each category helps you focus your applications where you have the best odds.
Top Scholarships for Black College Students
These are the most significant scholarship programs specifically for Black college students and HBCU attendees. All are searchable in the HBCU Scholarship Finder.
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Scholarships
UNCF is the largest provider of scholarships for Black students in the US. Dozens of named scholarships range from $500 to $20,000+. Most require enrollment at a UNCF member institution (includes most HBCUs) and a minimum 2.5 GPA. Apply at uncf.org. Multiple deadlines throughout the year.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships of $1,000–$10,000 for students at publicly supported HBCUs and PBIs. TMCF also offers leadership programs and corporate internship connections. Deadline typically in February. Apply at tmcf.org.
Ron Brown Scholar Program
Highly competitive 4-year awards of $10,000/year ($40,000 total) for Black high school seniors with exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and community service. Applicants need strong grades and community involvement.
Gates Scholarship
Highly selective, full scholarship for minority students from low-income backgrounds with a minimum 3.3 GPA. Covers tuition, room, board, and fees beyond what Pell Grant covers. Open to Black students at any accredited 4-year university, including all HBCUs.
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Multiple scholarships for Black students pursuing careers in STEM, education, healthcare, and public policy. Some awards target students from specific Congressional districts. Apply at cbcfinc.org.
Google Generation Google Scholarship
$10,000 scholarship for Black undergraduate students studying CS or a related technical field. Also includes summit invitation and Google mentorship. Apply through the Google scholarship program page.
Scholarship Deadlines to Know
- UNCF Scholarships Various — Sep–Feb
- Thurgood Marshall College Fund February
- Ron Brown Scholar Program January
- Gates Scholarship September
- Congressional Black Caucus Foundation January–March
- Jack and Jill of America Foundation February
- National Urban League Scholarship February
- Google Generation Google Scholarship December
- Microsoft HBCU Scholarship January
- Goldman Sachs HBCU Partnership Rolling
Deadlines vary by year. Use the HBCU Scholarship Finder for current deadlines and application links.
Black College Scholarships — FAQ
HBCU AID tracks 325 scholarships for Black college students at HBCUs, worth $3.8M+ total. Major programs include UNCF, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Ron Brown Scholar, Gates Scholarship, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and 73 HBCU-exclusive awards. Use the free scholarship finder to match by GPA, major, and state.
Search hbcuaid.com/scholarship-finder for scholarships matching your profile. File the FAFSA at studentaid.gov for federal aid. Apply to your HBCU's institutional scholarships. Submit to UNCF and TMCF for the largest scholarship pools. Allow 2–4 weeks per application — start by October.
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the largest private scholarship organization for Black students, offering dozens of awards ranging from $500–$20,000+. Most require enrollment at a UNCF member institution (most HBCUs qualify) and a 2.5+ GPA. Apply at uncf.org. Multiple deadlines run September through February.
Yes — 73 scholarships tracked by HBCU AID are exclusively for students enrolled at federally designated HBCUs. These awards have less competition than general scholarships because only HBCU students can apply. They include UNCF institutional scholarships, TMCF awards, and corporate HBCU partnership programs.
Requirements vary widely. Many scholarships accept GPAs as low as 2.5. UNCF and TMCF typically require 2.5–3.0. Highly competitive awards (Gates Scholarship, Ron Brown) require 3.3+. The HBCU Scholarship Finder at hbcuaid.com lets you filter by GPA requirement to find scholarships you qualify for right now.