african american scholarships for women

United Negro College Fund

• The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is a scholarship organization that provides financial support to African-American students. To receive a UNCF scholarship, you must be an African-American citizen, national or permanent resident of the United States.
• You can use these funds for college tuition and expenses, but they may also be used for internship programs, study abroad opportunities and other types of education outside of traditional academic classrooms.

Gates Millenium Scholars Program

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program is a prestigious and competitive scholarship program that provides funding for African American women to continue their education. The program was founded in 1999 with the goal of increasing the number of college graduates who are underrepresented minorities (African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanic Americans), particularly among those who are first-generation college students or come from low-income families.

Gates Millennium Scholars must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout their undergraduate careers and have demonstrated leadership skills through extracurricular activities or work experience prior to applying for this scholarship. In addition, they must be U.S citizens or legal permanent residents who plan to enroll full time at accredited institutions of higher learning in the United States during fall 2008; applicants cannot be more than 24 years old at time of application deadline although some exceptions may be made for special circumstances involving early career interruptions such as military service obligations or labor force needs related work experiences like internships/cooperative education placements/work study jobs etcetera).

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is the largest African American Greek-lettered organization in the world. It was founded in 1913 at Howard University by nine young women with similar goals, who were determined to promote scholarship and service for their community.

The Sorority offers over $1 million in college scholarships each year and has a total of more than $28 million awarded since its inception. New members are eligible for one of these awards when they join the sorority during their freshmen year of college or graduate school:

• Anna J. Cooper Scholarship Award – Named after a pioneer educator and author who graduated from Howard University, this award is given annually to an outstanding member who demonstrates academic excellence, community service involvement and leadership potential (including participation on campus or within her local community). The winner receives a cash award of up to $2,500 per academic year as well as travel expenses to attend annual conventions held across North America.
• Dorothy I. Height Founders’ Circle Scholarship – This annual scholarship honors outstanding female members with demonstrated financial need who will pursue careers that promote equal rights among women everywhere; it also seeks those who have attended historically black institutions such as Morehouse College or Spelman College prior to joining Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (and/or volunteers at nonprofits serving low income communities). Candidates must be U.S.-born citizens or permanent residents; preference will be given based upon racial/ethnic background (African American) education level GPA family circumstances such as parent(s)/guardian(s) employed full-time potentially able assist financially

Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy and Delta Gems

The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy and Delta Gems scholarship program is open to girls aged 11-14. It’s a program of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., which seeks to encourage academic excellence, enhance self-esteem, and promote healthy lifestyles among young African American women.

Candidates will be evaluated based on their ability to demonstrate talent in an area of study; participation in community service and extracurricular activities; financial need; and academic achievement (high school GPA).

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. offers scholarships to qualifying students who are members of the sorority. Applications for these awards are accepted from March 1 through April 30. Applicants must be female and African American or multi-racial with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher (on a 4 scale). Application requirements include:

• A completed application form obtained from your local chapter’s website
• A current transcript showing enrollment during the previous semester or academic year
• A short essay written on a topic of your choice

For more information about this award, contact your favorite local chapter’s scholarship chairperson

Alumnae Panhellenic Association of Washington, D.C.

The Alumnae Panhellenic Association of Washington, D.C. is offering a $1,000 scholarship to women who are enrolled in college or university, are members of a Panhellenic sorority and have at least a 3.5 GPA. In order to apply for this award, you must be a resident of the DC metro area and plan on pursuing your undergraduate degree full-time while maintaining your 3.5 GPA or higher. You must also be a U.S. citizen in order to qualify for this award

A variety of organizations and institutions offer scholarships to women from minority groups, including scholarships for African American women.

As you can probably imagine, it is important to make sure that scholarships are available to all women. Scholarships for African American women are specifically designed to help them succeed in their careers and give back to the community. These scholarships often have specific eligibility requirements, but they do not require you to be African American in order for you to apply. Some of these include:

• Scholarship for Women from Minority Groups
• Entrepreneurial Scholarship for Women with Disabilities
• Women Who Inspire Scholarship

There are many more options out there than just these three general types, so find one that fits your needs and apply! You never know when someone will discover something amazing about what makes YOU different–or even better yet–what makes THEM different!