Scholarships, checked one by one

Scholarships for Black women, verified at the source.

A short list you can trust: every award below was opened on the sponsor's own page on November 7, 2026, with eligibility described the way the sponsor words it today.

See the verified list HBCU funding guide
13 awards verifiedOfficial links onlyNo fees, ever
13scholarships and fellowships verified on Nov 7, 2026
$7,395maximum federal Pell Grant for 2026-27 (Federal Student Aid)
$62M+awarded by UNCF each year across its programs (UNCF)
$0what a real scholarship costs to apply for (FTC)

A note on eligibility

Eligibility rules for race-conscious awards have been changing. The Supreme Court's 2023 SFFA v. Harvard decision addressed college admissions, and lawsuits since then have challenged some race-restricted programs. In one case, Fearless Fund closed its grant contest for Black women business owners in a September 2024 settlement. Supreme Court opinion WABE

Some sponsors have since opened their awards to all students while keeping a focus on Black students or HBCUs; others still limit eligibility. Each listing shows the sponsor's current wording as of November 7, 2026. Please confirm on the sponsor's site before you apply.

The verified list

Scholarships for Black students and Black women

Filter by what you're studying or where you are in school. Amounts and deadlines appear only when the sponsor's page shows them.

HBCUAny majorHigh school seniors

UNCF Scholarships

UNCF (United Negro College Fund)
Eligibility today: Criteria vary by program. UNCF calls itself the nation's largest private scholarship provider to minority group members.
Who can apply
Many separate programs, each with its own eligibility, essays and deadline. Awards go to students at more than 600 schools, including UNCF's member HBCUs. You apply through UNCF's online opportunities portal.
Award
More than $62 million a year across all programs (per the sponsor's site as of Nov 2026). Individual amounts vary.
Timing
Rolling. Programs open and close all year; several on the site close in November.
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
HBCUAny major

Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarships

Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)
Eligibility today: Awarded without consideration of race, sex or other protected traits; built for students at TMCF member schools.
Who can apply
Students at TMCF member schools and other eligible accredited institutions. One general application in the TMCF portal matches you to scholarships you may qualify for.
Award
TMCF reports more than $20 million awarded for 2023-24 (per the sponsor's site). Most awards are one-time; you may be selected for only one per academic year.
Timing
Deadlines vary by scholarship and are firm (Eastern time). Decisions start about 12 weeks after a scholarship closes.
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
High school seniorsAny major

Ron Brown Scholarship

Ron Brown Scholar Program
Eligibility today: Race-specific: the sponsor states applicants must be Black/African American.
Who can apply
Current high school seniors who are Black/African American, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, excel academically, show leadership and community service, and have financial need. College students can't apply.
Award
20 four-year scholarships of $40,000 ($10,000 a year), usable at any accredited four-year U.S. college (per the sponsor's site as of Nov 2026).
Timing
The 2027 competition is open; the application is due in early December and counselor letters in mid-December.
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
High school seniorsAny major

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

Jackie Robinson Foundation
Eligibility today: The current application page lists no race or minority requirement.
Who can apply
Graduating high school seniors who are U.S. citizens with financial need, academic excellence, leadership and community service, headed to an accredited JRF-approved four-year college. An ACT or SAT score is required.
Award
The application page does not state an amount.
Timing
The 2026-27 application opened September 1, 2026, and is due in January 2027 (per the sponsor's site).
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
High school seniorsAny major

The Gates Scholarship

The Gates Scholarship
Eligibility today: The current eligibility list includes no race or ethnicity criteria.
Who can apply
High school seniors who are Pell-eligible, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with at least a 3.3 weighted GPA, planning full-time study at a four-year nonprofit U.S. college.
Award
The full cost of attendance not already covered by other aid and the Student Aid Index (per the sponsor's site as of Nov 2026).
Timing
The application window runs mid-July to mid-September; the 2026 cycle has closed. Watch for the next window in July.
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
Any majorGraduate

AKA Educational Advancement Foundation Scholarships

Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation
Eligibility today: Open to all: the foundation supports students without regard to sex, race or other traits. Sorority membership isn't required for its main programs.
Who can apply
Full-time undergraduates (sophomore or above) and full-time graduate students at accredited schools. Minimum GPA is 3.0 for merit awards and 2.5 for need-based, Thrive and Launch awards. Most programs also ask for community service.
Award
Thrive awards go up to $1,000; other amounts aren't listed. Most are one-time awards (per the sponsor's site as of Nov 2026).
Timing
Thrive closes in March; undergraduate awards in April; graduate awards in August.
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
High school seniorsAny major

Zeta National Educational Foundation Scholarships

Zeta National Educational Foundation (Zeta Phi Beta)
Eligibility today: Given without regard to race, sex or other traits. Eleven general awards need no sorority membership; five are for members only.
Who can apply
High school seniors and college students for the general awards. The Chairman's Scholarship is for a female high school student.
Award
The Chairman's Scholarship covers educational costs up to $150,000; other amounts aren't listed. Most awards are one-time (per the sponsor's site as of Nov 2026).
Timing
The scholarships page doesn't show a deadline; check the foundation's AwardSpring portal.
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
NursingGraduate

NBNA Scholarships

National Black Nurses Association
Eligibility today: NBNA membership is required. The eligibility rules contain no race requirement.
Who can apply
NBNA members (through a local chapter if one is within 50 miles, otherwise as a direct member) enrolled in a nursing program from LPN/LVN through doctorate, in good standing, with at least one full school year left.
Award
Scholarships start at $1,000 (per the sponsor's site as of Nov 2026).
Timing
The most recent cycle closed in March. Join NBNA well before the next window opens.
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
Any major

NAACP Scholarships

NAACP
Eligibility today: NAACP membership is required. The page lists no race requirement.
Who can apply
NAACP members with at least a 3.0 GPA who are enrolled full time at, or accepted to, an accredited U.S. college. Individual named scholarships add their own criteria; read each one.
Award
Amounts aren't listed on the page.
Timing
The 2026 cycle ran mid-April to late May 2026. Expect a similar spring window.
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
STEMHBCU

Development Fund for Black Students in Science and Technology

DFBSST
Eligibility today: For African American undergraduates at HBCUs (sponsor's wording).
Who can apply
African American undergraduates in scientific or technical fields at historically Black colleges and universities. Deans and faculty nominate students.
Award
Up to $3,000 a year for up to four years (per the sponsor's site as of Nov 2026).
Timing
The site doesn't post a deadline. Ask your dean or department about nominations.
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
STEMHigh school seniorsGraduate

SWE Scholarships

Society of Women Engineers
Eligibility today: For engineering and computing students. The page doesn't state a gender rule in its eligibility text.
Who can apply
Students pursuing degrees in engineering, engineering technology or computer science: sophomores through graduate students, plus incoming first-year students.
Award
SWE says it awarded nearly $1.8 million in 2026; individual amounts aren't listed (per the sponsor's site as of Nov 2026).
Timing
College and graduate applications open December 1, 2026, and close in early February 2027; first-year applications run February to March 2027.
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
GraduateSTEMNursing

McKnight Doctoral Fellowship

Florida Education Fund
Eligibility today: The program's stated purpose is to address the underrepresentation of African American and Hispanic faculty in Florida; its 'who may apply' rules list citizenship and degree, not race.
Who can apply
U.S. citizens with at least a bachelor's degree, starting a Ph.D. in arts and sciences, business, engineering, health sciences, nursing or the arts at select Florida universities. Current doctoral students can't apply, and degrees such as the DNP or M.D. aren't covered.
Award
Up to 50 fellowships a year, each with a stipend of up to $14,000 a year for up to three years (per the sponsor's site as of Nov 2026).
Timing
Applications are due in mid-January each year (for 2027-28 funding).
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
Nursing

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program

HRSA (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Eligibility today: A federal program open to eligible nursing students; it gives funding preference to those with the greatest financial need.
Who can apply
U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents accepted to or enrolled in a nursing degree program at an accredited U.S. school, with no existing service commitment or overdue federal debt.
Award
Pays tuition, eligible fees and other reasonable costs plus a monthly stipend; in return you work at a facility with a critical nursing shortage after graduation. The award is taxable (per HRSA as of Nov 2026).
Timing
The 2026 cycle has closed; HRSA offers email alerts for the next cycle.
Verified Nov 7, 2026Official page
Guides

Go deeper by path

HBCU scholarships and funding

UNCF, TMCF, your school's own aid office and how to stack them.

Read the guide

Black women in STEM

Scholarships and fellowships for science, engineering and computing.

Read the guide

Black nursing students

NBNA, the federal Nurse Corps and employer tuition help.

Read the guide

Real scholarships never charge you to apply

The FTC's warning signs for scholarship and grant scams:

  • An application, "processing" or "redemption" fee
  • A guarantee that you'll win, or a money-back promise
  • "You've been selected" for an award you never applied for
  • A request for your bank or card number to "hold" an award
  • Paying someone to fill out the FAFSA, which is free

FTC: How To Avoid Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Start with free federal money

Pell Grants, state grants and employer tuition help, explained simply.

Grants guide
Questions

Questions students ask

Are there scholarships just for Black women?

Some awards still limit eligibility to Black or African American students, such as the Ron Brown Scholarship, and some sorority and community scholarships are for women. Many others now welcome all applicants while focusing on Black students or HBCUs. Each listing on this page says which applies, in the sponsor's words.

Why do some scholarships say they are open to all students?

Since the 2023 Supreme Court admissions ruling and lawsuits against some race-restricted programs, several sponsors have rewritten eligibility. Some now award without regard to race while keeping their mission, for example by serving students at HBCUs.

What are the biggest scholarships for Black students?

On our list, the Gates Scholarship covers the full cost of attendance not met by other aid for Pell-eligible seniors, and the Ron Brown Scholarship gives $40,000 over four years. UNCF runs many programs that together award more than $62 million a year.

Do I have to pay to apply?

No. A legitimate scholarship never charges an application fee. The FTC lists fees, guarantees and requests for bank details as signs of a scam.

Sources (checked Nov 7, 2026)