Written By: Zina Kumok
|
Edited By: Kevin Ladd
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Updated: December 9, 2025
- According to the National Center for Education Statistics,
college student demographics in the U.S. reflect a diverse mix, with
20% Hispanic, 15% Black, and 7% Asian/Pacific Islander students.
- Minority scholarships are a significant factor contributing to the increase in minority student enrollment in colleges.
- Billions of dollars in scholarships, grants, and other financial aid are available to support minority students.
While white students still comprise a large portion of college
enrollments, the increasing percentages of minority students enrolling
each year are beginning to reshape the higher education landscape.
According to the Education Data Initiative,
about 15% of all college students are Black, 20% are Hispanic/Latino
and about 7% are Asian/Pacific Islander. Native Americans make up less
than 1% of college students currently.
An influx of minority scholarships aimed at helping minority students
attend college without incurring massive debt has greatly aided this
demographic shift. But navigating the new scholarship landscape can be
tricky. Read below to see how minority scholarships work, how to find
the best options and how to apply.
Jump to:
- Amount$20,000
- DeadlineFebruary 13, 2026
In
order to be considered for the DGV Scholarship, individuals must be
accepted, or seeking acceptance, to an accredited four-year college or a
university; Must be pursuing, or planning to pursue, a degree in
quantitative fields such as Computer/Data Science, Statistics, Business
Analytics, Mathematics or Engineering; Must be part of an
underrepresented demographic in the financial services
Gucci Changemakers Scholarship
- Amount$25,000
- DeadlineFebruary 20, 2026
The
Gucci Changemakers Scholarship Fund is dedicated to empowering students
in creative and business-oriented fields through substantial financial
support.
Scholarship Details
12 scholarships of up to $25,000 for diverse students studying
fashion, design, art, business, merchandising, law, film, music, and
other creative or business-oriented programs.
Open to
What are minority scholarships?
Minority scholarships are awarded to students who are
underrepresented either in college as a whole or in specific areas.
Minority scholarships often refer to awards given to those from a
non-white racial or ethnic group.
However, this does not always hold true. For example, while women
make up the majority of college students, they are still considered a
minority in fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
(STEM). For this reason, women may qualify for STEM scholarships, at
least in part, due to their gender.
Minority scholarships may be awarded for the following categories:
- Racial identity
- Ethnicity
- Gender identity
- Sexual orientation
- Neurodiversity
- Disability status
Some minority scholarships may have a financial need element, but
this depends on the scholarship provider. Minority scholarships can be
limited to a specific minority group or encompass many different
marginalized groups.
Other minority scholarships may have vague requirements, like not
mentioning any group by name, while others will only be available for
certain groups of students.
Scholarships for minority students may only require a general level
of academic success or have detailed academic requirements, like
majoring in a certain field or being interested in a particular
industry.
Minority scholarships can be limited to a specific minority type or
encompass many different marginalized groups. Some of them may be
specifically for first-generation, or "first in family" college students who come from families which have never had a member attend or graduate from college.
For example, the Brown MAE Foundation Healthcare Scholarship
is given to a healthcare student from one of the following racial
groups: Black/African American, Native American/American Indian,
Hispanic/Latin American or Asian or Pacific Islander. Applicants also
must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and can be an undergraduate or graduate
student at any 4-year U.S. college or university.
How to apply for minority scholarships
The application process for a minority scholarship is no different
than the process for any other kind of scholarship. First, know that
it’s never too early to start applying for scholarships. Scholarship
deadlines vary greatly, and it's better to start sooner rather than
later.
Even if you’re a freshman in high school, you might be able to find
scholarships that you’re eligible for. If not, you can set them aside
for later.
You can start by looking for scholarships at directories, like
Scholarships.com, which has a comprehensive list of many types of
scholarships divided by categories.
Your high school guidance counselor might also have a list of
scholarships, especially those on the local level. They can also provide
assistance on applying for scholarships, like how to write a winning
essay or who to ask for a recommendation letter.
Once you start finding potential scholarships, organize them by the
due date and level of difficulty. For example, you will need to allocate
more time to a scholarship that requires two separate essays than an
application without any essays.
You may also want to note which scholarships will take more time to
complete. For example, you will need to spend longer on a scholarship
application that requires two separate essays than an application
without any required essays.
Also note which scholarships require a letter of recommendation from a
teacher, club sponsor, coach or another adult. You should probably give
people at least a few weeks notice when asking for a letter of
recommendation.
Make sure to look for both general minority scholarships and unique
awards that you’re especially suited for. The general awards are more
likely to have a large influx of applicants, making it harder to stand
out. It’s a basic rule of thumb - the easier a scholarship is to apply
for, the harder it is to win.
If you can find scholarships that only fit a small segment of the population, you’ll be more likely to win. For example, the United Negro College Fund offers scholarships for all kinds of African-American students.
The UNCF Scholarships
are available for students who are attending a variety of colleges
including and often limited to the 37 Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) affiliated with the UNCF. You must have a 2.5 GPA
and students from college freshmen to doctoral candidates are eligible.
Frequently asked questions about minority scholarships
Minority scholarships can differ greatly, and there’s so much to
understand before applying. Here’s what you should know about minority
scholarships:
What are the best minority scholarships?
While many scholarships only provide a few thousand dollars worth of aid, others are far more generous.
The Gates Scholarship
is given to a student from one of the following racial backgrounds:
African-American, American Indian/Native American, Alaska Native, Asian
& Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American.
Only students with demonstrated financial need are eligible. You must be a high school senior, eligible for the Pell Grant
and a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or a U.S. national. You also
need to have a 3.3 GPA or higher. Only students who plan to enroll in a
four-year college full-time can win.
The award will cover any remaining costs of college attendance after
all other types of financial aid have been applied. Students must submit
the FAFSA to qualify.
Do I need to complete the FAFSA to qualify for a minority scholarship?
Some minority scholarships require that the student demonstrates
financial need. They generally do this by having students submit a copy
of their parent's most recent tax return or a copy of their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Many schools even require that students complete the FAFSA to qualify for any of their own awards, including merit scholarships.
Students who submit the FAFSA are also eligible for federal student
loans, federal grants and work-study. State grants also often mandate
that students submit the FAFSA.
Even if you’re not required to submit the FAFSA to win a scholarship,
it’s always good practice to complete it. You never know what kind of
aid you might receive, and you’re almost certainly hurting your chances
if you don’t complete the FAFSA.
The FAFSA is not a "one and done" application; it has to be completed
every year that you’re in school. If you don’t fill it out, then you’ll
lose access to most types of financial aid.
How can I maximize my minority scholarships?
There are many different types of minority scholarships available,
and you're not limited to those that only fit one part of your
background. For example, if you're part of the LGBTQIA+
community and are African-American, you should apply for scholarships
for both LGBQT+ students and African-American students. You may even be
able to find scholarships that encompass multiple parts of your
identity.
The BIPOC Scholarship
is available for students who identify as both Black, Indigenous or
People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQIA+. You must be currently attending or
planning to attend an accredited school to receive your associate’s,
bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral or professional degree. This $1,500
scholarship is only given for one year.
You should also look for scholarships that match your future career,
interests and skills, not just your demographic identity. If you want to
be a teacher, look for scholarships for future teachers or those
majoring in education.
Is there a typical GPA requirement for minority scholarships?
Like other kinds of scholarships, minority scholarships often have
minimum GPA requirements that you must meet to qualify. A general
standard or minimum for Grade Point Average would be that you should
have a 3.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for most scholarships, but some
may have a lower requirement or none at all.
For example, the Anna V. Waters Scholarship
is awarded to an African-American high school senior with a GPA of 2.0 -
2.9. This is one of the rare cases where you can actually have a GPA
that is too high to qualify.
Applicants must also demonstrate a commitment to their community and
must submit a transcript and two letters of recommendation. This
scholarship is worth up to $2,000.
Are DACA students eligible for minority scholarships?
For DACA students, qualifying for a college scholarship is going to
be more difficult than it is for those with U.S. citizenship or
permanent residency. While DACA students who have Social Security
Numbers can fill out the FAFSA, they’re not eligible for federal student
loans, Pell grants or work-study.
That said, there are some scholarships which are open to DACA students. For example, the GMiS California Health Sciences Scholarship
is given to a student from a group that has been historically
underrepresented in the health sciences industry. Students who are U.S.
citizens, permanent residents or those with DACA status are eligible.
You must have a 3.0 GPA and be working toward an undergraduate degree
from an accredited school in the U.S. or Puerto Rico. Those interested
in working in one of the following specialties will be given extra
consideration: mental health, rehabilitative, geriatric medical
specialties or those with disabilities. The winner will receive $1,000.
Are there special minority scholarships for graduate or doctoral students?
While there are significantly more funding opportunities for
undergraduate students, graduate and doctoral students may still be
eligible for dozens of potential scholarships.
For example, the ACHE Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship
is given to a graduate-level student who is studying healthcare
management. Each scholarship is worth $5,000, and 15 recipients will be
chosen.
Only students who come from a racially or ethnically diverse
background can apply. They must also have demonstrated financial need to
qualify. Also, students must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or
Canadian citizens.
Are international students eligible for minority scholarships?
When you’re an international student, finding scholarships is a tough
process. Most scholarships require that you be a U.S. citizen or
permanent resident to qualify. However, that doesn’t mean you should
quit looking.
The first place you should start is through your home country. Their
department of education may have its own list of potential awards.
Also, while many schools don’t offer special scholarships for
international students, some will provide tuition waivers. When you
attend school as an international student, you often pay higher tuition.
A tuition waiver can drop the cost of tuition, so you pay the same rate
as an in-state student.
For example, the University of Central Florida offers a Latin American and Caribbean Scholarship
that provides a tuition waiver for students who are from Latin America
or the Caribbean. Eligible students can save tens of thousands over the
course of a four-year education.
Not all majors are eligible for this special program. Also, students
must be from one of the eligible countries which includes Mexico,
Colombia and more.
When looking for the most affordable school, try to find ones that offer tuition waivers. Those will usually be your best bet.
Can immigrants qualify for minority scholarships?
If you’re an immigrant, you may find many scholarship opportunities
that you’re eligible for. You can start by looking at minority
scholarships, where you can stand out if you have a compelling story of
coming to the U.S.
If you’re an immigrant, you can also search for scholarships for
students from that country or region. For example, if you’re from
Mexico, you’re eligible for the Dr. Raquel Ontiveros Memorial Scholarship.
To qualify, you must have a 2.5 GPA, be attending a Michigan-based
school and be majoring in education or teaching. Both part-time and
full-time students are eligible.
What are other scholarships I can look for besides minority scholarships?
If you’re a minority student, don’t forget that you may be eligible for many other types of scholarships.
For example, if your parents did not attend college, then you should look for first-generation college scholarships. These are given to students who are the first person in their immediate family to go to college.
There’s no shortage of scholarships you can apply for. If you’re a
talented athlete, look for athletic scholarships. If you were cast in
every school musical, look for scholarships geared toward theater
students.
Can I win a minority scholarship that renews for multiple years?
Many college scholarships are only available for one year. However, some scholarships can be renewed from year to year.
For example, the Jackie Robinson Foundation scholarship
provides up to $35,000 for four years for minority students. Applicants
must be high school seniors who plan to enroll in an accredited
four-year school. They must also have demonstrated financial need and be
U.S. citizens. The organization usually awards about 60 scholarships
each year.
If a scholarship is available for several years, you usually have to
maintain a certain GPA to remain eligible. You may also have to take a
certain number of credit hours or be on a path to getting your degree on
time. Some scholarships are also contingent on you staying in a certain
major. If you switch majors or degree programs, then you may no longer
be eligible.
SOURCE:
LINK: https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-type/minority-scholarships
